Known Resistance

The known galaxy plays host to a wide variety of adversarial forces. Here are summaries of those documented from numerous conflicts with the Alliance. Other entries are based purely on speculation from field operatives.

For Alliance training purposes, resistance units are classified in standardized ways to assist in your assimilation of their documented characteristics.

Enemy Ranks (from easiest to most challenging when faced in combat:

• Minion
• Elite
• Sub-Boss
• Boss
• Elite Boss

Enemy Unit Tactics:

Specific units are prone to certain behaviour and tactics. The summaries contained herein list observed tactics, but enemy units may not consistently utilize all tactics in all situations.

Flanker: Possesses the ability to move quickly around the environment to advantageous positions; includes geth recon drones and sappers.

Tank: These are elite or higher units with high survivability. They distract allies or remove useful cycles from squad members who engage them.

These units don’t have high powered weapons but are capable of withstanding extensive combat damage. Examples include krogan warlords or krogan battlemasters.

Spoiler: These units attempt to ruin a squad’s capability to fight at peak efficiency by utilizing attacks or abilities that affect weapon stability, cause recurring toxic damage, or shut down tech and biotic powers. Units include geth hopper variants and asari commandos.

Killer: This unit type is designed to punish opponents with massive amounts of damage.

Left unchecked in combat, they represent a very real threat to small squads through continued use of their highly varied special abilities. Examples include geth shock troopers, armatures, and destroyers.

Support: Enemy support units that are able to improve combat performance or survivability for others within their numbers.

Eliminating these units removes significant combat support for the opposition. Examples include geth repair drones and juggernauts.

Siege: Rush assault units that are able to quickly bypass allied cover or shields and deal damage directly to the individual.

Their presence often forces allied units to abandon cover and seek a better position, effectively flushing them out for other enemy units to engage them in the open.

Examples include geth armature, asari commando, and biotic fanatics.

Traitor Forces

Asari Commando

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Killer, Siege

Resistances: Biotics and Tech

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Warp, Barrier, Throw, Lift, Marksman

Notes: A rogue company of commandos under the command of Matriarch Benezia has broken away and is now actively working with the geth and Sovereign

Saren

Type: Boss

Tactics: Flanker, Tank, Killer, Spoiler

Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune), Combat, Tech

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Shield Boost, Disruption Rocket, Sabotage, Damping, Hover

The Avatar

Type: Boss

Tactics: Flanker, Tank, Killer, Spoiler

Resistances: Tech, Combat, Biotics

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Wall Jump, Carnage, Sabotage Beam, Overload Beam, Damping Beam

Matriarch Benezia

Type: Boss

Tactics: Killer, Siege, Spoiler

Resistances: Biotics and Tech

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Warp-Throw, Barrier, Lift, Stasis, Marksman

Notes: Instead of Warp and Throw, Benezia has a Warp-Throw ability that does both if it hits the player.

Alliance Heavy Turret

Type: Elite

Tactics: Killer, Tank

Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune), Combat

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: None

Notes: Attached to the ground, so they are immune to Throw, Lift, and Singularity. These are the two small turrets Fist uses in his fight.

Kaira Stirling

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Killer

Resistances: Biotics

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Warp, Lift, Barrier, Carnage

Fist

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Tank, Killer

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Marksman, Shield Boost, Immunity

Turian Assassins

Type: Elite

Tactics: Siege, Flanker

Resistances: Tech,

Weaknesses: Biotic, Combat

Powers: Carnage, Immunity

Krogan

Krogan Trooper

Type: Elite

Tactics: Tank

Resistances: Combat, Biotics

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Immunity, Shield Boost, Krogan Regeneration, Melee Attack, Overkill

Notes: Krogan often charge into melee range if you wound them or approach them too closely.

Krogan Warlord

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Tank, Killer

Resistances: Combat, Biotics

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Immunity, Shield Boost, Krogan Regeneration, Carnage, Melee Attack, Overkill

Krogan Battlemaster

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Tank, Killer, Siege

Resistances: Combat, Biotics

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Barrier, Krogan Regeneration, Carnage, Lift, Warp, Melee Attack

Jax (Criminal)

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Tank, Killer

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Krogan Regeneration, Krogan Smash

Undead

Reaper Husk

Type: Minion

Tactics: Siege, Tank

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: Tech, Biotics

Powers: Tesla Pulse (Ignores target’s cover), Melee Attack

Notes: Tesla Pulse ability does extra damage against shields. Husks still count as organic creatures.

Thorian Creeper

Type: Minion

Tactics: Tank, Siege

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: Biotics

Powers: Vomit Attack (short-range, extremely toxic cone that lowers target’s damage resistance), Melee Attack

Notes: Toxic Vomit slows healing; it doesn’t make you more vulnerable to future attacks.

Rachni

Rachni Brood Warrior

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Tank, Siege, Support

Resistances: Biotics, Tech

Weaknesses: Combat

Powers: Melee Attack, Acid Spit (ranged attack that lowers your damage resistance), Warp, Stasis, First Aid

Rachni Soldier

Type: Elite

Tactics: Tank, Killer

Resistances: Tech, Biotics

Weaknesses: Combat

Powers: Melee Attack, Acid Spit

Rachni Worker

Type: Minion

Tactics: Killer

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Combat

Powers: Explosive Attack

Geth Forces

Stealth Forces

Geth Sapper

Type: Minion

Tactics: Flanker, Spoiler

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Biotics

Powers: Wall Jump, Radiation Burst, Sabotage Beam, Radar Jamming 3

Notes: Sabotage Beam overheats the weapons of one enemy. Radiation Burst is a gun that does toxic damage. (Toxic damage slows healing.)

Geth Stalker

Type: Elite

Tactics: Flanker, Spoiler

Resistances: Tech

Weaknesses: Biotics

Powers: Wall Jump, Sabotage Beam, Overload Beam, Damping Beam, Radar Jamming 7

Notes: Sabotage Beam overheats the weapons of one enemy. Overload Beam damages the shields of one enemy.

Damping Beam resets the Tech/Biotic power cooldowns, of one enemy. Stalkers don’t have any gun or direct-damage attack[em]they just disable targets

Geth Ghost

Type: Elite

Tactics: Flanker, Killer

Resistances: Tech

Weaknesses: Biotics

Powers: Wall Jump, Sniper Beam, Overload Blast, Radar Jamming 5

Notes: These are black hoppers. They flank enemies and quickly take them down with their Sniper Beam. Overload Blast is an improved version of the Overload Beam, with splash damage

Troopers

Geth Trooper

Type: Minion

Tactics: Tank

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Biotics, Tech

Powers: Geth Barrier, Shield Boost

Notes: The geth have more shields and less health than equivalent organic soldiers, which makes then very vulnerable to attacks that bypass shields

Geth Rocket Trooper

Type: Minion

Tactics: Killer

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Biotics

Powers: Disruption Rocket, Scram Rocket

Notes: Disruption Rocket is short range (<100m) with heavy splash damage. Scram Rocket is long range (100-400m) with much less splash

Geth Shock Trooper

Type: Elite

Tactics: Tank, Killer

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Geth Barrier, Carnage, Shield Boost

Geth Sniper

Type: Minion

Tactics: Killer

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Biotics

Powers: Sniper Beam, Radar Jamming 1

Notes: When you see the red sniper beam, you have a few seconds to duck behind cover before they fire

Heavy Troops

Geth Destroyer

Type: Elite

Tactics: Killer, Siege

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Charge, Melee Attack, Carnage

Geth Juggernaut

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Killer, Siege

Resistances: Combat, Biotics

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Auto Disruption Rocket

Notes: Disruption Rocket can fire twice between reloads. (It’s a distortion Rocket, so short range heavy splash damage

Geth Prime

Type: Boss

Tactics: Tank, Support, Spoiler

Resistances: Combat, Tech

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Combat VI, Overload, Damping, Shield Boost, Geth Barrier, Radar Jamming 9

Notes: Combat VI boosts the combat abilities of all nearby Geth through their networked intelligence. They’ll shoot more often, more accurately, and do more damage

Drones

Geth Recon Drone

Type: Minion

Tactics: Flanker

Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune)

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Hover

Notes: The mass effect field used by Drones to hover makes them immune to Throw, Lift, and Singularity. They do possess light shielding

Geth Assault Drone

Type: Elite

Tactics: Flanker, Killer

Resistances: Combat, Biotics (Physics Immune)

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Hover

Geth Rocket Drone

Type: Elite

Tactics: Flanker, Killer

Resistances: Combat, Biotics (Physics Immune)

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Disruption Rocket, Hover

Geth Repair Drone

Type: Minion

Tactics: Support, Flanker

Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune)

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Hover, Repair

Armatures

Geth Armature

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Tank, Siege, Killer

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Siege Pulse

Notes: Siege Pulse has a large splash-damage effect

Geth Colossus

Type: Boss

Tactics: Tank, Killer, Siege

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Siege Pulse

Alliance Assault Drones

Type: Elite

Tactics: Flanker, Killer

Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune), Combat

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Hover

Note: Basically the same as the Geth Assault Drone, but with less shielding and more armor. Advanced versions exist with more armor and shielding.

Alliance Rocket Drone

Type: Elite

Tactics: Flanker, Killer

Resistances: Biotics (Physics Immune), Combat

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Hover, Disruption Rocket

Notes: Basically the same as the Geth Rocket Drone, but with less shielding and more armor. Advanced versions exist with more armor and shielding, and armed with an assault gun in addition to the rockets.

Geth Heavy Turret

Type: Sub-Boss

Tactics: Tank, Killer

Resistances: Combat, Biotics (Physics Immune)

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Disruption Rocket, Scram Rocket

Notes: Disruption Rocket is short range (<100m) with heavy splash damage. Scram Rocket is long range (100-400m) with much less splash.

Attached to the ground, so they are immune to Throw, Lift, and Singularity. Geth version has more shields, Alliance version has more armor

Beasts

Thresher Maw

Type: Boss

Tactics: Tank, Killer, Siege

Resistances: Combat, Biotics (Physics Immune), Tech

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Melee Attack, Long Range Acid Spit

Varren

Type: Minion

Tactics: Siege, Killer

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Melee Attack

Humanoids

Thug

Type: Minion

Tactics: Tank

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Biotics, Tech

Powers: None

Notes: Criminals, scientists, and civilians. Typically Human, Turian, or Salarian. Pistol or Shotgun, No Armor.

Soldier

Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss

Tactics: Tank

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Overkill, Shield Boost, Immunity (E), Health Regen (E), Carnage (SB)

Notes: Guards, Mercenaries, Pirates, Criminals and Assassins. Typically Human or Turian. Assault Rifle, Shotgun, Heavy Armor.

Sniper

Type: Minion, Elite

Tactics: Tank, Killer

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Sniper Beam, Adrenaline Burst, Shield Boost (E)

Notes: Guards, Mercenaries, and Pirates. Typically Human, Turian or Salarian. Sniper Rifle, Pistol, Light Armor.

Rocket Soldier

Type: Minion, Elite

Tactics: Tank, Killer

Resistances: Combat

Weaknesses: Tech

Powers: Disruption Rocket, Scram Rocket, Shield Boost, Immunity

Notes: Guards, Mercenaries, and Pirates. Typically Human or Turian. Assault Rifle, Heavy Armor.

Infiltrator

Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss

Tactics: Killer, Spoiler

Resistances: Tech

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Sniper Beam, Overload, Sabotage, Shield Boost (E), Damping (SB)

Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, Criminals and Assassins. Typically Human, Turian, or Salarian. Sniper Rifle, Pistol, Medium Armor.

Engineer

Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss

Tactics: Spoiler, Support

Resistances: Tech

Weaknesses: Combat

Powers: Overload, Sabotage, First Aid, Damping (E), Neural Shock (SB)

Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, Criminals, Scientists and Assassins. Typically Human or Salarian. Pistol, Light Armor.

Vanguard

Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss

Tactics: Killer, Siege

Resistances: Biotics

Weaknesses: None

Powers: Carnage, Warp, Barrier (E), Lift (SB)

Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, and Biotic Terrorists. Typically Human or Asari. Pistol, Shotgun, Medium Armor.

Adept

Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss

Tactics: Killer, Siege

Resistances: Biotics

Weaknesses: Combat

Powers: Lift, Throw, Warp, Barrier (E), Stasis (SB)

Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, and Biotic Terrorists. Typically Human or Asari. Pistol, Light Armor.

Sentinel

Type: Minion, Elite, Sub-Boss

Tactics: Support, Spoiler

Resistances: Biotics, Tech

Weaknesses: Combat

Powers: Barrier, First Aid, Throw, Sabotage (E), Neural Shock (SB)

Notes: Mercenaries, Pirates, Scientists, and Biotic Terrorists. Typically Human or Asari. Pistol, Light Armor.

Miscellaneous

Chorban

Type: Elite

Tactics: Tank

Resistances: Biotics

Weaknesses: Combat

Powers: None

Notes: Ambitious and misguided scientist

Chorban’s Guards

Type: Minion

Tactics: Flanker, Support

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Combat, Biotics, Tech

Powers: None

Notes: Hired guns

Colonist on Feros

Type: Minion

Tactics: None

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Combat, Tech, Biotics

Powers: None

Notes: Victims of circumstance

Dr. Saleon

Type: Minion

Tactics: None

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Biotic, Tech, Combat

Powers: None

Notes: Criminal scientist; Dr. Saleon dies in one shot.

Helena Blake

Type: Boss

Tactics: Siege, Killer

Resistances: Biotic

Weaknesses: Tech, Combat

Powers: Throw, Barrier

Notes: Crime boss

Lord Darius

Type: Boss

Tactics: Seige, Tank

Resistances: Tech

Weaknesses: Biotics

Powers: Carnage, Health Regen

Mercenaries

Type: Minions

Tactics: Flanker, Killer, Siege

Resistances: Tech

Weaknesses: Biotics

Powers: Immunity, Carnage

Notes: You will encounter several types of Mercenary units, to include different races as well.

Pirates

Type: Minion to Sub-Boss

Tactics: Includes Tanks, Spoilers, Killers, and Siege troops

Resistances: Differs

Weaknesses: Differs

Powers: Includes power from all specialization classes

Notes: Pirates employ various species including Humans, Turians, Salarians, and Krogan.

Nodacrux Scientists

Type: Minion

Tactics: None

Resistances: None

Weaknesses: Combat, Tech, Biotics

Powers: None

Notes: Exogeni black ops researcher