timed missions mass effect 3

List of timed missions?

Does someone know which missions in ME3 are timed? I don't mean timed by "priority" missions, I'll do the sidequests first. But which are the ones timed by number of missions done (like Tuchanka:Bomb).

Only Grissom Academy and Benning are considered timed mission (the ones you must do the moment its available to you). You can do everything else including N7 missions much later after Rannoch. The way I play ME3 : Vancouver > Mars > Menae > Grissom Academy > Surkesh > Utukku > Benning > Tuchanka >Citadel > Rannoch. I like to prolong the timeline between Rannoch arc and Thessia arc so the game wouldn't feel like it ended too quickly and you won't feel like you finish most of the game without VS and Tali.

You can do Turian Platoon + Tuchanka Bomb after Priority Rannoch. It will start counting down right after you do the Platoon mission. You only miss a cutscene between Primarch and Wrex but you'll gain additional scene/dialogues with Tali and VS.

Actually, Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation only has to be completed before Priority: The Citadel II and Benning: Evidence only has to be completed & turned in before Priority: Tuchanka.

So I'm pretty sure Tuchanka: Bomb is the only one actually limited by missions done and not a Priority mission.

Progress-sensitive missions according to the wiki are:

Citadel: Barla Von

Citadel: Alien Medi-Gel Formula

Citadel: Improved Power Grid

Citadel: Hanar Diplomat

Grissom Academy

Tuchanka: Bomb

Benning: Evidence

Rannoch: Admiral Korris and Rannoch: Geth Fighter Squadron (both expire when not completed before Priority: Rannoch)

I don't think there are other "mission done" timed missions in ME3 aside from that one...

Personally, I usually follow this guide and I don't miss anything.

However, there are a number that you can accidentally miss due to progressing the story too far. I just missed the Kasumi cameo mission on accident because I didn't know it closed after completing Priority: Tuchanka.

I'm bummed out because now she won't be at the Citadel party... which I'm almost ready to do.

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Mass Effect 3 Guide

• Edit source
• 1.1 Prologue
• 1.4 Act III
• 2.1 Priority: The Citadel I
• 2.2 Priority: Palaven
• 2.3 Priority: Sur'Kesh
• 2.4 Priority: Tuchanka
• 2.5 Priority: The Citadel II
• 2.6 Priority: Geth Dreadnought
• 2.7 Priority: Rannoch
• 2.8 Priority: Thessia

This page contains a walkthrough for the main missions of Mass Effect 3 . Major changes in the gameplay from Mass Effect 2 are listed in the main Mass Effect 3 page , while the effects of importing a saved game from Mass Effect 2 are listed in the Save File Transfer page. For a comprehensive introduction to the mechanics of the actual fighting the player must engage in on most missions, see the combat page .

Legendary Edition: All content that was previously available only from Downloadable Content (DLC) is now included by default, but overall requirements and prerequisites for the missions and characters only available from DLC in the original game remain largely the same. Legendary Edition does feature many changes to the original Mass Effect 3, including changes to how certain equipment is obtained.

Main Plot [ ]

The following missions represent plot progression. They have no time limit, but each mission must be completed before the next becomes available.

Prologue [ ]

• Prologue: Earth - Get to the Normandy SR-2 to escape Earth as the Reapers invade.
• Priority: Mars - Save Liara T'Soni from Cerberus and retrieve her data on the Crucible , a weapon capable of stopping the Reapers.
• Priority: The Citadel I - Begin rallying the other sentient races of the galaxy to the cause.
• Priority: Palaven - Rescue a turian primarch.
• Priority: Sur'Kesh - Hold a war summit with the turian, salarian , and krogan leaders, then protect a krogan female from a Cerberus attack.
• Priority: Tuchanka - Escort the krogan female and a salarian scientist to the Shroud to disperse a cure for the genophage .
• Priority: The Citadel II - Save the Citadel Council from a Cerberus coup attempt.
• Priority: Perseus Veil - Meet with quarian representatives who wish to assist with the Crucible project.
• Priority: Geth Dreadnought - Infiltrate and destroy a geth dreadnought before the Migrant Fleet is wiped out.
• Priority: Rannoch - Infiltrate a Reaper base on the surface of Rannoch to deactivate the signal upgrading the geth.
• Priority: The Citadel III - Meet with the asari Councilor to receive the location of a clue regarding the whereabouts of the Catalyst.
• Priority: Thessia - Reach an asari temple on Thessia to retrieve vital information as the Reapers devastate the planet.
• Priority: Horizon - Investigate Cerberus's connection to a refugee center on Horizon .

Act III [ ]

Note: No side missions can be completed once you begin Act III, so finish up anything else you want to finish before heading to Cerberus Headquarters.

• Priority: Cerberus Headquarters - Assault Cerberus's headquarters to recapture a Prothean VI that can identify the Catalyst.
• Priority: Earth - Gather the galaxy's forces and launch the final battle to retake Earth from the Reapers and deploy the Crucible.

Side Missions [ ]

These missions are issued or can be acquired as the game progresses. They are sorted according to the Priority mission after which they become available. The opportunity to complete certain side missions expires once specific main plot missions are completed. Others are marked as failed if not completed before a number of other missions are completed. These missions are noted below as "progress-sensitive missions" and "timed missions" respectively. Be aware that any side missions not completed before the main plot mission Priority: Cerberus Headquarters will no longer be accessible for the remainder of the game.

Note: Italicized mission names denote minor missions which can be completed merely through planet scanning, conversations, or finding an item during another mission.

Priority: The Citadel I [ ]

• N7: Cerberus Lab
• DLC Mission: Requires the DLC pack Mass Effect 3: From Ashes .
• Progress-Sensitive Mission: This mission cannot be completed if not accomplished during your first and only time on Eden Prime .
• This mission cannot be completed before Priority: Palaven.

Priority: Palaven [ ]

• Apien Crest: Banner of the First Regiment
• Aria: Blood Pack
• Aria: Blue Suns
• Aria: Eclipse
• This mission cannot be completed before Priority: Sur'Kesh.
• Progress-Sensitive Mission: This mission expires if not completed before Priority: Tuchanka.
• DLC Mission: Requires the DLC pack Mass Effect 3: Omega .
• DLC Mission: Requires the DLC pack Mass Effect 3: Leviathan .
• Citadel: GX12 Thermal Pipe
• Mass Effect 2 Squadmate Cameo: If recruited and alive, Kasumi Goto will appear in this mission.
• This mission cannot be completed before Priority: Tuchanka.
• Progress-Sensitive Mission: This mission expires if not completed before Priority: The Citadel II .
• Mass Effect 2 Squadmate Cameo: If alive, Jack will appear in this mission.
• Kite's Nest: Pillars of Strength

Priority: Sur'Kesh [ ]

• Main Plot Progression: Unlocks the main plot mission Priority: Tuchanka if done before Tuchanka: Turian Platoon.
• Mass Effect 2 Squadmate Cameo: If recruited and alive, Grunt will appear in this mission.
• Citadel: Krogan Dying Message
• N7: Cerberus Abductions
• N7: Cerberus Attack
• Main Plot Progression: Unlocks the main plot mission Priority: Tuchanka if done before Attican Traverse: Krogan Team.
• Progress-Sensitive Mission: This mission expires if not completed before Priority: Thessia.
• This mission cannot be completed before Priority: The Citadel II.
• Timed Mission: This mission will be marked as failed if not completed within three missions after acquisition.

Priority: Tuchanka [ ]

• N7: Cerberus Fighter Base

Priority: The Citadel II [ ]

• Mass Effect 2 Squadmate Cameo: If alive, Jacob Taylor will appear in this mission.
• Athena Nebula: Hesperia-Period Statue
• Citadel: Batarian Codes
• This mission cannot be completed before Priority: Thessia.
• Citadel: Cerberus Retribution
• Citadel: Cerberus Turian Poison
• This mission cannot be completed before Priority: Geth Dreadnought.
• Citadel: Inspirational Stories
• Citadel: Medical Supplies
• Citadel: Medi-Gel Sabotage
• DLC Mission: Requires the DLC pack Mass Effect 3: Citadel .
• Mass Effect 2 Squadmate Cameo: If recruited and alive, Zaeed Massani will appear in this mission.
• Citadel: Wounded Batarian
• This mission cannot be completed before Priority: Rannoch.
• Mass Effect 2 Squadmate Cameo: If recruited and alive, Samara will appear in this mission.
• Citadel: Asari Widow
• Nimbus Cluster: Library of Asha
• Valhallan Threshold: Prothean Data Drives

Priority: Geth Dreadnought [ ]

• N7: Fuel Reactors
• Main Plot Progression: Unlocks the main plot mission Priority: Rannoch.
• Progress-Sensitive Mission: This mission expires if not completed before Priority: Rannoch.

Priority: Rannoch [ ]

• Dekuuna: Elcor Extraction

Priority: Thessia [ ]

• N7: Communication Hub
• 3 Romance (Mass Effect: Andromeda)

Screen Rant

Mass effect 3: the best order to play missions (& why).

While missions in Mass Effect 3 are more regimented than in the previous games, players can ultimately decide where and how to best prepare for war.

The urgent tone of Mass Effect 3 can sometimes make every mission feel time-sensitive, and, with every main mission labeled "Priority," it can difficult to decide what should actually be prioritized. Some missions in Mass Effect 3 are extremely time-sensitive, with players facing serious consequences for failing to complete them within the time limit. In addition, some missions have additional outcomes tied to the Charm/Intimidate dialogue choices, which players will only unlock with a high enough Paragon or Renegade score. To improve this score, players can complete missions in a strategic order and save missions with demanding Paragon and Renegade checks until later in the story. When  Mass Effect: Legendary Edition  launches later this year , returning fans and newcomers alike may find themselves wondering when to complete the various main story and side missions for optimal results.

Related:  Mass Effect 3: How to Unlock The Secret Bonus Power

While there is no single right way to explore and complete missions in  Mass Effect 3 , fans generally agree there are some missions best saved for late-game to ensure the player has as many options as possible when it counts. This order generally also allows players to earn as many War Assets as possible, contributing to their military readiness rating against the Reapers and ensuring they don't lose a squadmate in the final battle. It also helps to have a plan for completing the four Mass Effect 3 DLC , which tend to be a bit more lighthearted than the rest of the story and can allow fans a moment to catch their breath in the face of so much chaos. Here's an optimal way to complete missions in  Mass Effect 3 .

Optimal Mission Order for Mass Effect 3

The optimal mission order for  Mass Effect 3  ensures players can earn enough Paragon or Renegade points to access all possible Charm/Intimidate conversation options. There are several main missions during which Shepard has to make extremely difficult calls. Completing certain side missions ahead of these main missions and having a high enough Paragon or Renegade score will guarantee Shepard has access to every possible option. Players who want all the options also should focus on getting as high a Paragon or Renegade score as they can.

Players should also keep track of their War Assets. Choices they make will affect how many War Assets they earn, and the number of Assets they have between Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 will help determine military readiness. A higher readiness score ensures survival of squadmates and affects the Mass Effect 3 ending .

Between missions, Shepard should scan planetary systems, check unread messages, and speak to all squadmates. These activities can be completed any time; however, some systems will not open until certain side missions are completed. Scans will often unearth War Assets, artifacts, and other items. Some of these will need to be delivered to individuals on the Citadel for a reward. Players can also complete various side quests for refugees and officials on the Citadel for added credits and War Assets. For some of these missions, items can be found during main and side missions. If they are missed, they can be purchased from the Specter Terminal at the Embassies. Generally, the Normandy can dock at the Citadel as often as necessary to talk to squadmates, complete side missions, or make purchases.

• Prologue: Earth
• Priority: Mars
• Priority: Citadel I -  During this mission, players can visit Ashley or Kaidan and Thane at the hospital, recruit the reporter Diana Allers, and recruit either Dr. Chakwas or Dr. Michel.
• Normandy: First Visit
• N7: Cerberus Labs & Citadel: Alien Medi-Gel Formula
• Priority: Palaven -  Following this mission, return to the Citadel to deliver items.
• Aria: Blood Pack
• Aria: Blue Suns
• Aria: Eclipse
• Citadel: Hanar Diplomat (Kasumi)
• Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation (Jack) & Citadel: Biotic Amp Interfaces -  This mission must be completed ahead of Priority: Citadel II or there are dire consequences. Players can also choose to complete this mission as soon as they receive it.
• Priority: Eden Prime (From the Ashes DLC) -  Players can recruit Javik as a squadmate.
• Meet the Diplomats & Priority: Sur'Kesh (Mordin)
• Attican Traverse: Krogan Team (Grunt) & Citadel: Krogan Dying Message
• Tuchanka: Turian Platoon -  Players need to be careful, as three missions will be available on Tuchanka. They should not choose Priority: Tuchanka yet. Immediately following this mission, players need to go straight to the next mission to avoid disastrous consequences.
• Tuchanka: Bomb & Citadel: Cerberus Automated Turret Schematics
• N7: Cerberus Attack & Citadel: Improved Power Grid
• N7: Cerberus Abductions & Benning: Evidence
• Priority: Tuchanka

Players can find items for characters on the Citadel in the following systems:

• Apien Crest : Banner of the First Regiment
• Kite's Nest : Pillars of Strength
• Ismar Frontier : Prototype Components
• Shrike Abyssal : Prothean Obelisk
• N7: Cerberus Fighter Base & Citadel: Heating Unit Stabilizers
• Priority: Citadel II -  Players should make sure they have spoken to Thane at the hospital ahead of this mission.
• Mesana: Distress Signal 
• Ardat-Yakshi Monastery (Samara) & Citadel: Asari Widow
• Citadel: Aria T'Loak (Omega DLC) -  Once players choose to join Aria's fleet at the Citadel, they will not have the option to return until the full DLC is completed.
• Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists (Jacob) & Citadel: Cerberus Turian Poison
• Citadel: Volus Ambassador (Zaeed)
• Priority: Perseus Veil
• Priority: Geth Dreadnought
• Rannoch: Admiral Koris & Citadel: Target Jamming Technology -  When landing on Rannoch, players need to be careful not to choose Priority: Rannoch. Players need to make sure to rescue the Admiral, no matter what, to have the best chance at a compromise between the Geth and Quarians.
• Rannoch: Geth Fighter Squadrons  (Legion) & Citadel: Reaper Code Fragments
• N7: Fuel Reactors & Citadel: Chemical Treatment -  Players should be sure not to confuse this mission with the one to Destroy the Reaper Base. Following this, Shepard can return to the Citadel to deliver items.
• Priority: Rannoch -  To broker peace between the Geth and Quarians, the following conditions must have been met: Tali and Legion must both be alive ; Tali was not exiled in Mass Effect 2 ; Legion's loyalty mission was completed, and the Heretics must have been destroyed; Shepard must have broken up the fight between Legion and Tali in Mass Effect 2 without taking sides (i.e., using Charm/Intimidate); Shepard must have four bars of Reputation; Koris must have been rescued on Rannoch; Shepard must have completed Geth Fighter Squadrons. If any of these conditions were not met, players will be forced to choose a side.
• Nimbus Cluster : Library of Asha
• Athena Nebula : Hesperia-Period Statue
• Irune : Book of Plenix
• Valhallan Threshold : Prothean Data Drives
• Argos Rho : Kaklisaur Fossil
• Silean Nebula : Rings of Alune
• Dekuuna : Elcor Extraction
• Dekuuna : Code of the Ancients
• Hades Nexus : Obelisk of Karza
• Hades Nexus : Prothean Sphere
• Priority: Citadel III
• Priority: Thessia -  Bring Javik and Liara for additional lore and a few important discoveries.
• N7 Communication Hub & Citadel: Cerberus Ciphers
• Priority: Horizon -  To ensure Miranda survives, players need to do the following: Shepard must talk to Miranda on the Citadel Docks; they must warn her about Kai Leng in the Specter office; Shepard must have met with Miranda in the apartment on the Citadel and given her access to Alliance resources.
• Citadel: Dr. Bryson (Leviathan DLC)
• Citadel: Shore Leave (Citadel DLC) -  Avoid leaving the Citadel until after the party.
• Priority: Cerberus Headquarters -  This is the Point of No Return. Following this mission, players will go straight into the endgame.
• Priority: Earth  -  For the best possible outcome, players need 3,100 EMS prior to this mission.

It's important to note not every player will want to complete the main story of  Mass Effect 3  the same way, and there is no wrong way to order missions. Generally, the Priority missions will need to take place in a certain order. Beyond that, players can explore when and where they feel most fits their Shepard's story. The Leviathan DLC can be started early and completed later in the game, if players prefer. Additionally, it is possible to place the Omega DLC just about anywhere when players need a break from preparing for war. Side missions, especially the Citadel ones, can be ignored, though there will be a penalty to War Assets for doing so. Ultimately, players can shift missions around to make the most sense for their story and desired outcomes.

Next: Mass Effect 3: How to Save Steve Cortez

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition  launches May 14 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with forward compatibility on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Mass Effect 3: Optimal Mission Order

With an abundance of quests available and consequences for your actions, it's always good to know the best way to tackle things.

Quick Links

Prologue: getting back in action, act 1: the genophage, act 2: the geth and quarian conflict, act 3: asari and cerberus.

Despite not being as open as its predecessor, Mass Effect 3 gives you plenty of freedom regarding mission order. You need to do nearly all of the Priority quests in a set sequence, but you have more control over when you play each secondary operation . However, there are some risks to embarking on some adventures at the wrong time . After all, several missions are time or progression-sensitive, so those are easy to fail if you're not careful .

RELATED: Mass Effect Legendary Collection: Early Game Tips For Those Starting Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 is a story-heavy game, and the order you do missions can positively or negatively impact the flow of the narrative . For instance, if you've just heard about a colony under attack, then it doesn't make sense for Shepard to spend the next few hours roaming around the Citadel. Therefore, if you want a playthrough that makes narrative sense and stops you from missing out on quests , then here's a guide.

Updated on February 11, 2023, by Gabrielle Huston: There's no worse feeling in the world than missing out on something just because you altered the order of a few missions! The ripple effect means that it can have lasting consequences. We've updated this guide to make sure you know everything you need to know in order to get the results you're looking for, including recommended companions, timed quests, and DLC content.

The first few missions of Mass Effect 3 are all about the Reaper invasion and the galaxy's response to it. You are forced to play them in the order the game dictate

Mission Order:

After visiting the Citadel for the first time, the game begins to open up. You have control of the Normandy and can go anywhere that's available. This section of the story focuses on Shepard trying to acquire the help of the Turians, Salarians, and Krogan .

RELATED: Mass Effect: Things You May Not Know About The Krogan Genophage

Optimal Mission Order:

During the second act of the game, Shepard finds themself in the middle of the strife between the Quarians and the Geth. It's up to you how their long-running conflict finally ends.

You can start a romance with a companion during this act.

Various things happen in Act Three, such as the Asari joining the war effort and Cerberus continuing to cause problems. There are not many secondary missions in this section of the game as things start to build towards the climax.

RELATED: Things In Mass Effect 3 You Only Catch On A Replay

In the last two missions of the game, you attempt to stop Cerberus and the Reapers for good.

NEXT: Mass Effect 2: Optimal Mission Order

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• Mass Effect 3

Time sensative missions?

By CRA166 T , April 8, 2012 in Mass Effect 3

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How many are there on the game?

I read the road map and it only stated that one was, but I want to make sure there arnt any more as one of the npcs said they "won't wait around"

The one in the road map was the N7 save the school kids thing.

Anyone shed some light ?

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Guest Scotty

How many are there on the game?   I read the road map and it only stated that one was, but I want to make sure there arnt any more as one of the npcs said they "won't wait around"   The one in the road map was the N7 save the school kids thing.   Anyone shed some light ?

time sensitive doesn't mean they are actually timed, but that they have to be completed before doing certain other main missions as they become unavailable after. i think the missions are;

Grissom academy, this dissappears after doing one of the priority missions, but i cant remember which, so just do it before priority Sur'Kesh and you will be fine.

Attican Traverse: Krogan Team, Tuchanka: Turian Platoon, Tuchanka: Bomb, (platoon becoming bomb) all have to be done before completing priority: Tuchanka.

Rannoch: Admiral Koris, Rannoch: Geth Fighter Squadron both have to be done before priority: Rannoch.

Kallini: Ardat-Yakshi Monastery, has to be done before priority: thessia.

All the N7 missions just have to be done before priority: cerberus headquarters, but just do them as they become available so you dont forget about them. theres also a mission called Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists, i dont know when it gets locked out so just do that as you get it as well.

i know this info is a bit scattered, so here is a list of the missions in order to make sure you get all important missions;

1. Prologue: Earth

2. Priority: Mars

3. Priority: Palaven

4. N7: Cerberus Lab

5. Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation

6. Priority: Sur'Kesh

7. Attican Traverse: Krogan Team

8. Tuchanka: Turian Platoon

9. Tuchanka: Bomb

10. Priority: Tuchanka

11. N7: Cerberus Attack

12. N7: Cerberus Abductions

13. Priority: The Citadel II

14. N7: Cerberus Fighter Base

15. Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists

16. Priority: Geth Dreadnought

17. Rannoch: Admiral Koris

18. Rannoch: Geth Fighter Squadron

19. Priority: Rannoch

20. N7: Fuel Reactors

21. Kallini: Ardat-Yakshi Monastery

22. Priority: Thessia

23. N7: Communication Hub

24. Priority: Horizon

25. Priority: Cerberus Headquarters

26. Priority: Earth

27. Final Decision.

Grissom academy needs to be done before Cerberus attack the citadel.

Pretty much the rule is do all your side missions you can before you do any priority mission.

One Winged Joker

Yup, some of them are missable. I lost the one related to the son of some human ambassador... Bilal, or something. It seems that one of the main cutoffs is [spoiler=One Winged Joker]the invasion of the Citadel by Cerberus.

yeah like they said above good rule of thumb is do them as they pop up before moving ahead with the next priority missions

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Mass Effect Legendary Edition mission order guide

The best mission order to get the most out of the remastered Mass Effect Trilogy, here's how to play Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Jen Rothery

Updated: Dec 6, 2022

Looking for the best Mass Effect mission order for your Legendary Edition playthrough? In each game there are several main quests which take place on different planets, and these can be done in any order you like. Eventually, you unlock a clearly signposted final mission which serves as the ‘point of no return’. After this, you’re no longer able to complete other quests, meaning you might be locked out of the best endings if you haven’t been thorough enough in your questing.

Making sure you’ve completed all the quests you need before embarking on the final mission is essential, but when it comes to playing through the main game prior to this point, you can either decide for yourself which planets to visit first, or you can consult the wisdom of seasoned players who have put together recommended mission order lists for each game.

This includes recommendations on which crewmates to take with you on missions where they have unique voice lines, information on small changes that might arise if you fulfil prerequisites before a mission, and even advice to help the games’ narrative ‘flow’ better. We’ve also got tips on when to play Mass Effect DLC missions. Here’s our recommended Mass Effect Legendary Edition mission order list.

Mass Effect 1 mission order

Mass effect 2 mission order, mass effect 3 mission order.

The recommended Mass Effect 1 mission order is:

• Feros/Noveria

We recommend you head to Therum first to grab Liara. If you leave her recruitment until after Feros and Noveria, she suffers from the length of her imprisonment, and will initially treat you and your squad as hallucinations. Leave Therum until after Virmire, and she will be in a significantly worse condition when you arrive. This also prevents her from becoming a Mass Effect Legendary Edition romance option in the first game, as there isn’t enough time to get friendly with her.

If you want to see her alternate scenes, we recommend leaving her until last on a second playthrough. Poor Liara.

Whether you complete Feros or Noveria first is really up to you, although Noveria is easier, and Feros has a particularly tricky charm/intimidate check. The companions you bring are also up to you, though we recommend bringing Liara and Wrex to Noveria – Wrex has a lot to say, and Liara should be there for plot reasons.

You can complete the Bring Down the Sky Mass Effect 1 DLC as soon as you leave the Citadel for the first time – complete this whenever you feel like it.

The Virmire mission is the point of no return , so make sure you’ve completed as many side missions as possible, particularly Wrex’s Family Armor quest. Many of the side quests are referenced in later games, but if you’re skipping some, make sure to complete the UNC Rogue VI mission. You should also purchase the Elkoss Combine license at some point as this is useful in ME3.

The recommended Mass Effect 2 mission order is as follows. First, we will cover the recruitment missions. Some characters have unique dialogue in these missions, so to hear the most unique content, you should make sure you’re able to take them with you.

Mass Effect 2 recruitment order:

• Dossier the Veteran
• Dossier the Master Thief
• Dossier the Professor – Zaeed and Kasumi have extra dialogue
• Dossier the Warlord – Mordin has unique dialogue here
• Dossier Archangel – Grunt and Zaeed have substantial unique dialogue
• Dossier the Convict – Miranda and Grunt have unique dialogue, as does Garrus
• Dossier Tali
• Dossier the Assassin – Garrus has unique dialogue
• Dossier the Justicar – Thane has some unique dialogue

We recommend doing Horizon at any point after getting Garrus, and bringing Miranda.

Mass Effect 2 loyalty mission order:

• Mordin – Garrus and Tali both have unique dialogue here
• Grunt – there is no unique dialogue, but you may want Mordin for the story
• Jacob – Mordin has unique dialogue here
• Thane – Tali and Garrus both have unique dialogue
• Kasumi – this mission has unique dialogue depending on how far you’ve progressed through the game
• Miranda – Jack has some unique dialogue, but it’s a little uncomfortable bringing her
• Jack – Miranda has unique dialogue. Leaving this mission until later helps her plotline flow better, too
• Tali – Legion has a lot of unique dialogue; leave until after Reaper IFF – see below
• Legion – same as above

Collector Ship automatically triggers five missions after Horizon. The other missions – Firewalker, Project Overlord, and Normandy Crash Site – can be completed whenever you feel like breaking up the chain of loyalty missions. For plot reasons, Overlord works well later in the game, before Tali’s loyalty mission.

Reaper IFF is the point of no return , after which a timer begins. You have enough time to complete two more missions before incurring major losses, which should be Tali’s loyalty mission, and then Legion’s loyalty mission, so you can experience their full dialogue. After this, hurry over to the suicide mission, if you know what’s good for you.

Note that your choices during Tali and Legion’s loyalty missions contribute to a pivotal conversation check in ME3. Preventing Tali’s exile without incriminating her father helps you pass this check, as does destroying the geth heretics at the end of Legion’s mission. However, you can pass the check having only fulfilled one of these criteria, as long as you defuse the argument that follows the loyalty missions, and  save Admiral Koris during a mission on Rannoch in ME3. Also, bear in mind that in order to even attempt  the aforementioned pivotal check, there are additional criteria you must fulfil in ME3.

Wondering when to play the ME2 DLC? We recommend saving Lair of the Shadow Broker and Arrival until after the final mission. This way, you can unlock all of Legion’s conversations, also allowing you to get the appropriate response from Liara if you romanced her in the first game and someone else in ME2. Feel free to play LotSB earlier, though, if you miss her.

Our recommended Mass Effect 3 mission order is as follows – this guide presumes that all your squadmates survive ME2. You can swap a few of these around depending on how you feel you should prioritise – we’ll signpost the most important missions to complete before moving on. Every companion has unique dialogue in each mission, but we’ll mention the ones that we recommend for plot or utility reasons.

• Priority: Earth
• Priority: Mars
• Priority: Citadel I
• From Ashes Mass Effect 3 DLC – Priority: Eden Prime – to recruit a new squadmate
• Priority: Palaven – James, Garrus, and Liara are good companions here
• N7: Cerberus Lab
• Priority: Sur’Kesh – Garrus and Liara
• Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation – Garrus and EDI. This must be completed before Priority: Citadel II

At this point, we recommend you head to the Citadel and talk to everyone, so you don’t miss out – particularly Thane, Liara, Kelly, Miranda, and Jondum Bau.

• Citadel: Hanar Diplomat
• Aria: Blood Pack/Blue Suns/Eclipse
• Tuchanka: Turian Platoon – bring Garrus. Be sure to do this mission before Priority Thessia
• Tuchanka: Bomb – after this unlocks, there’s a time limit; complete three other missions first and it will fail
• Attican Traverse: Krogan Team – Javik and Garrus
• N7: Cerberus Attack
• N7: Cerberus Abductions
• N7: Communication Hub

Complete all Citadel side quests before moving on.

• Priority: Tuchanka – Javik and Liara
• Priority: The Citadel II – Javik and Garrus. After the mission is over, be sure to warn Miranda about Kai Leng.
• Citadel: Volus Ambassador
• Citadel: Batarian Codes
• Mesana: Distress Signal/ Ardat-Yakshi Monastery – Liara
• Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists – Kaidan/Ashley and EDI
• N7: Cerberus Fighter Base

You can now start a ME3 romance by talking to your squadmates.

• Omega Mass Effect 3 DLC: Citadel: Aria T’Loak
• Priority: Perseus Veil
• Priority: Geth Dreadnought – bring Garrus if you romanced him. If you’re romancing Tali, start your relationship before this mission; if you are romancing her but had a different partner in ME1, bring your ME1 love interest to this mission
• N7: Fuel Reactors
• Rannoch: Admiral Koris – Tali and EDI. You must do this mission before Priority Rannoch
• Rannoch: Geth Fighter Squadrons – Tali

We recommend visiting the Citadel again at this point.

• Priority: Rannoch – to pass the final conversation check, both Tali and Legion must be alive and loyal, Tali must not have been exiled, and you must have passed the check during their ME2 argument. You must have completed Geth Fighter Squadrons, saved Koris, and have four bars of Reputation
• Priority: Citadel III . Finish any Citadel side missions after this
• Priority : Thessia – Javik and Liara
• Priority: Horizon. For the best outcome, you must have spoken to Miranda three times, warned her about Kai Leng, and given her Alliance resources
• Leviathan Mass Effect 4 DLC: Citadel: Dr. Bryson
• Mahavid – bring your love interest
• Despoina – bring your love interest
• Citadel Mass Effect 3 DLC – Citadel: Shore Leave – leaving it till last means everyone can attend the party
• Silver Coast Casino Infiltration – bring your love interest, Wrex, or Javik.
• Citadel Archives: Escape – EDI and Wrex
• Citadel Docks: Retake the Normandy – Wrex and Ashley or Kaidan
• Citadel: Party
• Priority: Cerberus Headquarters – this is the point of no return

And there you go – time to make a new Shepard with our Mass Effect face codes guide and start the whole thing all over again, maybe this time with some Mass Effect Legendary Edition mods  to change up your game.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition romance options guide

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition now has a happy ending, thanks to this mod

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the new best way to play the trilogy

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is missing one DLC pack - BioWare says it's "heartbreaking"

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Jen Rothery When Jen isn't dominating in Dota 2 , she’s looking for clues about new Genshin Impact characters, working on her aim in Valorant , or waving her sword around the tavern in MMOs like New World . Formerly our Deputy Guides Editor, she can now be found at IGN.

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Are there time-limited objectives in the game?

When I left Earth, things were going... poorly. It doesn't seem like I have much time to rally the troops before the situation is completely hopeless. There's precedent in the series for giving you only a certain amount of time to complete objectives. For instance, delaying the completion of the main quest in Mass Effect 2 could potentially cost you squadmates.

Are there certain objectives that I must complete within a certain time period to avoid damaging events in the game or harming my ending?

• mass-effect-3

• Possibly different enough in terms of search terms to keep, but very nearly a duplicate of my question over at gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/53542/… –  Shinrai Mar 7, 2012 at 4:54
• 1 The codex entry for Earth indicates that it'll take 10 Earth Years before the Reapers finish harvesting everybody... I think we've got time. –  Raven Dreamer Mar 7, 2012 at 6:12

2 Answers 2

These come in a few forms, for example, once the mission Tuchanka: Bomb becomes available, you have until you've completed 3 more missions to finish it. After that point, you can no longer complete that mission, with all of the attendant consequences. Most other side missions will 'expire' eventually if you progress the critical path too far while neglecting them. Such expiration is the rule, not the exception .

In addition, many of the minor fetch-quests scattered about the Citadel can only be completed before certain major storyline events. In general, it's best to complete these as soon as they become available, as the NPC's involved in them can and will disappear without notice after a variety of triggers along the critical path.

From what I've seen, there are no explicitly 'urgent' missions like this along the main quest path, so, for the most part, if you do all side quests as they become available, you'll be fine. In a few cases, such as after Priority: Sur'Kesh , the critical path branches, and you must complete one of two missions before continuing. In this case, you'll generally have the option of completing both, so long as you do not continue on to the mission unlocked by completing the first of the two.

The notable 'exception' to all of this is that you should always check in on people in the Citadel, such as your wounded squadmate, as soon as possible . The window of time in which you can do so is often narrow, and your conversations with them (or lack thereof) will have serious implications as you continue with the games primary narrative.

There is one other notable consideration: If you delay certain storyline or DLC missions for too long, you may find that you don't have enough conversation opportunities with squadmates recruited after those events to unlock all of their bonus powers. This is especially easy to have happen with Tali and Javik. It may be worth doing Eden Prime and Rannoch as soon as they are available and you have completed any side missions which the completion of those will lock you out of.

A simple rule that seems to work for not missing anything is to always do the current Priority mission last , because those seem to be the main points where other missions become unavailable. In particular, completing the Priority mission on a planet with multiple missions always results in those other missions becoming unavailable.

However, there are some missions that can be obtained before a Priority mission, but require you to visit a system that has not been unlocked yet. Those will of course still be available after the Priority mission, but this means that it's not always possible to clear out your Journal completely before doing a Priority mission.

In my experience, the main one to worry about is Priority: Tuchanka , as several seemingly not very urgent side missions will become unavailable due to a surprise event that is triggered by completing this mission.

In-game dialogue will warn you when you're about to lock in to the other main checkpoint near the end of the game, so it's a lot harder to miss that one by accident.

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