Best Classes in Mass Effect: Andromeda
Note: This guide covers the best classes for Mass Effect: Andromeda’s single player. If you’re looking for the best classes for multiplayer, check here.
As you play Mass Effect: Andromeda you’ll earn skill points that allow you to choose active and passive powers from three different categories: Combat, Biotics, and Tech. Pouring your hard-earned points into these categories unlocks Profiles which work sort of like classes in other RPGs. They provide specific perks tailored to the types of skills you unlock and utilize most.
Choosing which of these classes to go for can be difficult, though. They all look pretty amazing, and you may even be of the mind that there’s no real difference. But it is possible to choose one that’s perfect for a particular playstyle, you’ll just have to weigh the pros and cons. We’ll be taking a look at each of the seven Profiles you can unlock in the game.
Soldier
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Best Classes
Soldiers are combat focused and don’t really promote mixing of skill from other categories. Oddly enough, this Profile doesn’t do anything to bolster Combat Powers either, instead opting to boost your abilities with wielded weapons as well as upping your survivability. You’ll gain four stat bonuses with Soldier that increase in potency as you pour more points into it:
- Weapon Damage
- Weapon Accuracy
- Damage Resistance
- Weapon Clip Size
You also get a cool passive called Marksman’s Focus which increases damage output with each kill.
Pretty much, if you like shooting a lot, and don’t care about much else, this is a perfect Profile for you.
Engineer
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Best Classes
Engineer is for those who focus all of their points in the Tech tree. That particular branch of skills provides different machines and capabilities that mess with other technology to give you an edge in battle. Like Soldier, it’s very big on damage output, though it focuses more on your Tech Powers in place of the weapons you carry. Pouring points into the Tech tree grants you the following stat perks that increase with each rank:
- All Combo Damage
- Tech Construct Health
- Tech Construct Health Regeneration
- Tech Construct Damage
- Tech Restoration & Defense
This Profile also grants you the exclusive Combat Drone. It’s a small drone that boosts your recharge rates and creates an EMP if enemies get too close.
This class definitely supports mid-range fighters as it lets you set up defenses while shutting down enemies to keep them at bay. Using turrets and traps is quite useful, and the tech skills really help build combos with your teammates leading to great field control. There’s even a cloaking skill under the Tech tree which supports a bit of stealth gameplay. If you like to mix up gunplay with a bit of power usage, this is definitely one to consider.
Adept
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Best Classes
Adept is the final of the single-focus Profiles in Mass Effect: Andromeda. This one focuses on Biotics, which are augments to Ryder’s nervous system allowing for incredible powers. This is one of the best classes around for players who may want to forego typical weaponry and dance in the trenches with their enemies. Pouring points into the Biotics category will upgrade the following perk bonuses for this Profile:
- Biotic Force
- Biotic Area of Effect Damage
- Biotic Area of Effect Radius
- Biotic Effect Duration
- Biotic Combo Radius
The extra passive you get is interesting as well. It’s called Biotic Echoes and it gives all combos the ability to set up more explosions which can create a chaotic chain of destruction. Also, your jump-jet will no longer be active, all traversal will be done using Biotics.
Adept is very useful for more up-close and personal players. The skills in the Biotic tree are all about survival while in melee range and stopping enemies from doing anything, which means you’ll be an important member of your party as well.
Sentinel
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Best Classes
Sentinel is the first hybrid class on the list. It combines a Tech and Biotics focus allowing for a mid-close range powerhouse class. Using traps, electricity, and devastating melee abilities, you can survive even the toughest hand-to-hand battles. You’ll have to pour skills equally into both Tech and Biotics in order rank this one up, which will upgrade the following stat buffs:
- All Combo Damage
- Tech Recharge Speed
- Power Shield Cost Reduction
- Power Restoration & Defense
You’ll also get Tech Armor which significantly reduces the amount of damage you take after your shields are depleted.
This is a more rounded version of Adept, mixing in the Tech abilities that can add interesting side-effects to your opponents. While Biotics alone are great for melee encounters, throwing in Tech skills allow for some breathing room and versatility, especially when there’s an enemy a bit too tough for just a sword.
Vanguard
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Best Classes
Combat and Biotics combine to make for a soldier capable of covering themselves from a distance, while also being formidable in close-range encounters. The stat perks are more geared towards melee combat, but your Combat Powers can help to fortify your armory. Pouring points equally into Combat and Biotics will grant increasingly potent versions of the following stat buffs:
- Melee Damage
- Melee Force
- Biotic Recharge Speed
- Power Shield Cost Reduction
- Max Shields
You’ll also get Siphoning Strike, making every melee attack restore a bit of your shield, which can come in very handy.
If you find yourself in tight corridors where distance isn’t always an option, this can really help with any surprise visitors. I will say that the lack of weapon buffing is an odd choice for this Profile, but you can address that yourself. This is definitely still more geared towards a melee bruiser or perhaps a shotgun lover since it keeps you safe when rushing in close.
Infiltrator
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Best Classes
Yes, there’s some love for stealthy players in Mass Effect: Andromeda. The Infiltrator Profile combines Combat and Tech abilities to create a long ranged warrior who can avoid detection when forced to get close. Upgrading both of those trees evenly will grant the following bonuses:
- Weapon Accuracy
- Weapon Stability
- Tech Recharge Speed
- Weapon Headshot/Weak Point Bonus
You’ll also get Battlefield Awareness which lets you see enemies through walls when using a scope.
This is a great class for snipers who like to utilize traps as well. The accuracy and stability buffs ensure that you always land a headshot, and the Tech recharge speed really helps keep enemies at bay with traps, hacks, and combos. You can pretty much just sit back and take out entire camps with this class. Even better, it adds Cloak Evades to your mobility, turning you invisible whenever you dodge, which forces the enemy to quickly lose track of you, just in case they happen to get too close.
Explorer
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Best Classes
For the Ryder that wants it all, the Explorer offers the most versatility by combining all three skill trees to give a balanced mix of everything. It won’t excel in any type of combat, but is more than sufficient for those who don’t want to constantly switch around. By investing equally into all three skill categories you get the following perks:
- Weapon Damage
- Damage Resistance
- Tech Recharge Speed
- Biotic Power Damage
- Power Restoration & Defense
You also get one of my personal favorite abilities, the Biotic Link. When you dash or dodge, you’ll phase through solid objects. You can use this to quickly lose enemies while fighting in camps, just phasing through large containers to find cover on the other side, or to get through enemy cover. It’s a neat trick that I must admit takes a bit of getting used to.
This jack of all trades is the best for those who just can’t decide and are happy with having some balance. The extra weapon damage is certainly welcome and the Tech recharge speed helps to keep useful, damage-dealing abilities at your fingertips. I’d recommend maxing out Biotic Barrier to go with this Profile for maximum effect.
Keep in mind that you can swap Profiles whenever you want as long as you’ve unlocked them. So don’t feel pigeon-holed. Also, if you’re wondering what skills to invest in while building your class, check out our picks for the best in the game.
For more on Mass Effect: Andromeda make sure to check out our wiki.
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