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

Shepard fights in the Citadel DLC 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

Shepard, Ashley, and Liara fight from cover in Mass Effect 3
  • 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

Act One

Mordin Solus in Mass Effect
  • 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

Act Two

  • 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.
Samara, the asari justicar in Mass Effect 2

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

  • 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

Act Three

Mass Effect 3
  • 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.

Endgame

The squad takes on the clone in the Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC
  • 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.