Nightsolo's Mass Effect 3 Squad Member Guide

Admiral Anderson
Aria T'Loak
Ashley Williams
EDI
Garrus Vakarian
James Vega
Javik
Kaidan Alenko
Liara T'Soni
Nyreen Kandros
Tali'Zorah
Other Romances

Admiral Anderson

How to get: He's your squadmate until you leave Earth in the Prologue.
Location on the Normandy: Never comes on board.
Abilities: Alliance Admiral, Concussive Shot, Frag Grenade, Fortification, Incendiary Ammo
Weapon Proficiency: Heavy Pistols
Romance: Not interested.

Aria T'Loak

How to get: She'll be your squadmate during the Omega DLC, and only on Omega.
Location on the Normandy: Never comes on board. Will be in Purgatory on the Citadel.
Abilities: Biotic Boss, Flare, Reave, Carnage, Lash
Weapon Proficiencies: Submachine Guns, Shotguns
Romance: Not interested.

Ashley Williams

How to get: Joins the Normandy as you escape Earth, and until you reach the Citadel. She's stuck on the Citadel for quite a time. During the confrontation with Udina, you have to talk her down, otherwise she dies. As you return to the Normandy, she'll stop you and you'll need to ask her to join the Normandy. She'll then be with you for the rest of the game.
Location on the Normandy: Deck 3: Starboard Observation Deck
Abilities: Alliance Officer, Inferno Grenade, Disruptor Ammo, Concussive Shot, Marksman
Weapon Proficiencies: Sniper Rifles, Assault Rifles
Romance: Male Shepard only. When she's in the hospital, be nice to her. This is easier if she was romanced in ME1, and even easier if Shepard was loyal to her and did not romance anyone in ME2. Buy her the Collected Alfred Tennyson from the Sirta Supplies store when you're able. Bring her aboard the Normandy. Be nice to her in all subsequent conversations. On the Citadel, tell her you do think the relationship is going somewhere. On the way to the Cerberus Base, she'll enter Shepard's cabin. Don't reject her. In London, be nice to her.

EDI

How to get: After Mars, recover the robot corpse of Eva. Soon after, EDI will take control of it.
Location on the Normandy: Deck 2: On the Bridge, next to Joker, or Deck 3: AI Room
Abilities: Unshackled AI, Incinerate, Overload, Defense Matrix, Decoy
Weapon Proficiencies: Submachine Guns, Heavy Pistols
Romance: Not interested. (Actually interested in Joker.)

Garrus Vakarian

How to get: He must have survived ME2. You'll meet him during Priority: Palaven, and he'll join your squad by default.
Location on the Normandy: Deck 3: Main Battery
Abilities: Turian Rebel, Concussive Shot, Overload, Armor-Piercing Ammo, Proximity Mine
Weapon Proficiencies: Sniper Rifles, Assault Rifles
Romance: Female Shepard only, and only if he was romanced in Mass Effect 2. Once he's on the Normandy, flirt with him at every opportunity. When he wants to meet on the Citadel, do so and admit you still have feelings for him. Miss the shot to hear some more flirty dialog.

James Vega

How to get: Joins your squad by default after leaving Earth.
Location on the Normandy: Deck 5: Shuttle Bay
Abilities: Arms Master, Fortification, Frag Grenade, Incendiary Ammo, Carnage
Weapon Proficiencies: Assault Rifles, Shotguns
Romance: A female Shepard can flirt with him, but the furthest he'll go is to wake up in bed with Shepard after the Shore Leave DLC party.

Javik

How to get: Download and install the From Ashes DLC. Go to Eden Prime and complete the Mission. He'll then join your squad on the Normandy.
Location on the Normandy: Deck 4: Port Side Cargo
Abilities: Vengeful Ancient, Slam, Dark Channel, Lift Grenade, Pull
Weapon Proficiencies: Assault Rifles, Heavy Pistols
Romance: "If you require a mate, please look elsewhere." If you haven't romanced anyone else, he'll wake up in bed with Sheapard after the Shore Leave DLC Party.

Kaidan Alenko

How to get: Joins the Normandy as you escape Earth, and until you reach the Citadel. He's stuck on the Citadel for quite a time. During the confrontation with Udina, you have to talk him down, otherwise he dies. As you return to the Normandy, he'll stop you and you'll need to ask him to join the Normandy. He'll then be with you for the rest of the game.
Location on the Normandy: Deck 3: Starboard Observation Deck
Abilities: Alliance Officer, Reave, Cryo Blast, Barrier, Overload
Weapon Proficiencies: Heavy Pistols, Assault Rifles
Romance: For either gender Shepard. When he's in the hospital, be nice to him. This is easier if he was romanced in ME1, and even easier if Shepard was loyal to him and did not romance anyone in ME2. Buy him a bottle of TM-88 Peruvian Whiskey from the Sirta Supplies store when you're able. Bring him aboard the Normandy. Be nice to him in all subsequent conversations. On the Citadel, tell him you do think the relationship is going somewhere. On the way to the Cerberus Base, he'll enter Shepard's cabin. Don't reject him. In London, be nice to him.

Liara T'Soni

How to get: You first meet her on Mars, and she takes James' spot in your squad. She'll be on the Normandy in Miranda's former office.
Location on the Normandy: Deck 3: In her office outboard of the kitchen
Abilities: Pure Biotic, Singularity, Stasis, Warp Ammo, Warp
Weapon Proficiencies: Submachine Guns, Heavy Pistols
Romance: Either gender Shepard can romance her. Be nice to her during all conversations. When first talking to her on the Normandy, you'll have some different options depending on whether she was previously romanced, and whether you helped her become the Shadow Broker in ME2. If yes to either or both, say that you would indeed like to continue the romance. On the Citadel, when you meet Liara's father, ensure she and Liara meet and make up. After saving the female Krogan, flirt with Liara again. On the Citadel again, as Liara muses about her mother, be nice and confirm that you'd like to continue the relationship. After the Asari Temple, if Javik has been recruited, Liara will confront him. Get Javik to be nice to her. After she leaves, get Javik to say he meant it, then go and comfort her. On the way to the Cerberus Base, Liara will enter Shepard's cabin. Don't reject her. Be nice to her in London.

Nyreen Kandros

How to get: Download and install the Omega DLC. While on Omega, she'll occasionally join your squad. This is temporary: she never leaves Omega.
Location on the Normandy: Never comes on board.
Abilities: Turian Huntress, Incinerate, Overload, Biotic Protector, Lift Grenade
Weapon Proficiencies: Assault Rifles, Heavy Pistols
Romance: Not interested.

Tali'Zorah

How to get: She must have survived ME2. She'll join the Normandy when you meet up with the Quarian Fleet. She'll be available as a squadmate from then on, despite what she says. When faced with the final decision on Rannoch, choose to either convince the Geth to halt their attack, or allow Tali to stop the Reaper Code from being uploaded to the Geth. Or make peace.
Location on the Normandy: Deck 4: Engineering
Abilities: Quarian Machinist, Energy Drain, Sabotage, Combat Drone, Defense Drone
Weapon Proficiencies: Shotguns, Heavy Pistols
Romance: Male Shepard only, and only if she was romanced in ME2. When she first arrives on the Normandy, go to the Captain's Cabin and invite her up. Ask her about your relationship. Otherwise, just be nice to her in all subsequent conversations. On the way to the Cerberus Base, she'll enter Shepard's room. Don't reject her. In London, be nice to her.

Other Romances

For Male Shepards only:
Jack, only if she was romanced in ME2. During the Grissom Academy Mission, be nice to her. Afterwards, Talk to her on the Citadel and again be nice to her. Agree to dance with her. In the Shore Leave DLC, the scene in Shepard's Apartment will be different. In London, have the Communications officer get ahold of her and again be nice to her. She will then appear in the endgame scenes.
Miranda, only if she was romanced in ME2. During all meetings on the Citadel with her, be nice. In the private room, forgive her, and you'll make love. In London, have the Communications officer get ahold of her and again be nice to her. She will then appear in the endgame scenes.
Steve Cortez. When you find him in the Shuttle Bay mourning the death of his husband, comfort him. Later on the Citadel, comfort him at the Memorial Wall. Then in Purgatory, mention you're surprised he likes it there. Accept his invitation to dance, then tell him you want a relationship. On the way to Cerberus Headquarters, Steve will visit Shepard in his cabin. Don't reject him. In London, be nice to him.

For Female Shepards only:
Samantha Traynor. Just be nice to her, and join her when she visits Shepard's cabin for a shower.

For either gender Shepards:
Kelly Chambers, only if she was romanced in ME2. She'll be in the Docks: Holding Area, Cargo Hold B on the Citadel after Priority: Palaven. Be nice to her and insist she change her name. During later visits to the Citadel, continue to be nice to her. Agree that she is the one for you, and the two of you will disappear into a nearby crate for a time. Sadly, she never leaves the Citadel, and you don't see her in any of the endgames.
Diana Allers. Don't cut any interviews short. After the post-Rannoch interview, if you're not romancing anyone else, you can flirt with her and choose to pursue a relationship. Sadly, the relationship is a complete secret, and nothing else ever comes of it. This does not count towards the Paramour Accomplishment, either.

Samara, only if she was romanced in ME2. In the Citadel DLC, when you invite her to your apartment, you'll share a romantic scene with her.

last modified 15 August 2021