Mass Effect 3: New and old important choices Mass Effect 3 guide, walkthrough
Last update: 11 October 2022
On this page of the Mass Effect 3 game guide you will find information and warnings about in-game important choices, that is, when is it worth to complete all available side quests. In addition, you can learn which important choices can be imported from Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2. By using our tips you will maintain the continuity of the story campaign. Also, you won't skip or miss any rare side missions.
You may find minor spoilers about the events and campaign structure from Mass Effect 3 on this page.
Side missions - when is it worth to complete them?
The game gives you freedom of choice throughout the campaign, regarding whether you want to focus on the main or side missions. There are however two exceptions from this rule.
- The first one is the main quest Priority: Tuchanka. Don't begin its most important part (heading to Tuchanka with Mordin and Eva) if you have any active side quests in your journal. The reason for that is the fact that after you finish that mission, the game will automatically begin a new one and all uncompleted optional missions will be cancelled without the possibility to finish them. This exception does not apply to side missions Citadel: Cerberus Automated Turret Schematics, Citadel: Heating Unit Stabilizers and Irune: Book of Plenix because they can only be completed later in the campaign and, as a result, do not disappear from the list of active tasks.
- The second exception is the main quest Priority: Cerberus Headquarters. Beginning it is the start of the finale of Shepard's adventure, so it would be good to complete all side quests before that.
New game or imported save?
I'd definitely recommend choosing the option to import you save from Mass Effect 2, as it will let you keep the choices you have made in the previous games. If you don't have such a save, you will have to create a new one. In such situation, the only choice you can make is decide whether Kaidan Alenko or Ashley Williams died in the previous game. The other choices are automatically selected by the game and the most important ones are:
- Collector Base was destroyed (Mass Effect 2)
- Genophage Cure Data was destroyed (Mass Effect 2)
- The main hero doesn't have a romance (Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2)
- Feros Colony wasn't saved (Mass Effect)
- Liara became the Shadow Broker (Mass Effect 2)
- The Council wasn't saved (Mass Effect)
- Tali was exiled by her people (Mass Effect 2)
- Udina joined the Council (Mass Effect)
- Batarian System was destroyed (Mass Effect 2)
- Normandy crew wasn't saved (Mass Effect 2)
- Legion died (Mass Effect 2)
- Thane died (Mass Effect 2)
- Wrex died (Mass Effect)
- Jack died (Mass Effect 2)
- Rachni Queen died (Mass Effect)
- Samara died (Mass Effect 2)
The above list only applies if you created a completely new save without importing previously saved games. For example, if you imported a save in which someone on the list available above did not die, then that person will still be alive.