Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 3

Character Creation

Create your Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3. This guide covers importing characters and starting new games, shaping your hero for the Reaper war.

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Character Creation

Welcome, Commander! Your journey to save the galaxy begins here, with the crucial decisions made during character creation. This guide will walk you through each step, ensuring you craft a Shepard ready to face the Reapers.

Importing a Character vs. New Game

The first choice you'll face is whether to import a character from Mass Effect 2 or start a new game. This decision significantly impacts your experience:

  • Importing a Character: This is highly recommended for returning players. Importing your save file from Mass Effect 2 carries over all your previous choices, relationships, and even your character's appearance. This ensures a consistent narrative and allows you to experience the full impact of your past decisions. You'll retain your character's class, morality (Paragon/Renegade), and a portion of your skill points, giving you a head start.
  • New Game: If you're new to the series or wish to experience a fresh start, select "New Game." This option allows you to define Shepard from scratch, including their background and psychological profile, which will influence certain dialogue options and minor plot points throughout the game.

Defining Your Shepard (New Game Only)

If you choose to start a new game, you'll be prompted to define several key aspects of your Commander Shepard:

1. Gender

  • Male Shepard: Voiced by Mark Meer. Offers a classic heroic portrayal.
  • Female Shepard: Voiced by Jennifer Hale. Provides a critically acclaimed performance and unique romantic options.

Strategy Tip: Beyond voice acting and romance, gender has no impact on gameplay mechanics or story progression.

2. Appearance

This section allows for extensive customization of Shepard's physical traits. Take your time here, as this will be your avatar for the entire game.

  • Preset Faces: Several pre-designed faces are available for both male and female Shepard. These are a good starting point if you're not interested in deep customization.
  • Customization Options:
    • Head: Adjust skull shape, jawline, and chin.
    • Eyes: Modify eye shape, color, and spacing.
    • Nose: Choose from various nose types and adjust its size.
    • Mouth: Customize lip thickness, mouth width, and jaw depth.
    • Hair: Select from a wide range of hairstyles and colors.
    • Complexion & Scars: Add details like freckles, blemishes, or battle scars to give your Shepard character.
    • Makeup (Female Shepard): Apply various makeup styles and colors.

Strategy Tip: If you're importing a character, you'll have the option to slightly tweak their appearance or fully re-customize them. Be aware that significant changes might make your Shepard look different from their previous iterations.

3. Origin

Your origin story provides background context for Shepard and unlocks specific dialogue choices throughout the game. Choose wisely, as this cannot be changed later.

  • Earthborn: Shepard grew up on the streets of Earth, a tough survivor with a strong sense of justice. This background often leads to more pragmatic or street-smart dialogue options.
  • Colonist: Shepard was raised on a frontier colony, experiencing firsthand the dangers of the galaxy. This origin often emphasizes themes of community and resilience.
  • Spacer: Shepard's parents were in the Alliance military, meaning they grew up on starships and military bases. This background often provides insight into military protocols and a strong sense of duty.

4. Psychological Profile (Pre-Service History)

This choice defines a pivotal event in Shepard's early military career, influencing their reputation and certain interactions.

  • Sole Survivor: Shepard was the lone survivor of a horrific incident, developing a hardened and self-reliant demeanor. This often leads to more cynical or independent dialogue.
  • War Hero: Shepard performed an act of extraordinary bravery, becoming a celebrated figure. This profile often results in more inspiring or diplomatic dialogue.
  • Ruthless: Shepard made difficult, morally ambiguous decisions to achieve victory, earning a reputation for effectiveness at any cost. This often opens up more intimidating or pragmatic dialogue options.

Strategy Tip: Your chosen Origin and Psychological Profile will subtly influence how NPCs react to you and the available dialogue choices. There's no "best" combination; choose what resonates with the Shepard you envision playing.

5. Class

Your class dictates your combat abilities, available powers, and weapon proficiencies. This is arguably the most impactful decision for gameplay.

  • Soldier: Master of all weapons and combat abilities. Focuses on raw damage output and durability. Ideal for players who prefer direct combat.
    • Key Powers: Adrenaline Rush, Concussive Shot, Incendiary Ammo, Disruptor Ammo, Cryo Ammo.
    • Weapon Proficiencies: All weapon types.
  • Infiltrator: A stealthy combatant specializing in sniper rifles and tech powers. Excels at long-range engagements and disabling enemies.
    • Key Powers: Tactical Cloak, Incinerate, Cryo Blast, Disruptor Ammo, Sticky Grenade.
    • Weapon Proficiencies: Sniper Rifles, Submachine Guns, Heavy Pistols.
  • Vanguard: A high-risk, high-reward class that charges into close quarters with biotic powers and shotguns.
    • Key Powers: Biotic Charge, Nova, Shockwave, Incendiary Ammo, Pull.
    • Weapon Proficiencies: Shotguns, Submachine Guns, Heavy Pistols.
  • Sentinel: A versatile hybrid class, combining tech and biotic powers with strong defensive capabilities.
    • Key Powers: Tech Armor, Warp, Throw, Overload, Cryo Blast.
    • Weapon Proficiencies: Assault Rifles, Submachine Guns, Heavy Pistols.
  • Adept: A pure biotic powerhouse, capable of manipulating gravity and energy to incapacitate and destroy enemies.
    • Key Powers: Warp, Throw, Singularity, Pull, Shockwave.
    • Weapon Proficiencies: Heavy Pistols, Submachine Guns.
  • Engineer: A master of technology, deploying combat drones and hacking enemy systems. Excels at crowd control and support.
    • Key Powers: Combat Drone, Incinerate, Overload, Cryo Blast, Sentry Turret.
    • Weapon Proficiencies: Heavy Pistols, Submachine Guns.

Strategy Tip: Consider your preferred playstyle. Do you enjoy direct combat, stealth, or supporting your squad? Each class offers a distinct experience. If you're importing, your class is fixed, but you'll have the opportunity to re-spec your power points early in the game.

Finalizing Your Character

Once you've made all your selections, you'll be prompted to confirm your choices and name your character. Double-check everything, as some decisions (like gender, origin, and profile) are permanent for that playthrough. With your Commander Shepard fully defined, you're ready to begin your mission to save the galaxy!