.1B.03. Fighting and Cover

Learn how to effectively use cover, manage enemy types, and time your attacks and reloads to survive intense firefights in Mass Effect Legendary Edition.

Hey there! So, you're diving into Mass Effect Legendary Edition and want to get a handle on combat? Wrex has a great quote about fights finding you, and in this game, that's definitely true. The game does a decent job explaining cover, but let's really nail it down because using cover is the absolute core of winning firefights.

Think of it this way: if you see cover, expect enemies. They'll be using it too. Most enemies will hang back and fire from a distance, but the ones that charge straight at you? Those are the most dangerous because they're less strategic. Always prioritize taking them out first.

For those enemies who like to play it safe and shoot from afar, you'll want to watch their firing patterns. Most will shoot for about 5 seconds, maybe a bit longer for heavy weapons because of projectile travel time, and then duck back into cover. Once you get the timing down, you can actually pop out of cover right as their stream ends – not when they're fully hidden – to get in some extra damage. It's a bit of a risk, but it pays off.

Now, on easier difficulties, you might get away with not using cover if enemies can't hit you due to angles. But honestly, even then, staying in cover is your best bet for letting your health and armor regenerate faster. It's your primary healing method, so use it!

Your squadmates' AI acts differently based on what weapons they're using. If they have a sniper rifle, they'll hang back and take shots. With a shotgun, they might get right up in the enemy's face, sometimes without much regard for their own safety. Other weapons usually put them in a middle ground, using cover and only moving when they absolutely have to. You can tell them what to do, but there can be a slight delay before they listen, so keep that in mind.

Distance really matters for damage. For pretty much every weapon except sniper rifles, you'll do double damage when you're about five paces away from an enemy. Just remember, enemies get that damage boost too, so don't get too close unless you're ready!

Also, where you hit an enemy makes a big difference. Headshots are great for extra damage, but you can also aim for their arms, legs, or those bulky heavy weapon packs to slow them down or deal more damage.

You can even mix melee attacks with your weapons if you're right up close, especially against enemies without shields. They'll get knocked back by your fists. Just be careful, though – while they're stunned, other enemies can still shoot you, so it's not always the best move for every class.

Keep an eye out for red veins popping up on your screen – that's your cue that you're critically low on health. Your immediate priority is to get to safe cover and wait about 5 seconds for your armor and health to start regenerating. If you can't find cover fast enough, just sprint away. You've got about 12 seconds of sprint before needing an 8-second cooldown. Seriously, there's no med-kit in this game; waiting for regen is your only option.

It's also a really good idea to reload your weapons while you're safely in cover, not out in the open where you're an easy target. Reloading takes about 1.5 seconds. Here's a pro-tip: if you time it right, you can actually reload, use an ability, and duck back into cover almost simultaneously while you're briefly popping out to shoot. You can also just reload and use abilities at the same time whenever you want, which can save you precious seconds in a tough fight.