.1B.06. Gaining Morality

Learn how to gain Paragon and Renegade points in Mass Effect. Discover how dialogue choices, Persuasion, and Morality Interrupts affect your score and unlock new abilities.

Hey there! So, you want to know how to get more Morality points in Mass Effect? It's all about the choices you make during conversations. Think of it like this: Shepard's quoting Machiavelli, saying it's better to be feared than loved. Your decisions will shape whether you're seen as a hero (Paragon) or a bit more of a tough customer (Renegade).

Generally, when you're chatting with folks, the dialogue options at the top-right of the wheel will keep things going in a Paragon direction, earning you Paragon points. On the flip side, the options at the bottom-right are your Renegade lines, racking up Renegade points. Sometimes, the options on the left side of the wheel also continue conversations. These are usually questions, and they're great for digging deeper into a situation and getting more information. Think of the left-side options as your way to investigate!

Most of the time, a regular dialogue choice will net you about +2 points. However, if you get a chance to use your Persuasion skill or hit a Morality Interrupt (those quick-time events that pop up during intense moments), you'll get a much bigger boost of +5 points. And for those really big, game-changing decisions? Expect to see anywhere from +10 to +20 points!

A single conversation can have multiple choices, so you can really stack up a lot of points if you play your cards right. To fill up your Morality bar normally, you'll need 1,000 points. But here's a cool trick: if you have a 70% bonus, like the one you get from the passive 'Class Power' skill, you only need 600 points to max it out! Keep an eye on that bar in your squad/level-up screen, as it shows your adjusted values, giving you your actual persuasion level.

Being consistent with your choices is key to reaching the maximum Morality score. Your Morality level directly impacts your Negotiation/Persuasion skill. While some items call it 'Negotiation' (like the Death Mask or DLC Armor), most of the game refers to it as 'Persuasion'. If your Morality is high enough, you can use Persuasion to bypass extra fights, get better deals at shops, or even get NPCs and your squadmates to agree with your plans. If your Persuasion isn't high enough, you'll see the option, but it'll be greyed out, meaning you can't use it. If it's not greyed out, though, you're guaranteed to succeed!