Mass Effect Andromeda guide, tips and walkthrough – absolutely everything you need to know

By Alex Donaldson

Mass Effect Andromeda throws a whole new galaxy at you, but you don’t have to face it empty-handed: we’ve got everything you need right here.

Mass Effect Andromeda has proved to be a polarising game for many, and though we found that it has a heart of gold that’s worth fighting to find, you might have to do some fairly painful digging to get there. It’s scored a fair bit lower than other Mass Effect games, but we still think it’s pretty good and well worth a look. It’s worth your time.

One of the things that might make the rougher aspects of Andromeda a little easier to handle is knowing where you’re going, what you’re doing and how to best tackle its various systems. There’s an absolute shed load of content, a lot of complex gameplay systems, and honestly sometimes it can just get a little overwhelming in a way that isn’t always good. So… here we are, stepping in, ready to assist.

After over 100 hours of play across the VG247 team, we’ve got some strong feelings on some of Andromeda’s mechanics: so here are our tips, tricks and other guide assistance for would-be pathfinders. Good luck out there!

Tips, Tricks and other vital information

Kickstart your adventure with some pro tips and strats, work out which romanceable character will be your main squeeze, solve glyph puzzles, sort out that confusing AVP notification business and generally deep dive on Mass Effect Andromeda’s systems and mechanics with these detailed guides.

• Tips for brand new Pathfinders and N7 veterans alike

  If you’re planning to hop aboard the Ark Hyperion and head to the Andromeda Galaxy, there are some things you should know first. Here’s our tips from over 100 hours of gameplay.

• Romance guide: from casual banging to winning hearts

  Who, what, where and how to get to banging your new space girlfriend, boyfriend, or monogendered alien pal. Some spoilers ahead, but if you want to know who is available, we’ve got you covered.

• Conversation options guide: what those dialogue icons mean

  Mass Effect Andromeda’s conversation system may baffle series newcomers and BioWare fanatics alike. Let’s break it down.

• Monolith, glyphs and Remnant decryption guide

  Don’t let Alien Sudouku get you down. If those damn glyph and decryption games are getting to you, we’ve got the help you need.

• Monolith, glyphs and Remnant decryption guide

  Don’t let Alien Sudouku get you down. If those damn glyph and decryption games are getting to you, we’ve got the help you need.

• The best weapons in Mass Effect Andromeda: our favourite assault rifles, shotguns and more

  A massive part of any RPG is gear and loot, and Mass Effect Andromeda is no exception. Navigating its massive number of weapons available to buy, loot or craft is difficult – but we’ve picked out some of the best so you don’t have to.

• Frequently asked Questions answered

  How to change armour, your first outpost, respec, best training and more covered in this guide to some of the most commonly recurring questions during the early hours of the game.

Main Quest Priority Ops Walkthrough

From woe to go, everything you need to do to finish Mass Effect Andromeda – and all the things you don’t have to do, too, since everyone likes a nice round completion number. Key choices and consequences clearly detailed, bosses thoroughly sorted out, baffling systems explained.

• Prologue: Hyperion – Character Creation, Character Profiles and Starting Skills

  It’s time to wake up. Andromeda awaits.

• Planetside: Ark Hyperion and Habitat 7

  Humanity’s new home isn’t all it’s cracked up to be… now it’s time to fight for survival.

A Better Beginning

• Arrival at the Nexus – sidequests galore

  The Citadel is 600 years away, but its spirit lives on aboard the Nexus. Time to explore it, and meet the Andromeda Initiative top brass.

• The Tempest and the strange signal on Eos

  Get yourself two forms of transport – a ship and a buggy – and then get out into exploring your first proper planet..

• A Better Beginning and Activating the Remnant Monoliths

  It’s time for some alien sudoku, some fighting, and a bad-ass Krogan.

• Into the Vault, clearing the Eos radiation and founding Prodromos

  We’re going deeper underground – and when we emerge, we’ll have a much more hospitable planet.

A Trail of Hope

• A Trail of Hope: Aya, Hvarl, Voeld and Rescuing the Moshae

  The Heleus Cluster’s native alien race aren’t exactly happy to see you, but they do need your help. It’s time to gain their trust.

Hunting the Archon

• Hunting the Archon: The Salarian Ark and the Kett Flagship

  Take the fight to the Archon, and rescue some of your people along the way.

The Journey to Meridian

• Elaaden, 100% viability and The Journey to Meridian

  Things are building to a climax – and we don’t just mean in the romance system.

Meridian – The Way Home

• The Point of No Return, Khi Tasira, and Meridian

  Now that you’ve settled the Krogan paradise of Elaaden the main quest is drawing to a rapid conclusion: the time has come to try to take Meridian.

Sidequests & Tasks

Mass Effect Andromeda is big, in case you somehow missed that memo. Among so many side quests, there’s sure to be one that has you pulling your hair in frustration. Here are a few of the ones that nearly left us all bald.

• Eos: Naming the Dead visual guide – screenshots and map locations for colonist bodies

  Mass Effect Andromeda has a quest called Naming the Dead, and it is a pain in the arse. We’ve suffered so you don’t have to.

• Nexus: First Murderer – exile or release?

  Ryder faces a difficult choice in the First Murderer secondary quest. We have a helping hand.

• Nexus: Sleeping Dragons – the fate of the protestors

  Decide the fate of some protestors in the Sleeping Dragons secondary quest.

• Voeld: Uncovering the Past – What to do about the Mind of Voeld AI

  Mass Effect fans will know all too well that sometimes AI can be a really bad idea – but that doesn’t make this choice any easier. Here’s some help for making a choice.

• Making an Impression: drill decision and Architect battle

  There are three reasons why you might be looking for help with this quest. Are you making a decision, fighting a boss, or just wondering where the heck the NPCs are…?

Other Notable Pages

• Mass Effect: Andromeda isn’t all bad faces – it’s gorgeous in 4K, so here’s 33 screenshots of it in action
• Mass Effect Andromeda review: rough as guts for the first 10 hours, but worth fighting through to the heart
• Mass Effect Andromeda reviews: all the scores and how it compares to older Mass Effect games
• All the Mass Effect: Andromeda romance scenes we’ve come across so far
• Mass Effect: Andromeda – BioWare looking at patching “lots of issues”, wants to “strongly support the game”

Mass Effect Andromeda Patches & Updates

• Mass Effect: Andromeda PC update out now, fixes black screen, Corsair Utility Engine, more
• Mass Effect: Andromeda Nvidia drivers released
• Mass Effect: Andromeda patch 1.04 is out now on PS4 and Xbox One
• Mass Effect: Andromeda patch 1.05 patch notes
• Mass Effect Andromeda update 1.05 multiplayer balancing patch notes
• Mass Effect: Andromeda patch 1.05 out now with noticeable improvements to character faces

Got any questions about Mass Effect: Andromeda we haven’t answered here? Drop us a comment and we’ll see what we can do.