Players can once again revisit the Milky Way galaxy in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. With updated visuals and other quality-of-life improvements, experiencing this epic sci-fi trilogy has never felt better. Yet, nothing is ever perfect, and the developers can't think of everything. Fortunately, that's where the modding community comes into play.
Already, the list of mods for the Legendary Edition on Nexus is growing extensively. Never before has it been so easy to mod the entire trilogy in one convenient place. From graphical tweaks to unlocking previously cut content, these essential mods deserve some attention before taking off in the Normandy one final time.
Updated July 27, 2022 by Mark Hospodar: The modding community for Mass Effect: Legendary Edition has unsurprisingly grown much larger since the game's release in May. Perusing what Nexus has to offer is now a more time-intensive activity.
Nevertheless, although the list has grown larger, there are still plenty of excellent mods to choose from on Mass Effect's Nexus page. Whatever players seek to accomplish with their mods, fans can rest assured that this selection of add-ons incorporates the best of the bunch. As if fans needed one more reason to get lost in the world of this sci-fi epic? This list has been expanded to include a few more worthwhile Mass Effect Legendary Edition mods, specifically for the original game.
18 Community Patches
Games are never perfect and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is no exception. Bugs are frustrating. Therefore, mods that fix said bugs are typically a godsend for gamers at the end of their rope. Luckily, two stellar mods exist for Legendary Edition that all players should consider.
The LE1 and LE3 Community Patches are great add-ons to install for ensuring a smoother gaming experience. Myriad bugs/glitches from the first and third entries in the trilogy are rectified with these fan-made patches. Don't explore the Milky Way again without them!
17 Expanded Shepard Armory
For a game that imparts so much freedom to players, the lack of armor customization options in Mass Effect 2 is annoying. Unsurprisingly, mods that give fans more options when it comes to expanding and improving Shepard's pool of equipment are common.
The Expanded Shepard Armory mod for Mass Effect 2 incorporates a few fan-favorite requests. Chief among them is the ability for Shepard to wear the DLC armors without the helmets. There are also more armor options in general, with added pieces from the first and third entries.
16 Skip Minigames
Minigames can be fun, but they also tend to become stale unless they're remarkably engaging. In the first Mass Effect, the minigames get old very fast. Bypassing them requires Omni-gel, something that players may or may not have enough of depending on how diligent they are about collecting items.
The Skip Minigames mod is a terrific quality of life add-on that most players should find useful. Notably, the need to perform minigames on mineral deposits and artifacts is removed entirely, which is nice. Other minigames can be skipped without paying the cost of Omni-gel. There's also a version for Mass Effect 2, which can be found here.
15 Elements Of Comparative Weaponry
The original Mass Effect incorporates a large variety of weapons for players to utilize. Better weapons can be found or purchased as fans progress through the game and increase their level. Knowing whether a new weapon is better than the one Shepard is currently using, however, isn't always a straightforward matter.
The Elements of Comparative Weaponry mod is a must-have quality of life mod for the first game. The mod simplifies the weapon/armor comparison screens to more accurately reflect how a particular item is better or worse than the one currently equipped. With better information, players can make more informed choices regarding their loadout.
14 ALOT Of Textures
Even though the Legendary Edition sports a host of visual upgrades over the original titles, there's always room for improvement. Starting a new game with even crisper visuals and lighting effects is the best way to witness the world of Mass Effect at its finest.
When searching for an all-in-one textures mod, players should opt for the very best. The aptly named ALOT of Textures mod is a fantastic piece of work. Everything is made sharper and more vibrant without sacrificing the core vanilla presentation. Don't upgrade this game's graphics without installing ALOT of Textures.
13 Expanded Galaxy Mod
Mass Effect 3 certainly deserves attention in the mods department, too! Specifically, mods that improve the quality of life of ME 3 are greatly appreciated. For that, fans don't have to look much further than the Expanded Galaxy Mod.
The Expanded Galaxy Mod incorporates a whole host of features, including new weapons, gameplay improvements, mission timings, and a slew of Normandy conveniences. Check out the mod page for this excellent add-on for the full list of improvements.
12 Trilogy Save Editor
The Mass Effect games give players a startling amount of freedom. Outside of combat, players spend the majority of their time conversing with NPCs and making decisions. Shepard can make thousands of choices, both large and small, throughout the trilogy. Keeping track of it all can quickly become untenable.
Arguably the first and most important mod that players should install is Trilogy Save Editor by Karlitos. When activated, this mod tracks and organizes almost every detail about the player character. Anything the player has agency over can be reviewed and/or tweaked to their heart's content.
11 Streamlined Weapon Loadouts
As previously stated, a wealth of weapons and armor await the player in the first Mass Effect. However, depending on the player's chosen class, not every weapon is going to be used. Furthermore, although squadmates can carry every type of weapon, they are only proficient in a few of them. It's up to the player to make sure their squadmates are using their favored weapons.
The Streamlined Weapon Loadouts mod removes this annoying hassle. Now, squadmates can only equip the weapons that correspond to their class, cutting out the need to micromanage their arsenal during a battle. The same rules are applied to the player character as well. Thus, fans no longer have to cart around weapons they will never use.
10 Enable In-Game Console
Video games and cheat codes have fit hand-in-glove with each other for quite some time. On a PC, players enable cheats through the use of console commands. This gives players the ability to manipulate the game world in various ways. Nevertheless, enabling console commands in the Legendary Edition isn't as straightforward as other titles.
A mod is actually required first to unlock the console. For that, downloading Enable In-Game Console is perhaps the easiest method. Just follow the instructions on the mod page to extract the file to the proper game folder. After that, pressing the ~ key will bring up the in-game console like most other games.
9 Better Camera
It comes as no surprise that players spend a lot of their time in combat. The Mass Effect games feature third-person, squad-based combat. Options to manipulate the camera angles are sparse, but that hasn't stopped modders from fixing the problem themselves.
The Better Camera mod does exactly what it says. It gives the user more options to adjust the angles to their liking. The mod allows the FOV to be zoomed out further, giving players a wider view of the battlefield if they so desire. Gamers can apply this mod to all three games in the Legendary Edition.
8 ME2LE One Probe All Resources
Mass Effect 2 approaches resource gathering a bit differently than the first entry. With the aid of a scanner, multiple probes need to be dispatched to a planet to gather valuable minerals. The process is necessary but extremely tedious. Minerals need to be gathered periodically for the use of upgrades.
The aptly-named ME2LE One Probe All Resources mod is a godsend. No more fooling around with scanners to locate the best mineral spots. No more buying heaps of probes just for one or two planets. With this mod, just send one probe anywhere on the planet. The job is done, and all anomalies and resources are found and deposited instantly.
7 ME1LE All Unobtainable Equipment
The final version of the original Mass Effect contains a dizzying amount of armor and weaponry. Interestingly, even more weapons and armor exist, but players cannot obtain them through normal means. Only through the use of mods can players access this cut equipment.
The ME1LE All Unobtainable Equipment mod finally gives players the ability to utilize this array of armor and weapons. Items manufactured by Jormangund Technologies, Cerberus Skunkworks, HK Shadow Works, and Geth Armory can now be found and equipped.
6 More Appearances For ME2LE & ME3LE
Similar to the previous mod, More Appearances for ME2LE & ME3LE gives the player more cosmetic options. Compared to the first game, clothing choices in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 are somewhat limited. This is particularly true for Shepard's casual dress, the outfit he/she wears while on the Normandy.
With this mod, the number of clothing options is drastically increased. Over 70 casual outfits, 11 helmets, and 4 armors are added to Mass Effect 2. For Mass Effect 3, the mod includes 45 casual outfits, 7 helmets, and 9 armors. It's definitely a must-have mod to spice up Shepard's appearance in the later games.
5 Mass Effect HDR & Realism
The Legendary Edition adds some much-needed graphical enhancements to the trilogy. It implements textures, meshes, lighting, and a whole host of other improvements. The games now look better than they ever did, but there's always more that can be done to increase graphical fidelity.
There are actually quite a few reshade mods on Nexus for the Legendary Edition. One of the best is Mass Effect HDR & Realism, which is compatible with all three games in the trilogy. The color palette and lighting are much more vibrant, while certain textures also appear sharper. It's a must-have in order to get even better graphics out of the game.
4 Charted Worlds (LE1)
Embarking on a 100% completionist run of the first Mass Effect can be very rewarding. However, seeing everything the original Mass Effect has to offer requires searching every nook and cranny across the galaxy. Examining every point of interest and mineral deposit on a planet can be rather time-consuming considering players won't know where exactly they're located until they get near them.
The Charted Worlds mod is a lifesaver when it comes to tracking down what players need to find. Charted Worlds marks the location of every mineral deposit and point of interest on the UNC world map for each planet. It also points out where Thresher Maws will attack, saving players from the grief of having to deal with an unexpected ambush.
3 Customizable Default FemShep Head Morph
Better graphics in the overall environment is all well and good, but what about Shepard? Various mods on Nexus tweak Shepard's features. Specifically, many of them focus on the default appearance of a female Commander Shepard.
The Customizable Default FemShep Head Morph mod provides a nice variety of differing options for a female Shepard. The work is very high quality and can be applied to both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. It will also require the Trilogy Save Editor mod mentioned previously to work correctly.
2 QOL Speed BIN Tweaks
Players who enjoy exploring in the first Mass Effect will likely spend a lot of time in the Mako. This vehicle, although useful, is far from perfect. The speed of the Mako leaves much to be desired. The booster engines help a little, but the effect is temporary and needs time to recharge.
Gamers can overcome this annoying limitation with the QOL Speed BIN Tweaks mod. With it, the Mako speed boost is infinite, allowing the player to zip across the map in no time. In addition, the mod also gives Shepard infinite sprint for both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. It's a useful little workaround that makes the player's life much easier.
1 No Reapers & Unlimited Scan Range On Galaxy Map
Scanning planets receives yet another minor modification in Mass Effect 3. Since the Reaper invasion is in full force, scanning a planet is often risky, as it can potentially draw the attention of a powerful dreadnought. Players must flee the system before the Reaper catches them. If it does, it's game over.
Although it makes sense from a story perspective, this mechanic can become annoying after a while. Players who wish to scan and explore planets in peace should consider downloading the No Reapers & Unlimited Scan Range on Galaxy Map mod. It removes the threat of the Reapers, and by extension, the need to make frantic escapes.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is currently available on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.