There's less than a month to go until the launch of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, the updated and remastered compilation of the hit RPG trilogy. In Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, players will be able to play through all three games as a single story, with improved mechanics and graphics.
At the beginning of each of the three games, players will get an opportunity to pick one of Mass Effect's six classes. There's nothing to stop a player playing a different class for each game, or playing the same class all the way through. To help players pick which to go for, here's our case for playing the Infiltrator, Mass Effect's stealthy, sniping, Tech-Combat class.
The Infiltrator Class
The Infiltrator class in Mass Effect combines Combat and Tech skills into a long-range specialist with plenty of tricks up their sleeve. In all three of the Mass Effect games the Infiltrator has a bonus to Sniper Rifles, and performs best while operating from a safe distance. The Infiltrator also further expands their combat options with a variety of Tech skills.
With their focus on Sniper Rifles and debilitating Tech abilities, the Infiltrator does their best work while accompanied by tough, close-range companions. While others draw the majority of the enemy fire, the Infiltrator can focus on hacking enemy equipment and picking off key targets. While the Infiltrator is a playable class in all three of the Mass Effect games, it has access to slightly different abilities in each title.
Why Play the Infiltrator in Mass Effect 1
Of the three games combined into the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, Mass Effect 1 is the most changed. In particular, the mechanics and precision of shooting have been brought more into line with the sequels. This means that there's less of a random element introduced by the RPG features, and more skill required in lining up shots. On paper these improvements seem like a big change for the Infiltrator class in Mass Effect 1.
With shooting requiring more precision, the Infiltrator's specialization in Sniper Rifles becomes a lot less forgiving. While fans of shooters may prefer the removal of the random element in their sniping, RPG fans may have trouble as the class now requires much more precise shooting to be effective. Sniper Rifles are the most damaging weapon in Mass Effect 1, but they also overheat quickly, so players will have to make every shot count.
Despite these changes however, the Infiltrator will still be a great pick in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition's first chapter for players who want to approach combat with tactical thinking. The Infiltrator's three skills of Electronics, Damping, and Decryption can be enough to make them a force on the battlefield without firing a shot.
Why Play the Infiltrator in Mass Effect 2
In Mass Effect 2, which will now be the second part of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, many of the series' classes were simplified. While the Infiltrator will lose a range of skills going from the first game to its sequel, they do gain a signature skill that will define them all the way through the rest of the game. The Tactical Cloak is the Infiltrator's bread and butter, allowing them to move unseen and get the drop on their enemies.
While Shepard can't fire or activate other abilities while the Cloak is active without ending it prematurely, they will get a damage bonus for doing so. This is most effective on powerful, single shot weapons, and helps the Infiltrator keep their crown as the foremost Sniper class in Mass Effect. In addition to the Cloak, the Infiltrator retains some Tech skills from Mass Effect 1.
These skills, which include Incinerate, AI Hacking, Cryo Ammo, and Disruptor Ammo, give the Infiltrator an even more versatile skill-set than they had in the first game. Incinerate can burn through health and armor with ease, Disruptor Ammo is great against shields, and Cryo Ammo provides powerful crowd control. Finally, AI Hacking allows the Infiltrator to turn synthetic enemies against each other. All in all, this suite of abilities expands the Infiltrator's combat versatility over Mass Effect 1, while Tactical Cloak further solidifies their rogue-like role.
Why Play the Infiltrator in Mass Effect 3
While Mass Effect 2 dialed back the RPG elements, Mass Effect 3 restores them to some degree. This means that the Infiltrator gains a new power and increased customization options in the third part of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. They also retain all of their Mass Effect 2 abilities, with Tactical Cloak remaining as the Infiltrator's headline skill.
The Infiltrator's new ability in the third game is the Sticky Grenade, which allows them to throw a precision explosive. In addition, all of the Infiltrator's existing abilities have been made more customizable, allowing a player to fine-tune their own version of the class. This versatility is supported by the Infiltrator's medium Weight Capacity, which affords a good balance of weaponry and special abilities in combat. In the final part of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition the Infiltrator is the ultimate pick for any player who wants to combine Combat and Tech skills with stealth and tactical thinking.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is set for release on May 14, 2021, on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.