The Salarian alien race is well documented throughout Mass Effect lore and easily recognized as one of the most intelligent races in the Milky Way. Salarian history isn’t just about their accomplishments, though, as they’ve made some grave missteps along the way as well. Despite their sometimes shady and manipulative tendencies, players should be acquainted with the Salarian race to better understand them and their place in the Mass Effect Trilogy.
Fans of the series will remember Salarian favorite Mordin Solus, a scientist who talks a mile a minute in both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. Players may also remember Kallo Jath, the Salarian pilot of the Tempest in Mass Effect: Andromeda. Both characters are intelligent companions that complement and complete their respective crews.
Salarian Biology
Where Turians are clearly avian, Salarians are notably amphibian with their oval-shaped, upward blinking eyes. They are tall and lean with extremely high metabolisms and two signature horns on top of their head. Their high metabolisms allow them to function and thrive on only one hour of sleep, but takes many years off of their lifespan—it’s rare to see any Salarian live past forty.
Salarian minds are also lightning quick, along with their movements. Observers may think Salarians are hyperactive, but really it’s their quick biology in action. Salarian skin tones can vary from bright colors like red to more subdued colors like grey or blue, and their blood is uniquely green. There are both male and female Salarians, but they are highly androgynous and show little difference between the two.
Besides their heightened metabolisms, Salarians have photographic memories and rarely forget anything. Biologically, they lay eggs like their amphibious counterparts. However, where other alien species take part in sex for fun, Salarians view it as necessity-driven for reproduction only. Fertilized eggs result in female Salarians and unfertilized ones result in males. There are strict social rules that dictate how many eggs can be fertilized in each clutch—leading to a male-dominated Salarian race.
Salarian History
The Salarians and Asari are the original founders of the Citadel Council, as the Salarians showed up shortly after the Asari discovered the Citadel. They hail from their homeworld of Sur’Kesh, but were not always so technologically advanced. When Javik is awakened in Mass Effect 3, he talks about how they used to be “lizard people” whose kidneys were considered a delicacy best served at room temperature.
It’s obvious that the Salarians have progressed a long way from their previous reputation, but it’s still jarring for players to hear that one of the most intelligent alien races used to be so primitive. Speaking of advancement, the Salarians were also responsible for helping the Krogan become technologically advanced. They gave the Krogan a new home planet and technology that helped the Krogan thrive and not just survive. However, with their newly plentiful resources, the Krogan became too strong compared to the other aliens in the Milky Way.
The Salarians then took it upon themselves to stop their creations, a situation quite similar to Victor Frankenstein and his creature. Originally, the Krogan were provided resources by the Salarians to help exterminate the Rachni for the Citadel Council. Once they became too powerful and expansive, though, the Salarians developed the genophage—biological warfare that sterilized all the Krogan and stopped their reproduction. This weapon was deployed by the Turians, and the so-called “Krogan Rebellions” were effectively put to rest.
Salarian Society
Though their society is predominantly male, female Salarians are actually the ones who control politics and hold the highest seats of power. Male Salarians can advance quite a bit in business, academic, or military spaces, but still have little to no say in political goings-on. Instead, Salarians are loyal to extremely powerful female Salarians known as Dalatrasses. Different regions have different Dalatrasses in charge, but these figureheads hardly ever leave their homeworlds—something done out of both respect and tradition.
Of the three Citadel Council races, Salarians have the smallest economy. However, their technology tends to be on the forefront of invention and makes up for their lack of military expertise. This isn’t to say that Salarians cannot fight—they just prefer to do so differently. Salarians specialize in intelligence operations and know their strength lies in their invention. There’s also a commonly held belief in Salarian society that a war should be won before it has started. In every war Salarians have fought in, they’ve only ever struck first without a warning.
Unlike other alien races in the Milky Way, Salarians do not have a notable or widely practiced religion. Some Salarians are religious, but one group in particular that worships a goddess has come under scrutiny by the Citadel Council and is regarded as a “cult.” According to Asari scientist Liara T’Soni, many Salarians believe in a wheel of life. Mordin Solus agreed with this and likened the belief system to Hinduism based on its belief in reincarnation.
Similarly to Quarians, Salarians have unique and complex names. The full name of a Salarian includes the name of their homeworld, nation, city, district, clan name, and given name. However, when referring to any Salarian, they would be known by their clan name or given name. Interestingly enough, there’s also an “offshoot” of the Salarian race known as the Lystheni. The Mass Effect lore is a bit sparse about why the Lystheni are not welcome in Citadel Council space, but players can encounter them among other exiled aliens on Omega.
Though the Salarians can often be referred to as manipulative, there’s no denying their immense intelligence and how much it benefits the galaxy. Mordin Solus was a flawed character, especially due to his work on the genophage, but was nonetheless a fan favorite. Playing a Mass Effect game, whether the original trilogy or otherwise, doesn’t feel complete without at least one Salarian on board who talks as fast as their mind goes. With the Mass Effect Legendary Edition just around the corner, fans can look forward to seeing Salarians remastered in an all-new light.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition will be available in Spring 2021.