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Since the first Mass Effect, Bioware laid the foundation for several different storylines that would come to a head by the time Mass Effect 3 began. Among the more memorable storylines is surrounding the sterility virus forced on the Krogan — also known as the genophage.

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The virus was meant to keep the Krogan population in check to prevent them from starting a war they'd likely win due to their superior numbers. It is a highly sensitive subject for all involved, but is it the right decision to cure it? There is a lot to factor into the choice of curing the genophage.

Updated on April 15, 2023, by Branden Lizardi: Still unsure whether you should cure the genophage? We don't blame you. It's a difficult choice to make in ME3; one built up to since the first game. With the entire trilogy now available as part of the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition recently released on Xbox Game Pass, it's been easier than ever to tackle the sci-fi RPG and witness some of the outcomes we never saw originally. We've revisited this guide and given it some additional care and attention to help you decide whether to sabotage the cure for the genophage.

The Important Factors

Mass Effect Krogan woman and child

Curing the genophage is a big deal, but there are several circumstances to consider first. This will give you an idea of the consequences and ramifications of curing the disease.

Who Is The Leader Of Clan Urdnot?

Mass Effect Krogan Squad Members

The clan leader will vary based on whether Wrex survived Virmire and was convinced that Saren's genophage cure comes at too great a cost.

  • If Wrex survived, he will be the leader of Clan Urdnot in Mass Effect 2 and 3. Even before becoming a clan leader, he makes it clear that he wants to focus on rebuilding since waging war has brought only misery.
  • If he died, his brother Wreav will be the clan leader. Unlike Wrex, he makes it clear he wants revenge on those that wronged the Krogan once the Reapers are out of the way.

Was Maelon's Cure Saved Or Deleted?

Mass Effect 2 Maelon confronted in their lab

For this choice to occur, you need to have completed Mordin's loyalty mission in Mass Effect 2 since this choice happens at the end of that mission. The data contains information discovered from Maelon's experiments on Krogan females and is a key factor in determining Eve's fate, which will be discussed later.

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The Journey To The Choice

The salarian dalatrass, as a projection, offers Shepard aid if they sabotage the genophage cure

After rescuing Eve from the Cerberus attack on Sur'Kesh, Mordin proposes using the Shroud on Tuchanka to dispense the cure. Once you initiate the mission, the Salarian Dalatrass will tell Shepard that the Shroud was sabotaged in the past to prevent a cure from being released.

She will also offer Shepard an ultimatum. If Shepard sabotages the cure, she will give them Salarian support and war assets in the war against the Reapers.

If Shepard does not sabotage the cure, she will not give them those assets.

The Mission

Krogan statue in front of a temple

During the mission, a key interaction needs to be executed correctly to get the outcome you want.

The first moment is during the Krogan convoy heading to the Shroud. If you choose to try and reveal the shroud sabotage, then Eve will ask what you were trying to say. Here you can finally reveal the Dalatrass deal uninterrupted. If you wish to sabotage the cure, you should not reveal this.

Once that is handled, proceed through the rest of the mission until you've defeated the Reaper.

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Decision Time

Mordin launches the genophage cure

Once the Reaper is gone, Shepard heads inside the crumbling facility to find Mordin and talks to them. If Maelon's research was saved, he will reveal that Eve survived and that she will be a good mediator should the clan leader get any ideas. If it was destroyed, then Eve will die.

Regardless, Mordin will reveal that the only chance to release the cure is by going to the top of the facility to manually authorize the release — it's a one-way trip that will result in the death of whoever does it. Here is where the decision comes into play. If you wish to cure the genophage, Shepard will try to convince Mordin there's another way. However, he will disagree. You can share a somber goodbye before he goes up the elevator to cure the genophage.

Mordin can be saved by talking him out of curing the genophage.

This is only possible if Wreav is the clan leader, Maelon's data was destroyed, Mordin survived the suicide mission, and Eve is dead.

If you wish to sabotage the cure, Shepard will try to convince Mordin to back down from it — he will refuse, and a renegade decision will have Shepard pull a gun on him. He is not intimidated, and here a renegade prompt will appear. Pressing it will shoot Mordin. He still goes up the elevator but dies before he can release the cure.

The Consequences

An angry Wrex tries to kill Shepard after they sabotaged the genophage cure

Once the mission is said and done, Shepard will receive Krogan aid and Salarian aid (if they chose not to cure the genophage) in the war against the Reapers. If Wrex was the clan leader, you will also get a bonus asset of Krogan mercenaries.

However, if Wrex is the clan leader, he will confront Shepard on the Citadel later, where he reveals he discovered Shepard's deal with the Dalatrass. He will then try to kill Shepard, forcing them to put their old friend down. If Wreav was the clan leader, he never finds out and will be on Earth for the final battle.

If Mordin survived, he will be forced to leave Shepard to make it seem like he sacrificed himself to cure the genophage. He can then be talked to before the final push on Earth.

The Different Possible Endings

Mass Effect 3 Krogan Ending Slide

At the end of the game, a number of slides will play out depending on the decisions made.

  • If Wrex is the clan leader and the genophage was cured, then Krogan can be seen rebuilding Tuchanka after the war ends. If Eve survived, you will see her hand a Krogan baby to a family.
  • If Wreav is clan leader and the genophage was cured, then he will be seen rallying Krogan for more fighting, seemingly ready to enact his vengeance upon the galaxy (unless synthesis was chosen, in which case he will abandon his plans). If Eve survived, she will build her own army to fight Wreav's, seemingly leading to a Krogan civil war.
  • If the genophage was not cured, a slide will show a Krogan female sitting and observing a barren Tuchanka.
  • If Mordin was saved, a slide will show him working in a lab with a Krogan male and female in tubes, seemingly trying to find another genophage cure.

NEXT: Mass Effect Legendary Edition Complete Guide And Walkthrough