Commander Shepard has many powerful abilities for disposing of their enemies in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, and these can be amplified via techniques called Biotic Combos and Power Combos. We take a look at what these are, how to set them up, and the different uses they have in Mass Effect 2 and 3.

Related: Mass Effect 3: Optimal Mission Order

If we've done our job, you'll come away from this article rearing and ready to combo Shepard's myriad foes into oblivion. Except Harbinger. Sadly, we can't just punch Harbinger in the face. Because Harbinger has no face.

Updated on March 20, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: When is it not a good time to learn more about Mass Effect? The answer, of course, is never. To that end, we've reformatted and updated the text of this guide to further your understanding of the raw power behind combos in the second and third entries of Legendary Edition's sublime remaster.

Mass Effect 2 - What Are Biotic Combos?

Mass Effect Legendary Edition Shepard Using Warp

Certain people within the universe of Mass Effect have the ability to control energy fields around objects using "biotics." If you combine biotic powers together, it often creates a Biotic Combo which detonates the effect, resulting in a massive boost to damage and kinetic force. Mass Effect 2 introduced a limited number of biotic combos, and Mass Effect 3 added several more.

Biotic powers can be broken up into two different categories: Primers and Detonators. Primers set up Biotic Combos by either putting the target into a suspended state that leaves them helpless or placing a biotic field around them.

Only unshielded enemies (indicated by a red health bar) can be placed in a suspended state.

Detonators do as their name implies, and detonate any primed targets, causing a huge biotic explosion or amplifying the detonator ability's original effect. Some of the Primers and Detonators Shepard has:

Biotic Primers

Biotic Power

Description

Pull

Pulls the target in the direction of the angle of impact. Best used on enemies behind cover.

Singularity

Sends a ball of dark energy out in front of you, drawing in enemies and causing them to float in the air.

Slam

Lifts an enemy up in the air before bringing them crashing back down with force.

Biotic Detonators

Biotic Power

Description

Shockwave

Sends pulses of biotic energy in front of you, launching targets in the air.

Throw

Pushes the target away from the angle of impact. Useful against enemies suspended in the air.

Warp

Places a mass effect field on the enemy, damaging targets and stopping health regeneration.

Related: The Most Difficult Choices to Make in RPGs

Mass Effect 3 - What Are Power Combos?

Mass Effect Legendary Edtion Cerberus Soldier Hit With Biotic Explosion

In Mass Effect 3, the combo system was expanded to allow combinations of biotic, tech, and combat powers, resulting in new effects that weren't possible in previous entries in the series. The combos cause can now cause cryo explosions, biotic explosions, fire explosions, and tech bursts, and can often be stacked for multiple effects.

It should be noted that there are other powers not listed here that will only combo if the correct power evolution is selected to support them, eg. Concussive Shot with the evolution that fires the loaded ammo type.

Biotic Explosion Primers

Using any of these powers first will "prime" your target, setting them up for a Biotic Explosion.

Biotic Power

Description

Dark Channel

Plague an opponent with a persistent, damaging biotic field. Effect transfers to a second target if the first is killed.

Pull

Yank an opponent helplessly off the ground.

Reave

Drain a target's health and disrupt their resistances, receiving increased damage protection while this power is in effect.

Singularity

Create a sphere of dark energy that traps and dangles enemies caught in its field.

Stasis

Stop an enemy in its tracks with this powerful mass effect field. No effect on armored targets.

Warp

Rip your enemy apart at the molecular level. Stop the targeted enemy from regenerating health.

Biotic Explosion Detonators

Using any of these powers after the above-mentioned primers will trigger a biotic explosion.

Biotic Power

Description

Biotic Charge

Smash into a target while encased in this biotic barrier, leveling your opponents. You are invulnerable while this power is in effect.

Flare

Focus and expend all biotic energy to unleash a huge flare that throws enemies within its range, causing massive damage.

Lash

Latch this biotic field onto enemies to jerk them toward you, doing massive damage in the process.

Nova

Transfer the energy of your biotic barrier to charge and spark this deadly blast.

Reave

Drain a target's health and disrupt their resistances, receiving increased damage protection while this power is in effect.

Shockwave

Topple a row of enemies with this cascading shockwave.

Slam

Deal massive damage with a biotic body slam.

Throw

Toss your enemy through the air with this biotic blast.

Warp

Stop the targeted enemy from regenerating health.

Tech power combos can be primed and detonated by almost any combination of the powers listed below.

Tech Burst Primers

Using any of these powers first will prime your target with electrical energy, resulting in a Tech Burst when followed up with any detonator power.

Tech Power

Description

Disruptor Ammo

Bring down your enemy's barrier and shields. Chance to stun. More weapon damage, More damage to shields and barriers.

Energy Drain

Hit an enemy with this energy pulse to inflict damage and to steal barrier and shield power.

Overload

Overload electronics with this power surge, stunning your enemy. Effective against shields, barriers, and synthetics. Not as effective against organics.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition Cerberus Soldiers Hit With Tech Burst Explosion

Cryo Explosion Primers

Using these powers will freeze unshielded, unarmored enemies, priming them up for a Cryo Explosion when followed up by any detonator power.

Tech Power

Description

Cryo Ammo

Equip your weapon with ammunition that can flash-freeze enemies, weakening their armor and stopping health regeneration.

Cryo Blast

Flash-freeze and shatter unprotected enemies. Slow down the rest. Weaken armor. Frozen targets won't regenerate health.

Fire Explosion Primers

Using these powers will set your enemies on fire, priming them for a Fire Explosion when followed up by any detonator power.

Tech Power

Description

Carnage

Rip a target into shreds with this vicious blast. It causes major collateral damage to enemies nearby. Effective against armor.

Incendiary Ammo

Shoot and your enemy will burst into flames. More weapon damage. Weaken armor. Chance to make an enemy panic.

Incinerate

Burn your opponents and incinerate their armor. Heavy Damage to health and armor. Stops health regeneration.

Universal Detonators

Using these powers after priming a target with any tech burst, cryo, or fire primer will cause an explosion of the respective element.

Power Name

Description

Biotic Charge

Smash into a target while encased in this biotic barrier, leveling your opponents. Invulnerable while this power is in effect.

Carnage

Rip a target into shreds with this vicious blast. Major collateral damage to enemies nearby. Effective against armor.

Cluster Grenade

Lob this biotic grenade cluster at your enemies and watch them fly.

Concussive Shot

Flatten your enemy with a precise blast at short or long range.

Energy Drain

Hit an enemy with this energy pulse to inflict damage and to steal barrier and shield power.

Flare

Focus and expend all biotic energy to unleash a huge flare that throws enemies within its range, causing massive damage.

Frag Grenade

Rip your enemies apart with this shrapnel-packed grenade.

Incinerate

Burn your opponents and incinerate their armor. Heavy Damage to health and armor. Stops health regeneration.

Lash

Latch this biotic field onto enemies to jerk them toward you, doing massive damage in the process.

Nova

Transfer the energy of your biotic barrier to charge and spark this deadly blast.

Overload

Overload electronics with this power surge, stunning your enemy. Effective against shields, barriers, and synthetics. Not as effective against organics.

Reave

Drain a target's health and disrupt their resistances, receiving increased damage protection while this power is in effect.

Slam

Deal massive damage with a biotic body slam.

Sticky Grenade

Stick this grenade to your opponent and the explosion will tear apart the target and the shrapnel will damage other enemies caught in the blast.

Throw

Toss your enemy through the air with this biotic blast.

Warp

Stop the targeted enemy from regenerating health.

Next: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition Complete Guide And Walkthrough