Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer

Cooperative multiplayer is a game mode that will be featured in Mass Effect 3, and marks the debut of multiplayer in the Mass Effect series. In this mode, up to four players can join together online and customize characters to fight on the front lines of the galaxy-wide war against the Reapers. Progress in co-op earns the player rewards in Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War that can be used to influence the outcome of Mass Effect 3's single-player mode.

Missions
Missions in cooperative multiplayer consist of pitting the player and up to three allies against eleven waves of enemies, including Cerberus troops, on various battlefields throughout the galaxy that can also be seen in the single-player. Players must survive these waves by eliminating the enemy forces, and also accomplish secondary objectives such as retrieving data packets from around the map or defending an ally while they perform a hack on a beacon. On the eleventh wave, all players must retreat to the initial landing site of a map and defend against the enemy for a set time period until an evacuation shuttle arrives. Succeeding will win the match.

Missions have three challenge difficulties: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Bronze is the easiest difficulty, and Gold is the hardest. Playing on harder difficulties rewards more credits to spend in the Store.

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War
Playing cooperative multiplayer ties into the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system. Success in co-op missions earns players War Assets, such as allies, fleets, and radar stations which can be deployed in Galaxy at War to aid Commander Shepard's fight against the Reapers in single-player. Co-op and the Galaxy at War system are entirely optional, however, and are not necessary to achieve the optimal endings in single-player.

Class and Race
When creating a multiplayer character, players can choose from six classes and seven races. Certain races are only available to choose with certain classes. For example, human characters are available for all classes, but the asari are restricted to Adepts and Vanguards because of their biotic strengths.

Each race except for krogan and turians possesses a unique evasion maneuver: humans, salarians, and quarians can perform a combat roll; asari can quickly slide using biotic energy; drell can perform acrobatic flips.

Players can also create unique names for their multiplayer characters and customize armor coloration.

Powers
During gameplay, players can increase the level of their characters to unlock new powers. Cooperative multiplayer character leveling is capped at level 20.

In addition to the powers listed below, each class except for the krogan classes also has Fitness. The two krogan classes have Rage instead.


 * Adept
 * Human: Warp, Singularity, Shockwave, Alliance Training
 * Asari: Stasis, Warp, Throw, Asari Justicar
 * Drell: Reave, Pull, Cluster Grenade, Drell Assassin


 * Soldier
 * Human: Adrenaline Rush, Concussive Shot, Frag Grenade, Alliance Training
 * Krogan: Carnage, Fortification, Inferno Grenade, Krogan Berserker
 * Turian: Marksman, Concussive Shot, Proximity Mine, Turian Veteran


 * Engineer
 * Human: Incinerate, Overload, Combat Drone, Alliance Training
 * Quarian: Incinerate, Cryo Blast, Sentry Turret, Quarian Defender
 * Salarian: Combat Drone, Energy Drain, Decoy, Salarian Operative


 * Sentinel
 * Human: Throw, Warp, Tech Armor, Alliance Training
 * Turian: Warp, Overload, Tech Armor, Turian Veteran
 * Krogan: Incinerate, Lift Grenade, Tech Armor, Krogan Berserker


 * Infiltrator
 * Human: Sticky Grenade, Tactical Cloak, Cryo Blast, Alliance Training
 * Salarian: Energy Drain, Tactical Cloak, Proximity Mine, Salarian Operative
 * Quarian: Sticky Grenade, Tactical Cloak, Sabotage, Quarian Defender


 * Vanguard
 * Human: Biotic Charge, Shockwave, Nova, Alliance Training
 * Drell: Biotic Charge, Pull, Cluster Grenade, Drell Assassin
 * Asari: Biotic Charge, Stasis, Lift Grenade, Asari Justicar

Weapons
During gameplay, players can unlock weapons and weapon modifications for use on the battlefield. Additional weapons and mods can be obtained through the Store. Only two weapons can be equipped at a time.

All players begin with the following five weapons to choose from:


 * M-3 Predator
 * M-4 Shuriken
 * M-8 Avenger
 * M-23 Katana
 * M-92 Mantis

Weapons that can be unlocked through the Store include:


 * Heavy Pistols:
 * M-5 Phalanx
 * M-6 Carnifex
 * M-77 Paladin
 * M-358 Talon
 * Arc Pistol
 * Scorpion


 * Sniper Rifles:
 * M-13 Raptor
 * M-29 Incisor
 * M-97 Viper
 * M-98 Widow
 * Black Widow
 * Javelin


 * Assault Rifles:
 * M-15 Vindicator
 * M-37 Falcon
 * M-76 Revenant
 * M-96 Mattock
 * M-99 Saber
 * Geth Pulse Rifle
 * Phaeston


 * Submachine Guns:
 * M-9 Tempest
 * M-12 Locust
 * M-25 Hornet


 * Shotguns:
 * M-11 Wraith
 * M-22 Eviscerator
 * M-27 Scimitar
 * M-300 Claymore
 * Disciple
 * Geth Plasma Shotgun
 * Graal Spike Thrower

Equipment
Equipment in multiplayer consists of single-use items that can be utilized during gameplay. Additional equipment can be obtained through the Store.

Each of the Ammo, Weapon, and Armor Bonuses have five levels of strength, distributed at random.


 * Ammo Bonuses:
 * Armor-Piercing Rounds - Applies Armor-Piercing Ammo for one mission.
 * Cryo Rounds - Applies Cryo Ammo for one mission.
 * Disruptor Rounds - Applies Disruptor Ammo for one mission.
 * Incendiary Rounds - Applies Incendiary Ammo for one mission.
 * Warp Rounds - Applies Warp Ammo for one mission.


 * Weapon Bonuses:
 * Assault Rifle Rail Amp - Applies an Assault Rifle Damage Bonus for one mission.
 * Pistol Rail Amp - Applies a Pistol Damage Bonus for one mission.
 * SMG Rail Amp - Applies a SMG Damage Bonus for one mission.
 * Sniper Rifle Rail Amp - Applies a Sniper Rifle Damage Bonus for one mission.
 * Shotgun Rail Amp - Applies a Shotgun Damage Bonus for one mission.


 * Armor Bonuses:
 * Cyclonic Modulator - Applies a Shield Bonus for one mission.
 * Power Amplifier Module - Applies a Power Damage Bonus for one mission.
 * Power Efficiency Module - Applies a Power Recharge Speed Bonus for one mission.
 * Adrenaline Module - Applies a Movement Speed Bonus for one mission.


 * Supplies:
 * Cobra Missile Launcher - A one-shot missile launcher useful for taking out hardened targets.
 * Thermal Clip Pack - Refills your thermal clips and grenade supply during a mission.
 * Ops Survival Pack - Emergency pack fully restores health and shields during a mission.
 * Medi-Gel - Revive yourself when incapacitated in combat.

Store
The Store sells multiplayer item packs for a certain number of credits. Contents of these packs include new weapons, multiplayer characters, experience points, weapon mods, and pieces of Equipment, all of which are of varying quality. Credits to purchase packs from the Store are earned through gameplay. Unless otherwise noted, packs listed here can be repurchased multiple times.
 * Available Packs:
 * Starter Pack (Free, single-use) - Redeem your free starter pack to unlock new weapons and characters!
 * Recruit Pack (5,000 Credits) - A great way to upgrade and unlock your basic weapons, mods and characters. Includes 5 random items or characters, with a small chance for an Uncommon.
 * Veteran Pack (20,000 Credits) - Advanced hardware and training for experienced operatives. Includes 5 random items or characters, with at least 1 Uncommon or better.

Awards
Depending on how well individual players or the entire squad does, at certain milestones, they will earn awards. The awards are leveled by Bronze, Silver, and Gold with each having their own individual levels.

Individual Awards
Individual Awards are awards earned by each member of the team. They are specific to each character and is not shared with other members of the squad. Each weapon class in addition to tech and biotic kills has its own award for killing enemies with it. There are also awards for assisting other squadmate with kills, reviving downed squadmates, and getting headshots with any weapon.

Individual awards cannot be earned again in the same match. You can only get one of each individual award per match. The Bronze level of an award gives +500 exp, the Silver level gives +1000 exp, and the Gold level gives one of two bonuses. You get +1500 exp for weapon kills, and +2000 exp for anything else.

Squad Awards
Certain awards are earned by the squad for surviving multiple waves without any squad member going down or being killed, extracting the full squad, or parts of it, or completing an unknown map.

Maps
Multiplayer matches will be playable on a variety of different maps. Known maps include: