Overload

Overload is a tech power available to Engineers, Sentinels, Garrus, Miranda, Kasumi, EDI, Kaidan Alenko, Wilson, and Dr. Amanda Kenson. It shuts down an enemy's shields, rendering them vulnerable to attack. Overload is typically used to take down shields or synthetics, doing twice as much damage to shields as it does to synthetics, but will also cause any unshielded enemies using flamethrowers to explode. Starting at rank 3, Overload will cause the weapons of most unprotected enemies to overheat, making them unable to fire for a brief period. It can also be used on explosive containers to make them detonate more violently for added damage.

This power travels in a straight line from the user to the target, hitting instantly.

Power Ranks

 * Rank 1
 * Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
 * Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
 * Shield and Synthetic Damage: 120.00 points


 * Rank 2
 * Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
 * Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
 * Shield and Synthetic Damage: 140.00 points
 * Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds


 * Rank 3
 * Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
 * Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
 * Shield and Synthetic Damage: 160.00 points
 * Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds
 * Weapon Overheat Length: 6.00 seconds

Rank 4

Choose to evolve the power into one of the following,

Heavy Overload

 * Your pulse now damages synthetic enemies so brutally that they explode on "death".
 * Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
 * Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
 * Shield and Synthetic Damage: 200.00 points
 * Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds
 * Weapon Overheat Length: 6.00 seconds

Area Overload

 * You have increased your pulse's strength to cover a wide area, making it easy to hit multiple targets.
 * Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
 * Impact Radius: 3.00 meters
 * Shield and Synthetic Damage: 160.00 points
 * Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds
 * Weapon Overheat Length: 6.00 seconds

Player Notes

 * Though the game says this ability will be ineffective against organic enemies, at rank 3 or higher it can still be used on (almost) any enemy to cause their weapon to overheat, giving the player a breather.
 * Overload deals the damage amount listed above to armor, barriers and synthetic health. Double damage is dealt to shields. No organic health damage is dealt.

Availability

 * Engineer
 * Sentinel
 * Dr. Amanda Kenson
 * Garrus Vakarian
 * Kasumi Goto
 * Miranda Lawson
 * Wilson

Rank 1: Overload
Overload electronics with this power surge, stunning your enemy. Effective against shields, barriers, and synthetics. Not as effective against organics.
 * Recharge Speed: 8 sec
 * Damage: 220

Rank 2: Recharge Speed
Increases recharge speed by 25%.
 * Recharge Speed: 6.4 sec

Rank 3: Damage
Increase damage by 20%.
 * Damage: 264

Rank 4: Chain Overload/Damage
Chain Overload

Hit 1 additional target within 8 meters with 60% less damage.

Damage

Increase damage by 30%.
 * Damage: +30%

Rank 5: Neural Shock/Recharge Speed
Neural Shock

Incapacitate weaker organic enemies for a short duration. (Only affects the main target if chained)

Recharge Speed

Increase recharge speed by 25%.
 * Recharge Speed: +25%

Rank 6: Chain Overload/Shield Damage
Chain Overload

Increase damage by 15%. Hit 1 additional target within 8 meters with 60% less damage.

Shield Damage

Increase damage to barriers and shields by an additional 100%.

Player Notes

 * Overload s now more effective against Biotic Barriers than it was in Mass Effect 2. This allows characters with the power to be more effective against a wide range of enemies.
 * Overload is highly effective in Mass Effect 3 multiplayer if used with maximum recharge rate as crowd control power, when fully upgraded along the chain overload/neural shock path. Place yourself at the entrance to a room enemies are charging through and spam it on the first one to appear.
 * Another important factor for Overload in Multiplayer is it's better at stripping barriers than Warp is, especially with the Rank 6 evolution which doubles its damage against shields and barriers. Incidentally, this arguably makes the Turian Sentinel (who has both warp and overload) the best class in multiplayer for stripping away defenses and dealing with hardened targets.

Availability

 * Single-Player:
 * Engineer
 * Sentinel
 * Garrus Vakarian
 * EDI
 * Kaidan Alenko
 * Multiplayer:
 * Human Engineer
 * Turian Sentinel