Mass Effect Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Mass Effect Wiki
MEA Armors - Research

Pathfinder Ryder can equip a variety of armors in Mass Effect: Andromeda that give bonuses to various stats. Similar to armor in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, mixing and matching armor pieces is possible according to strategy needs.

Overview[]

Mass Effect: Andromeda differs from previous games in that customization of each individual piece of armor is now available.

  • There are four categories of armor pieces available to the Ryder - Arms, Chests, Helmets, and Legs.
  • Armor is available in three different technology categories: Rd icon milkyway orange Milky Way, Rd icon heleus orange Heleus, and Rd icon remnant orange Remnant.
  • Armor pieces have a maximum of 10 Ranks with a suffix denoting different ranks. (I, II, III, etc).
  • Certain armor sets (and the associated pieces) will change in appearance as the Rank level increases.
  • Depending upon the choice to be either a male or female Ryder, all armor will change in appearance slightly. The male version of armor is slightly larger and more muscular in nature. The female version of armor is slightly smaller and more feminine in nature. There is no difference in armor performance based on gender.
  • Using all pieces from the same armor set provide no additional bonuses.
  • Choosing to mix and match armor pieces from different armor sets incurs no detrimental effects.
  • Armor can be found dropped from enemies, looted from containers, purchased from merchants, or by Development (crafting) at a Research Center.
  • Ryder starts the game with a set of Rank I Initiative Armor.
  • Each armor piece counts as one item towards the Inventory item limit.

Damage Resistance[]

Damage Resistance negates the amount of damage that Ryder receives from all sources. While it is not explained in-game, the damage resistance formula[1] was revealed by Bioware to be the following:

FinalDmg = BaseDmg / (1 + DamageResist/100)

  • FinalDmg = The final damage that Ryder receives.
  • BaseDmg = The incoming damage before taking Damage Resistance into account.
  • DamageResist = The total Damage Resistance Ryder has from Armor, Augmentations, Consumables, Profiles, Skills, etc.

For Example: Ryder has 100 Damage Resistance. 100 damage impacts Ryder. According to the formula, final damage is computed as 100 / (1 + 100/100) = 50. Half of the damage has been negated by Damage Resistance.

Armor Bonuses[]

Name Health Shields Damage Resistance Weapons Combat Powers Tech Powers Biotic Powers XP Sell Price
Andromeda Elite Helmet
Angaran Arms
Angaran Chest
Angaran Helmet
Angaran Legs
Deep Space Explorer Armor
Deep Space Explorer Helmet
Heleus Armor
Heleus Helmet
HyperGuardian Arms
HyperGuardian Chest
HyperGuardian Helmet
HyperGuardian Legs
Initiative Arms
Initiative Chest
Initiative Helmet
Initiative Legs
Kett Arms
Kett Chest
Kett Helmet
Kett Legs
Maverick Arms
Maverick Chest
Maverick Helmet
Maverick Legs
N7 Arms
N7 Chest
N7 Helmet
N7 Legs
Pathfinder Arms
Pathfinder Chest
Pathfinder Helmet
Pathfinder Legs
Remnant Arms
Remnant Chest
Remnant Helmet
Remnant Legs
Scavenger Armor
Scavenger Helmet

Arms[]

MEA Arms

Arms and hand armor help protect the wearer from hazardous environments and the dangers of combat.

Name Image Rarity Tech Type Fusion Mod
Slots
MEA Augmentation Slot For Tables Augmentation
Slots
Stat Bonuses
Angaran Arms MEA Angaran Guerrilla Arms Rare Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +3%-12% Tech Power Damage
+3%-12% Tech Effect Duration
+3%-12% Max Shields
HyperGuardian Arms MEA HyperGuardian Arms Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +5%-20% Max Health
+1%-12% Max Shields
Initiative Arms MEA Initiative Arms Common Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +2%-12% Max Shields
Kett Arms MEA Kett Integrator Arms Rare Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +3%-12% Combat Power Damage
+1%-10% Weapon Damage
Maverick Arms MEA Maverick Skirmisher Arms Uncommon Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +3%-12% Weapon Headshot/Weak Point Bonus
+3%-15% Weapon Spare Ammo
N7 Arms MEA N7 Arms Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +2%-12% Max Shields
+3%-12% Biotic Power Damage
Pathfinder Arms MEA Pathfinder Arms Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +2-12 Damage Resistance
+5%-20% Weapon Accuracy
Remnant Arms MEA Remnant Legacy Arms Rare Rd icon remnant orange 0 2 +2-12 Damage Resistance
+5%-17% Health Regeneration
+5%-17% Shield Regeneration

Chests[]

MEA Chests

Body armor helps protect the wearer from hazardous environments and the dangers of combat.

Name Image Rarity Tech Type Fusion Mod
Slots
MEA Augmentation Slot For Tables Augmentation
Slots
Stat Bonuses
Angaran Chest MEA Angaran Guerrilla Chest Rare Rd icon heleus orange 1 4 +4%-13% Tech Power Damage
+4%-13% Tech Effect Duration
+4%-15% Max Shields
+10%-25% Tech Construct Damage
Deep Space Explorer Armor MEA Deep Space Explorer Armor Ultra Rare Rd icon milkyway orange 0 4 +15% Encounter XP Increase
+5% Weapon Damage
Heleus Armor MEA Heleus Defender Armor Ultra Rare Rd icon heleus orange 1 4 +7%-25% Power Damage
+2%-8% Weapon Damage
+10-30 Damage Resistance
HyperGuardian Chest MEA HyperGuardian Chest Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 1 4 +10%-25% Max Health
+2%-15% Max Shields
+20%-40% Melee Damage
Initiative Chest MEA Initiative Chest Common Rd icon milkyway orange 1 4 +2%-6% Encounter XP Increase
+3%-15% Max Shields
Kett Chest MEA Kett Integrator Chest Rare Rd icon heleus orange 1 4 +4%-13% Combat Power Damage
+1%-10% Weapon Damage
+1 Combat Power Cell Capacities
Maverick Chest MEA Maverick Skirmisher Chest Uncommon Rd icon heleus orange 1 4 +3%-12% Weapon Headshot/Weak Point Bonus
+3%-15% Weapon Spare Ammo
+5%-20% Weapon Damage
N7 Chest MEA N7 Chest Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 1 4 +4%-15% Max Shields
+4%-13% Biotic Power Damage
+5%-20% Biotic Recharge Speed
Pathfinder Chest MEA Pathfinder Chest Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 1 4 +5-15 Damage Resistance
+8%-20% Weapon Accuracy
+19%-40% Power Restoration & Defense
Remnant Chest MEA Remnant Legacy Chest Rare Rd icon remnant orange 1 4 +4-15 Damage Resistance
+5%-17% Health Regeneration
+5%-17% Shield Regeneration
+15%-40% Health & Shield Regeneration Delay Reduction
Scavenger Armor MEA Scavenger Armor Ultra Rare Rd icon milkyway orange 0 4 -15% Weapon Weight
+15% Max Ammo
+10% Sell Prices

Helmets[]

MEA Helmets

Helmets protect the wearer from hazardous environments and the dangers of combat. You can visually hide your helmet--but retain your gameplay benefits--in the Gameplay Settings menu.

Name Image Rarity Tech Type Fusion Mod
Slots
MEA Augmentation Slot For Tables Augmentation
Slots
Stat Bonuses
Andromeda Elite Helmet MEA Andromeda Elite Helmet Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +4% Max Shields
+10% Encounter XP Increase
Angaran Helmet MEA Angaran Guerrilla Helmet Rare Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +3%-12% Tech Power Damage
+3%-12% Tech Effect Duration
+3%-12% Max Shields
Deep Space Explorer Helmet MEA Deep Space Explorer Helmet Ultra Rare Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +10% Encounter XP Increase
Heleus Helmet MEA Heleus Defender Helmet Ultra Rare Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +7%-25% Power Damage
+2%-8% Weapon Damage
HyperGuardian Helmet MEA HyperGuardian Helmet Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +5%-20% Max Health
+1%-12% Max Shields
Initiative Helmet MEA Initiative Helmet Common Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +2%-12% Max Shields
Kett Helmet MEA Kett Integrator Helmet Rare Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +3%-12% Combat Power Damage
+1%-10% Weapon Damage
Maverick Helmet MEA Maverick Skirmisher Helmet Uncommon Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +3%-12% Weapon Headshot/Weak Point Bonus
+3%-15% Weapon Spare Ammo
N7 Helmet MEA N7 Helmet Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +2%-12% Max Shields
+3%-12% Biotic Power Damage
Pathfinder Helmet MEA Pathfinder Helmet Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +2-12 Damage Resistance
+5%-20% Weapon Accuracy
Remnant Helmet MEA Remnant Legacy Helmet Rare Rd icon remnant orange 0 2 +2-12 Damage Resistance
+5%-17% Health Regeneration
+5%-17% Shield Regeneration
Scavenger Helmet MEA Scavenger Helmet Ultra Rare Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 -10% Weapon Weight
+10% Max Ammo

Legs[]

MEA Legs

Leg Armor protects the wearer from hazardous environments and the dangers of combat.

Name Image Rarity Tech Type Fusion Mod
Slots
MEA Augmentation Slot For Tables Augmentation
Slots
Stat Bonuses
Angaran Legs MEA Angaran Guerrilla Legs Rare Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +3%-12% Tech Power Damage
+3%-12% Tech Effect Duration
+3%-12% Max Shields
HyperGuardian Legs MEA HyperGuardian Legs Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +5%-20% Max Health
+1%-12% Max Shields
Initiative Legs MEA Initiative Legs Common Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +2%-12% Encounter XP Increase
Kett Legs MEA Kett Integrator Legs Rare Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +3%-12% Combat Power Damage
+1%-10% Weapon Damage
Maverick Legs MEA Maverick Skirmisher Legs Uncommon Rd icon heleus orange 0 2 +3%-12% Weapon Headshot/Weak Point Bonus
+3%-15% Weapon Spare Ammo
N7 Legs MEA N7 Legs Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +2%-12% Max Shields
+3%-12% Biotic Power Damage
Pathfinder Legs MEA Pathfinder Legs Uncommon Rd icon milkyway orange 0 2 +2-12 Damage Resistance
+5%-20% Weapon Accuracy
Remnant Legs MEA Remnant Legacy Legs Rare Rd icon remnant orange 0 2 +2-12 Damage Resistance
+5%-17% Health Regeneration
+5%-17% Shield Regeneration

Armor Loadout[]

Armor can only be added/changed/removed at a Loadout terminal.

Note: Squadmate armor can't be changed in Mass Effect: Andromeda. See Squad - Mass Effect: Andromeda

Armor Customization[]

Armor can be customized by two different methods in Mass Effect: Andromeda - Augmentations or Fusion Mods.

  • To customize armor colors and patterns, the Wardrobe in the Pathfinder's quarters on the Tempest allows this type of customization.
  • To choose when the helmet is shown on Ryder, go to the main Settings menu to change this display feature.

Armor Augmentations[]

Main article: Augmentations

Augmentations are semi-permanent customizations to crafted armor or weapons in Mass Effect: Andromeda. When armor is created during Development (crafting), hexagonal-shaped sockets are available to add augmentations to the armor. These augmentations cannot be changed like Fusion Mods and stay part of that armor until it is deconstructed.

Fusion Mods[]

Main article: Fusion Mods

Fusion Mods in Mass Effect: Andromeda are powerful modifications for Ryder’s chest armor that can heavily impact the gameplay, with both positive and negative effects. Fusion Mods use round-shaped sockets on "Chest" pieces and can only be changed at a Loadout terminal.

Note: Fusion Mods can't be equipped on Deep Space Explorer Armor or Scavenger Armor.

Player Notes[]

Mechanics[]

  • Certain armor sets do not have four pieces. Instead, these armor sets have a single "Armor" piece that combines the Arms, Legs, and Chest pieces. This new armor piece is classified as a Chest piece in-game.
  • The combined armor "sets" lose half of the normal augmentation slots associated with the individual armor pieces.
    • A combined armor set is made up of 3 armor pieces but only has 4 total augmentation slots.
    • Individual armor pieces have 8 total slots: Arms (2 slots) + Legs (2 slots) + Chest (4 slots).

Strategies[]

  • Deep Space Explorer Armor and either the Andromeda Elite Helmet or Deep Space Explorer Helmet yield the highest XP modifiers at +25% combined. Constructing a slightly more modular set with the same (or greater) XP gains is only possible after unlocking level VIII items at Ryder level 60: Initiative Spearpoint Legs VIII plus Initiative Spearpoint Chest VII plus either of the aforementioned helmets give the equivalent +25%, leaving arms customization entirely up to player choice.

References[]

Advertisement