Mass Effect Walkthrough

This is a guide to finding the information available to you through the Galactic Codex. There is not necessarily only one way to receive a certain codex entry, but these are some of the circumstances in which an entry can be gained.

Primary Codex Entries:

Aliens: Council Races

• Asari – Talk to the Embassy Receptionist on the Presidium
• Salarians – Talk to Anderson after the Council hearing
• Turians – Start a new game

Aliens: Extinct Races

• Protheans – Talk to Anderson and Nihlus before Eden Prime
• Rachni – Talk to Avina Tourism Terminal III

Aliens: Non-Council Races

• Batarians – Talk to Anderson after becoming a Spectre
• Elcor – Talk to Calyn in the Volus/Elcor Embassy
• Geth – Talk to Ashley on Eden Prime
• Hanar – Talk to the Emporium Shopkeeper on the Presidium
• Keepers – Talk to Avina Tourism Terminal II
• Krogan – Learn about Wrex from Barla Von
• Quarians – Learn about the quarian from Dr. Michel or Wrex
• Volus – Talk to Din Korlack in the Volus/Elcor Embassy

Aliens: Non-Sapient Creatures

• Husks – Encounter Husks on Eden Prime
• Thresher Maws – Defeat the thresher on Edolus and inspect the marine
• Varren – Talk to Davin Reynolds about the food shortage on Feros

Citadel and Galactic Government

• Citadel – Talk to Captain Anderson after Eden Prime
• Citadel Council – Tank to Anderson and Udina on the Citadel
• Citadel Space – Approach the galaxy map on the Normandy
• Spectres – Talk to Jenkins and Chakwas before Eden Prime

Humanity and the Systems Alliance

• Earth – View Earth on the Galaxy Map
• First Contact War – Talk to Pressly before Eden Prime
• Systems Alliance – Start a new game

Planets and Locations

• Planet: Feros – Talk to Expat in the Upper Markets on the Citadel
• Planet: Ilos – Arrive on Ilos
• Planet: Noveria – Talk to Expat in the Upper Markets on the Citadel
• Planet: Virmire – Learn about Virmire from the Council
• Region: Terminus Systems – Talk to Anderson before Eden Prime
• Uncharted Wolds – Talk to Anderson before leaving the Citadel

Ships and Vehicles

• FTL Drive – Talk to Chief Engineer Adams
• Military Ship Classifications – Talk to Chief Engineer Adams
• Normandy – Talk to Chief Engineer Adams
• Sovereign – Talk to Matriarch Benezia
• Space Combat – Inspect the Gunnery Station on the Normandy
• Vehicles: M35 Mako – Inspect the Mako on the Normandy

Technology

• Biotics – Talk to Dr. Chakwas about Kaidan
• Computers: Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Find an AI on the Citadel
• Computers: Virtual Intelligence (VI) – Talk to Avina Terminal I
• Element Zero (“Eezo”) – Examine the Normandy’s Element Zero Core
• Mass Effect Fields – Examine Field Integrity Monitor on Normandy
• Mass Relays – Talk to Avina Tourism Terminal II
• Omni-tool – Talk to the Alliance Requisition Officer

Weapons, Armor and Equipment

• Body Armor – Investigate the dig site on Eden Prime
• Kinetic Barriers (“Shields”) – Let Jenkins die on Eden Prime
• Mass Accelerator – Inspect the weapons from outside the Normandy
• Medi-gel – Use the aid station in the medical bay on the Normandy
• Small Arms – Examine the weapons locker in C-Sec Traffic Control

Secondary Codex Entries:

Aliens: Council Races

• Asari: Biology – Pursue a relationship with Liara
• Asari: Culture – Talk to Liara
• Asari: Government – Talk to Liara
• Asari: Military Doctrine – Talk to Shiala on Feros
• Asari: Religion – Talk to Liara
• Salarians: Biology – Talk to Kaidan
• Salarians: Government – Talk to Captain Kirrahe on Virmire
• Salarians: League of One – Find a salarian artifact
• Salarians: Military Doctrine – Talk to Captain Kirrahe on Virmire
• Salarians: Special Tasks Group – Learn about Virmire from the Council
• Turians: Biology – Talk to Garrus
• Turians: Culture – Talk to Garrus
• Turians: Government – Talk to Garrus after finding Dr. Saleon
• Turians: Military Doctrine – Talk to Garrus
• Turians: Religion – Talk to Garrus after finding Dr. Saleon
• Turians: The Unification War – Find a turian artifact

Aliens: Extinct Races

• Protheans: Beacon – Talk to Liara
• Protheans: Cipher – Talk to Liara about your visions
• Protheans: Data Discs – Find a Prothean artifact
• Protheans: Mars Ruins – View Mars on the Galaxy Map

Aliens: Non-Council Races

• Geth: Armatures – Fight a Geth Armature on Therum
• Geth: Hoppers – Encounter the “Hoppers” on Therum
• Krogan: Biology – Talk to Wrex
• Krogan: Culture – Talk to Wrex
• Krogan: Genophage – Talk to Wrex
• Krogan: Krogan Rebellions – Talk to Avina Tourism Terminal III
• Krogan: Military Doctrine – Talk to Wrex after finding his armor
• Quarians: Economy – Talk to Tali
• Quarians: Government – Talk to Tali
• Quarians: Law and Defense – Talk to Tali
• Quarians: Migrant Fleet – Talk to Tali
• Quarians: Pilgrimage – Ask Tali about her Pilgrimage
• Quarians: Religion – Talk to Tali

Citadel and Galactic Government

• Citadel Conventions – Examine diplomatic archives in the embassy
• Citadel Station: Citadel Security Services (C-Sec) – Talk to Pallin
• Citadel Station: Presidium Ring – Talk to Embassy Receptionist
• Citadel Station: Serpent Nebula – View nebula outside Med Clinic
• Citadel Station: Statistics – Talk to Anderson after Eden Prime
• Citadel Station: Wards – Talk to Barla Von on the Citadel
• Treaty of Farixen – Examine diplomatic archives in the embassy

Humanity and the Systems Alliance

• Genetic Engineering – Talk to Rafael Vargas on NoveriaHuman Diplomatic Relations – Talk to Pressly

• Systems Alliance: Geological Survey – Survey a metal, mineral, or gas
• Systems Alliance: Military Doctrine – Talk to Ashley
• Systems Alliance: Military Jargon – Examine NAVMANUAL on command deck
• Systems Alliance: Military Ranks – Check the manual on your desk
• Systems Alliance: N7 – Examine Shepard’s locker on the Normandy
• Terra Firma Party – Talk to Charles Saracino on the Citadel
• Timeline – Start a new game

Personal History Summary

• Profile – Start a new game

Planets and Locations

• Stations: Gagarin Station – Talk to Kaidan about Jump Zero

Ships and Vehicles

• FTL Drive: Appearance – Examine the viewport near Joker
• FTL Drive: Drive Charge – Inspect the Normandy’s Core Charge Status
• Space Combat: Combat Endurance – Inspect the ship’s Heat Load Monitor
• Space Combat: Planetary Assaults – Talk to Ashley
• Starships: Carries – Use Intimidate with Mikhailovich or Al-Jilani
• Starships: Crew Considerations – Examine the Sleeping Pods
• Starships: Cruisers – Examine the Tracking Terminals in C-Sec Academy
• Starships: Dreadnought – Overhear a conversation in the Wards
• Starships: Fighters – Examine the Tracking Terminals in C-Sec Academy
• Starships: Frigates – Examine the Tracking Terminals in C-Sec Academy
• Starships: Heat Management – Inspect the ship’s Heat Load Monitor
• Starships: Sensors – Talk to Pressly before Eden Prime
• Vehicles: Combat Drones – Inspect the Rogue VI on Luna
• Weapons: Ablative Armor – Inspect hull from outside Normandy
• Weapons: Disruptor Torpedoes – Check Peak 15’s Gravitic Weapons Research
• Weapons: GARDIAN – Inspect the Normandy’s Point Defense Systems

Technology

• Biotics: Biotic Amps – Talk to Dr. Chakwas about Kaidan
• Biotics: Life as a Biotic – Talk to Kaidan
• Biotics: Training – Talk to Kaidan about his training
• Communications – Examine the FTL Comm Link on the Normandy
• Communications: Administration – Access the Wards’ Extranet Terminal
• Communications: Methodology – Inspect server node at ExoGeni on Feros
• Credits (“Creds”) – Talk to the Emporium Shopkeeper on the Presidium

Weapons, Armor and Equipment

• Upgrades – Open an upgrade kit