10 Most Iconic Lines In Mass Effect, Ranked

Mass Effect has multiple games, and each game includes a variety of different dialogue options that change the lines that Commander Shepard, their crew, and NPCs in the universe say. While many lines of dialogue fit the situation and don’t stick out enough to think about after the moment passes, others end up quoted by players even years after they’ve finished the game. With so much dialogue included in one series, it’s natural that some lines have become iconic within the community.

Each game in the trilogy has a different villain that Shepard faces, but the primary enemies are the Reapers. This creates a serious tone, which leads to some rather heartbreaking lines that leave a somber feeling for the crew. However, there are also lines that are unexpected and funny, especially with the heavy plot lurking in the background, which manages to make them iconic and quotable long after the credits roll.

10

“Are You Calling In A Report Just So You Can Cut Us Off Again?”

Citadel Council

The Council is an annoyance at the best of times during the entire Mass Effect trilogy. Shepard does their best to convince the Council that Saren and the Reapers are threats to the galaxy, even if Saren seems to still be playing the role of a respected Spectre and there’s no evidence that Reapers exist. Unfortunately, the Council refuses to believe Shepard, and the most they offer is the power of a Spectre.

So, when Shepard has the option to hang up on the Council when they’re trying to communicate with the Normandy, it’s tough not to pick that option. Even better, at one point in the first game, Shepard has the chance to call the Council back to hang up on them a second time, which leads to one member of the Council asking if this is a game and Shepard is calling in reports to hang up in the middle of a conversation again.

9

“Emergency. Induction. Port.”

Tali

As a Quarian in Mass Effect, Tali has to wear a special suit to avoid getting seriously ill, as her race has become accustomed to a highly clean environment. As a result, they can become sick from the slightest exposure to illness. While the suits they wear are helpful for avoiding sickness, they also come with a few drawbacks that might make daily tasks difficult.

With a job as stressful as defeating the Reapers, it’s not surprising that the crew aboard the Normandy might want to have a drink or two together to unwind. Due to Tali’s suit, she needs to use what she insists is an emergency induction port to drink without removing her visor and exposing herself to potential illnesses. While her drinking buddies comment that it’s just a straw, Tali – who’s not exactly sober – repeats that the straw is an emergency induction port.

8

“You Can’t Bludgeon Your Way Through Bureaucracy, Shepard”

Gianna

Bureaucrats are the second-biggest threat to the galaxy after the Reapers in Mass Effect. They aren’t actively attacking any species in the galaxy or causing destruction like the Reapers, but they block the efforts that Shepard tries to make for the sake of preparing and protecting the galaxy. As a result, it’s understandable that Shepard wants to do things their own way, even if that means not following proper protocol.

Shepard can try to use force to complete their tasks on Noveria, but Gianna, a secretary on the planet, informs Shepard that bureaucracy isn’t something that can be bludgeoned through. However, Shepard responds with a simple, “I can bludgeon pretty hard,” which sums up their personality fairly well. To be fair, Shepard does a lot of bludgeoning, and their life would be much easier if they could power through bureaucracy.

7

“Does This Unit Have A Soul?”

Legion

Quarians and Geth have a complicated history, and they act as a way to show the problems that have come up when organic and artificial life try to coexist. At least, they show one outcome that can happen when fear overcomes the perceived usefulness of an artificial life form that starts showing too much sentience. While this is one instance, it reveals that uncertainty about how artificial and organic life can work together isn’t a new issue in the Milky Way.

After spending quite a bit of time killing Geth, considering they were among Saren’s primary allies, Shepard finds Legion, a Geth who doesn’t follow the same orders as the rest. Instead, he wants to join Shepard and work towards a better future, even acknowledging that he doesn’t take Tali’s hatred towards him personally. So, when Legion asks if he has a soul, it comes across as both unexpected and heartbreaking, since it shows the depth of his sentience.

6

“You Exist Because We Allow It, And You Will End Because We Demand It”

Sovereign

Sovereign in Mass Effect 1 is the first Reaper that Shepard encounters. At first, it’s believed that Sovereign is simply the name of Saren’s ship, and that it’s a Reaper ship, since barely anything is known about the Reapers at this point, including what they look like. As Shepard and their crew learn more about both the Reapers and the Protheans’ downfall, especially how they’re connected, the crew realizes that Sovereign isn’t a ship, but an actual Reaper.

Shepard and their group are able to speak directly to Sovereign at one point, and they believe it’s a VI at first. However, it becomes clear that Sovereign is something greater than they could’ve imagined, and its existence is a horrifying realization about the Reapers and what it means if they attack the Milky Way. It’s a powerful first impression, and Sovereign saying that the Reapers control the existence and demise of organic life is chilling.

5

“I Don’t Know What To Do With Gray”

Garrus

Mass Effect 2 is a shift from the style and tone of the first game. Part of this is because Shepard and their crew know about the Reapers and what’s at stake, but also because the focus of the game is gathering allies, earning their trust, and surviving a suicide mission. As a result, earning the trust and loyalty of Shepard’s crew means that they also learn more about each member of their crew, leading to some emotional lines.

Each loyalty mission has a Renegade and Paragon option at the end, which shapes how that squadmate views situations moving forward. Garrus’ mission is about his desire for revenge on somebody who wronged him, and Shepard can let him get his revenge, or convince him to let this grudge go. If the latter option is chosen, then Garrus admits that it’s easier to see the world in black and white, and that he doesn’t know what to do with gray.

4

“Legion, The Answer To Your Question Was Yes”

Tali

This quote ties into Legion’s question about whether he had a soul, and it brings the centuries-long conflict between the Geth and Quarians to a bittersweet end. This conflict began with the Quarians being concerned that the Geth, which they created, were showing too much sentience, as that wasn’t the intention when creating them. While they decided to wipe out the Geth, the Geth fought back and nearly wiped out the Quarians, and the survivors fled the planet to create the Migrant Fleet.

If Shepard can broker peace between the Quarians and Geth during “Priority: Rannoch,” Legion still dies, as he sacrifices himself to remove the Reaper code from the rest of the Geth. As he’s deactivating, Tali tells him that he does have a soul, which is a tear-jerking moment after witnessing her hostility towards him previously. Additionally, it shows that victory often requires sacrifices.

3

“You Did Good. I’m Proud Of You”

Anderson

Throughout the trilogy, Anderson is a rather fatherly figure for Shepard, often encouraging them and providing support for their missions in the way that he thinks is best. While Anderson doesn’t appear as often as Shepard’s squadmates, he leaves a lasting impression, and it’s obvious that he genuinely cares for both Shepard and the galaxy as a whole. Sitting next to him at the end of Mass Effect 3, waiting for the Reapers to be defeated now that they believe they’ve used the Crucible, is a touching moment.

At the end of their journey, beat up and believing that their roles are done, Shepard and Anderson have a moment to speak while they take a short rest. During this moment, Anderson expresses that he’s proud of Shepard, and that he believes they’ve done well during this journey. It’s touching, but also satisfying to hear at the end of a devastating war that made Shepard face impossible odds more than once.

2

“I Should Go”

Shepard

It’s not an emotional quote, but it’s certainly among the most iconic in the series, and the most useful in everyday life. Shepard ends up in a lot of conversations during the trilogy, but not all of them are useful for completing their mission. Additionally, there are often only a handful of options to pick during conversations with NPCs before Shepard has only the choice to excuse themselves and end the conversation.

Unfortunately, Shepard isn’t socially gifted. So, their standard way to end a conversation ends up being straightforward, and rather hilarious from the perspective of a player. The person that is humanity’s best hope ends conversations by saying, “I should go,” and walking away without waiting for an answer. It feels so awkward, but it’s become a quote that is instantly recognizable among the ME community.

1

“Had To Be Me. Someone Else Might Have Gotten It Wrong”

Mordin

Mordin is the very model of a scientist Salarian, and he’s also a character that rarely shows his emotions. Instead, he’s dedicated to his work and doing what he believes is right, trying to use his talents to help Shepard and the galaxy as much as he can. However, he does believe that he made a mistake when it comes to the Genophage, and that means that he wants to correct his error.

Of course, Mordin is able to create a cure for the Genophage and a way to implement it, but the crew’s visit to Tuchanka doesn’t go as expected. If Mordin wants enough time to implement his cure, it means staying behind and sacrificing his life as the building crumbles around him. True to his morals, he forces Shepard and the others to leave him behind, saying that it has to be him to implement the cure, as someone else could get it wrong. So, he finishes his final task with a smile, singing his song and breaking players’ hearts.

Mass Effect expertly blends humorous moments with the severity of the series’ heavy plots. As a result, there are countless lines that end up sticking with players, and can elicit an emotional response due to the scene where they’re said. The dialogue is just one of many elements that makes Mass Effect a journey worth taking.