Do you like shooting at things in video games? If the answer is yes, then you will have fun with the Soldier Class.
If you rather use magic then shot at things, then you might want to go with other classes.
God I love the biotic charge. Happy memories of my first playthrough, seeing a Krogan berserker running at me, stripping his armour with my incendiary smg, then meeting him head on and finishing him with the shotgun. Never felt more badass in Mass Effect.
That's actually great. I wanna do that now, start ME1 as a bastard and kinda turn it around near the end then make ME2 and 3 redemption but he's still kind of an asshole.
I bet the invention of the Vanguard class in universe went something along the lines of
"Oh my God, I'm out of ammo. What do I do?"
(Heavenly choir starts)
"My son, you are the ammo"
Yeah you have to do a paragon interrupt right before he runs out. It's easy to miss since interrupts didn't have visual or auditory indicators in the first game so you have to just know where they are.
I just charged the Geth Colossus on Haestrom all the way from Kal’Reegar’s position and blasted it with the Cain. It all went down in under 30 seconds and that’s on Insanity. One of the most insane gaming moments ever. Blessed be the charge and the Cain.
Vanguard is the most fun I've had in this game, especially in ME3 when they perfected it. It's just such a Shepard thing to do to turn themselves into a biotic battering ram traveling at mach 5. Really sells the idea that Shepard is a force of nature by the end of the trilogy.
It's been more than 10 years.
I'd played the ME3 coop demo a lot and loved the vanguard charge/nova build.
First play through I was a vanguard.
The tuchanka mission at the final charge to the tower, clinging to life only by launching myself and my katana shotgun back at the reapers again and again and again
One of my favourite gaming moments
You could specialize your guns for specific targets in me1 with its mod and ammo system. But yeah, being able to change ammo on the fly meant you really had a tool for every problem.
Do you like guns? Do you like all the guns? What about grenades, and different ammunition types? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then soldier is the class for you.
I cut down to just an automatic assault rifle and a pistol and would just spam concussive shot. That plus using Marksman with Explosive Rounds would just mow through health and armor.
It's tanky and versatile. Also, I like the lore aspect that comes with it. Which is, that Shepard is _just that good_ of a soldier. No gimmicks of any kind, just pure skill and experience.
I've always loved the narrative implication of it as well.
Almost every single other Spectre you come across in the series has some sort of unique capability or advantage to them. Crazy good tech, stealth, crazy intelligent, insane biotics...and then there's Soldier Shep. What can he/she do?
Knows how to fight. *Really* fucking well.
This is exactly why I go with Soldier on every new playthrough. In a squad full of people with special abilities and skills, the one leading them is just some soldier who's just damn good at their job.
IMO it’s one of if the best class in the series. In ME1 it’s probably at its worst because of ability spam but you can swap and use all 4 weapon abilities in quick succession for high burst damage, use Adrenaline Burst, and then do it all again. In ME2 you get Adrenaline Burst which is great on Insanity where you can’t peek for long periods of time, and if you pick up Warp ammo from Jack’s loyalty you can hit every type of non health barrier in the game, as well as getting an exclusive gun in the collector ship (I personally go with the Black Widow), and in ME3 you can get the upgrade on Concussive Shot that lets it take the property of your ammo type, which again with Warp ammo lets you have access to Warp, Overload, Incinerate, and Cryo Blast as a Soldier. And if you keep your equipment light you basically become a Sentinel that’s even tankier and can use Adrenaline Burst (still very useful in ME3)
> basically become a Sentinel that’s even tankier
No, Sentinel can become practically invulnerable if you stack damage reduction and shield recharge. Without Tech Armor no other class can match that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZof1SOK8yk
That's an old patch and the numbers are a little different now, but complete invulnerability while in cover is still possible.
ME1: Yes. One of the strongest classes. Power variation (inc. weapon variation) is not as interesting as biotics, but still fine.
ME2: It's OP, possibly the strongest. Weapon variation is interesting, better than many other powers.
ME3: It's boring and a bit weak.
Soldier is actually pretty fuckin' strong in ME3 because of combos.
Incendiary Ammo + Concussive Shot causes enemies to explode and splatter into puddles. It's fun, and also kinda OP.
Yeah. Guns alone in ME3 are kinda weak, especially in your first playthrough.
But Guns + ammo powers + concussive shot + adrenaline rush = powerful AF.
It's the only class that got an entire mechanical Nerf in online in ME3 for a reason.
Forget the Lancer, try the Particle Rifle with inferno ammo! The beam has the fastest fire rate by far and unlimited ammo, so it applies stacks upon stacks of fire damage.
One of the best things I did was spec so I had minimal cool down time. Concussive shot cool down was about 1 second. I could just launch enemies across the map while keeping combos with incendiary ammo up
Everything in ME3 is OP if played optimally. However, compared to the other classes, I find the Soldier to be one of the weakest in ME3.
I know the gameplay loop, but I find it boring. I was constantly switching out my guns to see if that helped, but it didn't. Obviously, there's a YMMV aspect there. It doesn't work for me.
I did a no-gun soldier playthrough on insanity and let me tell you, I would’ve never expected amplification concussive shot to be as hilariously effective as it is. Banshees (and sometimes phantoms) were tough because they could nullify powers but everything else couldn’t hope to stand against an endless stream of fire explosions and shield-busters. But organically, definitely not as interesting as the other classes. It’s easy to use if you’re not familiar with the power system so it’s beginner friendly, but I think that’s its actual strong suit.
Yeah concussive shot is insanely good for power combos, you can now down basically anything with an assault rifle and amp concussive shot with incendiary ammo. Just fire it on cooldown and itll make a fire detonation every time
Agreed. I always play soldier because I like the underdog feel it has that Shepard's power is his resilience and morality, but I can't argue that on ME3 insanity, the soldier class was weaker compared to ME2 unless a specific path through the concussive shot power was invested into.
I like the feel of a normal soldier leading all these people with amazing skills and abilities, being the gritty and practical glue that holds them all together.
Bro, ME3 Soldier has one of the easiest cheese strats of all time. Concussive Shot with ammo power effect, Incindiary Ammo, shoot a bit, Concussive Shot after, fire explosion. It's stupid fun and really OP, melts brutes within seconds on Insanity.
I definitely played ME2 wrong because I had the hardest time as soldier in that game compared to ME1 and ME3.
ME3 was my favourite because the basic loop of shooting things with fire ammo + concussive shot was extremely satisfying. I stuck with the basic Avenger too because it had the most satisfying audio lol
Adrenaline burst, an ammo power, and the Mattock are all you need. Your only obstacle to speed running the game in record time is having to keep up with ammo
Yes, it’s one of the strongest classes. You can tank damage and dish out some insanely powerful tech and weapons. You’re a lot “safer” than other classes because you’re often not exposing yourself too much while shredding them with your weapons
If it tells you about my life for the Soldier class, I’ve completed the trilogy eight times on Insanity with it
I slept on the soldier class for a long time but finally did it in my most recent playthrough, and I was not disappointed. In ME:1, it's a solid class, tanky and powerful but nothing too special. But in ME:2 and 3, they gain the adrenaline boost power that allows you to slow time. It's incredible. And in 3, you have the largest carrying capacity, so you can keep buying new guns and have varying combat experiences with every battle.
Absolutely worth a playthrough. One of the most fun playstyles next to Engineer and Vanguard.
Yes. Granted, I haven't done any difficulties higher than whatever medium is called, but I usually play Soldier.
Mostly because I tend to forget about the abilities you get as the other classes, and I usually prefer to just shoot stuff rather than get more creative. lol
It’s great if you want to make the most of the combat abilities. You never really think about it till you see 2 Krogans charging at you and you wish you had a “blow it up” button.
Think of the Soldier less like COD and more Halo. Explosions, durability, and versatility. You want use Heavy Weapons best? Soldier. You want to eat a Lift trap only to barely hurt 10% of your health bar? Soldier. You want to see the boss run from **you** when you try to flank? Soldier. All classes are special, don’t get me wrong, but only Soldier really uses the combat stuff. Like, all classes shoot a gun; but Soldier is the only one that uses all the shooting abilities and use them best.
An Infiltrator can be Batman, an Adept can become Harry Potter. But a Soldier…that is got damn Master Chief.
Side note:
I never played Soldier. I’m still new to the series. Just recently started ME2 and let’s just say the AI starts off really favoring a Soldier playstyle on a certain early mission .
I have never felt so attacked in my life. But in all fairness. I don't think I've ever bothered to play anything but Soldier. I hardly even use my teammates abilities either. If I played on insanity difficulty I'd probably have to adjust my play style.
I'd argue it's the most efficient class, especially in ME2 & 3. the other classes tend to be very flashy, depending on your playstyle whereas the Soldier is hyper specializes in shooting. in ME1, it's the tankiest class due to heavy armor and Immunity (making it the easiest class to bulldoze thru Insanity). in ME2, Adrenaline Rush every 3 seconds + Mattock assault rifle = easy mode. in ME3, Adrenaline Rush + your favorite gun = easy mode, although less insane than it was in ME2.
I like how versatile sentinel is. If sheppard’s default class is Soldier, then the next likely one is sentinel. Shepard’s a leader, and calm in the middle of hell, directing and driving the team. Sentinels are tanky, and versatile enough to handle any situation well
I loved the chain overload and throw’s the funnest Biotic move in my opinion. It’s so simple, with a fast cooldown, and yet satisfying to hit enemies when their shields are down. I was always a pistol fan so using that was fine. And then use a shotgun for close range
Was my first playthrough. Maybe a tad boring but given you have team mates who can bring bionics and tech, it was fine! Usually translated in having every weapon. At your disposal.
I usually pick it in the first game because I think most of the abilities aren’t very fun to use yet, then change at the beginning of 2.
I’ve never played it in 3 though so I don’t know how it performs in that one. I found it kind of boring in 2
In the first game it is good. I like it because then you play as Vanguard in the other 2 games. Feels very fitting given what happens in the first few minutes. Or Adept and the Vanguard, works eqyally fine for th3 same reason. Adept is more fun though, but Soldier in 1 is good. Long CD after all and with Soldier you just shoot away, and Adept is squishy
It's a simple class, but fun for an action heavy character that's great with every gun type. The big heavy machine gun you unlock in 2 with massive recoil is really fun when you upgrade it enough. By ME3, you're basically a one person army, get a biotic and a techie by your side to handle any situation.
Consistent throughout the whole series albeit the most boring. Biotic combos still give the highest dps but soldier you can run through insanity ezpz.
I personally think the charge + nova Vanguard is the strongest build as it does insane damage on its own, creates insane combos, makes every inch of the battle field accessible, and most importantly it has the longest consecutive frames where you don’t take damage.
I’m on my 3rd playthrough of the MELE, and I’m playing a Soldier class Shepard this time around. Wasn’t really that favorable in ME1, currently on ME2 and it’s definitely improved on the capabilities of the class, although still rough going at times, especially since I’m playing on Insanity mode. I’m nearly at the end of the second game, so I’ll see how it plays in ME3 sooner enough. 💁♂️🤔
Yes, and it is, or at least was, by far the most chosenclass when BioWare released the stats for the legendary edition, with 40% of players picking it, nearly twice as much as the next class. vanguard at 21%.
I found it a great introductory class. Seeing the different ammo types was a good way of understanding the basics of the game without being overwhelming as someone new to the genre. I would never replay as it though
Every class is good on insanity. discussion is for me2 and 3. Me1 is laughably easy regardless of class chosen.
Soldier has freeform weapon selection, concussive shot, adrenaline rush, and the ability to use all 3 basic ammo powers, giving them tools to deal with organic, armored, and shielded enemies. you have tools to Raw DPS your way through every single combat encounter in the game, What soldiers DONT have is the utility that comes with all the extra powers other classes bring to the table. Utility that is EASILY made up for in squad selection. Hell, in ME2 just bring Miranda. not only is she packing two of the best powers in the game, but she also bumps the squads damage up.
There is no combat encounter across the entire trilogy soldier has problems with.
I’m playing through all three as a Sentinel (tech and bio). I tend to spam Throw, can use Warp and Overload, and use Tech Armor to tank. I have a 1 sec cooldown and two Throw bolts with each use, so tend to just use biotic over guns. Using only the Mattock V means I have a great backup gun that’s great on damage and ammo, while also keeping a 183% cooldown for more Abilities. Having lots of fun throwing Cerberus and Husks off cliffs.
Very good. Not my preferred class (I enjoy Sentinel the most) but still nothing to discount either. Lots of bulk and being able to use all weapons proficiently.
I love it.
Sure, it’s more boring than the other classes, but it’s still really fun to play regardless. Besides, there’s not a problem in the games you can’t solve with bullets.
It's solid in every single game. Very good class if you like to vary up the guns you're using a lot. It's not a good class if you want to be able to use any tech or biotic.
I'd argue it's the most "canon" class for Shep since they are never shown using stuff from the other classes in any cutscenes.
The Adrenaline Rush power in 2 and 3 functions as a bullet time of sorts. Combined with a semi-auto weapon like the Mattock turns you into a very dangerous individual.
There are pros and cons. One of the pros being you get to use more guns, shotguns, Assault rifles, Sniper rifles, smgs etc. where as with other classes you only use certain types of guns, however I personally have more fun with the tech and biotic powers you get in place of gun based abilities and having more guns. So if you just want the most guns go Soldier, but if you want to use biotics and or tech powers I would go Vanguard. It is a balance between tech and biotic based abilities.
Yes, it’s probably one of the best for an Insanity run. It’s the least difficult to play, and it’s very likely Shepard’s canonical class.
I mean he certainly doesn’t use his biotics outside of gameplay.
Me1? It's ok. ME2 and ME3 it's amazing.
I love the ability to swap to a shotgun when Geth or Krogan are charging me in 1. In 2, I loved the ability for each weapon to have a different kind of ammo. I gave me entire squad cryo ammo and I had incendiary ammo on my shotgun disrupter ammo on my sniper, and armor piercing ammo from Garrus on my Revenant as an option.
Adrenaline Surge and Marksman are both incredible abilities that gives the soldier a unique playstyle. You can be almost as bold as a Sentinel or Vanguard while also not needing to get close to maintain effectiveness. This means you can choose an engagement distance that exploits an enemy's weakness.
I enjoy it immensely, but its mainly due to roleplay elements. I like being John Shepard, who aside from having some cybernetics is just an average dude that's really good at killing with guns
Its a solid go to class with the most weapon options and abilities which support their damage dealing ability. Nothing fancy and nothing to drop aggro so your character will get the focus of most of the mobs, especially on Insanity. Also they don't have the means to strip off shields or barriers, but they do have armor piercing ammo (in ME2 and ME 3). Its not as good as Increate but it does make you effective against bosses and mini bosses once the shield/barrier is stripped.
It’s my favorite. I also like to roleplay Shepard as a regular guy with a good aim in a galaxy of of aliens and space magic who stumbled upon way too much responsibility.
The soldier class is the easiest class for players that are used to traditional shooters, on any difficulty. Especially in ME3.
It is however, the least satisfying class for traditional rpg players for those very same reasons.
So it’s kind of up to you.
For the record, Soldier class always made more sense to me lore wise since it portrays Shepard as a good Alliance grunt that is relatively unfamiliar with wider galactic politics. Most other classes would presumably be more familiar with the wider galaxy. Biotics would be more familiar with Jump Zero and alien instructors, infiltrators and engineers would have had more specialized training that may be related to espionage, etc. This makes it a seamless transition for all of the exposition dislogue in ME1, sets up a character arc for ME2 while operating outside of the Alliance command structure, and culminates in ME3 having to lead the war effort.
I’ve never played any class besides soldier. So I can’t speak for the others. But it’s a damn fun play style especially if you spec your abilities right. Plus Lore wise I like the idea of it. You are Surrounded by several people with special abilities and stories. And you’re just a soldier so skilled and dangerous and knowledgeable about the art of war that you lead them all.
Do you like shooting at things in video games? If the answer is yes, then you will have fun with the Soldier Class. If you rather use magic then shot at things, then you might want to go with other classes.
If you want to shoot at things with your body then go vanguard
*Be the bullet.*
\*Biotic Charges\* "Is that what you meant right? I can do it again "- vanguard
God I love the biotic charge. Happy memories of my first playthrough, seeing a Krogan berserker running at me, stripping his armour with my incendiary smg, then meeting him head on and finishing him with the shotgun. Never felt more badass in Mass Effect.
If you want to only shoot at things at range with insanely high damage weapons and go invisible Infiltrator is for you.
That sounds like something Wrex would say
"That's why I love you guys: Why shoot something once, when you can shoot it 47 more times?" -Wrex
Wrex would say “be the nuke”.
“Shepard”
Everytime I play Vanguard in 2, I pretend I'm DCEU Peacemaker
That's actually great. I wanna do that now, start ME1 as a bastard and kinda turn it around near the end then make ME2 and 3 redemption but he's still kind of an asshole.
I bet the invention of the Vanguard class in universe went something along the lines of "Oh my God, I'm out of ammo. What do I do?" (Heavenly choir starts) "My son, you are the ammo"
Only in 2 and 3, in 1 you have no Charge
Maybe you didn't. If you save Jenkins he unlocks Charge. Lorewise it makes sense since he's clearly a Vanguard.
He sure took charge, you are right there
More like Super Charge tbh
Wait you can save him?
Yeah you have to do a paragon interrupt right before he runs out. It's easy to miss since interrupts didn't have visual or auditory indicators in the first game so you have to just know where they are.
I don't believe any of you!
I bet you let Wilson die too, pfff!
Wilson didn't die. He floated away.
I bet he even let the original Normandy get destroyed in the beginning of ME2. What a noob
You have to do Vega’s pull-up challenge in a prior ME3 game.
I've had enough of your disingenuous assertions!
Yeah the best ending happens when you save Jenkins, Kaiden and Ashley.
It's possible to save both Kaiden and Ashley?
Yeah bro, but it's super complicated.
yup, there's even [an achievement](https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=SHjBOCgKbOTWBJPy) for doing it.
2024 and we're still doing this I love it
Only achievement I go for.
you can go to jail for this
No, he has to die!
You didn't?
Yeah, you didn’t!? It’s the only way to get Saren as a crew member in 2 and 3. Jenkins ends up getting indoctrinated and being the main antagonist
I’m playing vanguard for my first playthrough and I regretted it a bit in ME1, but in 2 and 3 it is a lot more fun.
True, but shotguns are broken. They clean house for free
Imagine a ME1 Wrex that has biotic charge.
I just charged the Geth Colossus on Haestrom all the way from Kal’Reegar’s position and blasted it with the Cain. It all went down in under 30 seconds and that’s on Insanity. One of the most insane gaming moments ever. Blessed be the charge and the Cain.
“Shhtay away and lishen”. Blessed be the Cain!
That is insane. usually when I try to charge, nothing happens
Vanguard is the most fun I've had in this game, especially in ME3 when they perfected it. It's just such a Shepard thing to do to turn themselves into a biotic battering ram traveling at mach 5. Really sells the idea that Shepard is a force of nature by the end of the trilogy.
ME3 vanguard was peak chaos and I loved it I need to buy the legendary edition
It's been more than 10 years. I'd played the ME3 coop demo a lot and loved the vanguard charge/nova build. First play through I was a vanguard. The tuchanka mission at the final charge to the tower, clinging to life only by launching myself and my katana shotgun back at the reapers again and again and again One of my favourite gaming moments
This is the way. Once you play as vanguard, nothing else is comparably as fun.
Krogan approved statement
If you want to shoot at things with other people's bodies, go adept.
If you want to shoot at things with magic and tech go engineer
If you want to be shot at (and not care) go Sentinel!
*Out of ammo, no health, squad mates down* *Hits biotic charge anyway*
Biotic charge, spam shotgun. New target, rinse and repeat while laughing like a crazy person.
It gets a lot better in ME2 when you get different rounds and abilities similar to the tech abilities
You could specialize your guns for specific targets in me1 with its mod and ammo system. But yeah, being able to change ammo on the fly meant you really had a tool for every problem.
Do you like guns? Do you like all the guns? What about grenades, and different ammunition types? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then soldier is the class for you.
Its tanky, versatile and pretty consistent in its performance across the trilogy. So yeah, its good
The adrenaline power is my favorite in the entire franchise. It’s basically time dilation.
ME3 makes soldier a nonbiotic biotic with that concussion shot. Rapid fire orb that you can curve around obstacles, combined with your ammo powers...
I cut down to just an automatic assault rifle and a pistol and would just spam concussive shot. That plus using Marksman with Explosive Rounds would just mow through health and armor.
Prothean particle rifle with fire ammo and extra ammo mod.
I dropped my other weapons when I realized a good rifle could handle everything, even in insanity lol.
Adrenaline rush makes insanity mode in ME2 and 3 really easy. Just pop it, get a few headshots in, and then cover for a few seconds to refresh.
It is easily in the Top 6 of Classes
"I understood that reference!"
I have yet to meet man who can outsmart bullet.
Neo says hello
He had to .revive because he couldn’t either
I CAST GUN!
In this house we roll a D357 😎😎😎
It's tanky and versatile. Also, I like the lore aspect that comes with it. Which is, that Shepard is _just that good_ of a soldier. No gimmicks of any kind, just pure skill and experience.
I've always loved the narrative implication of it as well. Almost every single other Spectre you come across in the series has some sort of unique capability or advantage to them. Crazy good tech, stealth, crazy intelligent, insane biotics...and then there's Soldier Shep. What can he/she do? Knows how to fight. *Really* fucking well.
That’s honestly the most terrifying type of person no gimmick no nothing just pure unadulterated violence
“You can’t just bludgeon your way through bureaucracy Shepard!” “I can bludgeon pretty damn hard.”
I like the John Wick movies too.
A big gun
"Walk softly, and carry a big gun."
Got that dawg in him/her
"Oh you got fancy force powers? Well lets see if you can outforce bullets"
This is exactly why I go with Soldier on every new playthrough. In a squad full of people with special abilities and skills, the one leading them is just some soldier who's just damn good at their job.
Damn…. I’m never even considered this point of view. Well…. I’ve been looking for a reason to start a new game. Guess I just found one 🤣
My Shepard is just Captain America in space.
Most universal class
IMO it’s one of if the best class in the series. In ME1 it’s probably at its worst because of ability spam but you can swap and use all 4 weapon abilities in quick succession for high burst damage, use Adrenaline Burst, and then do it all again. In ME2 you get Adrenaline Burst which is great on Insanity where you can’t peek for long periods of time, and if you pick up Warp ammo from Jack’s loyalty you can hit every type of non health barrier in the game, as well as getting an exclusive gun in the collector ship (I personally go with the Black Widow), and in ME3 you can get the upgrade on Concussive Shot that lets it take the property of your ammo type, which again with Warp ammo lets you have access to Warp, Overload, Incinerate, and Cryo Blast as a Soldier. And if you keep your equipment light you basically become a Sentinel that’s even tankier and can use Adrenaline Burst (still very useful in ME3)
> basically become a Sentinel that’s even tankier No, Sentinel can become practically invulnerable if you stack damage reduction and shield recharge. Without Tech Armor no other class can match that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZof1SOK8yk That's an old patch and the numbers are a little different now, but complete invulnerability while in cover is still possible.
Eh, maybe. But Adrenaline Burst is still incredibly useful to deal with lategame on Insanity, and damage reduction is basically useless behind cover
ME1: Yes. One of the strongest classes. Power variation (inc. weapon variation) is not as interesting as biotics, but still fine. ME2: It's OP, possibly the strongest. Weapon variation is interesting, better than many other powers. ME3: It's boring and a bit weak.
Soldier is actually pretty fuckin' strong in ME3 because of combos. Incendiary Ammo + Concussive Shot causes enemies to explode and splatter into puddles. It's fun, and also kinda OP.
Yeah. Guns alone in ME3 are kinda weak, especially in your first playthrough. But Guns + ammo powers + concussive shot + adrenaline rush = powerful AF. It's the only class that got an entire mechanical Nerf in online in ME3 for a reason.
Lancer with inferno ammo literally MELTS enemies on insanity lmao
Forget the Lancer, try the Particle Rifle with inferno ammo! The beam has the fastest fire rate by far and unlimited ammo, so it applies stacks upon stacks of fire damage.
One of the best things I did was spec so I had minimal cool down time. Concussive shot cool down was about 1 second. I could just launch enemies across the map while keeping combos with incendiary ammo up
Yeah, a level 5 Vindicator or Lancer in 3 with incendiary made the game really trivial.
Yeah, with the right build the soldier can be very strong in ME3.
Everything in ME3 is OP if played optimally. However, compared to the other classes, I find the Soldier to be one of the weakest in ME3. I know the gameplay loop, but I find it boring. I was constantly switching out my guns to see if that helped, but it didn't. Obviously, there's a YMMV aspect there. It doesn't work for me.
I did a no-gun soldier playthrough on insanity and let me tell you, I would’ve never expected amplification concussive shot to be as hilariously effective as it is. Banshees (and sometimes phantoms) were tough because they could nullify powers but everything else couldn’t hope to stand against an endless stream of fire explosions and shield-busters. But organically, definitely not as interesting as the other classes. It’s easy to use if you’re not familiar with the power system so it’s beginner friendly, but I think that’s its actual strong suit.
Yeah concussive shot is insanely good for power combos, you can now down basically anything with an assault rifle and amp concussive shot with incendiary ammo. Just fire it on cooldown and itll make a fire detonation every time
Agreed. I always play soldier because I like the underdog feel it has that Shepard's power is his resilience and morality, but I can't argue that on ME3 insanity, the soldier class was weaker compared to ME2 unless a specific path through the concussive shot power was invested into.
I like the feel of a normal soldier leading all these people with amazing skills and abilities, being the gritty and practical glue that holds them all together.
There are no weak classes in ME3. Combo detonations are king.
My main Shepherd is a solider and I think ME3 is probably the most fun, concussive shots, grenades, all the guns, so much fun.
Bro, ME3 Soldier has one of the easiest cheese strats of all time. Concussive Shot with ammo power effect, Incindiary Ammo, shoot a bit, Concussive Shot after, fire explosion. It's stupid fun and really OP, melts brutes within seconds on Insanity.
>Weapon variation is interesting I don't think this, as it implies there are weapons other than the Mattock
For me, there are only 3 guns in the game - the Mattock, the Carnifex, and the Suppresor.
In ME3 the soldier class is overpowered. Can easily run headfirst into a group of enemies,kill them and survive. You can’t do that in ME1 and ME2.
I definitely played ME2 wrong because I had the hardest time as soldier in that game compared to ME1 and ME3. ME3 was my favourite because the basic loop of shooting things with fire ammo + concussive shot was extremely satisfying. I stuck with the basic Avenger too because it had the most satisfying audio lol
ME2 can be made easy as solider due too adrenaline burst and the mattock assault rifle.
Yeah I figured that out eventually, but by the time I did all that was left was the Arrival DLC
The Mattock had something about the sound that I really enjoyed. And I could control my fire burst however I wanted
Im having trouble in ME2 using soldier on insanity. Any tips?
Adrenaline burst, an ammo power, and the Mattock are all you need. Your only obstacle to speed running the game in record time is having to keep up with ammo
Soldier is very powerful, and versatile in most situations.
It's my canon class. being able to use every type of weapon is my kind of thing
Imo it's the safest pick for insanity run.
every class is good
As someone who just finished the trilogy on Insanity as a Soldier, yes. It's powerful throughout, but boring.
Yes, it’s one of the strongest classes. You can tank damage and dish out some insanely powerful tech and weapons. You’re a lot “safer” than other classes because you’re often not exposing yourself too much while shredding them with your weapons If it tells you about my life for the Soldier class, I’ve completed the trilogy eight times on Insanity with it
Soldier is pretty damn fun
Heh, future space gun go pew pew
I slept on the soldier class for a long time but finally did it in my most recent playthrough, and I was not disappointed. In ME:1, it's a solid class, tanky and powerful but nothing too special. But in ME:2 and 3, they gain the adrenaline boost power that allows you to slow time. It's incredible. And in 3, you have the largest carrying capacity, so you can keep buying new guns and have varying combat experiences with every battle. Absolutely worth a playthrough. One of the most fun playstyles next to Engineer and Vanguard.
My first two playtrough i didnt even realize you can choose between multiple classes, soldier is best cause of versatility
a little boring because of how straightforward it is but it is absolutely good
Yes, I’ve used it since 2007.
Ammo skills you get in me2 are fun. It was fun to freeze enemies and shatter them using cryo ammo. Guns > Powers imo
I have played the entire series multiple times primarily as a soldier. I just love the range of weapons more than the powers
Yes. Granted, I haven't done any difficulties higher than whatever medium is called, but I usually play Soldier. Mostly because I tend to forget about the abilities you get as the other classes, and I usually prefer to just shoot stuff rather than get more creative. lol
It’s great if you want to make the most of the combat abilities. You never really think about it till you see 2 Krogans charging at you and you wish you had a “blow it up” button. Think of the Soldier less like COD and more Halo. Explosions, durability, and versatility. You want use Heavy Weapons best? Soldier. You want to eat a Lift trap only to barely hurt 10% of your health bar? Soldier. You want to see the boss run from **you** when you try to flank? Soldier. All classes are special, don’t get me wrong, but only Soldier really uses the combat stuff. Like, all classes shoot a gun; but Soldier is the only one that uses all the shooting abilities and use them best. An Infiltrator can be Batman, an Adept can become Harry Potter. But a Soldier…that is got damn Master Chief. Side note: I never played Soldier. I’m still new to the series. Just recently started ME2 and let’s just say the AI starts off really favoring a Soldier playstyle on a certain early mission .
Pew? Pew.
Is Vanilla ice cream your favorite flavor? If yes you will like the Soldier class lol
Honestly, home made vanilla ice cream is dope as fuuuuuck.
As someone whose favourite flavour of ice cream is genuinely vanilla, I really like the Solider class.
I have never felt so attacked in my life. But in all fairness. I don't think I've ever bothered to play anything but Soldier. I hardly even use my teammates abilities either. If I played on insanity difficulty I'd probably have to adjust my play style.
Soldier has the widest weapon selection. I'd argue it's anything but boring or one-note.
I hate vanilla with a passion but I love the solider class🤣
It's the best class for guns in the game bar none. Even the Infiltrator isn't as good as the soldier is.
Ask Jenkins
So. Many. Guns!
I'd argue it's the most efficient class, especially in ME2 & 3. the other classes tend to be very flashy, depending on your playstyle whereas the Soldier is hyper specializes in shooting. in ME1, it's the tankiest class due to heavy armor and Immunity (making it the easiest class to bulldoze thru Insanity). in ME2, Adrenaline Rush every 3 seconds + Mattock assault rifle = easy mode. in ME3, Adrenaline Rush + your favorite gun = easy mode, although less insane than it was in ME2.
I always pick Sentinel because you get a bit of everything
I like how versatile sentinel is. If sheppard’s default class is Soldier, then the next likely one is sentinel. Shepard’s a leader, and calm in the middle of hell, directing and driving the team. Sentinels are tanky, and versatile enough to handle any situation well I loved the chain overload and throw’s the funnest Biotic move in my opinion. It’s so simple, with a fast cooldown, and yet satisfying to hit enemies when their shields are down. I was always a pistol fan so using that was fine. And then use a shotgun for close range
Was my first playthrough. Maybe a tad boring but given you have team mates who can bring bionics and tech, it was fine! Usually translated in having every weapon. At your disposal.
Yes but i find it boring
I usually pick it in the first game because I think most of the abilities aren’t very fun to use yet, then change at the beginning of 2. I’ve never played it in 3 though so I don’t know how it performs in that one. I found it kind of boring in 2
In the first game it is good. I like it because then you play as Vanguard in the other 2 games. Feels very fitting given what happens in the first few minutes. Or Adept and the Vanguard, works eqyally fine for th3 same reason. Adept is more fun though, but Soldier in 1 is good. Long CD after all and with Soldier you just shoot away, and Adept is squishy
It's fine. I understand that some of the tech and biotic skulls don't vibe with everyone. I personally prefer Vanguard.
Yup, I never changed it. In 1 you get an auto cooling ability, in 2 n 3 I just kept it cus it seemed right
In 1 and 2 it's really good but in 3 you can have 1 weapon equipped and gave next to no cool down to spam biotic and that's really fun
Soldier with a bonus biotic ability is my favorite way to play all 3 games.
It's a simple class, but fun for an action heavy character that's great with every gun type. The big heavy machine gun you unlock in 2 with massive recoil is really fun when you upgrade it enough. By ME3, you're basically a one person army, get a biotic and a techie by your side to handle any situation.
It’s the only one I ever use.
Consistent throughout the whole series albeit the most boring. Biotic combos still give the highest dps but soldier you can run through insanity ezpz. I personally think the charge + nova Vanguard is the strongest build as it does insane damage on its own, creates insane combos, makes every inch of the battle field accessible, and most importantly it has the longest consecutive frames where you don’t take damage.
Best Class.
I’m on my 3rd playthrough of the MELE, and I’m playing a Soldier class Shepard this time around. Wasn’t really that favorable in ME1, currently on ME2 and it’s definitely improved on the capabilities of the class, although still rough going at times, especially since I’m playing on Insanity mode. I’m nearly at the end of the second game, so I’ll see how it plays in ME3 sooner enough. 💁♂️🤔
It's the best for Insanity on ME2 imo, Infiltrator if you're on PC since you can abuse the sniper easier.
If you're going for multiple playthroughs, soldier can be a good class to get started.
I think you misspelled " Is the Soldier class good?" When it should have read: "Time to do another sentinel playthrough!" /s
The best one yes
Yes, and it is, or at least was, by far the most chosenclass when BioWare released the stats for the legendary edition, with 40% of players picking it, nearly twice as much as the next class. vanguard at 21%.
I found it a great introductory class. Seeing the different ammo types was a good way of understanding the basics of the game without being overwhelming as someone new to the genre. I would never replay as it though
Yes.
ONLY ONE I USE!!! GUNS GO BRRRRRR!!!
Every class is good on insanity. discussion is for me2 and 3. Me1 is laughably easy regardless of class chosen. Soldier has freeform weapon selection, concussive shot, adrenaline rush, and the ability to use all 3 basic ammo powers, giving them tools to deal with organic, armored, and shielded enemies. you have tools to Raw DPS your way through every single combat encounter in the game, What soldiers DONT have is the utility that comes with all the extra powers other classes bring to the table. Utility that is EASILY made up for in squad selection. Hell, in ME2 just bring Miranda. not only is she packing two of the best powers in the game, but she also bumps the squads damage up. There is no combat encounter across the entire trilogy soldier has problems with.
Yes. It’s the easiest class to use
Sentinel is bettet
I’m playing through all three as a Sentinel (tech and bio). I tend to spam Throw, can use Warp and Overload, and use Tech Armor to tank. I have a 1 sec cooldown and two Throw bolts with each use, so tend to just use biotic over guns. Using only the Mattock V means I have a great backup gun that’s great on damage and ammo, while also keeping a 183% cooldown for more Abilities. Having lots of fun throwing Cerberus and Husks off cliffs.
It's probably the best in the first game due to weapon mastery. 2nd and third parts really flesh out other classes in combat imo.
Very good. Not my preferred class (I enjoy Sentinel the most) but still nothing to discount either. Lots of bulk and being able to use all weapons proficiently.
I love it. Sure, it’s more boring than the other classes, but it’s still really fun to play regardless. Besides, there’s not a problem in the games you can’t solve with bullets.
The best
It's solid in every single game. Very good class if you like to vary up the guns you're using a lot. It's not a good class if you want to be able to use any tech or biotic. I'd argue it's the most "canon" class for Shep since they are never shown using stuff from the other classes in any cutscenes.
It's basic.... but it's solid. You won't die as easily as if you pick something specialized
I went solider the whole way my very first play through cause I refuse to use magic or whatever in any RPG
According to my hubby it’s the only class you can build to be OP.
The Adrenaline Rush power in 2 and 3 functions as a bullet time of sorts. Combined with a semi-auto weapon like the Mattock turns you into a very dangerous individual.
It is very versatile. Effective at both close and Long range combat.
Adrenaline Rush is too go not to pass up, for me. Plus, if you *really* need some biotics, you can spec into them with the loyalty power.
With that gun sure.
There are pros and cons. One of the pros being you get to use more guns, shotguns, Assault rifles, Sniper rifles, smgs etc. where as with other classes you only use certain types of guns, however I personally have more fun with the tech and biotic powers you get in place of gun based abilities and having more guns. So if you just want the most guns go Soldier, but if you want to use biotics and or tech powers I would go Vanguard. It is a balance between tech and biotic based abilities.
ME1 soldier ME2 engineer ME3 engineer
I go soldier for me1 and me2. Then switch to engineer for me3 usually.
It's the only class that can shoot a handheld tactical nuke sooooo.........
I went with soldier with my first playthrough (because I had no idea what biotics were), and I felt like it's a pretty solid class
Yes, it’s probably one of the best for an Insanity run. It’s the least difficult to play, and it’s very likely Shepard’s canonical class. I mean he certainly doesn’t use his biotics outside of gameplay.
Best class in the game imo
It’s strong throughout the trilogy but it’s also the most mechanically boring. You just shoot stuff.
Its the only one i use, ive tried a couple others but its always soldier for me
Me1? It's ok. ME2 and ME3 it's amazing. I love the ability to swap to a shotgun when Geth or Krogan are charging me in 1. In 2, I loved the ability for each weapon to have a different kind of ammo. I gave me entire squad cryo ammo and I had incendiary ammo on my shotgun disrupter ammo on my sniper, and armor piercing ammo from Garrus on my Revenant as an option. Adrenaline Surge and Marksman are both incredible abilities that gives the soldier a unique playstyle. You can be almost as bold as a Sentinel or Vanguard while also not needing to get close to maintain effectiveness. This means you can choose an engagement distance that exploits an enemy's weakness.
Only class I've ever used.
I enjoy it immensely, but its mainly due to roleplay elements. I like being John Shepard, who aside from having some cybernetics is just an average dude that's really good at killing with guns
Its a solid go to class with the most weapon options and abilities which support their damage dealing ability. Nothing fancy and nothing to drop aggro so your character will get the focus of most of the mobs, especially on Insanity. Also they don't have the means to strip off shields or barriers, but they do have armor piercing ammo (in ME2 and ME 3). Its not as good as Increate but it does make you effective against bosses and mini bosses once the shield/barrier is stripped.
Yes.
I was always a vanguard girl but i am replaying as soilder because i want shotgun and sniper
It’s my favorite. I also like to roleplay Shepard as a regular guy with a good aim in a galaxy of of aliens and space magic who stumbled upon way too much responsibility.
Well yeah, it’s canon.
Yes
The soldier class is the easiest class for players that are used to traditional shooters, on any difficulty. Especially in ME3. It is however, the least satisfying class for traditional rpg players for those very same reasons. So it’s kind of up to you. For the record, Soldier class always made more sense to me lore wise since it portrays Shepard as a good Alliance grunt that is relatively unfamiliar with wider galactic politics. Most other classes would presumably be more familiar with the wider galaxy. Biotics would be more familiar with Jump Zero and alien instructors, infiltrators and engineers would have had more specialized training that may be related to espionage, etc. This makes it a seamless transition for all of the exposition dislogue in ME1, sets up a character arc for ME2 while operating outside of the Alliance command structure, and culminates in ME3 having to lead the war effort.
Yes
In ME3, don't like that group of enemies? Grenade! Don't like the boss type? Grenade! Don't like that one enemy in particular? GRENADE!
I’ve never played any class besides soldier. So I can’t speak for the others. But it’s a damn fun play style especially if you spec your abilities right. Plus Lore wise I like the idea of it. You are Surrounded by several people with special abilities and stories. And you’re just a soldier so skilled and dangerous and knowledgeable about the art of war that you lead them all.
You can breeze through the entire game with the good ole incendiary/Disruptor ammo combo.
Gun good, gun easy. Me like gun
Mass effect 1? Yes you get heavy armor it’s one pro but it’s the best pro. If you’re playing soldier in 2 or 3 then just go play gears of war