Mass Effect 1 Pinnacle Station Combat Missions: Objectives, Maps, Rewards
The Pinnacle Station: Combat Missions assignment is one of the key challenges inside the Mass Effect 1 DLC set on the Pinnacle Station simulator. It’s available in the Pinnacle Station add-on, which was exclusive to the original Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game, and it asks you to master multiple “Objective” modes, score the best results on every map, and then earn even bigger rewards for pushing through the full set of scenarios.
Key takeaways
- The Pinnacle Station: Combat Missions assignment is tied to the Pinnacle Station DLC and was available on Xbox 360 and PC for Mass Effect 1.
- To start the DLC content, you travel to Argos Rho, then make your way to Phoenix in the North-West portion of the cluster.
- Completion hinges on reaching the #1 score on every map across every Objective type.
- After clearing the initial set of Objective/map variations, you unlock the remaining maps and can claim higher-tier weapons from Guard Captain Vidinos.
- After all twelve scenarios are beaten, Ahern offers a Special Scenario where safety systems are disabled and death is permanent if your health runs out.
Checklists
- Essential Stats
- Travel to Phoenix
- Talk to Ahern
- Talk to Ochren
- Get Top Score in the Missions
- Vidinos
- Survive Ahern’s Special Scenario
Essential Stats
- Persuasion Points: N/A
- Minimum Decryption: N/A
- Minimum Electronics: N/A
Travel to Phoenix
- Location: Argos Rho – Phoenix – Pinnacle Station
To begin the Pinnacle Station DLC, go to Argos Rho, which sits to the north-east of the Horse Head Nebula—where Noveria can be found. From there, travel to Phoenix, located in the north-west area of the cluster. Once you’re in place, scan the system for the required Discoveries.
After you’ve gathered everything, head for Pinnacle Station. It’s identified by a blue marker in the north-east part of the system, and it sits inside the second asteroid belt.
Talk to Ahern
When you first arrive at Pinnacle Station, you’ll see a short cutscene featuring two Turian guards discussing Shepard’s arrival. One of them is Guard Captain Vidinos, and you’ll meet him again later. For now, go through the door that the guards are blocking to enter the Command Center.
Inside the cockpit-like room with the panoramic view, speak with Admiral Ahern standing on the central platform. The conversation provides background on Ahern himself, the Simulator, the types of Scenarios it can run, and the competitors involved.
That said, the chat with Ahern isn’t required for unlocking the Combat Missions quest. Even if you skip him and jump straight into the simulator fights, you’ll still receive the quest—though you will miss out on some dialogue from Ahern during the process.
Talk to Ochren
Next, move to the lower section of the station where Sergeant Dahga is stationed. Talk to him for a brief quip, then head through the nearby doorway to reach the simulator’s Observation Deck. At the far end of the room, tucked into the corner, you can find Khel Burrum for another quip. However, to continue the assignment, you should speak with Tech Officer Ochren.
Talking to Ochren explains more about how the simulator works, including the four Objective categories and why Ochren comes across as such a grump. It’s important to pay attention to the Objective descriptions, because each one plays differently. If you want a refresher while planning your run, you can ask Ochren to review the rules for any Objective after you request to play a round of it.
Get Top Score in the Missions
The end goal is straightforward: earn the highest possible score on every map available for every Objective type. At first, each Objective gives you only two maps. However, if you manage to secure the top score on all eight of those maps (which corresponds to completing the “Pinnacle Station: Vidinos” Assignment), you unlock the additional map set across the Objectives—bringing the total number of maps up to twelve.
To help you plan, here’s how each Objective type works and what you need to do to perform well:
- Capture – This is the “easiest” of the three main modes. You need to reach 3–4 waypoints and remain close to them for about twenty seconds to secure each capture. To win the Scoreboard here, you must keep enemies away so they don’t slow down the capture progress. Then, as soon as a waypoint is captured, run to the next one immediately. A practical approach is to use your first attempt to learn waypoint locations, then come back on your second run with a faster route.
- Time Trial – In this mode, you cross the battlefield to trigger enemy spawns, then fight them. Enemies don’t appear until you get close to their specific spawn points, so you’ll need to explore the map thoroughly to make sure you’re activating every wave. Your score is based on how fast you can eliminate all enemies. Importantly, the spawn points always activate in the same sequence, effectively guiding you around the map in a loop.
- Survival – Survival is about lasting as long as possible against progressively tougher enemy waves. You start with basic enemies and scale up until you’re dealing with near-constant pressure from the toughest foes. A strong strategy is to find a defensible area with clear sight lines to where enemies enter. The score is determined entirely by the total time you survive before your health reaches zero.
- Hunt – Hunt flips Survival on its head. Instead of surviving until time runs out, you kill enemies to add time to the countdown. That makes defensible positions with strong visibility even more valuable. Your final score is based on how many enemies you manage to defeat before the timer expires.
One more key tip: each Objective run can generate a different enemy lineup on the selected map—either Geth or Mercenaries. Before committing to a longer attempt, it’s smart to do a quick test run to see which faction you’ll face. Then restart and build a tailored squad. For instance, if the map rolls Geth, Tali and Garrus are especially useful because of their technical strengths.
Vidinos
Once you earn your first #1 high score, exiting the simulator grants you the “Pinnacle Station: Vidinos” Assignment. Guard Captain Vidinos is furious that Lieutenant Bryant managed to beat his Subterranean Hunt record and his Warehouse Time Trial time. In his view, cheating must be involved, because he believes no human could possibly achieve those results.
To clear Bryant’s name, you’ll need to take first place on the Scoreboard across all eight of the initial Objective/map combinations—exactly what you’ve been working toward.
Completing the “Pinnacle Station: Vidinos” Assignment unlocks the final four maps across the Objectives. When Shepard claims the top score on every map and confronts Vidinos, you’ll be able to choose a weapon from him after reminding him of it. These rewards are several tiers above what you typically get from standard loot, so they’re worth the effort. Your options include a Pistol, a Shotgun, an Assault Rifle, or a Sniper Rifle.
Survive Ahern’s Special Scenario
After you finish all twelve Scenarios, Ahern challenges you to complete his Special Scenario—a recreation of his battle from the First Contact War. The twist is that the safeties are disabled, so Shepard will die for real if health reaches zero. If you can survive the entire fight, you’ll win Ahern’s Apartment on Intai’sei.
When the Challenge unlocks, you can also talk to Khel Burrum and Sergeant Dahga to hear new quips.
At the start of the Special Scenario, only six Turians are defending the data bank in the center of the arena. Eliminate them, then circle around to find two Surface-to-Air Defense Turrets positioned on the east and west sides. Activating these turrets makes the fight significantly easier.
From there, head to the Grizzly vehicle located in the middle of the area. Find the data bank that looks like a bomb, open it, and download the data. Once the download completes, a five-minute wave assault begins.
If Shepard survives until the end, the Challenge is cleared. After you collect your reward from Ahern, you can leave and go visit your new apartment. On the way out, be sure to speak with Ochren and—if you haven’t already—Ahern about Turians.
Want more Mass Effect help? Check out the following pages:
- Legendary Edition Changes
- How-To Guides
- Key Choices and Consequences
- Romance Options
- Walkthrough
- Side Quests
Up Next: Vidinos
Top Guide Sections
- Legendary Edition Changes
- Basics
- Tips and Tricks
- How-To Guides
