Mass Effect 3 Citadel Excursion 2 Guide: Prep Before Priority Tuchanka
This Mass Effect 3 wiki guide page is designed for one specific stretch of the campaign: exploring the Citadel’s opening-act content right before you commit to “Priority: Tuchanka.” The big idea is simple—complete as many side missions and character conversations as possible now, because finishing “Priority: Tuchanka” refreshes the Citadel and replaces many of the options you have access to.
Checklists: what you need to do first
The page is structured like a pre-“Tuchanka” checklist, but it also comes with several important assumptions. Before you start walking the Citadel, the guide expects you to have already handled earlier prerequisites so you can actually trigger the side content that’s available on this version of the hub.
- You’re strongly encouraged to review “Citadel Excursion 1” first and complete the major interactions there, if you haven’t done so already—because you’ll be able to turn in a lot of side mission content as a result.
- This page assumes you completed “Attican Traverse: Krogan Team,” “N7: Cerberus Abductions,” and “N7: Cerberus Attack.” Those missions provide items that you’ll hand in here to complete side missions. It also assumes you obtained the “Citadel: GX12 Thermal Pipe” side mission from Engineer Adams.
- The guide also expects you to finish the Search and Rescue section, because that portion likewise supplies items used for additional side mission turn-ins. The Ismar Frontier cluster unlocks when you pick up “Ismar Frontier: Prototype Components” at Huerta Memorial Hospital.
- Finally, it assumes you’ve been following Steve Cortez’s personal storyline—specifically that he’s emotionally ready to say goodbye to his husband, Robert.
Before you begin roaming the Citadel, complete the Search and Rescue table below so you can secure Credits and quest items you’ll use for side missions later on this same page.
- For the Ismar Frontier, you must pick up “Ismar Frontier: Prototype Components” at Huerta Memorial Hospital.
- For the Vular system in Kite’s Nest, instead of killing General Oraka in “Aria: Blue Suns,” you need to negotiate with the black market contact on the Citadel. The only quest item involved here is the one required for that side mission’s completion, so if you killed Oraka, you won’t be missing anything essential—unless you simply enjoy the planet description content.
Citadel conversations and turn-ins: reputation, XP, and war assets
Once the prerequisites are in place, the guide moves through the Citadel district by district, focusing on who to speak with, where to go, and what you get for each interaction. The standout from a player perspective is that many of these moments are not just “flavor”—they’re tied to Reputation, XP, and sometimes fleet war resources.
Steve Cortez
Head through the security barriers, then turn left to find Cortez in the memorial area. Speak with him to continue his storyline and earn +2 Reputation.
- A Paragon Interrupt appears during the interaction, but using it does not grant Morality Points.
Pillars of Strength
Go to Cargo Hold: C and talk to the Batarian Preacher to turn in “Kite’s Nest: Pillars of Strength.” This rewards you with 15,000 Credits, +5 Reputation, and it strengthens the Batarian Fleet War Asset. If you never obtained it, the guide says you can find it on Khar’shan, the second planet in the Harsa system within the Kite’s Nest cluster.
Kelly Chambers
Visit Cargo Hold: B and speak with Kelly Chambers to catch up. If you’ve followed the guide up to this point, she will reveal that she sent reports about you to the Illusive Man as part of her Mass Effect 2 job. When she brings this up, your response choices affect your Paragon/Renegade totals:
- Choosing “It’s okay” grants +2 Paragon Points.
- Choosing “You did what?” grants +2 Renegade Points and strongly upsets Kelly.
Dr. Michel
If Dr. Michel isn’t aboard the Normandy, you can speak to her in the corner of the first room to learn about the current status of your Virmire Survivor.
Virmire Survivor
Go inside and talk directly with the Virmire Survivor about accepting the Spectre role and how they’re feeling. Besides providing +2 Reputation, the guide notes this conversation helps your Virmire Survivor reconcile with Shepard later.
Prototype Components
Enter the room opposite where the Virmire Survivor is located to turn in “Ismar Frontier: Prototype Components” for 90 XP. If you didn’t pick them up earlier, you can locate them by scanning Metaponto, the fourth planet in the Aquila system in the Ismar Frontier cluster.
Dominic Osoba
Exit the elevator and go left to find Dominic Osoba by the window. If you collected his son’s Dog Tags during “N7: Cerberus Abductions,” you can hand them in here to complete “Benning: Evidence,” earning +5 Reputation and 90 XP. If you missed the Dog Tags, you can purchase them from Spectre Requisitions.
Councillor Udina
Head to Udina’s office for a conversation that’s easy to miss. It covers your Virmire Survivor accepting the Spectre position, and it offers two response options:
- “Good for her / him” grants +2 Paragon Points.
- “This won’t end well” grants +2 Renegade Points.
Unfortunately, the guide adds that none of Udina’s Investigate topics update with new dialogue.
Barla Von
From the elevator, go left and take the stairs upward to speak with Barla Von behind the distant desk. Turn in “Citadel: Barla Von” to earn 120 XP and +5 Reputation. If you haven’t picked up the Shadow Broker Wet Squad Barla Von is searching for, you can find it by scanning Rothla, the fourth planet in the Dranek system of the Krogan DMZ.
GX12 Thermal Pipe
At Barla Von’s post, open the Elkoss Combine Arsenal Supplies store and purchase the GX12 Thermal Pipe. The storefront calls it “E-Gel Thermal Conduit,” which the guide notes is odd, but the important part is the cost: 1,000 credits. This purchase advances “Citadel: GX12 Thermal Pipe” for Engineer Adams. The guide emphasizes it’s inexpensive, so you shouldn’t feel pressured to wait for the full 10% discount.
Matriarch Aethyta
In the Apollo’s Cafe area, you’ll find Matriarch Aethyta serving drinks—an encounter that Mass Effect 2 players may recognize from Illium. Talk to her to start a conversation. When she suggests keeping an eye on Liara, your options are:
- “You should talk” grants +2 Paragon Points.
- “You shouldn’t spy on her” grants +2 Renegade Points.
During the discussion, a Paragon Interrupt appears; pulling it grants +5 Paragon Points. A Renegade Interrupt also shows up, and pulling it grants +5 Renegade Points.
After that, locate Liara on the balcony and talk with her. If you choose “[Make her talk to her],” the guide states that the Asari Second Fleet strength increases by 25 TMS.
You can then return to the cafe bar and listen to a 10-part conversation between Liara and Aethyta. To move to each next section, the guide instructs you to walk to a nearby staircase and then return to them.
Krogan Dying Message
Go to the lowest balcony with the two stores and speak with Ereba at the Nos Astra Sporting Goods storefront to complete “Citadel: Krogan Dying Message.” The guide stresses you must have picked it up during “Attican Traverse: Krogan Team,” or the side mission can’t even be started, much less completed.
Submitting the message rewards +5 Reputation and 90 XP.
Blue Suns
If you took the Paragon approach in “Aria: Blue Suns” and spoke with Krannik, head upstairs to the Cipritine Armory kiosk and talk to Kannik to continue that side mission. If you killed General Oraka, the guide indicates you should skip ahead to the next section of the page.
This sequence involves handing over Black Market Artifacts. Doing so lets Krannik appease General Oraka by giving him the black market weapons he wants. The guide lists the rewards as 210 XP, 5,000 credits, and an improvement to the Terminus Fleet by +50 TMS. If you don’t have the artifacts, you can find them by scanning Vana, the third planet in the Vular system in the Kite’s Nest cluster.
After Kannik is satisfied, return to General Oraka at the bottom of the steps across from Apollo’s Cafe. Talking to him ends the side mission and grants +5 Paragon Points.
Citadel: Improved Power Grid
In the exterior zone of Purgatory, talk with the human woman in a dress standing by the railing just outside the entrance door. This concludes “Citadel: Improved Power Grid,” rewarding +5 Reputation, 30 XP, 1,000 Credits, and increasing the Alliance Fifth Fleet by 8 TMS.
If you missed the power grid schematics from “N7: Cerberus Attack,” you can buy them from Spectre Requisitions for 1,000 credits.
Aria T’Loak
If you completed “Aria: Eclipse,” “Aria: Blue Suns,” and “Aria: Blood Pack,” you can speak with Aria again to hear her reactions to completing her requests. You can ask about your new task force and also about each individual mercenary gang.
With the Citadel content largely wrapped up for now, the guide shifts to what to do on the Normandy.
- CIC: Check your Private Terminal for an email from Cortez. This yields 375 XP and the Rogue Fighter Pilots War Asset, worth 20 TMS.
- Engineering: Speak with Engineer Adams, and also with Gabby if she is present, to progress “Citadel: GX12 Thermal Pipe.”
- Shuttle Bay: Finally, talk to Cortez for additional thoughts after the memorial.
If you want more Mass Effect 3 help, the guide points readers toward additional pages covering Legendary Edition updates, general how-to guidance, key choice outcomes, romance content, the walkthrough, and the broader side mission collection.
- Legendary Edition Changes
- How-To Guides
- Key Choices and Consequences
- Romance Guide
- Walkthrough
- Side Missions
Why this pre-Tuchanka cleanup matters
From a player standpoint, the guide’s core message is about timing. “Priority: Tuchanka” doesn’t just move you forward—it refreshes the Citadel, replacing many interactions and side mission options you can complete right now. That makes this section less like “optional chatter” and more like a window where items, quest turn-ins, and branching conversations are all aligned.
- Most of the meaningful rewards here are tied to item-based turn-ins from earlier side content, so missing prerequisites can lock you out of completions.
- Several conversations directly affect Reputation, which can influence how your playthrough feels and how future interactions land.
- Some side missions contribute to fleet war assets (Batarian Fleet, Terminus Fleet, Alliance Fifth Fleet, Asari Second Fleet), meaning your Citadel prep can pay off later in the broader war effort.
- Choice-based outcomes (Paragon and Renegade responses, plus Interrupt timing) can shift both morality points and the tone of key personal conversations.
Up next: Priority: Tuchanka
The guide concludes by teeing up the next major step: “Priority: Tuchanka,” after which the Citadel’s available content changes again.
Guide navigation notes
- Legendary Edition Changes
- Game Basics
- Tips and Tricks
- How-To Guides
