Mass Effect 3 Citadel Excursion 1 Guide (PS3, Xbox 360)

This guide page for Mass Effect 3 focuses on exploring the Citadel shortly after you’ve already done your first swing through it in Priority: Citadel 1. Once you’re back here, you’ll be able to shop, meet a variety of characters, and start—or finish—many Side Missions.

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This page of IGN’s Mass Effect 3 wiki guide is all about exploring the Citadel after your initial visit in Priority: Citadel 1, early in the campaign. Expect directions for every shop you can hit, plenty of character conversations, and guidance on picking up and completing a wide range of Side Missions.

Citadel Excursion 1

This section is the earliest point where you can do serious shopping. Before you start spending credits, keep these shopping rules in mind:

No store stock charts like the ones used in Mass Effect 2. Between base inventory, DLC inventory, and Legendary Edition inventory, there’s simply too much to list on a single page. Instead, store information is kept on the separate Shopping and Store Guide.
Wait until you unlock an in-game discount before buying. There are two discount sources in the game, and one of them is exclusive to the From Ashes DLC.
- Exception: If you own the Citadel DLC, you can access the Armax Arsenal Arena to earn credits by competing. If you don’t have that, credits are limited, and you won’t be able to buy everything anyway.
Priority Missions usually refresh at least one store’s inventory. Don’t burn all your credits at once—items you want might show up later.
Missed items can still turn up in stores. If a required item for a Side Mission was skipped, it will appear under Spectre Requisitions. If it’s instead armor or weapon modifications, it will show up in one of the other shops.

Exception: If you own the Citadel DLC, you can access the Armax Arsenal Arena to earn credits by competing. If you don’t have that, credits are limited, and you won’t be able to buy everything anyway.

Miranda Lawson

First, head to the large window and meet Miranda Lawson—assuming she survived the events of Mass Effect 2. This conversation is mainly a checkpoint on what she’s been doing since we last saw her, and you’ll also learn that her sister Oriana has vanished. While there’s not much to this chat moment-to-moment, it matters for the larger storyline later in the game.

Steve Cortez

Down the large window, you can find Steve. This is only available if you spoke with him enough aboard the Normandy and convinced him to take some shore leave. Once Cortez notices a Turian ship, you’ll be presented with a choice:

Select “We must survive” for +2 Paragon Points.
Select “We must get vengeance” for +2 Renegade Points.

One small note: the Paragon Interrupt that can appear after these choices doesn’t award Morality Points, so you shouldn’t feel like you’re missing out if you don’t catch it.

C-Sec Officers

Across from the elevator, you’ll spot two Turian C-Sec officers on the balcony, complaining about a war profiteer. This is another conversation that unlocks something at the Spectre Terminal—specifically, you’ll need to hear all four segments of their dialogue. In the fourth part, one of the officers even suggests going to Palaven. If you want to speed it up, use the quicksave-and-reload method to cycle through the full set of dialogue quickly.

Improved Power Grid

At the entrance to Purgatory, look to the right to find a woman in a black-and-white dress holding a Datapad. Listen in on her conversation: she wants to improve the bar’s light display, but there’s no money available to upgrade the power grid needed for it. That leads to the Side Mission “Citadel: Improved Power Grid”, which you can address during a later Side Mission.

James Vega

Go inside Purgatory, climb the first small set of stairs, then move all the way left until you reach the bar at the far end. That’s where Vega is. He’ll talk about how the soldiers treat Shepard like a legend, and he can also offer to buy them drinks if you want to join in. If you do, there are no Morality Points involved—just +2 Reputation for talking to Vega in the first place.

Banner of the First Regiment

From Vega’s bar, head right into the lower area and look for a group of Turian soldiers on the couch. One of them will mention morale is low and bring up the First Regiment, which unlocks the Side Mission “Apien Crest: Banner of the First Regiment”. To finish it, travel to Apien Crest and then fly to the Castellus system—use scanning to find it by scanning Digeris, which is the third planet.

If you’ve followed this guide in order, you’ll have already done that right before “Priority: Palaven”, so you can hand it in immediately here for +5 Reputation, 15,000 Credits, and an added +40 TMS to the Turian Seventh Fleet War Asset.

Aria T’Loak

Now cross to the opposite side of the area and talk to Aria T’Loak, the Omega power broker Shepard met in Mass Effect 2. Unfortunately, she’s having a rough time, and Purgatory fits her mood as well as her Afterlife bar once did. When you respond, choose one of the following:

“But you’re alive” for +2 Paragon Points.
“Payback is hell” for +2 Renegade Points.

Aria will then hand you three new Side Missions: “Aria: Blood Pack”, “Aria: Blue Suns”, and “Aria: Eclipse”. After that, you can make another choice:

“Those gangs are scum” for +2 Paragon Points.
“Whatever it takes” for +2 Renegade Points.

You’ll deal with these later, but regardless you’ll always receive the Terminus Fleet War Asset worth 50 TMS. Then you can talk to Aria again to get more detail about what she’s been up to.

Evidence

When you arrive at the Embassies, turn left when you exit the elevator. Talk to Ambassador Dominic Osoba standing by the window. He’ll explain that his son is missing after a mission connected to Benning, and that his own unit—the soldiers located in the Purgatory entrance hallway—refuses to speak with him. This starts the Side Mission “Benning: Evidence”, which you’ll handle later in the game.

Prothean Obelisk

A bit north of Dominic Osoba stands a Volus Diplomat. If you’re following this guide in order, you already spoke with him during “Priority: The Citadel 1”, and you obtained the Obelisk after completing “Priority: Palaven”, when you’re ready to turn it in. If not, you can still locate it in The Shrike Abyssal by going to the Urla Rast system and then scanning Talis Fia, the second planet.

Give the Obelisk to the Diplomat and you’ll receive +5 Reputation and 20,000 Credits.

Eclipse – Part 1

Next, go to Commander Bailey’s office and speak to him to advance the “Aria: Eclipse” Side Mission. Bailey makes it clear that you need to speak with the Eclipse leader directly before he’s willing to release her.

Choose “Let me see her” for +2 Paragon Points, then keep the Side Mission moving.
Choose “Release her immediately” to end it right away for +2 Renegade Points.

While you’re here, talk to Bailey twice more. This will open up a conversation where you can hear new responses for “The war” and “Refugees” under the Investigate options.

Hanar Diplomat – Part 1

Between the doors leading to Bailey’s office and the Spectre office, you’ll find the Salarian Jondum Bau, a fellow Spectre. He’ll give you the Side Mission “Citadel: Hanar Diplomat”, which tasks you with tracking down an indoctrinated Hanar. During the conversation you can say:

“I’d like to help” for +2 Paragon Points.
“How bad could this be?” for +2 Renegade Points.

If Kasumi didn’t die in Mass Effect 2, she’ll appear here when Shepard enters the Spectre office and offers her assistance. To continue, go to the Spectre Terminal and enable “Hanar Embassy Tracking”.

Your next move is to find a Terminal in the area across from the Embassies—between Dominic Osoba and the Volus Diplomat. Use it to continue. Its following step is in Docks: Holding Area, but before you go there, the guide recommends visiting the Presidium Commons.

Civilian Argument

When you leave the elevator, take the stairs on your left. At the top, look for two human civilians sitting on a couch. This is your first Siding Opportunity, where Shepard can step in to help settle the argument. You’ll see multiple opportunities like this throughout the game, and the ones on the Citadel tie directly into your War Asset outcomes.

Support the Reluctant Civilian and you’ll increase the Citadel Defense Force War Asset later by +5 TMS. If you support the Gung-ho Civilian, there’s no War Asset change. Regardless of which side you pick, you’ll earn +2 Reputation.

Kanala Exports & Elkoss Combine

At the top of the stairs on your left are kiosks for Kanala Exports and Elkoss Combine Arsenal Supplies. The standout item is the Aquarium VI sold at Elkoss Combine Arsenal Supplies, which automatically feeds your fish. Without it, you’d need to manually feed them in the Captain’s Cabin after each Mission or Side Mission. Forget once and the fish die, forcing you to purchase new ones.

You can also find Barla Von behind the counter at Elkoss Combine. He has four separate comment lines you can listen to.

Book of Plenix

Between the Kanala Exports and Elkoss Combine kiosks is a Volus speaking with a Salarian on a couch. Listening in unlocks the Side Mission “Irune: Book of Plenix”, which the guide notes will be handled later.

Warn Businessmen

Return down the stairs and along the long corridor until you reach the Turian and Salarian Businessmen talking at the ultra-wide window about VIs. If you warn them, you’ll boost the Alliance Fifth Fleet War Asset by 5 TMS and gain +2 Reputation.

Blood Pack

Go through the doorway behind those Businessmen and into the apartments. Climb the stairs on the left and enter Room 86 on your left. The conversation starts off tense:

Choose “I’m going to trust you” for +2 Paragon Points.
Choose “I’ll kill you if you’re lying” for +2 Renegade Points.

No matter which approach you take, the negotiation goes as expected. You’ll receive +5 Reputation, 210 XP, and 5,000 Credits. You’ll also add +50 TMS to the Terminus Fleet War Asset.

Arguing Couple

Go back to the bottom of the apartments and face the Businessmen you saw earlier. Head down the left staircase, then make a U-turn to the right at the bottom to find the Arguing Couple from Mass Effect 1. Support them for +2 Reputation and strengthen the Citadel Defense Force War Asset by… 0 TMS. It’s a small reward, but the guide calls it “worth it” anyway.

Liara T’Soni

Turn toward the large river lake in the Presidium, then veer left and go through Apollo’s Cafe to the lower balcony. Here you can find Liara—talk to her to earn +2 Reputation.

Joker and EDI

Return to where the Arguing Couple were. Now go down the stairs to the lowest balcony. Joker is seated on the left, and EDI stands at the Kassa Fabrication storefront. You’ll earn +2 Reputation for talking to each of them.

Kassa Fabrication & Nos Astra Sporting Goods

On this lowest balcony you’ll find kiosks for Kassa Fabrication and Nos Astra Sporting Goods. As with other shops, the guide recommends avoiding purchases above the Models category in order to save credits.

Cipritine Armory & Aegohr Munitions

These two storefronts are for Cipritine Armory and Aegohr Munitions. Neither sells fish nor Models, so the guide advises waiting until you’ve unlocked the full store discount before buying anything.

Refund Guy

Now head up the stairs at the end to find two additional storefronts. On the right, at Cipritine Armory, you’ll see a customer arguing with a sales clerk. If you’ve got a good memory, you’ll recognize the customer from the Ward Markets in Mass Effect 1 and from outside the Warehouse in Mass Effect 2, where he was trying to get a refund. You can back either the customer or the sales clerk, but you’ll still earn +2 Reputation either way.

Eclipse – Part 2

If you didn’t ask Bailey in the Presidium Embassies to release Jona Sederis earlier, go up the stairs to the right and enter the C-Sec office. Speak with the C-Sec Assistant, who arranges a call to the Eclipse leader. It becomes clear quickly that Sederis is unstable, and that her assistant Sayn is too afraid to oppose her.

While speaking with Sederis, you can say:
- “Leave it in the past” for +2 Paragon Points.
- “Don’t threaten me” for +2 Renegade Points.
After that, you’ll contact Commander Bailey. In that call, you can say:
- “I’ll find another solution” to do exactly that and continue the Side Mission.
- “It doesn’t matter” to release her, ending the Side Mission for +2 Renegade Points.

“Leave it in the past” for +2 Paragon Points.
“Don’t threaten me” for +2 Renegade Points.

“I’ll find another solution” to do just that and continue the Side Mission.
“It doesn’t matter” to release her, ending the Side Mission for +2 Renegade Points.

If you decide to release her, use the checklist checkbox below to mark your progress—this also adds +50 TMS to the Terminus Fleet. If you chose the “find another solution” path, ignore it for now.

Heating Unit Stabilizers

Just outside the C-Sec office, you’ll find a Salarian on a phone call. Listen to him to obtain the Side Mission “Citadel: Heating Unit Stabilizers”.

Barla Von

For the moment, your final task here is to talk to Barla Von, who is up the stairs past the elevator at the Elkoss Combine storefront. Oddly, all three choices in the first dialogue wheel move the conversation forward anyway.

After starting the conversation, choose:
- “He’s a brave man” for +2 Paragon Points.
- “I remember you” to reference your last meeting in Mass Effect 1 (no Morality Points).
- “You keeping tabs on me?” for +2 Renegade Points.
Then choose:
- “Thanks” for +2 Paragon Points.
- “What do you get out of this?” for +2 Renegade Points.

“He’s a brave man” for +2 Paragon Points.
“I remember you” to reference your last meeting in Mass Effect 1 (no Morality Points).
“You keeping tabs on me?” for +2 Renegade Points.

“Thanks” for +2 Paragon Points.
“What do you get out of this?” for +2 Renegade Points.

At the end, you’ll receive the Side Mission “Citadel: Barla Von”. After the conversation, Barla Von himself has four additional comment lines you can hear if you talk to him again.

Hanar Diplomat – Part 2

As you approach the security scanner walls, the game marks a Terminal on the left-hand wall. Interact with it to advance the “Citadel: Hanar Diplomat” Mission.

Docking Argument

When you exit the entry corridor, you may overhear a Refugee arguing with a Dock Officer about letting the ship their family is on dock. The woman pushes back, saying she can’t do that. Your choice affects the Citadel Defense Force War Asset:

Backing the Dock Officer increases it by +7 TMS.
Backing the Refugee decreases it by -2 TMS.

Pillars of Strength

Face the large window and make a U-turn to the right to enter Cargo Hold: C. In the entryway, you’ll find a preacher who mentions the Pillars of Strength. This unlocks the Side Mission “Kite’s Nest: Pillars of Strength”, which the guide again notes you’ll return to later.

Batarian State Arms

Also in this area is the Batarian State Arms kiosk. It’s easy to miss because it isn’t located in Huerta Memorial Hospital or the Presidium Commons.

Kelly Chambers

In the back of Cargo Hold: B, you’ll find Kelly Chambers—but only if you began a flirty relationship with her and she survived the events of Mass Effect 2. The Paragon Interrupt here does not grant Morality Points.

At the end of the conversation, you’ll get your Mass Effect 2 fish items returned and receive +2 Reputation. That’s why the guide suggested buying the Aquarium VI from Elkoss Combine Arsenal Supplies earlier.

Blue Suns – Part 1

Down at Cargo Hold: A, you’ll meet Darner Vosque, the leader of the Blue Suns. He explains that he wants Shepard to kill a Turian general named Septimus Oraka—someone you may remember meeting during Mass Effect 1.

At this point, you can answer with either:
- “I won’t kill for you” for +2 Paragon Points.
- “I’ll take care of it” for +2 Renegade Points.
Afterward, Shepard calls Aria. Aria says she expects you to negotiate with Oraka instead of killing him. Here you can choose:
- “Same damn thing” for +2 Paragon Points.
- “Save the soft sell” for +2 Renegade Points.

“I won’t kill for you” for +2 Paragon Points.
“I’ll take care of it” for +2 Renegade Points.

“Same damn thing” for +2 Paragon Points.
“Save the soft sell” for +2 Renegade Points.

Eclipse – Part 3

Inside Cargo Hold: A, you can find Sayn, the second-in-command to Jona Sederis of Eclipse—if you didn’t release Sederis earlier. You can convince him to take over by choosing either:

“You don’t need Sederis” for +2 Paragon Points.
“Then you kill her” for +2 Renegade Points.

This grants 210 XP, 5,000 Credits, and boosts the Terminus Fleet War Asset by +50 TMS. However, those rewards won’t appear until you leave the area.

POSSIBLE BUG WARNING

After this conversation, DO NOT SAVE and DO NOT TALK WITH ANYONE. Just head straight to the elevator scanners. The Side Mission won’t count as completed until you pass through the security screens.

Garrus Vakarian

Inside Cargo Hold: A, you might overhear Garrus assisting with the refugee’s logistics. Before you talk to him, he has three ambient conversations you can listen to. When you finally speak with him, you’ll earn +5 Reputation.

Hanar Diplomat – Part 3

At the very end of Docks: Holding Area, you can find a Terminal on the wall near Cargo Hold: A, positioned next to an inactive Medical Station. Interact with it to progress the “Citadel: Hanar Diplomat” Side Mission, then leave the area and move on to the security screeners for the next stage.

Return to the security screeners and interact with the Terminal between them again to advance the “Hanar Diplomat” Side Mission. As you’ll learn, you’ll need to go back to the Citadel Embassies once more.

Hanar Diplomat – Part 4

To wrap up Hanar Diplomat, use the original Terminal on the wall to the left of the elevator. As expected, Zymandis is indeed indoctrinated—here you can say:

“You’re under arrest” for +2 Paragon Points.
“Watch me” for +2 Renegade Points.

Unfortunately, the Hanar has uploaded a virus and then orders his bodyguard to kill Jondum Bau. The exact outcome depends on whether Kasumi is still alive:

If Kasumi is not alive, you’ll have to choose between two outcomes:
- Saving Jondum Bau using a Renegade Interrupt grants +5 Renegade Points and the Spectre Unit War Asset, worth 40 TMS.
- Ignoring the interrupt to stop the virus grants +5 Paragon Points and the Hanar and Drell Forces War Asset, worth 50 TMS.
If Kasumi is alive, she can stop the virus on her own—but she’ll be killed by a surprise failsafe explosive. This results in you earning both the Spectre and the Hanar / Drell War Assets for 90 TMS total.
- If Kasumi is alive and you completed her Loyalty Mission in Mass Effect 2, it turns out she was pretending to have died. She then adds an extra War Asset worth 25 TMS—bringing the total to 115 TMS.

Saving Jondum Bau with a Renegade Interrupt awards +5 Renegade Points and grants the Spectre Unit War Asset, worth 40 TMS.
Ignoring the interrupt to stop the virus awards +5 Paragon Points and grants the Hanar and Drell Forces War Asset, worth 50 TMS.

If Kasumi is alive and you completed her Loyalty Mission in Mass Effect 2, she was faking her death and contributes a third War Asset worth 25 TMS, for 115 TMS total.

Blue Suns – Part 2

To continue “Aria: Blue Suns”, go back to where the Arguing Couple was. There you’ll find General Oraka sitting on a bench near the bottom of the stairs—someone you may remember from the Asari Consort Assignment in the first game. Talk to him to find a peaceful way out: a black market dealer in the Presidium Commons.

If you want a peaceful route, choose “I’ll get weapons for you” to proceed with the Side Mission.
If you’d rather settle it immediately and avoid a fetch-style objective, pick “Walk away from this”, then choose “[Place a kill order on Oraka]”. This kills Oraka off-screen, concludes the Side Mission for +5 Renegade Points, and adds +50 TMS to the Terminus Fleet War Asset.
- This also skips the XP and Credits you’d receive from the Paragon ending to this Side Mission.

This also skips the XP and Credits you’d receive from the Paragon ending to this Side Mission.

If you chose the peaceful approach but later change your mind, you can speak to Oraka again to switch to the kill order path. Either way, completing the quest increases the Terminus Fleets War Asset by +50 TMS, but Paragon-oriented conclusions will only unlock later.

If you decided to help Septimus instead of killing him, head to the Cipritine Armory store in the southwest corner of the map and talk to Kannick. Here you can say:

“What will you take?” for +2 Paragon Points.
“I’m not asking” for +2 Renegade Points.

No matter your selection, Kannick will explain he’s planning ahead and will trade black market goods on a barter system—meaning you’ll have to locate an artifact through Search and Rescue. The guide says you’ll get to that later.

Alien Medi-Gel Formula

From the elevator, look left to spot Dr. Ravin on a phone call. The item she wants is Alien Medi-Gel from the “N7: Cerberus Labs” Mission. If you missed it earlier, you can buy it from Spectre Requisitions.

Hand over the formula and you’ll earn 30 XP, 1,000 Credits, and strengthen the Hanar and Drell Forces War Asset by +8 TMS. Then talk to Dr. Ravin again to overhear her delightfully cutting response to the stuck-up representative she was speaking with at first.

Thane Krios

If Thane survived Mass Effect 2 and you read his email, you can talk to him at the window near Dr. Ravin. You’ll earn +2 Reputation for doing so.

Hospital Receptionist

At the reception desk near the Sirta Supplies kiosk, there’s a woman arguing with the Hospital Receptionist over the hospital’s name. Back whichever side you prefer; you’ll receive +2 Reputation either way.

Dr. Michel

You can speak with Dr. Michel again at the same location as during your last visit, to check on the condition of your Virmire Survivor. She’ll also have new lines about Supplies and the Refugees Investigate options now that the war has escalated.

Biotic Amp Interfaces

Next, move through the security corridor into the Inpatient Wing. Once you exit, turn right to find an Asari on a call looking for Biotic Interfaces. You can locate them at the end of the “Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation” mission, but if you missed them, you can buy them from Spectre Requisitions.

Turn them in and you’ll receive 30 XP, 1,000 Credits, and boost the Citadel Defense Force War Asset by +8 TMS.

Prototype Components

Go back to the main hall and enter the left-hand room. Inside, a Salarian on a call is asking for prototype components. This starts the Side Mission “Ismar Frontier: Prototype Components”, another one the guide says you’ll complete later.

Virmire Survivor

Finally, head to the room where your Virmire Survivor is staying. This is another important conversation used to convince them you’re no longer working with Cerberus—simply by talking with them. You’ll also earn +2 Reputation.

Talk to your Virmire Survivor a second time for a conversation loaded with Investigate options. If you have Kaidan, you’ll gain +4 Reputation for doing this.

When you return to the Normandy, you’ll be able to speak with Gabby and Ken back in Engineering, and you can also talk with Engineer Adams about them.

If you own the Omega DLC, this is also when you’ll receive an email from Aria about retaking Omega, matching what she hinted at earlier. The guide recommends saving that for later.

Want more Mass Effect 3 support? Check out these other pages:

Legendary Edition Changes
How-To Guides
Key Choices and Consequences
Romance Guide
Walkthrough
Side Missions