Mass Effect 3 Endings Guide: Legendary Edition Release Dates

Mass Effect 3’s endings are famously tangled, and this wiki-style guide page lays out exactly why. It breaks down how many conclusion paths the game offers, what conditions unlock each one, and how differences stack up across the original 2012 release, the Extended Cut update, and the newer Legendary Edition. The big takeaway for players: your end state isn’t just about the final choice in the finale—it also depends on earlier decisions, your built-up war strength, and even which version of the game you’re running.

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This page of a Mass Effect 3 wiki guide covers the endings in full detail, including what each ending is, how the outcomes vary, and what you need to get each route and its sub-variants. It also splits the information into a spoiler-free opening section, then follows with deeper sections where spoilers are fully listed.

Looking for something specific? Click the links below to jump to…

Spoiler-Free Zone
- How Mass Effect 3’s Endings Work (Spoiler-Free)
- End Game Charts
  - Legendary Edition (spoilers hidden)
  - Original Extended Cut (spoilers hidden)
  - Original 1.00 Release (spoilers hidden)
- Extended Cut Epilogue
SPOILER ZONE
- How Mass Effect 3’s Endings Work
- Every Ending Outcome

How Mass Effect 3’s Endings Work (Spoiler-Free)
End Game Charts
- Legendary Edition (spoilers hidden)
- Original Extended Cut (spoilers hidden)
- Original 1.00 Release (spoilers hidden)
Extended Cut Epilogue

Legendary Edition (spoilers hidden)
Original Extended Cut (spoilers hidden)
Original 1.00 Release (spoilers hidden)

How Mass Effect 3’s Endings Work
Every Ending Outcome

How Mass Effect 3’s Endings Work (Spoiler-Free)

Mass Effect 3 has nine distinct endings. Those come from three main decision categories: two of them branch into two variations each, while the third branches into three variations. On top of that, there’s one additional hidden ending that’s only reachable in the Extended Cut and Legendary Edition versions.

Your available options and their variants are shaped by three main influences:

The “big choice” you made at the end of Mass Effect 2 – If you started Mass Effect 3 without using the Genesis 2 DLC, the game assumes your Mass Effect 2 decision for you (except for players using the original 2012 release, where you can still choose).
The fate of a character from an earlier section – Depending on what happened to that character, certain EMS thresholds for particular outcomes become harder to reach.
Your Effective Military Strength – This number reflects the strength of Shepard’s forces built across the campaign. It’s derived from your total war assets, then adjusted downward using the Galactic Readiness rating. The EMS required for a specific ending changes depending on whether you’re on the original release, the original release with the Extended Cut DLC, or the Legendary Edition.
- The Readiness rating starts at 50%. In the original release, players can raise it by playing the multiplayer mode, the Mass Effect Infiltrator iOS game, and using either the Mass Effect 3 Datapad or the N7 HQ website. In the Legendary Edition, this value can’t be influenced by players, but the internal numbers are adjusted to compensate.

The Readiness Rating is at 50% by default, but in the original release it can be increased by playing the multiplayer, the Mass Effect Infiltrator iOS game, and either Mass Effect 3 Datapad or the N7 HQ website. If you’re playing the Legendary Edition, this cannot be influenced, but the numbers are adjusted to compensate.

End Game Charts: version differences at a glance

The page then offers three “End Game Charts” that list ending options and their results. If you don’t want to know a specific outcome, the results are presented behind spoiler text. Within each chart section, bold formatting highlights what differs from the outcome described above it.

End Game Chart – Legendary Edition

The table below lays out the ending options and their outcomes for the Legendary Edition. The guide notes that these options are very close to the Extended Cut version of the original release of Mass Effect 3, but with substantially higher EMS requirements.

End Game Chart – Original Extended Cut

The table below covers the original 2012 release of Mass Effect 3 when played with the Extended Cut DLC, including the Wii U Special Edition.

End Game Chart – Original 1.00 Release

This table explains the ending options and outcomes for the original 2012 release of Mass Effect 3 without the Extended Cut DLC. The guide also states that this chart cannot apply to the Wii U Special Edition because it includes the Extended Cut DLC already.

Extended Cut Epilogue: what you see after the Normandy scene

If you have the Extended Cut DLC installed (it’s always included for the Wii U and Legendary Edition), then after the scene of the Normandy on the forest world you’ll get an epilogue that shows the results of Shepard’s actions across the trilogy, including their Crucible choice.

Below are the topics this epilogue covers in roughly the order they appear. However, the guide warns that some topics might not show depending on character availability and/or your specific Crucible decision.

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How Mass Effect 3’s Endings Work

Stepping into the spoiler zone, the guide reiterates that Mass Effect 3 has nine endings in total:

The Destroy ending, made up of four versions.
The Control ending, made up of three versions.
The Synthesis ending, with only one version.
The Refusal hidden ending.

The guide then lists four factors that determine which endings and variations you’ll see:

Effective Military Strength (applies to all endings except Refusal)
Collector Base Choice (only matters if EMS is low)
Shepard’s dominant Morality (Control ending only)
Admiral Anderson’s fate (applies only to the non-Legendary Destroy route)

Effective Military Strength

The guide frames Effective Military Strength as the key driver behind the various ending states. It’s calculated using the Galaxy at War system, and then it determines how the Crucible behaves when it docks with the Citadel—ultimately affecting what choices Shepard can make and how severe the consequences are.

Step 1: Total Military Strength – Throughout the game, Shepard acquires War Assets, including people, ships, technologies, and resources. Each has its own strength rating, and many can be modified through Shepard’s actions elsewhere. These ratings are summed into a single Total Military Strength value.
Step 2: Galactic Readiness – Total Military Strength is then influenced by Galactic Readiness, which represents how prepared Shepard’s forces are for the final assault. By default, this is set to 50%. It can be increased by playing the Multiplayer mode, playing Mass Effect Infiltrator, using the Mass Effect 3 Datapad iOS app, or using the N7 HQ website. The guide adds that, as of 2021, only Multiplayer and N7 HQ are still usable for the original release of Mass Effect 3.
Step 3: Effective Military Strength – Galactic Readiness determines the final EMS. For instance, if Total Military Strength is 400 and Galactic Readiness is 50%, EMS becomes 200. The guide also ties EMS directly to the Crucible’s state at the Citadel and therefore to the options available to Shepard and the scale of the effects.

Low EMS – Collector Base Choice

The second major factor is the Collector Base decision from Mass Effect 2, but the guide stresses it only matters when EMS is within a low band.

Legendary Edition – 3199 or less.
Original Extended Cut – 1599 or less.
Original release – 1749 or less.

When EMS falls into that low range, the earlier Collector Base decision dictates which ending route you can access:

If you chose to Destroy the Collector Base, your only ending option will be Destroy. The guide notes that if you began Mass Effect 3 fresh without using the Genesis 2 DLC comic, this is the outcome you’ll get. It also offers a way to confirm this in-game: you’ll have passed through the Reaper Human Heart during “Priority: Cerberus Headquarters”.
If you chose to Spare the Collector Base, your only option will be Control. The guide says you can tell because you’ll have passed through the Reaper Human Brain during “Priority: Cerberus Headquarters”.
If you exceed the minimum EMS threshold listed above, both Destroy and Control become available, meaning the Collector Base choice no longer affects your accessible options.

Shepard’s Dominant Morality (Control only)

The third influence is Shepard’s dominant Morality, but it only applies if you select the Control ending. In that route, the guide says Shepard’s narration changes based on the balance of Paragon and Renegade points.

If Shepard has primarily Paragon Morality Points, the Control ending narration claims Shepard is leading a future with limitless possibilities, serving as an altruistic guardian for the Milky Way.
- If Shepard’s Paragon and Renegade points are split fairly evenly, the final line changes from “save the many” to “protect the many,” while the rest matches the Paragon version.
If Shepard has primarily Renegade Morality Points, the Control ending narration claims Shepard is leading an army—strong, determined to destroy anyone who threatens the Milky Way.

If Shepard’s Paragon and Renegade points are split fairly evenly, the final line changes from “save the many” to “protect the many,” while the rest remains identical to the Paragon version.

High EMS – Admiral Anderson’s Fate (Destroy only)

The fourth and final condition is the fate of Admiral Anderson during your confrontation with The Illusive Man. This factor only applies to the Destroy ending in editions that are not Legendary.

If you choose the Destroy ending, having a very high EMS rating can let Shepard survive the Crucible firing.
If Admiral Anderson was personally executed by the Illusive Man, Shepard requires an even higher EMS value to survive.

Legendary Edition: the guide says this choice doesn’t matter, because Shepard always survives the Destroy ending regardless of what happens in this moment.
If the Illusive Man pushes Anderson to the ground and you ignore the Renegade interrupt to shoot him, Anderson is executed. In that case, to have Shepard survive the Destroy ending you’ll need:
- Extended Cut: an unknown value, but the guide suggests it’s likely around 4100+ EMS.
- Original release: 5000+ EMS.
If you shoot the Illusive Man using the Renegade interrupt, or if you prevent him from preparing to execute Anderson in the first place, then to have Shepard survive the Destroy ending you’ll need:
- Extended Cut: 3100+ EMS.
- Original release: 4000+ EMS.
If you choose the Control, Synthesis, or Refusal endings, Shepard will not survive the Crucible firing no matter what you did beforehand.

Extended Cut: unknown value, presumably around 4100+ EMS.
Original release: 5000+ EMS.

Extended Cut: 3100+ EMS.
Original release: 4000+ EMS.

The guide then states that the next section will explain every ending outcome, including the hidden Refusal route, and how those outcomes shift depending on your total EMS.

Destroy Ending Explanation

The guide calls the Destroy ending the first option. It’s selected by taking the right-side path, then manually firing your pistol at the Power Conduit four times.

For most players, Destroy is available alongside the Control ending. If your EMS is extremely low, however, for Destroy to be your only option you must have destroyed the Collector Base in Mass Effect 2 or in the Genesis 2 DLC comic (or you must have started Mass Effect 3 from scratch without using the comic).

Here’s what will happen regardless of EMS:

The Crucible Wave wipes out every synthetic life form, including the Reapers, the Geth (if they survived “Priority: Rannoch”), and EDI.
The Citadel and the Mass Relays always take massive damage in this route.
In the Extended Cut, the epilogue is narrated by Admiral Hackett.

Here’s what happens only with high or very high EMS:

The Normandy takes little damage, letting Joker and your two most-favoured squadmates leave the ship.
In the Extended Cut, Admiral Hackett’s epilogue is the most optimistic.
In the Extended Cut, the Normandy is shown lifting off into the sky.
Shepard appears to take a breath in the final shot. If Anderson was executed by the Illusive Man, the guide says this requires very high EMS (except in the Legendary Edition).

Here’s what happens only with moderate or low EMS:

Earth’s buildings get hit by the Crucible Wave, but the people survive.
The Normandy suffers some damage, yet Joker and your two most-favoured squadmates can still exit.
In the Extended Cut, Admiral Hackett’s epilogue is grim but still hopeful.
In the Extended Cut, the Normandy is shown undergoing repairs.

And here’s what happens with very low EMS:

Everyone on Earth dies from the Crucible Wave.
The Normandy takes such heavy damage that its doors won’t open, trapping everyone inside to die.
In the Extended Cut, Admiral Hackett’s epilogue is brief and especially bleak.
Because the Normandy is heavily damaged and traps the crew, the guide says there is no Normandy epilogue scene at all—even in the Extended Cut.

Control Ending Explained

The Control Ending is the second ending. The guide says you select it by taking the left path and approaching two electric handles; the sequence plays automatically once you get close.

For most players, Control is available alongside Destroy. If your EMS is extremely low, though, for Control to become your only option you must have spared the Collector Base in Mass Effect 2 or in the Genesis 2 DLC comic.

The Crucible Wave forces the Reapers under Commander Shepard’s control, replacing the Catalyst AI as the director of the Reapers.
In the Extended Cut, the epilogue is narrated by the new Shepard AI. Its tone depends on whether you leaned Paragon or Renegade, with a mixed balance altering a line from the Paragon version.
Outside of becoming the new Reaper AI, Shepard never survives this ending.

Here’s what happens only if EMS is moderate, high, or very high:

The Normandy takes little damage, allowing Joker and your two most-favoured squadmates to leave the ship.
In the Extended Cut, the Normandy is shown lifting off into the sky.

Here’s what happens only if EMS is low:

Earth’s buildings take damage from the Crucible Wave, but the people survive.
The Normandy takes some damage, but Joker and your two most-favoured squadmates can still exit.
In the Extended Cut, the Normandy is shown undergoing repairs.

Lastly, here’s what happens if EMS is very low:

The Earth suffers major damage from the Crucible Wave, while its people remain unharmed.
The Normandy is heavily damaged to the point that its doors won’t open, trapping everyone inside to die.

Synthesis Ending Explained

The Synthesis Ending is the third route and is only unlocked with a very high EMS total.

Legendary Edition: 6,200 EMS.
Extended Cut: 2,800 EMS.
Original release: 2,800 EMS.

The guide says you select Synthesis by moving Shepard up to the white beam coming from the Crucible, positioned between the other two options. With such a high EMS requirement, it also claims Synthesis has no variations: you’re guaranteed no negative galaxy effects compared to other endings.

Here’s what happens in the Synthesis ending:

All organics and synthetics have their core matter transformed into a fusion of both. The Reapers stop their killings and become allies who share their centuries-spanning knowledge with the galaxy.
Earth and its people are not destroyed by the Crucible Wave.
In the Extended Cut, the Citadel and Mass Relays are damaged but remain intact.
The Normandy crew survives. In the crash site scene, Joker and EDI exit the ship along with your most-favoured squadmate.
In the Extended Cut, the epilogue is narrated by EDI, and the Normandy can always leave the crash site.

Refusal Ending Explained

The Refusal ending is unique in that it’s the only ending that is completely hidden. The guide also says it can only be accessed if you own the Extended Cut DLC, meaning it’s available in the Wii U Special Edition and the Legendary Edition as well.

Here’s how to trigger the Refusal Ending:

While speaking with the Catalyst, after it presents all your options, select “I reject these choices!” and then “You are wrong”. Shepard tells the Catalyst they fight for the right to choose their own fate in the face of the Reapers, and the Catalyst shuts down as Shepard’s forces are destroyed.
If you don’t do that, you can still trigger the ending after talking with the Catalyst by shooting it with your pistol. The guide says this skips straight past Shepard’s explanation to the Catalyst, ending with Shepard saying “So be it”.

After whatever option you pick, you’ll then see a scene showing Liara’s time capsule device explaining the Reapers and the Catalyst. The ending “Stargazer” scene also changes: the guide says a female figure speaks about victory in the next cycle against the Reapers instead of an elderly man.

Post-Credits Scene

The guide notes you can watch the credits or skip them to see the final scene for any ending. It always plays the same way unless you choose the Refusal ending, in which case a woman appears instead of an elderly man.

Want more Mass Effect 3 help? Check out the following pages:

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

Mass Effect 3 Endings Explained: Paths, Conditions, and Edition Differences

Task Search and Checklists: what the page is trying to do

How Mass Effect 3’s Endings Work (Spoiler-Free)