Mass Effect 3 Ismar Frontier: Prototype Components Guide Walkthrough
If you’re working through Mass Effect 3 and reach the Ismar Frontier: Prototype Components side assignment, this guide section breaks down everything you need: where to locate the required items, what to expect during the combat, and which decisions matter for your run. It’s also important to note the mission’s time window, since the quest becomes unavailable later in the story.
Checklists
This page covers the Ismar Frontier: Prototype Components side mission in the Mass Effect 3 wiki guide format—covering item locations, survival during encounters, and how to make the correct choices for your playthrough.
WARNING
This Side Mission can’t be finished after “Priority: Tuchanka.”
If you’re trying to avoid missing it, be sure to turn it in before you progress to that point.
Looking for a specific section? Use the quick jumps below:
- Mission Stats
- Meet the Doctor
- Find the Components
- Deliver the Components
Mission Stats
Video Guide
Mission Rewards
- Mission Experience: 90 XP
Meet the Doctor
- Prerequisite: Complete “Priority: Palaven”
- Location: Serpent Nebula – Widow – Citadel – Huerta Memorial Hospital – Examination Rooms
After you complete “Priority: Palaven,” a salarian doctor will show up at Huerta Memorial Hospital, specifically in the Examination Rooms. He’ll be positioned across from the room belonging to your Virmire Survivor. Stay and listen to the doctor’s conversation until the side mission actually begins—this is signaled by a pop-up message in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
Find the Components
- Location: Ismar Frontier – Aquila – Metaponto
Once you accept the assignment, the Ismar Frontier cluster becomes available on the Galaxy Map. That’s where you’ll be able to track down the Prototype Components. You can find the Ismar Frontier along the northwestern edge of the Milky Way.
Travel to the area and you’ll reach the Aquila system. Next, search for a pale blue gas giant located just west of the Mass Relay, which is named Metaponto. Before you commit to anything, use the Normandy scanner to verify the spot is active—when it’s marked with a red ring, you’ll know you’ve found the correct target.
Choose Metaponto, then start a planetary Scan. Move your cursor to follow the white marker pointing toward a point of interest near Metaponto’s southern pole. Fire a probe at that point to obtain Advanced Biotic Implants.
This item is the required component for the side mission. It also has an extra benefit: it unlocks an item at Liara’s Intel Terminal under the same name.
Deliver the Components
After you collect the Prototype Components, head back to Huerta Memorial Hospital. Hand the items over to the salarian doctor there to finish the side mission.
Want more help with Mass Effect 3? Explore the related pages listed below:
- Legendary Edition Changes
- How-To Guides
- Key Choices and Consequences
- Romance Guide
- Walkthrough
- Side Missions
Up Next: Irune: Book of Plenix
Top Guide Sections
- Legendary Edition Changes
- Game Basics
- Tips and Tricks
- How-To Guides
