Mass Effect 3 Meticulous Achievement Guide: Omega DLC Side Missions Checklist
Mass Effect 3’s “Meticulous” Achievement (and Trophy) is tied to a very specific set of tasks: once you reach Omega’s opening content in the original 2012 release, you can complete three Omega DLC side missions—“Assist the Hacker,” “Assist the Mechanic,” and “Assist Harrot”—to earn the reward. Below is a checklist-style walkthrough of what you need to do, where to go in each area, and what you’ll get once everything is finished.
What the “Meticulous” Achievement Requires
The “Meticulous” Achievement/Trophy isn’t available from the start. You must first complete the preliminary mission “Citadel: Aria T’Loak.” After that, begin the main mission “Omega: Aria T’Loak” to gain access to Omega.
When you finish the opening segment “The Invasion of Omega,” you’ll arrive at Aria’s Bunker. From there, you can start two of the three Omega side missions immediately. The guide points you toward specific characters and terminals near a central landmark so you can pick up the right objectives early.
Where to Find the Three Side Missions
- In Aria’s Bunker after “The Invasion of Omega,” look for the central hologram table as your landmark.
- By using the terminal locations and the interactions around the table, you can pick up:
- “Omega: Assist the Hacker”
- “Omega: Assist the Mechanic”
- “Omega: Assist Harrot” (available later, after returning to the bunker)
Achievement Stats and Rewards
Total Rewards
- Mission Experience: 1,590 XP total
- Reputation: +10 Reputation
- Mission Credits: 1,600 credits
How the Side Missions Pay Off
Completing the tasks contributes to the overall “Meticulous” reward. One of the side missions is specifically described as offering no meaningful payout beyond XP per required interaction, while other parts grant Reputation and credits in later phases.
Walkthrough: Picking Up and Completing Each Task
Step 1: Assist the Hacker
The “Omega: Assist the Hacker” side mission becomes available early during the “Talon Territory” level. After the cutscene where Shepard and Aria climb a ladder, you’ll enter the ventilation system.
- In the vents, turn right, jump over the gap, then climb the ladder ahead.
- At the top, turn right to enter a control room with two terminals.
- Use the terminal closer to where you entered to help the Hacker.
- The second terminal requires a quick detour outside: briefly go out, return, fight the first Cerberus forces inside a control room with a large window on the right, then check the bottom-right corner of that window to find the terminal.
- The third terminal is very close to the second. Enter a hallway containing an Assault Trooper, plus a Combat Engineer in a side room on your right.
- After eliminating them, move to the far end of the hall and enter the second side room. Inside is a round hologram table.
- In the back-left corner of that room, you’ll find an Injured Talon slumped on the third terminal.
The guide also notes that when you initially talk to the woman in Aria’s Bunker about this mission, the side mission’s reward is limited—specifically, it provides 60 XP for each Cerberus Terminal you activate.
Step 2: Assist the Mechanic
The next side mission is “Omega: Assist the Mechanic,” but you can’t handle it right away. It becomes relevant toward the end of the “Talon Territory” level when you reach the Talon Outpost with Nyreen, where you’ll learn about Adjutants for the first time.
- After the Talon Outpost cutscene ends, look left for a pile of crates wrapped in netting.
- Check behind that pile near a floor lamp to locate the Kehri Inverter the Mechanic needs.
With the item secured, return to Aria’s Bunker to turn in the mission.
Step 3: Back in the Bunker (Turning In Assist the Mechanic)
After defending the Talon Outpost, you’ll be sent back to Aria’s Bunker. Here you can hand in “Assist the Mechanic” by speaking to the Mechanic in the same location where you first met him.
- You receive +5 Reputation and 1,500 XP for the hand-in.
Step 4: Assist Harrot
The final side mission, “Omega: Assist Harrot,” is unlocked when you return to Aria’s Bunker after completing “Talon Territory.” During the return cutscene, you may spot an Elcor walking around—this is Harrot, a merchant Shepard may remember from Mass Effect 2 if you previously got a discount from his store. The guide also adds that he might be harder to recognize without his cigar.
Harrot asks Shepard to keep an eye out for Aria’s couch during upcoming travel. To accept the side mission, reply with “Why not?”
Important Warning and How the Later Couch Section Works
WARNING
If you pick “No thanks”, the side mission is PERMANENTLY declined and you’ll miss out on its rewards, and this Achievement!
You won’t be able to complete “Assist Harrot” for a while. The next opportunity arrives after you help Aria and Nyreen at Omega’s main reactor. After that, you’ll start the finale “The Assault on Afterlife” and enter a waterworks area.
Once you clear enemies and push to the far end, Cerberus destroys the bridge across. You work around this by extending a dam.
- After extending the dam, cross it.
- Look right to find a ladder leading down to the drained area.
- Check under the spot where the destroyed bridge was to find Aria’s old couch.
- Claim the couch rewards for +5 Reputation and 1,800 credits (with the note that Aria will quickly comment on the situation).
If you handled everything correctly across the three side missions, the “Meticulous” Achievement/Trophy should trigger at the end of the process. Well done.
More Mass Effect 3 Help
- Legendary Edition Changes
- How-To Guides
- Key Choices and Consequences
- Romance Guide
- Walkthrough
- Side Missions
Up Next: Omega: Assist the Hacker
Top Guide Sections
- Legendary Edition Changes
- Game Basics
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