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Mass Effect 3 Legendary Edition

Effective Military Strength

By
Matt Chard

After the Mission: Priority Mars, you’ll be able to obtain War Assets from various activites including, Assignments, Missions, and helping random citizens throughout the game. Some can even be found by scanning planets. Doing these will increase your Effective Military Strength (EMS) which can make a major difference on the endings, which is shown below.

About EMS

The final choice in Mass Effect 3 is determined by your Effective Military Strength (EMS), and the availability of the choices available depends on how high it was when you get to this point.

Less than 1,750 EMS

If you get to the end of the game with a score less than 1,750, you’ll only get one option in the final choice with the Crucible. This choice will either be Control or Destroy, and the choice you’ll have from them will be dependent on whether you destroyed the Collector Base or not in Mass Effect 2.

In between 1,750 - 2,649 EMS

If you get to the end of the game with a score in-between 1,750 - 2,649 EMS, you’ll get two options in the final choice with the Crucible. These will be either Control or Destroy regardless of your choice in Mass Effect 2, and choosing Destroy will no longer end all life on Earth.

In between 2,800 - 3,099 EMS

If you get to the end of the game with a score in-between 2,800 - 3,099 EMS, you’ll get three options in the final choice with the Crucible. Sythesis will be the new choice added, and with your EMS this high, none of the choices will end up with Earth being ravaged, and the Mass Relays won’t be destroyed.

3,100 EMS or Higher

If you get to the end of the game with a score of 3,100 EMS or Higher, you’ll get all three options again in the final choice with the Crucible. Also, you’ll be able to survive on the Destroy ending, even if Anderson is killed by the Illusive Man.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Electronic Arts
  • Platforms,
    PC, PS3, Wii U, XB 360
  • Genre
    Action RPG, Third-person shooter
  • Guide Release
    14 May 2021
  • Last Updated
    15 June 2022
    Version History
  • Guide Author
    Andrew Mills, Claire Farnworth

Share this free guide:

For years, a lone soldier has told tales of the Reapers, of their return, of these sentient machines reaching out across the vastness of space, to harvest all sentient life. But the warnings were all for nothing. Until now. The Reapers have at last come to Earth and these warnings can no longer be ignored. You are Commander Shepard, the first human spectre and elite soldier of the Alliance, tasked with uniting the galaxy in the fight to stop the Reapers destroying everything you hold dear. In your hands lies the fate of the entire Milky Way but luckily, this time, you are no longer alone.

  • All side missions completed containing the included DLC.
  • Find every single weapon mod tucked away in the game.
  • In-depth look at the major choices and consequences of each.
  • Full details on all possible Romances.
  • Class builds to get the most out of your chosen class.
  • All Biotic Combos and Tech Bursts explained.
  • Details on every Power.
  • Builds for all squad mates.
  • Trophy/Achievement guide.

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