Let's be real for a second. When Mass Effect: Andromeda launched back in 2017, the internet basically exploded with memes of tired faces and crab-walking animations. It was a mess. But if you actually sit down and play it now—especially after years of patches—you realize the heart of the game isn't the facial tech. It’s the people sitting in the galley of the Tempest.
The Mass Effect Andromeda companions had a nearly impossible job. They had to follow up on the legacy of Garrus Vakarian, Tali’Zorah, and Liara T’Soni. That is a tall order. You can’t just replace a Turian sniper who’s been your best friend for three games with a new guy and expect everyone to be cool with it. Yet, looking back, the squad in Andromeda actually feels more like a living, breathing family than the original trilogy’s crew did in their first outing.
The Dynamic Shift of the Tempest Crew
In the original trilogy, the Normandy felt like a military vessel. Everyone had their station. They stayed there. If you wanted to talk to Garrus, you went to the main battery. If you wanted Tali, you went to engineering. It was structured, but also kinda static.
The Mass Effect Andromeda companions changed that. They move. You’ll walk into the kitchen and find Drack and Vetra arguing over rations, or head to the cargo bay to see Cora and Liam hanging out. It makes the ship feel less like a level in a video game and more like a home. Honestly, it’s one of the best things BioWare did for the series. It builds a sense of "found family" that feels earned because you see their relationships developing independently of the player character, Ryder.
Vetra Nyx: The Turian We Didn't Know We Needed
Vetra is a standout. Period. While Garrus was the "ride or die" soldier, Vetra is a drifter and a fixer. She spent her life in the cracks of Citadel space, looking out for her sister, Sid. That’s her whole motivation. It’s refreshing. She isn't some high-ranking military official; she’s a person who knows how to get things done because she’s had to survive.
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Her loyalty mission is particularly poignant because it isn't about saving the galaxy. It’s about her being a big sister. If you bring her along on missions, her banter reveals a woman who is deeply protective but also incredibly savvy about how the criminal underworld works. She’s the pragmatic heart of the team.
Nakmor Drack: Not Just Another Wrex
It would have been easy to make Drack a Wrex clone. He’s old, he’s a Krogan, and he’s seen too many wars. But Drack is different because he’s a grandfather. He’s over 1,400 years old. He’s literally falling apart—parts of his body are prosthetic or just failing.
Drack provides a perspective we never really got with Wrex or Grunt. He’s a man who has accepted his mortality but is terrified of what the world will be like for his granddaughter, Kesh, once he’s gone. His dialogue is often hilarious, but there’s a deep undercurrent of melancholy there. He’s a warrior who is tired of fighting but doesn't know how to do anything else.
Combat Synergies and the Profile System
We have to talk about how these characters actually function when the bullets start flying. Because the combat in Andromeda is fast, the Mass Effect Andromeda companions need to keep up.
Unlike the original trilogy, where you had a tactical pause to micromanage every single power, Andromeda is more fluid. This means your squad's AI needs to be smart. Mostly, they are. Cora Harper is a powerhouse here. As a biotic vanguard, she gets in people's faces. Her "Shield Boost" ability is a literal lifesaver on Insanity difficulty.
Then you have Liam Kosta. People love to hate on Liam because he’s a bit of a disaster as a person, but in a fight? He’s great for crowd control. His "Havoc Strike" disrupts enemies and sets up primers for your own combos.
- Peebee: Use her for biotic primers (Pull/Shockwave).
- Jaal: Excellent for long-range tech damage and stealth.
- Cora: The ultimate tank/support hybrid.
The game encourages you to swap squadmates often to see how their powers interact with your chosen "Profile." If you’re playing as an Adept, you want someone who can strip shields, like Overload-heavy Jaal or Vetra.
The Angara Factor: Jaal Ama Darav
Jaal is the bridge to the new galaxy. As an Angara, he represents everything the Andromeda Initiative is trying to achieve—or destroy, depending on your choices. His inclusion in the Mass Effect Andromeda companions list was vital for the narrative. Without him, you're just a bunch of colonist invaders.
Jaal’s species is defined by their emotional transparency. They don't hide how they feel. This leads to some of the most "human" moments in the game, ironically. Jaal will tell you he’s frustrated. He’ll tell you he’s impressed. There’s no subtext. It makes his romance arc (if you go that route) incredibly sweet and vulnerable. It also makes his reactions to the Kett's atrocities feel much more visceral than the stoicism we usually get from alien squadmates.
Why Some Fans Bounced Off the Crew
It wasn't all sunshine. Liam Kosta is a polarizing figure. He’s impulsive. He makes bad calls that put the whole initiative at risk. Some players found him annoying because he doesn't have that "professional soldier" vibe that Kaidan or Ashley had. But that’s the point. These people aren't the best of the best; they’re the people who were willing to leave everything behind. They're flawed.
Cora, too, gets flak for her constant "When I was with the Asari Commandos" lines. It’s her entire personality for the first half of the game. However, if you stick with her, you realize it’s an insecurity. She’s a human biotic who never felt at home with humans, so she clung to a culture that accepted her. It’s a nuanced take on identity that often gets buried under the "Huntress" memes.
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How to Maximize Your Squad Experience
If you're jumping back into the Heleus Cluster, don't just pick two favorites and stick with them. The magic of the Mass Effect Andromeda companions is in the car rides—well, Nomad rides.
The banter in the Nomad is where the real character development happens. If you put Drack and Peebee together, you get a "grumpy grandpa and chaotic child" energy that is gold. If you put Jaal and Liam together, you watch a cross-cultural friendship form (and occasionally almost implode). BioWare wrote hours of this stuff. It’s the "connective tissue" of the game.
Pro-Tip for Loyalty Missions
Do not skip these. In Andromeda, Loyalty Missions are where the writers really let loose. They aren't just "go here, kill that." Liam’s mission is a comedic masterpiece that plays with gravity and movie tropes. Peebee’s mission takes you to a volcano and involves a lot of high-stakes platforming. These missions provide the most significant character growth and unlock the final tier of their skill trees. You need those high-level abilities if you plan on taking down the Architect boss fights.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Playthrough
To get the most out of your crew, you need to be intentional about how you interact with them. It’s not just about clicking the "investigate" dialogue tree.
- Check the emails: The terminal on the Tempest isn't just flavor text. The companions send you messages that trigger small, unlisted scenes on the ship or on various planets.
- Rotate for Banter: Change your squad every time you hit a Forward Station. The Nomad conversations trigger based on location and who is present.
- Respec Often: You can reset your squad's points at the Med Bay. If you find you’re playing a long-range build, respec Cora to be a pure defensive tank to keep enemies off you.
- Visit the Nexus: Some companion scenes only trigger when you take them back to the station. Drack, in particular, has some great moments at the bar.
The Mass Effect Andromeda companions might not have had the three-game arc of the original crew, but they have a charm all their own. They are a messier, louder, and more colorful group. They represent the hope of a new beginning, even when everything is going wrong. If you go in looking for Garrus, you’ll be disappointed. But if you go in looking for a new group of friends, you might just find that you like the Tempest crew more than you thought you would.
Next Steps for Players:
Start by prioritizing Vetra’s "Means and Ends" mission and Drack’s "A Future for Our People." These provide the best narrative payoff and significantly buff your squad's combat effectiveness for the late-game Kett encounters. Once those are locked in, focus on alternating your third slot between Jaal and Peebee to balance out your tech and biotic coverage.