Hey everyone! Vazgen here with the first installment of Power Guide - series of articles called to shed light on different powers from Mass Effect trilogy. Some of the effects detailed in these articles might be known to you but I hope you'll also find something new. So without further ado, I present to you
Overload
This power is present in all three games of the trilogy and is arguably one of the most useful ones out there!
 |
Mass Effect 1 |
In Mass Effect 1 Overload is a talent available through the Electronics skill tree. Engineers and Infiltrators start with 1 point already spent in that tree, Sentinels can unlock it after 4 ranks in Decryption, other classes can get it via bonus power - you have to get Overload Specialist achievement which is unlocked after you use Overload 75 times (you don't need a target for that). Of squadmates, Tali starts with it and it is unlockable for Kaidan (4 ranks in Decryption), Garrus (7 ranks in First Aid) and Liara (4 ranks in First Aid). Be warned though, if Liara learns all available biotic skills Overload gets hidden from the the HUD/Power Wheel and you'll have to set Squad Power Usage to Active to ever see her casting it.
Each rank in Electronics increases Shepard's shields which in combination with good armor and appropriate mods can make your character into a Mako equivalent, able to tank sniper shots without even getting the shields depleted! Speaking of the Mako, Electronics boost the amount of hull restored when repairing the vehicle. The skill also allows to bypass some locks. It's one of the most useful skills in the game!
Overload itself is unlocked at rank 1 and is improved at ranks 5 and 9. The power's effects based on ranks are as follows:
Overload
Does 50 damage in a 6m radius. Does 200 damage to enemy shields. Reduces damage protection by 20%.
Duration: 10 sec.
Recharge time: 60 sec.
Accuracy Cost: 60%
Advanced Overload
Does 100 damage in a 8m radius. Does 400 damage to enemy shields. Reduces damage protection by 25%.
Duration: 10 sec.
Recharge time: 50 sec.
Accuracy Cost: 60%
Master Overload
Does 150 damage in a 10m radius. Does 600 damage to enemy shields. Reduces damage protection by 30%.
Duration: 10 sec.
Recharge time: 40 sec.
Accuracy Cost: 60%
Damage protection debuff on Overload is lower than the one on Warp and if both are cast only the strongest number is applied but if you don't have access to Warp it's always a good addition. It also deals some bonus damage and removes enemy shields so you'll be able to attack enemy's health directly. Overload can also destroy explosive containers for some environmental damage as well as hexagonal barriers that Geth like to use.
Choosing Operative specialization as an Engineer or Infiltrator you can boost Overload power even further at rank 9 by increasing its radius by 2m, explosion damage by 50, shield damage by 200, and damage vulnerability by 5%. It is worth noting that Operative also lowers recharge time on tech powers, including Overload. First 6 ranks of Engineer, Sentinel and Infiltrator class powers affect Overload differently. At rank 6 Engineers can reduce Overload recharge time by 14%, Sentinels - by 10% while Infiltrators can instead increase its damage by 15%.
 |
Mass Effect 2 |
Fewer classes have access to Overload in Mass Effect 2. Like in ME1 Engineers start with it, but Infiltrators no longer can use it and Sentinels need to unlock it by spending points in Tech Armor. From squadmates Miranda starts with it and Garrus and Kasumi can unlock it by spending points in Concussive Shot and Shadow Strike correspondingly. The power ranks are as follows:
Rank 1
Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
Shield and Synthetic Damage: 120.00 points
Rank 2
Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
Shield and Synthetic Damage: 140.00 points
Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds
Rank 3
Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
Shield and Synthetic Damage: 160.00 points
Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds
Weapon Overheat Length: 6.00 seconds
Rank 4
Heavy Overload / Area Overload
Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
Impact Radius: 1.20 meters / 3.00 meters
Shield and Synthetic Damage: 200.00 points / 160.00 points
Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds
Weapon Overheat Length: 6.00 seconds
Overload deals the damage listed above to armor, barriers and synthetic health (organic health is not affected) and double damage to shields. Starting from rank 3 it overheats enemy weapons, making them unable to shoot for 6 seconds. Synthetics are stunned for 3 seconds and (if Heavy Overload was chosen) explode on death. Overload causes unshielded enemies with flamethrowers explode and can amplify explosions of crates and containers for extra damage. The power hits instantly, so curving it behind a cover is not an option. Very useful against Blue Suns, Geth and mechs. On Insanity, Heavy Overload will remove shields of basic troopers in one cast, making them vulnerable to biotics and cryo powers.
 |
Mass Effect 3 |
In Mass Effect 3 Overload is available for Engineers and Sentinels (unlocked at level 3) and Garrus and Kaidan from squadmates. In multiplayer, it is available to the Geth Engineer, Human Engineer, Turian Ghost Infiltrator and Turian Sentinel. The power ranks are as follows:
Rank 1: Overload
Recharge Speed: 8 sec
Damage: 220
Rank 2: Recharge Speed
Increases recharge speed by 25%.
Recharge Speed: 6.40 sec
Rank 3: Damage
Increase damage by 20%.
Damage: 264
Rank 4: Chain Overload / Damage
Hit 1 additional target within 8 meters with 60% less damage. / Increase damage by 30%.
Chain-hit Damage: 105.60 / Damage: 330
Rank 5: Neural Shock / Recharge Speed
Incapacitate weaker organic enemies for a short duration. / Increase recharge speed by 25%.
Knocks targets on the ground / Recharge Speed: 5.33 sec
Rank 6: Chain Overload / Shield Damage
Increase damage by 15%. Hit 1 additional target within 8 meters with 60% less damage. / Increase damage to barriers and shields by an additional 100%.
Damage: 297 (Chain Overload), 363 (Damage) / Increase damage to barriers and
Chain-hit Damage: 118.80 (Chain Overload), 145.20 (Damage) / shields by an additional 100%.
Overload takes on a new meaning in Mass Effect 3. It can now serve as a crowd control tool, direct damaging power or in its classic support role. Introduction of power combos creates a lot of new possibilities for its usage.
First, power combos. Overload can prime tech explosions and detonate tech, cryo and fire explosions. Even more, it can actually detonate multiple explosions with Chain Overload evolution. Shield Damage evolution is extremely useful against Banshees and Atlas mechs. Neural Shock is particularly interesting - it makes Overload do double damage against shields, barriers and health and stuns organic targets! If you hit a target behind Guardian with a Chain Overload with Neural Shock evolution, the chain hit will cause the Guardian to drop his shield permanently. Overload is especially important in ME3 since shield gate mechanics will not let you to kill shielded enemies in one shot, even with high-powered weapons like Widow. Removing shields with Overload stuns targets and makes them vulnerable to consequent headshots or biotic powers.
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Well, there you have it. Please, post in the comments below and let me know if you'd like to see more of those guides in the future or if you have more information of this exceptionally useful power!
Hey everyone! Vazgen here with the first installment of Power Guide - series of articles called to shed light on different powers from Mass Effect trilogy. Some of the effects detailed in these articles might be known to you but I hope you'll also find something new. So without further ado, I present to you
Overload
This power is present in all three games of the trilogy and is arguably one of the most useful ones out there!
|
Mass Effect 1 |
In Mass Effect 1 Overload is a talent available through the Electronics skill tree. Engineers and Infiltrators start with 1 point already spent in that tree, Sentinels can unlock it after 4 ranks in Decryption, other classes can get it via bonus power - you have to get Overload Specialist achievement which is unlocked after you use Overload 75 times (you don't need a target for that). Of squadmates, Tali starts with it and it is unlockable for Kaidan (4 ranks in Decryption), Garrus (7 ranks in First Aid) and Liara (4 ranks in First Aid). Be warned though, if Liara learns all available biotic skills Overload gets hidden from the the HUD/Power Wheel and you'll have to set Squad Power Usage to Active to ever see her casting it.
Each rank in Electronics increases Shepard's shields which in combination with good armor and appropriate mods can make your character into a Mako equivalent, able to tank sniper shots without even getting the shields depleted! Speaking of the Mako, Electronics boost the amount of hull restored when repairing the vehicle. The skill also allows to bypass some locks. It's one of the most useful skills in the game!
Overload itself is unlocked at rank 1 and is improved at ranks 5 and 9. The power's effects based on ranks are as follows:
Overload
Does 50 damage in a 6m radius. Does 200 damage to enemy shields. Reduces damage protection by 20%.
Duration: 10 sec.
Recharge time: 60 sec.
Accuracy Cost: 60%
Advanced Overload
Does 100 damage in a 8m radius. Does 400 damage to enemy shields. Reduces damage protection by 25%.
Duration: 10 sec.
Recharge time: 50 sec.
Accuracy Cost: 60%
Master Overload
Does 150 damage in a 10m radius. Does 600 damage to enemy shields. Reduces damage protection by 30%.
Duration: 10 sec.
Recharge time: 40 sec.
Accuracy Cost: 60%
Damage protection debuff on Overload is lower than the one on Warp and if both are cast only the strongest number is applied but if you don't have access to Warp it's always a good addition. It also deals some bonus damage and removes enemy shields so you'll be able to attack enemy's health directly. Overload can also destroy explosive containers for some environmental damage as well as hexagonal barriers that Geth like to use.
Choosing Operative specialization as an Engineer or Infiltrator you can boost Overload power even further at rank 9 by increasing its radius by 2m, explosion damage by 50, shield damage by 200, and damage vulnerability by 5%. It is worth noting that Operative also lowers recharge time on tech powers, including Overload. First 6 ranks of Engineer, Sentinel and Infiltrator class powers affect Overload differently. At rank 6 Engineers can reduce Overload recharge time by 14%, Sentinels - by 10% while Infiltrators can instead increase its damage by 15%.
|
Mass Effect 2 |
Fewer classes have access to Overload in Mass Effect 2. Like in ME1 Engineers start with it, but Infiltrators no longer can use it and Sentinels need to unlock it by spending points in Tech Armor. From squadmates Miranda starts with it and Garrus and Kasumi can unlock it by spending points in Concussive Shot and Shadow Strike correspondingly. The power ranks are as follows:
Rank 1
Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
Shield and Synthetic Damage: 120.00 points
Rank 2
Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
Shield and Synthetic Damage: 140.00 points
Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds
Rank 3
Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
Impact Radius: 1.20 meters
Shield and Synthetic Damage: 160.00 points
Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds
Weapon Overheat Length: 6.00 seconds
Rank 4
Heavy Overload / Area Overload
Recharge Time: 6.00 seconds (Shepard) 12.00 seconds (Others)
Impact Radius: 1.20 meters / 3.00 meters
Shield and Synthetic Damage: 200.00 points / 160.00 points
Synthetic Stun Length: 3.00 seconds
Weapon Overheat Length: 6.00 seconds
Overload deals the damage listed above to armor, barriers and synthetic health (organic health is not affected) and double damage to shields. Starting from rank 3 it overheats enemy weapons, making them unable to shoot for 6 seconds. Synthetics are stunned for 3 seconds and (if Heavy Overload was chosen) explode on death. Overload causes unshielded enemies with flamethrowers explode and can amplify explosions of crates and containers for extra damage. The power hits instantly, so curving it behind a cover is not an option. Very useful against Blue Suns, Geth and mechs. On Insanity, Heavy Overload will remove shields of basic troopers in one cast, making them vulnerable to biotics and cryo powers.
|
Mass Effect 3 |
In Mass Effect 3 Overload is available for Engineers and Sentinels (unlocked at level 3) and Garrus and Kaidan from squadmates. In multiplayer, it is available to the Geth Engineer, Human Engineer, Turian Ghost Infiltrator and Turian Sentinel. The power ranks are as follows:
Rank 1: Overload
Recharge Speed: 8 sec
Damage: 220
Rank 2: Recharge Speed
Increases recharge speed by 25%.
Recharge Speed: 6.40 sec
Rank 3: Damage
Increase damage by 20%.
Damage: 264
Rank 4: Chain Overload / Damage
Hit 1 additional target within 8 meters with 60% less damage. / Increase damage by 30%.
Chain-hit Damage: 105.60 / Damage: 330
Rank 5: Neural Shock / Recharge Speed
Incapacitate weaker organic enemies for a short duration. / Increase recharge speed by 25%.
Knocks targets on the ground / Recharge Speed: 5.33 sec
Rank 6: Chain Overload / Shield Damage
Increase damage by 15%. Hit 1 additional target within 8 meters with 60% less damage. / Increase damage to barriers and shields by an additional 100%.
Damage: 297 (Chain Overload), 363 (Damage) / Increase damage to barriers and
Chain-hit Damage: 118.80 (Chain Overload), 145.20 (Damage) / shields by an additional 100%.
Overload takes on a new meaning in Mass Effect 3. It can now serve as a crowd control tool, direct damaging power or in its classic support role. Introduction of power combos creates a lot of new possibilities for its usage.
First, power combos. Overload can prime tech explosions and detonate tech, cryo and fire explosions. Even more, it can actually detonate multiple explosions with Chain Overload evolution. Shield Damage evolution is extremely useful against Banshees and Atlas mechs. Neural Shock is particularly interesting - it makes Overload do double damage against shields, barriers and health and stuns organic targets! If you hit a target behind Guardian with a Chain Overload with Neural Shock evolution, the chain hit will cause the Guardian to drop his shield permanently. Overload is especially important in ME3 since shield gate mechanics will not let you to kill shielded enemies in one shot, even with high-powered weapons like Widow. Removing shields with Overload stuns targets and makes them vulnerable to consequent headshots or biotic powers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, there you have it. Please, post in the comments below and let me know if you'd like to see more of those guides in the future or if you have more information of this exceptionally useful power!
