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Master and Commander achievement in Mass Effect 3

Master and Commander

Deliver most of the Galaxy at War assets to the final conflict.

Master and Commander0
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How to unlock the Master and Commander achievement

  • KindFoal7634767KindFoal7634767
    08 Mar 2012 08 Mar 2012 08 Mar 2012
    As the description is so vague and I tried lots of different things to unlock this to no success I thought I would post how to get it to save people wasting hours like I did on this achievement.

    1) First of all it unlocks before you assault the illusive mans base (the cut scene before you arrive) so make sure you have a save before that point. You can beat the game already then come back to this achievement, just so long as you make a save before you assault his base.

    2) You will have to play multiplayer to unlock this achievement (which I wish I realized sooner and would have saved myself a lot of time). As I did everything possible in single player, every side mission and main mission, scanned and explored every planet and didn't have enough points.

    3) The way it works is you have your war assets (you get from doing side quests and scanning planets). Now whatever theatre of war % you have increases your war assets you gained in single player by so much. 50% is the standard amount you will be at if you've never played MP. To increase this % you have to play and succeed at multiplayer.

    4) To view your points you need to go the war room and just take note of the bottom number 'Effective Military Strengh' as this is the number what matters.
    As for the points total itself I'm not sure the exact amount you need but I had 4122 so I would assume for being safe lets say you need 4.000. I had 3300ish from single player, then I played multiplayer to just 50> 63% across all zones which boosted me to 4122. So just the 13% increase gave me near 1k in extra war asset points to put me in the achievement criteria.

    Guide not helping? View 11 more guides for this achievement.

    Showing most recent comments. View all comments.
    Darkness727420I had the same thing happen to me as ShadowRaven9, but I only have the free DLC installed. Also, I never asked him anything. I just pressed A to bring him up and it popped.
    Posted by Darkness727420 On 09 Apr 20 at 11:14
    iagoThis popped for me right after Priority: Palaven as soon as I started the vid call with Hackett. I had over 30k War Assets from N7 Special Ops Teams alone thanks to promoting over 400 classes in ME3 MP when I played it excessively on PC. Apparently these also transfer to Xbox.

    This should mark the earliest time you can get the achievement.
    Posted by iago On 03 Jul 20 at 13:00
    NicoleRenee00For reference (also light years late), I unlocked this achievement when speaking to Hackett after the main quest on Tuchanka. My total military strength was at 3415 and my readiness rating was 78 percent. I used the Galaxy at War page instead of playing multiplayer; it goes pretty quickly.
    Posted by NicoleRenee00 On 13 Aug 20 at 20:21
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  • Delirious BenDelirious Ben
    13 Mar 2012 14 Mar 2012 14 Mar 2012
    The key to this one is to get your Effective military strength over 4000.
    You increase your Total military strength as you play through the story doing main missions and side missions, the more you do the more points you get in this. To check your progress go to the War room aboard the Normandy and check on the console in the middle.

    Your Effective military strength is the Readiness rating percentage (which is never below 50%) of you Total military strength.
    There are 3 numbers listed in the war room. To get this achievement mine read as follows.

    Total Military strength = 5831
    Readiness Rating = 70%
    Effective military strength = 4081

    You must have this BEFORE you hit the elusive mans base, its obvious when you are on that mission so set up a save and come back to it if you need to. So long as the bottom number is over 4000 you will get it (Mine was 4002 the first time I went to this)

    The only clear way to up your readiness rating is to play the multiplayer. If you can get for effective military strength above 4000 without you must be doing well as I had done almost everything and imported a solid save from ME2 and wasn't close. But the multiplayer is fun so don't let it put you off.

    ****A lot of the credit for this guide should go to ROFL HARRIS above as his guide is very definitive and accurate I just thought I would summarise the large number of comments below into here.*****
    Showing most recent comments. View all comments.
    MimicLobsterTried MP a few times and was doing well. The host cut out before the end and I lost all progress. Without some descent people out there who want to play MP, then it's a lost cause.
    Posted by MimicLobster On 20 Apr 12 at 19:29
    Joda XI got the achievement with these stats:
    Total Military strength = 5836
    Readiness Rating = 50%
    Effective military strength = 2918

    No multiplayer played
    Posted by Joda X On 26 Jul 12 at 04:13
    psybOltOnTMS 3186
    RR 50%
    EMS 1593,
    right after (not) curing the genophage. You can use the ME3 website to work on the readiness percentage, from any device. (had it on 90%, don't know why it fell to 50)

    edit: apparently there is a bug, reloading the game changed RR back to 90%, new stats are
    3186, 90%, 2867
    Posted by psybOltOn On 27 Oct 16 at 18:44
  • Darth PastorDarth Pastor
    21 Apr 2012 21 Apr 2012 07 Feb 2016
    Here's every resource or upgrade you can collect from planet scanning, listed by galaxy and planet:

    SIGURD'S CRADLE

    SKEPSIS
    Watson - Javelin Missile Launchers
    Between Crick and Mass Relay - Wreckage

    DECORIS
    Laena - Salvage
    South between second and third ring - Wreckage

    ARCTURUS STREAM

    ARCTURUS
    Arcturus Station - Intel from battle of Arcturus
    West of Themis - Wreckage

    EULER
    East of Fermi - Wreckage

    GEMINI SIGMA

    HAN
    Underneath Mass Relay - Wreckage
    Mavigon - Salvage

    MING
    Below Antiropus - Wreckage
    Parag - Alliance Cruiser Nairobi

    HADES GAMMA

    ANTAEUS
    Just underneath Mass Relay - Wreckage
    Trebin - Salvage

    PLUTUS
    Nonuel - Special Ops Team Zeta, 103rd Marine Division

    DIS
    Right of the sun - Wreckage
    Klensal - Salvage

    FARINATA
    North of the sun - Wreckage
    Juntauma - Alliance Frigate Agincourt

    CACUS
    Chohe - Salvage
    Far North-West - Wreckage

    KITE'S NEST

    HARSA
    Verush - Weapon Upgrade Kit
    Left of Verush - Wreckage
    Khar'shan - Artifact: Pillars of Strength

    UNTREL
    Adek - Salvage
    West of Adek - Wreckage

    ARGOS RHO

    HYDRA
    South of the sun - Wreckage
    Canrum - Haptic Optics Array

    PHOENIX
    Pinnacle Station - Turian Spec Ops Team
    Intai'sei - Artifact: Fossilized Kakliosaur
    North-West of Intai'sei - Wreckage

    GORGON
    Camaron - Advanced Power Relays

    APIEN CREST

    CASTELLUS
    South of Fiax, East of Nius - Wreckage
    Digeris - Artifacts: Banner of the 1st Regiment

    GEMMAE
    Pheiros - Turian 79th Flotila
    South of Pheiros - Wreckage
    West of Pheiros - Wreckage

    AETHON CLUSTER

    ARU
    Irune - Artifacts: Book of Plenix
    West of Irune - Wreckage
    Cherk Sab - Volus Fabrication Units

    ESORI
    Solu Paolis - Volus Dreadnought Kwonu
    East of the sun - Wreckage

    SATU ARRD
    Nalisin - Volus Engineering Team
    South-West of the sun - Wreckage

    NURA
    Oma Ker - Volus Intelligence Archives
    North of the sun - Wreckage

    ATTICAN BETA

    HERCULES
    Eletania - Interferometric Array
    South-East of the sun - Wreckage

    THESEUS
    Feros - ExoGeni Scientists
    North-west of the sun - Wreckage

    THE SHRIKE ABYSSAL

    XE CHA
    Zada Ban - Salvage
    South of the sun - Wreckage

    URLA RAST
    Talis Fla - Artifact: Prothean Obelisk
    North-West of the sun - Wreckage

    VALHALLAN THRESHOLD

    RAHEEL-LEYYA
    North-East - Wreckage

    PAZ
    Garvug - Artifact: Prothean Data Drives
    East of the sun - Wreckage

    MICAH
    Elohi - Emergency Fuel Pods
    Farlas (East, in asteroid belt) - Element Zero Convertor
    South-East of the sun - Wreckage

    HADES NEXUS

    HEKATE
    South-West of Mass Relay - Wreckage
    Asteria - Alliance Frigate Hong Kong, Alliance Fifth Fleet

    HOPLOS
    Kopis - Artifact: Obelisk of Karza
    Far West - Wreckage

    SHEOL
    Gei Hinnom - Artifact: Prothean Sphere

    PAMYAT
    Dobrovolski - Alliance Friage Leipzig, Alliance First Fleet
    South of the sun - Wreckage

    MINOS WASTELAND

    FORTIS
    Pietas - Salvage
    South of Mass Relay - Wreckage

    EXODUS CLUSTER

    UTOPIA
    South of Eden Prime - Wreckage
    Zion - Prothean Data Files

    ASGARD
    Borr - Remains of Reaper Destroyer
    Tyr - Alliance Naval Exploration Flotilla
    Terra Nova - Alliance Cruiser Shanghai
    Loki - Alliance Spec Ops Team Delta
    North-East of the sun - Wreckage

    SILEAN NEBULA

    KYPALADON
    Hanalei - Dr. Jelize

    TEYOLIA
    Nevos - Artifact: Rings of Alune
    Quirezia - Salvage
    East of the sun - Wreckage

    PHONTES
    Dekuuna - Artifact: Code of the Ancients
    Oltan - Elcor Flotilla
    East of Lenamund - Wreckage

    NAHUALA
    Hyetiana - Serrice Guard
    South-West of Agessia - Wreckage

    LOROPI
    East of Wreckage - Wreckage
    Yasilium - Armali Sniper Unit

    NIMBUS CLUSTER

    PELION
    South of Aitis - Wreckage
    Trategos - Intact Reaper Weapon
    Just North-East of Trategos - Wreckage
    Just North-West of Sthenia - Wreckage

    AGAIOU
    Carcosa - Artifact: Library of Asha

    KALLINI
    South of Pania - Wreckage

    NUBIAN EXPANSE

    DAKKA
    Pragia - Research Data from Pragia
    South-East of the sun - Wreckage

    QERTASSI
    Norehsa - Alliance Frigate Trafalgar
    North of Norehsa - Wreckage

    KALABSHA
    Yamm - Alliance Marine Recon Unit, 103rd Marine Division
    North-East of the sun - Wreckage

    HOURGLASS NEBULA

    OSUN
    Erinle - Salvage
    South-West of Erinle - Wreckage

    FARYAR
    Alingon - Shadow Broker Starship Tech
    Next to Alingon - Wreckage

    SOWILO
    Hagalaz - Shadow Broker Support Team
    North of the sun - Wreckage

    PLOITARI
    Zanethu - Terminus Freighters

    ATHENA NEBULA

    PARNITHA
    Tevura - Asari Cruiser Cybaen

    ORISONI
    Egalic - Asari Research Ships
    East of the sun - Wreckage

    TOMAROS
    South of Niagolon - Wreckage
    Pronoia - Asari Cruiser Nefrane

    VERNIO
    Polissa - Artifact: Hesperia Period Statue
    North-West of the sun - Wreckage

    IALESSA
    West of the sun - Wreckage
    Trikalon - Asari Engineers

    ISMAR FRONTIER

    AQUILA
    Metaponto - Advanced Biotic Implants

    ***Credit goes to: http://www.nowgamer.com/cheats/mass-effect3/1271880/mass_eff...
    Showing most recent comments. View all comments.
    sandar666A+ from me too!
    Posted by sandar666 On 01 Jun 19 at 13:55
    Darth Pastorthank you
    Posted by Darth Pastor On 18 Jun 19 at 20:24
    iagoThis popped for me right after Priority: Palaven as soon as I started the vid call with Hackett. I had over 30k War Assets from N7 Special Ops Teams alone thanks to promoting over 400 classes in ME3 MP when I played it excessively on PC. Apparently these also transfer to Xbox.

    This should mark the earliest time you can get the achievement.
    Posted by iago On 03 Jul 20 at 12:49
  • Code SumeragiiCode Sumeragii
    24 Mar 2012 23 Mar 2012 23 Mar 2012
    I found this video while searching for a map for a specific system. This is actually a lot more helpful than struggling on your own.

    Granted that this will help you with the War Assets located on the planets and not the ones you get through quests. (Though most quests are easy to acquire and some you get automatically by reading mail or from making plot decisions.)

    Unfortunately, only youtube links embed, so have this daily motion link below:
    http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpi7sd_mass-effect-3-comple...

    And for those who don't want to sit through the video, a screenshot guide.
    http://www.computerandvideogames.com/339171/mass-effect-3-co...
  • PFC Nick AngelPFC Nick Angel
    07 Jul 2012 07 Jul 2012 09 Jul 2012
    Just adding to the mix, may be a glitch...not sure. I'm sitting at 6054/3027, 50% Readiness (No MP played) after just completing Rannoch and the achievement unlocked. I've tried to do as much exploring, etc. as possible. I've also been strictly Paragon and recruited all of the possible races/teams to my cause. Like I said, not sure why it unlocked, just wanted to throw in my info.
    EDIT: Apparently, if you've downloaded the ME3: Extended Cut Free DLC, this number has been almost halved (thanks to Sons O Liberty)
  • KJT CD ACDKJT CD ACD
    25 Mar 2012 26 Mar 2012 29 Aug 2012
    (Skip to EDIT # 3 for a quick guide to total Galaxy at War Assets and EDIT #4 for 'Leviathan's' additional War Assets)

    I have the N7 Collector's Edition Guide Book and, while on my Insanity run, I scoured it for the best possible ending. In the final section of the campaign chapter, where it describes all possible outcomes of the game depending on your Readiness Rating and Galaxy at War Assets, the highest GaWA number listed is 5000.

    All of the below numbers are based on Total Military Strength, not Effective, working under the assumption that you have 100% Readiness Rating in all Theatres of War. You must play multiplayer to achieve this, unless you have an iPhone/iPad and downloaded the app thing I heard about, or played the Facebook game. Default if 50% which halves your Military Strength.

    I've also trolled several forums looking for exact number for both this achievement and maximum attainable GaWA. As far as I can tell, 7500 is about the highest GaWA you can attain, if you followed BioWare's intended story paths across all three games, collected every GaWA available in ME3, and had 100K+ resources spare from the mining mechanic in ME2 in your imported save. On average, you'll get around 7200. My GaWA sat at 7129 just before ordering the fleets to Earth (which was after I assaulted the Cerberus base and took the 110 extra Assets from the Reaper Brain - Collector Base saved - or Reaper Heart - Collector Base destroyed, default setting for the game).

    The guidebook says 5000, maximum looks to be around 7500, so I'd say if you can manage to get anywhere in there, you'll be fine. But, obviously, the closer to 7500 you get, the better off you'll be.

    Also, multiplayer IS necessary, as I said before. Have no fear, though; at 3% - 5% increases per game, you won't need to play long. 10 - 17 games later and you'll be at 100% and ready to hit the Cerberus base.

    Enjoy!

    KJ

    EDIT: Revised to account for lack of distinguishing between Effective Military Strength (EMS) and Total Military Strength (TMS).

    KJ

    EDIT #2: I've been told by some gamers that 4000 is the magic number for this achievement. Can anyone confirm? Comment with TMS, EMS and Readiness Rating, please.

    KJ

    EDIT #3: I've had several comments suggesting that, in essence, what I've posted cannot be true. I said in the comments that I would post everything I read in the guide book. Instead, I would like to direct your attention here:

    http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/War_Assets

    It has a complete list of all War Assets available in the game, including the 'From Ashes' DLC. A quick round of clicks and a calculator later, we come to a total of:
    Alien - 1000
    Alliance - 1856
    Asari - 668
    Crucible - 850
    Cerberus - 300
    Geth - 820
    Krogan - 875
    Quarian - 580
    Salarian - 133
    Turian - 638

    Total - TMS: 7720, EMS: 3860

    All. Before. Multiplayer. 4000 = Impossible.

    This list is following choices made in the game that will net the highest amount of assets - there are several different asset outcomes decided by DLC from previous games, Paragon/Renegade options, people who survived, and even people punched / not punched (Khalisah... :3 ) - all while keeping story continuity. Anyone is welcome to check my numbers and correct me, even if I made a mistake, it will likely only be +/- 100.

    Also, these numbers will likely increase given future DLC, so it is highly likely that 4000 EMS will be a possibility, somewhere down the track. There's only 300 assets difference, and 'From Ashes' added 100. Who knows what the future holds?

    KJ

    EDIT #4: The Mass Effect 3 'Leviathan' DLC has added 590 War Assets to Total Military Strength, bringing the full total to 8310. This would allow for all possible endings without multiplayer. If this was not enough to settle the flame war at BioWare, they have dropped the required amount of EMS to 3100 for all endings, making every ending possible for vanilla ME3. There is a list of added War Assets below. ENJOY.

    Alien - 505
    Alliance - 45
    Crucible - 30
    Turian - 10

    KJ
  • ZetengeZetenge
    28 Aug 2012 28 Aug 2012 03 Oct 2012
    I just want to confirm, that I unlocked the Achievement with an EMS of 2951.

    I installed the Final Cut. And the Achievement popped when i started the Priority Mission Cerbereus-Base.

    EDIT: TTDog666 mentioned he even got his achievement with 2850 EMS.

    If your EMS was even lower, feel free to drop a comment.
  • Rapier 1986Rapier 1986
    19 Nov 2012 20 Nov 2012
    Hey guys
    first time i didn,t get the achievement by 7735 effective military strength
    now i downloaded the add on extended cut dlc and the achievement popped by 5535 effective military strength
  • RiantZRiantZ
    12 Nov 2012 12 Nov 2012 12 Nov 2012
    I seem to be having some major difficulty unlocking this achievement. These are my current stats before hitting the Illusive man base:

    Galactic Percent
    97%

    Total military strength
    7567

    Effective military strength
    7339

    Planet scans per sector
    100%

    Additionally, I am reloading a save after beating the game and I have already hit 100% for galactic sectors via multiplayer in the past. Furthermore I also have all single and multiplayer dlc installed. By all accounts I should have unlocked this already. Is this currently broken or am I missing something small here?

    Edit #1:

    I have found that if your Extended Cut DLC is improperly downloaded or corrupted, this achievement will not unlock due to the change of required assets for the achievement.

    As soon as I replaced the Extended Cut DLC, the achievement popped.
  • Kinglink2Kinglink2
    25 May 2012 25 May 2012 25 May 2012
    I just unlocked it with 4001 Effective Military Strength. I had 59% galactic readiness, and I did not min max. My understanding is in a perfect game (including perfect choices in previous games), you may have just enough. I'm not sure however I played multiplayer, about 10 matches around the time I began the single player, and none since. When you're about to assault the Cerberus base, consider checking your readiness, and seeing if you need a few more points, and get them.

    It appears that 4000 is the magic number to beat. Try to get just over that. Go to the Cerberus base.. at the Cerberus base the admiral will call you, blah blah blah.. Are you sure you want to go The SECOND you say "I'm ready", the game switches to a scene with you looking at a helmet, you IMMEDIATELY get your achievement. If you don't get it then, you arn't going to get it.
  • VeithyrVeithyr
    20 Apr 2012 19 May 2012
    The other posts already detail how to get your readiness up, I want to say that this achievement is NOT missable if you complete the game. You can safely complete the story and then work your way up with the readiness in Multiplayer.
    Once you complete the story you're thrown back to the moment before you attack the Illusive Man and it gives you the opportunity to do a better job and then attack again with more readiness. The game even tells you this after completion.
  • ExactableStew52ExactableStew52
    10 Jan 2017 04 Jan 2017
    You don't actually have to play through Multiplayer. Easiest way, but I should say challenging is to go through the game on Insanity while doing the missions required for the Unwavering Achievement. Talk to Hackett after you check your War Assets are over 4000, which they will be if you follow the missions and you'll have it.Plus you kill 3 birds with one stone, you'll recieve this achievement, 'Unwavering' and 'Insanity' by the time you finish your game.
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