The best class in Mass Effect Andromeda for most first runs is Vanguard, because its damage and its survival come from the same place: the Charge skill closes the distance and restores your shields. The game does not lock you in, though, since its classes are Profiles that you can switch between at any time.
That is the main thing to understand before choosing. Our pick comes from what the Profile bonuses add up to, and there are good reasons to go elsewhere.
What a Profile Is
Andromeda has no fixed class. Instead, there are seven Profiles: Soldier, Engineer, Adept, Sentinel, Vanguard, Infiltrator, and Explorer. Spending points in the Combat, Tech, and Biotics skill trees unlocks and ranks them.
- You can switch Profiles at any time, even in a fight.
- You can set 4 Favorites, each holding a Profile and 3 active skills, and swap between them on the fly.
- Your starting Training (Security, Technician, Biotic, Leader, Scrapper, or Operative) only sets your first skills.
- A respec on the Tempest resets everything for a credit fee, and the first one costs almost nothing.
How Each One Ranks Up
Ranks run from 1 to 6, based on how many points you spent in the matching tree.
| Profile rank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier, Engineer, or Adept (points in one tree) | 6 | 24 | 54 | 99 | 156 | 232 |
| Sentinel, Vanguard, or Infiltrator (total, half in each of two trees) | 6 | 24 | 54 | 99 | 156 | 232 |
| Explorer (points in each of all three trees) | 2 | 8 | 18 | 33 | 52 | 78 |
Every Profile Compared
These are the bonuses from rank 1 to rank 6, as the game lists them.
| Profile | Trees | Main bonuses | Special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier | Combat | Weapon damage +10 to 20%, accuracy +10 to 35%, damage reduction +2 to 12, clip size +10 to 35% | Marksman’s Focus |
| Engineer | Tech | Combo damage +20 to 45%, tech constructs +20 to 45%, restoration and defense +20 to 45% | Combat Drone |
| Adept | Biotics | Biotic force, area damage, and radius +15 to 40%, effect duration and combo radius +20 to 45% | Biotic Echoes, biotic jump and evade |
| Sentinel | Tech and Biotics | Combo damage +15 to 40%, tech recharge +10 to 35%, shield cost reduction and restoration +20 to 45% | Tech Armor |
| Vanguard | Combat and Biotics | Melee damage +20 to 45%, melee force +50 to 100%, biotic recharge +10 to 35%, max shields +10 to 35% | Siphoning Strikes, biotic jump and evade |
| Infiltrator | Combat and Tech | Accuracy, stability, and tech recharge +20 to 45% | Battlefield Awareness, Cloak Evades |
| Explorer | All three | Weapon damage +5 to 15%, damage reduction +5 to 15, tech recharge and biotic damage +15 to 40% | Biotic Blink |
Our Picks by Playstyle
| If you want | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The strongest all-round first run | Vanguard | Charge closes the distance and restores shields, Nova follows it up, and the melee bonuses reward staying close |
| To set up big combos | Adept | Pull, Singularity, Lance, Throw, and Shockwave can prime and detonate on their own |
| To stay at range | Infiltrator | Tactical Cloak, Overload, and a sniper rifle work well together |
| A sturdier caster | Sentinel | Incinerate and Energy Drain, with Tech Armor as a safety net |
| A straightforward shooter | Soldier | Turbocharge, Omni Grenade, and Concussive Shot, with the highest weapon bonuses |
| A pet or turret | Engineer | Assault Turret and Combat Drone keep pressure on while you move |
| To mix everything | Explorer | Needs points in all three trees, but rewards a build that uses a bit of each |
We picked Vanguard because it needs the fewest parts to work. A single skill both closes the gap and restores your shields, so there is less to manage while you learn the game. If you dislike playing up close, Adept is the next stop, and Infiltrator is the pick if you would rather stay at a distance.
How Combos Change the Choice
Primers and detonators are the system to learn, since they give Andromeda’s best burst damage.
- Primers set up a target. Flamethrower, Cryo Beam, and Incinerate are the common ones.
- Detonators set it off. Charge, Throw, Overload, and Concussive Shot are the common ones.
This is why a Vanguard works early: Charge is a detonator, so a teammate’s primer sets up your next move for free. Engineer and Sentinel both carry large combo damage bonuses, so a build around them rewards you if you learn this first.
Why You Can Change Your Mind
It matters less than in the original trilogy, where a class choice is harder to undo. Our Legendary Edition best class guide covers those games.
Here, all you have to do is spend points, and a Favorite can jump you into a different playstyle mid-fight. The practical way to start is to pick the Training that matches your first Profile, spend your first levels there, and then only go further if it feels right. The first respec is only 20 credits. Andromeda has its own characters and setting, so you do not need the earlier games for any of this to make sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best class in Mass Effect Andromeda? We pick Vanguard for most first runs. Adept suits combo builds, and Infiltrator suits long range.
Does Mass Effect Andromeda have classes? It has Profiles instead. They work like classes, but you can switch between them at any time.
Can you change your class? Yes. Switch your Profile through your Favorites at any time, and respec on the Tempest if you want to redo your points.
What Training should I pick? Pick the one that matches your first Profile. It only sets your starting skills, so it does not limit you later.
What is the Explorer Profile? A mix of all three skill trees. Each rank needs fewer points per tree, but in all three at once, so it suits a build with a little of everything.
How many skills can you use at once? Three active skills per Favorite, with four Favorites to switch between.
Do Profiles matter on lower difficulties? They matter less. On the easier settings, you can pick whichever build you enjoy most.