Mass Effect: Should Shepard Go Paragon Or Renegade? (2024)

Commander Shepard is the star of the Mass Effect story, butexactly who the Commander isremains up to the player. These games offer many options for customizing Shepard's appearance, personality, combat style, code of ethics, and more.One way to express this is the Paragon/Renegade scale that measures overall morality. Shepard can either be a heroic, diplomatic Paragon or a bold, brash, and daring Renegade.But which is better?

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All three Mass Effect titles can be completed to the player's satisfaction as either a Renegade or Paragon Commander Shepard. But a few major plot points are heavily impacted by this dichotomy and a number of minor scenes can play out very differently based on Paragon vs. Renegade. In terms of lore and in-game amusement, how do these two versions of Commander Shepard compare?

Updated June 7th, 2021 by Ben Jessey:There has always been a debate on whether Commander Shepard should be Paragon or Renegade. And with the recent release of the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, the discussion around the hero's ethics has started once again.

Fans on either side of the dispute have valid reasons why it's better to play one way or another. We also once added to the moral alignment conversation by giving reasons for both sides. Yet, we didn't disclose all of the benefits tobeing either Paragon or Renegade the first time around, so here are a few more.

14 PARAGON SHEPARD: Fits The Commander's Image

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Whether the Commander spends the trilogy saving lives or punching reporters, they're still considered a hero. People in the galaxy rejoice in how incredible they are and many refer to Shepard as the ultimate savior.

Although, their characterizations feel a little odd when describing a Renegade version of the Commander. Yes, Shepard is a hero no matter their attitude, but if they were also committing cruel and dishonorable acts, someone would mention it. The Paragon version feels more like the person everyone describes.

13 RENEGADE SHEPARD: Gain Zaeed’s Loyalty Easier

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Shepard's squadmates— particularly in the second game— aren't all noble individuals. Each of them has varying degrees of honor, with Zaeed being among the most immoral of the group. And during his loyalty mission, the mercenary proves his ruthlessness when he sacrifices innocent workers to get his hands on his mortal enemy.

A Paragon Shepard will step in during this point and help those in danger, making Zaeed miss his target. If that occurs, the Commander needs plenty of Paragon points to win the mercenary's favor. On the other hand, Renegade Shepard can agree with his companion's sacrifices and easily get on his good side.

12 PARAGON SHEPARD: Consistent Tone In Conversation

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Not everything the Commander says is either a Renegade or Paragon comment. Sometimes the protagonist is simply asking questions or giving a neutral response.

Therefore, Renegade dialog options can often feel very forced in a typical Mass Effect conversation. For instance, Shepard can go from being polite and mild-mannered to flying off the handle in seconds with few reasons for doing so. Interactions feel a lot more natural in tone when the Commander is a Paragon.

11 RENEGADE SHEPARD: Cool Facial Scarring

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After the rebuild by Cerberus, Shepard is left with somecybernetic wounds on their face. In an email, Dr. Chakwas explains that the scars react to the Commander's mindset.

So, if the protagonist does evil things, the disfigurements glow more, whereas if they clean up their act, they heal with time. Naturally, by the end of the second game and partway through the third, Renegade Shepard resembles a demon. The red scars and eyes make for a cool and slightly frightening look.

10 PARAGON SHEPARD: Comfort Your Crewmates

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Most of Commander Shepard's beloved crewmates aboard the SSV Normandy and the Normandy SR-2 have some serious baggage. Naturally, they turn to the Commander for leadership, comfort, and direction. They may seek kind and reaffirming wordsas only Paragon Shepard can provide.

By contrast, Renegade Shepard usually responds along the lines of "tough luck" or "you screwed up." Many crewmates will be distinctly annoyed by a Renegade Shepard and that may leave a bad taste in the player's mouth.

9 RENEGADE SHEPARD: Impress The Krogan

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Not all crewmates or aliens want kind, empty platitudes or the trusty shoulder of Paragon Shepard. For example, the tough Krogan people generally favor bold words that speak of violence, domination, and aggression. Renegade Shepard can speak that languageand back it up with action when needed.

The Krogan will scoff at the gentle words of Paragon Shepard while they'll be impressed by theunabashed words and actions of Renegade Shepard. For example, Renegade Shepard will headbutt the obnoxious Gatatog Uvenk for the benefit of their teammate Grunt,and the Urdnot shaman will burst out laughing and voice his approval. Paragon Shepard wouldn't ever chance a diplomatic (or literal) headache like that.

8 PARAGON SHEPARD: Save More Lives

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Commander Shepard will always be the hero of the Systems Alliance Navy and the Council. But Paragon Shepard will take more risks to save every single person around them.Renegade Shepard might simply think "you can't save 'em all" instead. As fans know from many scenarios, Paragon Shepard says otherwise.

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More than once, Paragon Shepard will risktheir life to rescue someone from danger-- even innocent bystanders or other low-priority parties on a battlefield. Players may feel satisfied that their Commander Shepard is truly everyone's hero; that's what being a Spectre is all about after all.

7 RENEGADE SHEPARD: AvoidProblems With Brutal Efficiency

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It might be fair to say that Renegade Shepard is all about shortcuts-- not just aggression or a mean attitude. It's true that Paragon Shepard has a "no one gets left behind attitude," but that means a lot of extra work and risks that might not be worth it (according to Renegade Shepard).

A variety of Renegade interrupts will allow Shepard to shoot someone or something and thus eliminate that fighter from a battle sequence. Shepard can snipe a LOKI mech during Garrus Vakarian's recruitment mission or even bring down cargo that contains Eclipse mercenaries during Miranda Lawson's loyalty mission on Ilium. That "shoot first, ask questions never" attitude does pay off sometimes, plus it makes some of the best recruitment and loyalty missions even better.

6 PARAGON SHEPARD: Look Good On The News

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Commander Shepard is no ordinary soldier.They are a renowned public figure making history as the hero who took down Saren Arterius while also serving as the first-ever human Spectre. So, Shepard's name often makes it into the galactic news cycles and that's an important piece of the lore. Part of the fun of portraying Shepard is balancing the soldier with the personality.

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If the player is going Paragon, then Commander Shepard's kind, diplomatic words will make a good impression of the Systems Alliance to aliens such as theprotocol-loving Turians. This can only be a boon for humanity's interstellar diplomatic tiesas a fledgling race in the Milky Way. Paragon Shepard's thoughtfulness can help boost humanity's charisma, one interview at a time.

5 RENEGADE SHEPARD: Chase Off Khalisah Al-Jilani

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Then again, the media cycle isn't always kind to Commander Shepard. One particular reporter, Khalisah Al-Jilani, reports for Westerlund News and she always tries to force the conversation into certain directions. It seems that she and her editors don't like the idea of humanity cooperating with aliens.

Khalisah might even become verbally hostile to Shepard and blamethem for just about anything. It is Renegade Shepard who strikes back against these bad faith attacks.Players can choose to have Shepard totally deck Khalisah for her snide and hurtful comments. This act is one that some players may take great satisfaction in.

4 PARAGON SHEPARD: Help Wrex Cure The Genophage

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No matter what Shepard says or does, Urdnot Wrex and Dr. Mordin Solus will attempt to cure the Genophage. The Krogan will only lend military aid to the Turians that way. But Dalatrass Linron, a major Salarian leader, has a deal to offer to Commander Shepard: secretly sabotage that cureto get serious Salarian aid for the war.

Paragon Shepard will be disgusted by this offer to deceive the wrongfully sterilized Krogan and reject it. Thus, they'll allow the Genophage cure to proceed as planned. Wrex will recognize Paragon Shepard as a hero to the Krogan people and declare that "Shepard" will become an honorable Krogan name. Only Paragon Shepard can get that far with Wrex.

3 RENEGADE SHEPARD: Witty Remarks, Cutting Humor, & Punching

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Being Paragon or Renegade will greatly impact Shepard's dialogue and quick-time actions throughout the games. Overall, it can be said that Renegade Shepard's dialogue is much funnier and more memorable. After all, Paragon Shepard is patient and kind which leaves little room for "creativity".

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Renegade Shepard will say just about anything, often at other people's expense, and this can lead to some mean but hilarious moments. Renegade Shepard will chase off a stock boy with a made-up bomb warning, for example, while carrying out Thane Krios' loyalty mission. Shepard even remarks tothemselves that it's a miracle that such a comical bluff even worked. Moreover, there are several choice Renegade interrupts such as the aforementioned decking a reporter.

2 PARAGON SHEPARD: Save CharactersLike The Rachni Queen

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Paragon Shepard believes that everyone can be saved and, sometimes, that attitude will alter the course of history for the better as with the Rachni race. These misunderstood aliens are intelligent engineers who communicate psychically through sound. Like the Krogan, they're one of the most dangerous races because they can reproduce very rapidly and quickly overrun other races. But Shepard will meet the last surviving queen on Noveria in the first game.

Renegade Shepard will unfairly kill the queen and doom the Rachni to extinction. By contrast, Paragon Shepard will save herin an ethical and strategic victory. By 2186, the reborn (and friendly) Rachni race will help build the Crucible and become a new player in the galactic political landscape.Let's not discuss theother Rachni queen option.

1 RENEGADE SHEPARD: Impress And Empower Garrus

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Garrus Vakarian skirts the line between Paragon and Renegade since he has a good heart but he's also a rogue killing machine.A Turian beleaguered by bureaucracy, he justwants to get the job done by any means. He can't stand unnecessary obstacles, rigid thinking, or red tape. So, the "I make my own rules" attitude of Renegade Shepard appeals greatly to him.

But Garrus is a bit unsure of himself and he turns to Shepard for leadership and empowerment alike. Paragon Shepard will deliver mixed results outside of a romance while Renegade Shepard will really stoke the fire in Garrus' heart and motivate him to push himself further. Garrus will often explain a difficult decision he has made recently and seek affirmationthat only Renegade Shepard will provide it.It makes him feel pretty good when Renegade Shepard tells him "you totally did the right thing."

Next:Mass Effect: Who's the Better Soldier, Urdnot Grunt Or Garrus Vakarian?

Mass Effect: Should Shepard Go Paragon Or Renegade? (2024)
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