In the Mass Effect universe, there is no greater military honor than being granted the title of Spectre. Standing for Special Tactics and Reconnaissance, this position grants the agent extreme power, including the ability to travel to restricted space and even take a life.
Given how much power and responsibility this role represents, it makes sense that the title of Spectre isn’t just given out willy-nilly. In fact, across the four games so far, we only know of about 10.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of those 10 Spectres and ranked them based on how important they are to the series. So let’s get started!
10. Lonar Maerun
Ranking the Mass Effect Spectres
Of all the Spectres in Mass Effect, Lonar Maerun is the most mysterious one, as we don’t even know their gender or species. The only way we even hear about them is via Cerberus Daily News, specifically the “12/23/2010 – Alleged Spectre Plot Against Lira Speight Foiled” entry.
In this report, it is stated that a Spectre was involved in an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Lira Speight. Not much is known about the details surrounding this, outside of the fact that Lonar was wounded by her security.
Due to the vagueness surrounding the character, and the fact that they failed to successfully assassinate Lira, they land at the bottom of this list.
9. Nihlus Kryik
Ranking the Mass Effect Spectres
First off, let’s just agree that Nihlus is a really cool character. Alongside an awesome design and the fact that he puts his neck out for Shepard, he’s also one of the most decorated Spectre agents of all time.
Unfortunately, all this character is remembered for in the Mass Effect universe is being a naive fool, as he turns his back on Saren and gets killed for it at the start of the game. Sure, you can argue that they had a history, and it would make sense for Nihlus to feel comfortable around his friend, but he just goes out in the lamest way possible. As such, he lands himself near the bottom of the list.
8. Jondum Bau
Ranking the Mass Effect Spectres
Outside of yourself and the Virmire survivor, Jondum Bau is the only Spectre that is in Mass Effect 3. You run into this Salarian during a side mission thanks to master thief, Kasumi Goto.
In the mission, your goal is to help Bau get info and capture a possible hanar diplomat that has been indoctrinated. If successful, the Salarian will join the War Effort. So, why is he so low on the list?
Well, the fact of the matter is he’d be dead without Shepard’s help, as he gets shot by one of the Hanar’s human bodyguards. On top of this, he also failed to capture Katsumi Goto beforehand, his main objective before this mission, meaning he’s failed at pretty much everything he’s done when working alone.
6 & 7. Ashley Williams/Kaidan Alenko (Virmire Survivor)
Ranking the Mass Effect Spectres
Despite what thousands of message boards and forums would have you believe, Ashley Williams and Kaidan Alenko both have positive and negative traits.
The former is an excellent soldier – and a complete powerhouse in Mass Effect 1 – while the latter is one of the best biotics in the series. However, they’re also both pretty moody and untrusting of you, regardless of whether you’re playing Paragon or Renegade, and can make some pretty boneheaded decisions once they’re made a Spectre in Mass Effect 3 – like trusting Udina over Shepard.
Honestly, these two are pretty similar in terms of how they act throughout each game overall, mostly because they have to fit the narrative of being the Virmire Survivor. As such, these two characters share a spot near the middle of the list together.
5. Beelo Gurji
Ranking the Mass Effect Spectres
Beelo Gurji is one of the most interesting characters in the entire Mass Effect series. In 693 CE, this Salarian operative was appointed by the Council as the first ever Spectre.
The interesting part is that Gurji was appointed as a Spectre following a mission where he was accused of using 30 civilians as bait to flush out his target. Instead of arresting him, the Council offered him the chance to establish the Spectres.