Mass Effect: 10 Reasons Why Liara Is The Best Companion

There are plenty of things to love about the Mass Effect series. It’s a masterwork of gaming that achieves a level of world-building and storytelling that’s nearly unmatched among its competitors. Shepard’s quest to save the galaxy from complete obliteration at the hands of the robotic Reapers is one that gamers love to revisit again and again. A significant factor of its magnetic appeal to gamers is the first-class crew that joins Shepard abroad the Normandy, and the relationships the character can create between them.

Even within a game known for its strong companion characters, Dr. Liara T’Soni stands a cut above the rest. Her compassion, insightful expertise, and growth as a character throughout the trilogy make it clear that Liara is not only Shepard’s greatest companion but also one of gaming’s most dynamic feminine icons.

10 Her Rescue from the Artemis Tau Cluster

Once Shepard has exposed Saren as a traitor to the Citadel Council, they’re set loose to track down the renegade Spectre and bring him to justice by any means necessary. Before departing, players are briefed on Dr. Liara T’Soni, an experienced Prothean archeologist and daughter of Saren’s second-in-command.

Upon arrival at the dig site, players find that Liara has trapped herself within a Prothean barrier curtain, and is doomed to helplessly float there until somebody comes by to rescue her. Players can actually postpone rescuing Liara until they have nearly reached the end of the game, leading Liara to think that Shepard is actually just a hallucination from her extended suspension. This meeting is hilarious and really underscores the childish naivety of Liara when she first enters the fold.

9 Her Extensive Prothean Knowledge

Most of Shepard’s companions are soldiers, spies, or some combination of the two. Liara is unique in that she is none of these things. She’s not even quite a scientist, although she is more than proficient when it comes to technical matters.

Rather, Liara is an archaeologist. She has spent her life dedicated to uncovering mysteries surrounding the Protheans, and that expertise is incredibly important as Shepard unravels the mysteries behind their fate. While she’s not the strongest companion in combat, Liara’s knowledgeable musings and history lessons are tough to leave on the Normandy.

8 Her Adorable Awkward Charm

While Liara is an expert at Prothean artifacts, she’s less than an expert when it comes to social situations. She often gets tongue-tied, struggles to find the right words to suit her point, and ends up embarrassing herself in the process.

Liara is an Asari, but her struggles with social anxiety are incredibly human. There’s no reason that somebody with her skills and strength should doubt herself in simple conversation, yet the fact that she does only make her that much more relatable. Liara completely avoids all of video games’ most popular romance archetypes.

7 The Struggle Against Her Mother

Everybody who joins the crew of the Normandy does so for a reason. Some join looking to escape their mundane jobs while others are conscripted onto the crew straight out of their prison cell. Their motivations for helping Shepard are typically of little consequence once they join the team, with the exception of Liara.

Even before meeting Liara, it’s revealed that Saren’s second-in-command is none other than her mother, Matriarch Benezia. A spiritual leader of the Asari people who fell victim to the Reaper Sovereign’s indoctrination while trying to save Saren. In other words, Matriarch Benezia is the Darth Vader of Mass Effect 1 and Liara is the Luke Skywalker.

6 Her Sympathy to the Indoctrinated

In the midst of coming to terms with her mother’s life and demise, Liara gains a great deal of perspective and sympathy towards those infected by indoctrination. Saren is almost unilaterally portrayed as an unapologetic villain without remorse for his actions. Liara is one of the few to express anything other than hatred towards the Turian, at one point stating she feels sorry for him.

Liara recognizes that Saren is actually a victim. He may not have been perfect before encountering Sovereign, but the Reaper’s influence is the only reason he finds himself at war with Shepard and the council. Perhaps the Normandy should have considered accepting more robotic companions onto their crew, given what’s known about indoctrination.

5 The Mission to Save Shepard’s Remains

A twist-filled opening to Mass Effect 2 leaves the Normandy destroyed, its crew in escape pods, and Shepard dead from space exposure. Luckily, thanks to the miracle of sci-fi science, Shepard is brought back to life in a Cerberus laboratory, but many gamers never find out the full back story of how he got there.

After his demise, Shepard’s remains were obtained by the Shadow Broker, sealed in a stasis pod, and planned to be sold to the Collectors. It’s Liara who manages to track down Shepard before the deal is completed, intercept his remains and deliver him to Cerberus to fight another day. Liara only briefly mentions this to Shepard in Mass Effect 2, but the story is fully explored in the Mass Effect: Redemption comic series.

4 Her War Against the Shadow Broker

The mission to save Shepard’s remains marks the beginning of Liara’s war against the infamous Shadow Broker, the seedy information dealer of the Mass Effect universe. With Shepard’s help, Liara manages to locate the Shadow Broker, infiltrate his impenetrable fortress, and put an end to his malicious grip on the galaxy.

Once the Broker is gone, Liara realizes that it’s an essential role that has to be filled, and instantly knows that it has to be her to take the reigns. This once humble Prothean archeologist is now the most powerful information trader in the galaxy. It’s probably a good thing that Shepard saved Liara from that cave.

3 Her Romance with Shepard

Mass Effect‘s romance feature has always been a polarizing one, but it’s undeniable that it added depth and context to the game’s relationships. With every new entry, Shepard is given a plethora of romantic options to choose from, yet it feels so natural to stick with Liara throughout it all.

A downfall of many of the relationship options in the game is that they offer little variety. Romances are frequently nothing more than exercises in character examination punctuated by a sex scene. On the other hand, a relationship with Liara explores more complex themes such as grief, growth, and identity. She’s a very different person than Shepard, yet that is part of what makes their union so satisfying.

2 Her Journey from Timid Archaeologist into Most Powerful Woman in the Galaxy

Over the course of the series, several of Shepard’s companions undergo radical transformations thanks to Shepard’s influence. Garrus goes from a by-the-book C-Sec officer to an interplanetary vigilante. Jack manages to reform herself from a career criminal into a teacher and mentor of young biotics.

Most of the companions have satisfying arcs, but none can hold a candle to Liara’s journey. She is absolutely brilliant after stepping into the shoes of the Shadow Broker, becoming an indispensable asset in the fight against the Reapers. It’s almost hard to connect this powerful confident badass to the shy inexperienced explorer that Shepard first encounters.

1 Writing Shepard’s Name in the Stars

Regardless of whether or not Shepard opts for a romance with Liara, their connection is still incredibly unique and significant to the Mass Effect story. During their campaign against the Reapers in Mass Effect 3, Liara comes to Shepard with a special project that perfectly connects her story while also laying out how she feels about Shepard.

Liara reveals that she has created a time capsule containing knowledge of their species time in the galaxy, and how the next generation can combat the Reapers if they fail. Liara asks the player to choose how they would like Shepard to be remembered. However, if players choose to let Liara write the entry, they’ll get to listen to a beautifully emotional tribute of her time on the Normandy and with Commander Shepard.

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