While you once had to get the perfect ending in Mass Effect 3 through online multiplayer and other unorthodox steps, the process has been made easier in Mass Effect Legendary Edition. The Extend Cut of the game has been included in the collection containing all three games in the series. The updates made to the bundle's final title simplify the process it takes to reach the best ending possible.

Similar to keeping everyone alive in the Suicide Mission from Mass Effect 2, the "perfect" ending for Mass Effect 3 is when Commander Shepard, every crew member on the Normandy, and those on Earth all survive. The only way to reach the best conclusion is to make some tough decisions and sacrifices. In addition, you'll need to collect as many War Assets as you can to unlock the best outcome.

How The Best Ending Changed

No More Multiplayer Means More Work

The Perfect Ending in Mass Effect 3 is directly tied to Total Military Strength, which once was the Galactic Readiness system in the original ME3. In the original version, you needed an exceptionally high Galactic Readiness and Effective Military Strength score to unlock the best ending, which required you to use the multiplayer mode and the tie-in applications.

Due to the changes made in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, War Assets and Military Strength have been updated to make them easier to gain without multiplayer in the series collection. Although the process is easier, you still need to collect more War Assets than normal from events throughout the story. You need to pay closer attention to side content and complete as many optional quests as you can to build Assets and Strength.

Best Ending Requirements

Collect Military Strength And War Assets

To get the Perfect Ending in Mass Effect 3 Legendary Edition, you will need to amass at least 7800 Military Strength. The Military Strength in the Legendary Edition is calculated based on all War Assets Shepard acquires during the events of each game's campaign. These War Assets can be acquired through choices made throughout the Mass Effect trilogy, whether they are Paragon or Renegade options.

While there is no way to enumerate how every decision might translate to War Assets, some general rules apply across the trilogy to ensure Shepard gets the maximum score possible. These are:

Apart from the above tasks, Shepard can also gain War Assets by helping allies or inspiring them to the fight. For example, if Shepard chooses not to kill the Zhu's Hope colonists on Feros, paralyzes them, and spares Shiala, these outcomes will be converted into War Assets later. Similarly, showing kindness to reporter Khalisa Bint Sinan al-Jilani across the trilogy and resisting the urge to use Mass Effect's Renegade interrupt and punch her instead comes with the perk of extra War Assets.

All War Assets that you gain throughout the trilogy can be tracked at the War Table aboard the Normandy as you are between different missions.

War Assets can also gain or lose points based on decisions made across the trilogy, especially in Mass Effect 3. For example, if Shepard secures Grunt's Loyalty in Mass Effect 2 but chooses to save the Rachni queen in "Attican Traverse: Krogan Team," Shepard gains 75 War Assets but loses 25, as Grunt's Aralakh company is slaughtered protecting the queen as she escapes.

Steps & Choices For Reaching The Perfect Ending

Destroy The Crucible To Survive

Once you have gathered 7800 Total Military Strength or above and done every main story and DLC mission, you can get started with the Final mission - "Priority: Cerberus Headquarters." This will lead you into the final moments of the story and the last chapter, "Priority: Earth." To get the best ending in Mass Effect 3, you need to choose the Destroy Ending by activating the Crucible.

As you can see in the above video by YouTube creator Fate, Earth and the Normandy Crew will all survive the blast caused by the Crucible's destruction. In the epilogue, Shepard's love interest, if they are a squate, will refuse to put the Commander's name on the Normandy's Memorial Wall. The final shot before the end credits will show the debris of the Crucible and Shepard taking a breath amid the rubble.

The Legendary Edition rewards more Military Strength and War Assets for completing content, so you don't have to complete the first two games to reach the best ending. While you could import your previous character into the third title, you can still reach 7800 Military Strength with a new character. You still have to be careful not to lose too many War Assets through your choices in Mass Effect 3 if you want to get the perfect ending.

Source: Fate/YouTube