Commander Shepard is the star of the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Mass Effect story, but exactly who the Commander is remains up to the player. These games offer many options for customizing Shepard's appearance, personality, combat style, code o🐷f 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 𝐆a 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 to being either Paragon or Renegade the first time around, so here are a few more.

14 🌳 P🏅ARAGON SHEPARD: Fits The Commander's Image

Mass Effect 3 Screenshot Of Liara Holding Commander Shepard's Name Plate

W🎃hether 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 Easie♔r ⛎

Mass Effect 2 Screenshot Of Zaeed Loyalty Mission

Shepard's squadmates — particularly in the second game — aren't all noble individuals. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网: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 🐈

Mass Effect 3 Screenshot Of Shepard In The N7 Hoodies Talking To Ashley

♐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 conversa🌜tion. 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 lo⛄t more natural in tone when the Commander is a Paragon.

11 🔯 ൩ RENEGADE SHEPARD: Cool Facial Scarring

Mass Effect 3 Screenshot Of Shepard With Heavy Facial Scarring

After the rebuild by Cerberus, Shepard is left wit🌳h some cybernetic 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 PARAG🅠ON SHEPARD: Comfor🔯t Your Crewmates

liara mass effect

Most of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Commander Shepard's beloved crewmates aboard the SSV Normandy and the Normandy SR-2 have some serio🌳us baggage. Naturally, they turn to the Commander for leadership, comfort, and direction. They may seek kind and reaffirming words as only Paragon Shepard can provide.

By contrast, Renegade Shepard 💮usually responds along the lines of "tough luck" o💜r "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 🐻

wrex krogan mass effect

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

The Krogan will scoff at the gentle words of Paragon Shepard while they'll be impressed by the unabashed words and actions of Renegade Shepard. Fo🅠r 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 SHEPAꦰRD: Save More Lives

Screenshot Mass Effect 2 Lair Of The Shadow Broker with Liara, Shepard, and Garrus.

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 risk their 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 REN🤡EGADE SHEPARD: Avoid Problems With Brutal Efficiency

shepard mass effect

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 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the best recruitment and loyalty missions even better.

6 PARAGON SHEPARD: Look Good On The News 💃

salarian talking to shepard

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 piec🐲e 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 the protocol-loving Turians. This can only be a boon for humanity's interstellar diplomatic ties as a fledgling race in the Milky Way. Paragon Shep🃏ard's thoughtfulness can help boost humanity's charisma, one interview at a time.

5 ও 🍷RENEGADE SHEPARD: Chase Off Khalisah Al-Jilani

khalisah mass effect reporter

Then again, the media cycle isn't always kind to Commander Shepard. One particular reporter, Khalisah Al-Jilani, reports f♐or 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 blame them 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.