Mass Effect 1: Which Pre-Service & Psychological Background Should You Pick? All Options Explained

At the start of Mass Effect 1, you need to build our your character’s appearance and profile. While your class and looks are more impactful, you will also need to select your pre-service history and psychological background. In this guide, we’ll break down how each choice differs and will impact your game.

Mass Effect 1 Pre-Service History: Spacer, Earthborn, Colonist

Your selection in this category at the start of Mass Effect 1 will determine which unique assignment you will have the opportunity to take on and will also have a small impact on some dialog throughout the game.

Spacers will be able to take on the assignment Citadel: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things, which allows the player to interact with their mother over comms and deal with a struggling man.

Earthborn characters will get the unique assignment Citadel: Old Friends, where you’ll interact with some old gang friends from Earth. This is a good opportunity to get some Renegade points if you are playing this type of character.

Colonists will get the unique assignment Citadel: I Remember Me, to help a fellow survivor of a brutal Batarian attack.

Mass Effect 1 Psychological Profile: Sole Survivor, War Hero, Ruthless

Your psychological profile will also affect small sections of dialog and will give you a boost in either your Paragon or Renegade scores or a smaller boost in both.

Picking Sole Survivor will give a smaller boost in both Paragon and Renegade. War Hero will give you a boost to your Paragon score and Ruthless will give you an equal boost but in Renegade instead.

If you have an idea of what you want to lean towards throughout the game, go for the one that will give you a larger boost. Or if you’re not sure, go with Sole Survivor. Or, if you’re a dedicated role player, pick whatever you want. None of the boosts are game-changing.

That’s all you need to know about the different pre-service and psychological backgrounds that you can pick from at the start of Mass Effect 1. For more tips, tricks and FAQs answered be sure to check out our Mass Effect Legendary Edition wiki guide for more helpful info.