How to Find All Missing Arks in Mass Effect: Andromeda
When you first start out in Mass Effect: Andromeda there’s a lot going on. Everyone from the Milky Way galaxy has made it to Andromeda, but they didn’t all arrive safely. The Hyperion, the Human Ark, is the only Ark to have made it to the Nexus, with the others (Turian, Asari, and Salarian) going dark. Hope has been lost on them ever being recovered, but seeing as how this is a video game, a BioWare one at that, of course you’ll be able to be a hero.
When you first reach the Nexus you’ll be given a mission titled “Missing Arks,” though completing it requires the completion of several other different missions. Each of the missing Arks has their own questline, so we’ll break each one down separately so they’re easier to follow, starting with the Asari.
Heads up: story spoilers for the Ark quest lines ahead.
Asari
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Missing Arks
The Asari Ark is actually tied to Cora’s Loyalty Mission. She was a former Asari Commando and is very close with the head of security on the Ark, Sarissa, who was a sort of mentor to her. After completing Eos and heading to the Voeld and Havarl, you’ll start hearing about the missing Ark and will receive an email from Cora. Speak to her to kick off her first personal quest, Cora Harper: Asari Ark. This will lead you back to Eos to talk to Hydaria in order to obtain a means of tracking a shuttle named Periphona on Voeld.
Locate the shuttle, which has been completely destroyed, and retrieve its transponder. It will need time to be decoded, so leave Cora to it until she sends you a message. After completing main campaign mission “A Trail of Hope,” Cora will message you and it’s time to complete her Loyalty Mission “A Trail of Hope.” This mission has you visit the coordinates she found, which are the exact location of the Ark. Board it and meet Sarissa, the new Pathfinder after the previous one died. Clear out the areas she requests in order to get power up and running. It’s a very combat based segment, with a few points you’ll have to defend. You’ll also have to defeat a Kett Ascendant, so be prepared for that.
During the mission you’ll learn that Sarissa deserted the previous Pathfinder in order to obtain information on the Kett, which pisses Cora off, so you’ll have a decision to make. You can share this info with the Asari or keep it secret. We shared it because it’s the right thing to do. You can then choose to keep Sarissa as Pathfinder if you’d like, which isn’t a bad idea because of her experience. She’ll thank you and begin working to make things right with the Asari.
After heading back to the Tempest you’ll have one of the missing Arks scratched off of your list.
Turian
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Missing Arks
The Turian Ark isn’t tied to a Loyalty Mission like the Asari one, but it is a side mission, so you can miss it. To kick off the series of quests that leads to this ship you’ll need to head to Havarl. SAM will notice a camp that is marked on your map which is the first quest for finding it titled “Turian Ark: Not Dead Yet.” Heading there will reveal Turian survivors although none can remember how they got there. Their Cryo Pods were ejected from the Ark and they can only remember clawing their way out of those pods.
You’ll have to fight off some Roekaar (Angarian Outlaws), but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Clear them out and talk to the camp’s leader, Avitus Rix. He has faith that the Ark isn’t destroyed and will keep in touch with you. You can also talk to another Turian there to obtain the mission “Turian Salvage.” This will have you scanning Ark debris which makes you think that maybe it really is destroyed, but have faith.
You won’t be able to continue the questline until you reach Elaaden (which unlocks after completing the vaults on Voeld and Aya). Avitus will message you about an anomaly on Elaaden kicking off “Turian Ark: Lost But Not Forgotten.” Head there to find Cryo Pods full of dead Turians, which will convince Ryder that all hope is lot. When you call Avitus on the Tempest he interrupts you before you can give him the bad news. He’s received coordinates and sure enough they lead right to the Turian Ark which has been wrecked.
Board the Ark and investigate. There’s almost no power left and there’s zero gravity. Main life support for the ship is off, so you won’t face any enemies. You’ll find a message from Macen Barro, the Turian Pathfinder, but it’s corrupted. In order to hear the whole thing you must reach the Ark’s SAM Node. Ryder will have to reroute power to locked doors, but this is very easy. Simply scan the doors and follow the yellow wires to the terminal needed, that’s all.
When you reach the SAM Node the full message turns out to be Macen Barro’s final message to Avitus. It turns out that they were very close and it’s implied that they were lovers. Before he perished he passed all Pathfinder rights to Avitus. He’ll be hesitant to accept, but show understanding and encouragement and he’ll accept the role. The Ark itself is destroyed, but he begins work to retrieve the pods that still have life in them.
That’s another one of the missing Arks off of your list.
Salarian
Mass Effect: Andromeda – Missing Arks
The last of the missing Arks it the Salarian Ark. Unlike the other two, this is the only one you can’t miss, as it’s tied to a story mission. During the Primary Op “Hunting the Archon” Ryder will gain access to the coordinates of the Archon’s ship. Heading there will reveal that it has captured the Salarians and has their Ark tethered.
All that you need to do is complete the mission, which involves exploring the ships and clearing out enemies, to free the Ark. You will have a decision to make right before the end, though. As you’re preparing to leave the Archon’s ship you’ll find out that you have the opportunity to save one of two groups. There are some Krogan scouts in one direction and a group of Salarians in the other. Unfortunately, the Salarian Pathfinder boarded the ship to save her people, so if you don’t go save the Salarians, their Pathfinder will die as well. It’s a tough choice to make and we don’t envy anyone who has that responsibility.
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