.1B.06. Gaining Morality

Learn how to gain Paragon and Renegade points in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, affecting your Persuasion skill and dialogue options.

You gain Morality through the decisions you make in the game. Generally, choosing the top-right options on the dialogue wheel continue conversation through Paragon lines, resulting in Paragon points. Conversely, the bottom-right options are Renegade conversation lines. Sometimes options on the left side also continue conversations, and are similarly situated to top for Paragon, and bottom for Renegade. Most of the time, left-hand options are questions which you can use to investigate a situation for more information.

In most cases, a single normal choice will give you +2 points. A single choice involving Persuasion, or a "Morality Interrupt" (a special dialogue prompt) will give you +5 points. Major decisions will often give +10 to +20 morality points. A conversation may involve several choices, allowing you to rack up many points.

A bar will take 1,000 points to max normally, but only 600 to maximize with a 70% bonus, such as the one present from the passive class power. Note that the bar in your squad/level up screen represents the adjusted values, so the shown percentage is your actual persuasion level. To reach the maximum Morality score, you must be consistent with your choices during the game.

Your morality directly affects your Negotiation/Persuasion skill. (Items like the Death Mask and the DLC (downloadable content — extra missions or items released after launch) Armor call it Negotiation in-game). With higher morality points, you can use persuasion to avoid additional fighting, obtain discounts at shops, or convince NPCs (non-player characters) and your squad to accept your decisions. If your Persuasion is not high enough, you will see the option, but be unable to use it as it will be greyed out. If you can choose the option, then you are always successful in furthering your goals.