While Charge is best used against enemies unprotected by armor, shields or barriers, against some foes you can use it to engage in a biotic slugfest. You’ll have to balance keeping your shields up via Charge with mitigating risk by charging when and where enemies are unlikely to be able to respond a single enemy near cover, rather than a group of foes standing out in the open.

With its relatively short recharge time (6 seconds), Charge can be used repeatedly to buffet enemies and keep your health bar from being subject to abuse, although it should be noted that the temporary shields last only 4 seconds, and that’s plenty of time for enemies to bring Shepard down with sustained fire - especially on higher difficulties. Underwhelming at first, as you expend Squad Points in Charge it’ll gain a number of useful properties, most notably temporarily recovering your shields. It’s worth noting, however, that enemies with armor, shields or barriers will be highly resistant to the effects of Charge - such defenses should be stripped beforehand, lest you find yourself standing uncomfortably close to an enemy who ended up only slightly staggered from your exertion.

This is provided that the enemy survives the Charge in the first place Husks will be destroyed instantly by Charge, and other enemies may be knocked off ledges or into other objects. Properly deployed, Charge will hurl the Vanguard at an enemy, knocking them back and giving you an opportunity to finish them off with conventional small arms. This is due in no small part to Mass Effect 2’s fickle targeting system (the words “Can’t reach the target!” will likely presage a few reloads), but even at the best of times the player must demonstrate a degree of situational awareness not required from other classes. More accurately they’re a high risk, moderate reward combatant whose Charge power is just as likely to get them into trouble as it is to preserve them.

In game, the Vanguard is referred to as a “high risk, high reward” combatant, which, to be fair, is viewing things through rose-tinted glasses, at best. As such, any discussion of a Vanguard build should start out with Charge - it’s in large part the thing that separates the Vanguard from an Adept with a shotgun. (right) Charge ¶Ĭharge is the Vanguard’s unique, playstyle defining class power, providing them a source of offense, but perhaps more importantly, of defense and mobility, as well. (left), By restoring the Vanguard’s shields and propelling an enemy helplessly away, Charge can shift the tide of battle if your favor. When a Vanguard’s shields are down, a retaliatory Charge becomes an appealing defensive counterstrike.

Mass effect 2 bonus powers