Abominations are a type of husk created by the Collectors. They act as suicide troops, charging in and exploding next to their targets. They glow red instead of blue like standard human husks.
Mass Effect 2
Abominations accompany groups of Husks in an attempt to overwhelm Commander Shepard in 2185. They are encountered at Collector sites or near Reaper artifacts.
Capabilities
Offensive
Abominations will charge towards their target much like a regular husk, but it will simultaneously begin to glow and emit flames, then self-destruct once it has gotten close enough to its primary target, dealing heavy damage in a small area. If an Abomination has begun to glow, it will always explode regardless of how it is killed. Abomination explosions also possess a small damage-over-time component that lingers for a few seconds after the initial blast; this is indicated by the burning effect visible on affected targets.
Defensive
The Abomination has moderate health. It gains light armor on Hardcore and Insanity difficulty levels. An Abomination that is glowing is unstable and will usually detonate if it is knocked to the ground or into terrain, though any armor it possesses must have been destroyed for that to happen in most cases.
Tactics
- Using Pull on an Abomination is strongly discouraged, as the Abomination may be pulled into close proximity with the player and/or party members before exploding. Instead, powers like Throw, Concussive Shot, Shockwave, or Slam should be used to launch the Abomination back to a safe distance where it will explode away from the party.
- Though Flashbang Grenade has a small force component and can knock Abominations down, it usually will not make them detonate unless they are already near death.
- Incendiary Ammo is moderately effective against Abominations and their armour.
- Unlike regular Husks, the Dominate power can control an Abomination just like other organic enemies. Once controlled, it will run at Shepard's enemies and explode.
- Abominations, unlike normal Husks, will not be instantly killed if frozen. If their health is depleted while they are frozen, they will not shatter, but will instead explode after defrosting.
- It isn't always feasible, but prioritizing an Abomination in a group of charging Husks can be a good strategy, as its death explosion can instantly kill unarmored Husks in close proximity, saving time and ammo. The explosions won't affect armored Husks.
- As with Husks, an Abomination's main weak point is its legs. Shooting its legs or lower half can cause it to stumble and can quickly kill it, though Abominations killed in this way will still explode if they are glowing.
- The M-490 Blackstorm can destroy an Abomination without it exploding, as if one is sucked inside a vortex it will simply disappear often without leaving a corpse behind.
Mass Effect 3
Abominations return in Mass Effect 3's multiplayer with the Retaliation Pack DLC. They also appear in the combat simulator in the Armax Arsenal Arena added with the Mass Effect 3: Citadel DLC.
Capabilities
Offensive
Abominations will run towards you and grab you once you're in melee range, dealing a small amount of damage over time. Unless you break free by rapidly pressing the melee attack button, they will explode. They will also explode on death, causing a large amount of damage to anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in the blast, friend or foe. In later waves, they can be possessed, gaining weak barriers and a more powerful explosion.
Abomination suicide explosions can penetrate thin cover, and they possess a damage-over-time component that can linger after the initial detonation, meaning normal shield recharge is delayed and health damage can result after shields are downed from the blast.
Defensive
Abominations have low health, albeit a little bit more than Husks. They lack shields or barriers, making them particularly vulnerable to powers. Like Husks, Abominations are immune to the electrocution stuns caused by many tech powers such as Overload and Energy Drain. They are still staggered briefly by these powers, however.
Tactics
- Their post-mortem explosion can be prevented if the abomination's head has been severed from its body. This can be achieved in several ways:
- Successfully breaking the abomination's Grab attack
- A fatal headshot; note that the Disciple shotgun is an exception as headshots with the weapon do not destroy enemy heads
- The heavy melee attacks of batarians, vorcha, the N7 Shadow, the N7 Slayer, and the Cabal Vanguard (if the attack is fatal)
- The Batarian Gauntlet heavy melee
- Performing an over-cover grab with a character that destroys the enemy's head (krogan or batarian characters).
- Human Adepts can knock away an Abomination, but the explosion will not be prevented.
- If there is no other option, let the Abomination grab you and break its hold to prevent the explosion, assuming you aren't under fire and have enough shielding to absorb its melee damage.
- The body-disintegrating effect of geth heavy melee, the Reegar Carbine and the Particle Rifle will not prevent the explosion.
- Be very careful when using powers that pull enemies toward you such as Lash or Pull on Abominations. Try to use powers that knock the enemy away (such as Concussive Shot, Shockwave, or Throw) or powers that hold enemies in place (like Snap Freeze and Stasis).
- Remember that the Abomination's post-mortem explosion can damage your squadmates if they are close enough. If possible, try to avoid pulling or knocking an Abomination into your squadmates or killing an Abomination near a squadmate.
- A Singularity or Incinerate specialized for area damage can render a tight pack of abominations immobile for up to 8 seconds. Note that the latter doesn't affect Possessed Abominations.
- The explosion can also harm other enemies, though the small radius makes it harder to capitalize on it compared to Possessed versions.
- In multiplayer mode, like husks, Abominations will take their first few steps, then stop inexplicably and stand up straight. This is an excellent opportunity to line up a head shot, and prevent them from exploding on you when they get closer.
Trivia
- In the BioWare game Dragon Age: Origins, there are also enemies called abominations, which explode several seconds after death, dealing weak fire damage over large area.
| Mass Effect 3 Enemies | |
|---|---|
| CAT6 | Atlas • Brooks • CAT6 Heavy • CAT6 Sniper • CAT6 Specialist • Clone • Disruption Drone |
| Cerberus | Adjutant • Assault Trooper • Atlas • Centurion • Combat Engineer • Dragoon • Dr. Eva • Guardian • Kai Leng • Legion Assassin • Nemesis • Phantom • Rampart Mech • Turret |
| Collectors | Abomination (Possessed) • Collector Captain (Possessed) • Collector Trooper (Possessed) • Collector Web • Praetorian (Possessed) • Scion (Possessed) • Seeker Swarm (Plague) |
| Geth | Combat Drone • Geth Bomber • Geth Hunter • Geth Prime • Geth Pyro • Geth Rocket Trooper • Geth Trooper • Geth Turret |
| Reapers | Banshee • Brute • Cannibal • Harvester • Husk • Marauder • Ravager • Swarmer |