Guides / Mass Effect 1 (Legendary Edition)
Asteroid X57 (Bring Down the Sky)
Shepard lands on Asteroid X57 to stop a group of Batarian extremists led by Ka'hairal Balak from crashing the rock into the human colony of Terra Nova.
Getting there: Land on Asteroid X57 via the Normandy galaxy map in the Asgard system of the Exodus Cluster after obtaining the Normandy as a Spectre.
This page isn't fully checked yet: 0 of 28 facts confirmed against sources so far. The rest are being checked, most-searched pages first.
Before you leave
- •4 missables here: what locks each one out is under it. See the checklist · All missables in Mass Effect 1
- •Driving the Mako straight into the minefield results in instantaneous death.
- •You must speak with Simon Atwell outside the facility before departing for Ilos, or you will forfeit your end-mission armor or Omni-Tool reward.
In the Quest Compendium app, answers about this place end with what you could miss here. Get the app →
Items
0/4Route
6 steps- 1
Drop Zone and Survey Station 3. Inspect engineers at Survey Station 3 and repair the hilltop Transmission Tower
- 2
First Fusion Torch Facility. Destroy turrets, loot the First Fusion Torch Facility, deactivate it, and meet Simon
⚠ Do not leave Asteroid X57 or trigger Ilos: Find the Conduit before looting the containers inside, or they will become inaccessible.
- 3
Survey Station 1 and Second Fusion Torch Facility. Check Survey Station 1, cross the minefield on foot, and shut down Torch 2
⚠ Driving the Mako straight into the minefield results in instantaneous death.
- 4
Third Fusion Torch Facility and Charn. Clear the Third Fusion Torch Facility and either fight Charn or talk him down
- 5
Survey Station 2. Survive the ambush at Survey Station 2 and track the footprints to Montoya
- 6
Main Facility and Balak. Confront Balak at the Main Facility, resolve the standoff, and speak to Simon
Omni-Tool (scales to Savant tier at Level 50+), Quarian Armor (e.g., Colossus), or Human Armor (Light, Medium, or Heavy, up to Colossus X)Ka'hairal Balak Boss Battle⚠ You must speak with Simon Atwell outside the facility before departing for Ilos, or you will forfeit your end-mission armor or Omni-Tool reward.
Choices here
3| Choice | Options and what happens | Most players pick |
|---|---|---|
| Dealing with CharnUpon exiting the Third Fusion Torch Facility | Fight Charn: Battle and kill Charn along with his bodyguards for standard combat experience and item dropsCharm or Intimidate Charn: Convince him that Balak is sacrificing him, causing Charn and his squad to surrender their vehicle key and depart without fightingRequires 2 points in Charm or Intimidate. | Charm or Intimidate Charn |
| Resolving Balak's Hostage StandoffDeep within the Main Facility after confronting Balak | Let Balak Go: Balak escapes, yielding +25 Paragon points; Shepard must disarm three explosive charges before a timer expires to keep Kate Bowman and the remaining engineers alive, leading to an email from Kate in Mass Effect 2 and Balak returning in Mass Effect 3Attack Balak: Yields +25 Renegade points; Balak immediately sets off the charges, killing Kate Bowman and all captive engineers, which initiates a boss fight against Balak where you can execute him, leave him to bleed to death, or turn him over to Alliance custody, causing an unnamed officer to take his place in Mass Effect 3Disarming the explosives following Balak's escape has an active countdown timer. | Let Balak Go |
| Simon Atwell's Mission RewardSpeaking with Simon Atwell outside the Main Facility after completing the assignment | Request an Omni-Tool: Simon rewards you with a leveled Omni-Tool scaling up to the Savant tier at high levelsRequest Quarian Armor: Simon gives you a suit of Quarian armor (such as Colossus)Request Human Armor: Simon grants you a suit of Light, Medium, or Heavy Human armor (up to Colossus X)Unclaimed rewards are permanently lost once you touch down on Ilos. | Request Quarian Armor |
Key fights
5| Fight | Watch for | Weaknesses and resistances | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Fusion Torch Exterior6 Heavy Turrets | Rapidly destroying the Mako at close rangeTactics: Engage from max radar range using Mako zoom/cannon and duck behind terrain to recharge shields | ||
| Second Fusion Torch PerimeterExterior Turrets and Batarian ground forces | Proximity minefield causing instant Mako obliterationTactics: Disembark the Mako to navigate on foot through safe gaps or deactivate the minefield via the door override console | ||
| Confrontation with CharnCharn and Batarian bodyguards | Organic infantry using assault rifles, shotguns, and the Immunity talentTactics: Use biotics to incapacitate them and bypass Immunity shields | Combat XP and drops | |
| Survey Station 2 Ambush2 Defense Drones | Pulsing shields and tech disruption | ||
| Ka'hairal Balak Boss BattleKa'hairal Balak, 2 Bodyguards, 2 War Beasts, 2 Defense Drones | Balak's heavy health pool, Immunity, Sniper Assassination, and weapon overheat abilities; War Beasts knocking Shepard down; tech powers like Overload and SabotageTactics: Equip armor upgrades boosting Tech/Biotic protection; use biotics to disable Balak and organic bodyguards while managing drone tech disruption |
The Quest Compendium overlay answers like this while you play, right beside your game. Get the app
The full walkthrough text
Shepard lands on Asteroid X57 to stop a group of Batarian extremists led by Ka'hairal Balak from crashing the rock into the human colony of Terra Nova.
1. Drop Zone and Survey Station 3
When you drop onto Asteroid X57 in the Mako, listen to the incoming radio comms from Kate Bowman asking you to shut down three fusion torches. Drive over to Survey Station 3 to discover the body of engineer Mendel, then check the nearby ridge behind a crashed M29 Grizzly to locate the corpse of engineer T. Slajs. Head up to the hilltop Transmission Tower and repair it using a Decryption minigame or 50 Omni-gel to map all three Survey Stations.
Tip: Repairing the tower right away makes locating the missing engineers across the asteroid far easier.
2. First Fusion Torch Facility
Approach the First Fusion Torch Facility and snipe the six Heavy Turrets from long range with your Mako cannon while using terrain to let your shields recover. Head inside to loot the Secure Locker and Grenade Upgrade Box in the first-floor south room, then grab the Secure Crate inside the control room before shutting down the core. Step back outside to meet Chief Engineer Simon Atwell, who coordinates your next objectives.
Tip: Take out the exterior turrets at maximum radar zoom so their heavy firepower does not shred your vehicle.
3. Survey Station 1 and Second Fusion Torch Facility
Stop by Survey Station 1 and the radio shack to inspect the remains of engineer Hymes, who was killed by an explosive booby trap. Drive toward the Second Fusion Torch Facility until you reach the proximity minefield, then get out of the vehicle and navigate through safe gaps on foot using your proximity HUD gauge. Take out the exterior turrets and Batarian ground troops, access the override console near the entrance to turn off the minefield, and head inside to deactivate Torch 2.
Tip: Watch the proximity HUD meter carefully while walking through the blast zone to steer clear of live charges.
4. Third Fusion Torch Facility and Charn
Pass by the explosives cache resting along the ridge as you journey toward the third facility. Fight through the Batarian garrison inside, deactivate the third torch, and exit the building to trigger a standoff with Charn and his bodyguards. Choose to fight Charn's squad using biotics and Anti-Organic Rounds to pierce their Immunity, or spend 2 points in Charm or Intimidate to convince him that Balak is sacrificing him so he hands over his vehicle key and departs peacefully.
Tip: Biotic powers like Lift, Throw, Singularity, and Warp ignore the defensive protection of the Immunity talent.
5. Survey Station 2
Proceed to Survey Station 2 and interact with the terminal, preparing for an ambush by 2 hostile Defense Drones boasting pulsing shields and tech attacks. After defeating the drones, follow the trail of footprints leading east away from the station until you discover the body of engineer Montoya.
Tip: Bring tech counter-abilities to disrupt the drones before they disable your squad's weapons and shields.
6. Main Facility and Balak
Infiltrate the Main Facility to confront Ka'hairal Balak, who wires Kate Bowman and the surviving engineers with explosives. Choose to let Balak flee for +25 Paragon points and disarm the three explosive charges within the time limit to save the hostages, or attack him for +25 Renegade points, detonating the charges and killing the hostages before battling Balak, his bodyguards, War Beasts, and Defense Drones. Once the compound is secure, talk to Simon Atwell outside to finish the assignment and claim your choice of an Omni-Tool, Quarian Armor, or Human Armor.
Tip: Equip upgrades with tech and biotic protection, and disable Balak and his War Beasts with biotics to avoid being knocked down.
The short version
What matters
- Asteroid X57 can be tackled at late-game levels (25–30 Legendary, 45–50 Classic) to secure Savant Omni-Tools or Colossus X armor from Simon Atwell.
- Disarming the three timed charges after letting Balak run nets you +25 Paragon points and keeps Kate Bowman alive for an email in Mass Effect 2.
Common mistakes
- Entering the Second Fusion Torch perimeter in the Mako triggers an instant game over; always disembark and cross the minefield on foot.
- Landing on Ilos before speaking to Simon Atwell outside the Main Facility will cause you to permanently miss your high-grade armor or Omni-Tool choice.
What you can skip
- You can bypass fighting Charn entirely if you have at least 2 points in Charm or Intimidate, acquiring his vehicle key without bloodshed.
28 facts on this page · 0 checked · 28 still being checked · from fextralife.com, gamespot.com, fandom.com
Stuck somewhere in Mass Effect 1 (Legendary Edition)?
Quest Compendium sees your screen while you play: ask about exactly where you are, and keep this guide open right beside your game.
Get live help while you play