MASS EFFECT: Tip Sheet #3 -- Thresher Maws

One of the most annoying enemies you will come across while exploring planets in Mass Effect is the Thresher Maw. These sandworm-like creatures have an acid attack that ignores your shields and a one-shot attack that will kill your party instantly, no matter how healthy your Mako is. When you first meet up with them, you will probably find yourself using up lots of OmniGel to restore your Mako -- or, even worse, getting killed and losing whatever progress you've made in the level.

I've learned a few things about these evil creatures that you might find useful. I can now survive most Thresher attacks without using any OmniGel. So here are my tips for "Defeating a Thresher Maw for fun and XP."

• When you first meet a Maw, leave the area and save your game. You don't want to lose any progress you've made on the planet so far! Get in your vehicle, if you aren't in it already and head out of the battle area. (The battle area of a Maw is limited to the flat, somewhat circular area you find her in.) Try to get out of it's line of sight, because it can still use it's acid attack on you if it can see you.
  
  
• If you get hit with acid, leave the area and use your OmniGels. It only takes two or three acid hits to destroy your Mako, so repair as soon as you can.
  
  
• Stay in your vehicle. The Maw moves too quickly for you to even think about attempting to take her down on foot. Check you Codex entry on Thresher Maws for more information.
  
  
• The basic plan of attack is to move around the outer edge of the flat area and shoot at the Maw whenever she shows herself. If the Maw is facing away from you, stop your Mako, zoom in with the left trigger and take a few shots. As soon as she starts to move her head and sink back into the ground, move to a new position along the periphery.
  
  
• If the Maw is facing you, do not stop, or at least be ready to move and play some chicken with a blob of acid. When you will see her rear her head back, move! She will be shooting acid your way. Move laterally (across, not toward or away) and the acid should miss you.
  
  
• When the Maw is underground, you should be moving. Period. As I said earlier, try to stay along the periphery of the battle area, but still on the flat part. As long as you are on the flat portion, she will continue to appear and fight. I tend to pick a direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise) and stick with it for the entire battle.
  
  
• Never move toward her last position -- always drive away from her. Driving toward her is about the same as staying in one place -- she'll kill you in one shot with her attack from below.
  
  
• Never move toward the Maw when she is exposed. This is basically suicide. If you are close enough for her to perform a melee attack, you will die in one or two hits. This thing has no respect for shields.
  
  
• Toward the end of the battle it will seem as if you aren't doing any damage. Somehow, these creatures' skins get tougher as their health gets weaker. Just keep plugging plasma bolts into her and running away. You'll eventually bring her down.

That's it. The main thing is to save first, keep moving, keep shooting, gel in a safe place if you need to, and never move toward her.

Good luck on your next big kill!