The Strike Team system in Mass Effect: Andromeda is an entirely optional side feature that blends tactical deployment with light RPG mechanics. While it’s separate from the main plot and single-player story progression, it offers helpful rewards for both single-player and multiplayer. If you’re interested in extra loot, mission funds, or simply enjoy strategy-based minigames, this system is worth diving into. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of it.
What Are Strike Teams?
Strike Teams are squads you manage from a command terminal, sending them on real-time missions to earn rewards. These missions can be accessed from either single-player or multiplayer menus, and they operate independently of the main story.
Key features:
- Entirely optional – no single-player penalties if you skip it.
- Rewards include: credits, crafting materials, research data, weapons, and more.
- Also generates multiplayer currency – mission funds used to buy consumables, character upgrades, or recruit more teams.
You can manage Strike Teams from the terminal aboard the Tempest (after the first hour or so) or through the multiplayer menu, where the interface is identical.
Recruiting and Managing Strike Teams
You start with one Strike Team and can eventually recruit up to six. Each new team costs progressively more Mission Funds:
- Team 3: 80 funds
- Team 4: 120 funds
- +40 funds per new team
You can retire a Strike Team if they accumulate too many negative traits or simply underperform. Retiring resets their level and traits, allowing you to start over.
Each team has:
- A level
- A list of traits (positive or negative)
- A calculated effectiveness rating against mission traits
Traits are critical and develop through mission success or failure. For example, a team might gain a “Remnant Specialist” trait, giving +10 effectiveness against Remnant enemy types. Not all traits are gained from winning—some can be earned after failed missions.
Understanding Missions
Strike Team missions follow these basic rules:
- Missions occur in real time (e.g., 45 min, 2 hrs)
- Each mission has an expiration timer—complete it before this time runs out
- Missions vary in enemy type (Remnant, Kett, Outlaws) and difficulty (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
- New missions are generated regularly
Missions list three traits:
- Mission Traits – factors that affect Strike Team effectiveness (e.g., “No Room for Error,” “Alien Presence,” or specific enemy types)
- Rewards – include both multiplayer (Mission Funds) and single-player (loot boxes)
- Success Chance – based on your team’s level and trait matchups
Recommended level brackets:
- Bronze: Teams level 1–9
- Silver: Teams level 10–19
- Gold: Teams level 20+
Higher-level teams can handle lower-tier missions more easily, but trait synergy always plays a big role. For instance, a level 12 team with the right trait may perform as well—or better—than a level 14 team without it.
How to Deploy and Succeed
When you select a mission:
- Match the mission traits with your team’s traits to increase success chances.
- Avoid sending under-leveled teams on higher-tier missions.
- Apex missions (marked by an orange “A”) offer better rewards and can also be played manually in multiplayer.
Each mission will show:
- Time to complete
- Enemy type
- Expected rewards
- Success percentage, based on the selected team
Once deployed, you can check remaining time on the mission screen. When the mission finishes, return to the terminal to debrief your team and collect rewards.
Failure Is Still Progress
Even failed missions can be useful:
- Teams earn experience whether they succeed or not
- Occasionally, positive traits are earned on failed missions
- Failing a high-tier mission (like Gold) might still yield meaningful XP
Note that you won’t receive rewards like loot boxes or mission funds after a failed attempt, but trait development and leveling still offer long-term benefits.
Single Player Rewards vs Multiplayer Rewards
Each mission offers two types of rewards:
- Mission Funds – used in multiplayer to purchase gear and new teams
- Pathfinder Loot Boxes – redeemed in single-player for materials, items, and research data
Loot boxes scale by difficulty:
- Bronze: modest gear and crafting resources
- Silver: better materials and rare weapons
- Gold: high-tier loot, including named weapons like the Sidewinder
You can redeem Pathfinder rewards from the third tab of the Strike Team menu (single-player only). Items from loot boxes go straight into your inventory.
Bonus: Apex HQ Companion App
If you’re invested in strike teams, the Apex HQ app (iOS and Android) lets you manage them on the go. Features include:
- Deploying and debriefing Strike Teams
- Monitoring progress and collecting rewards
- Viewing stats, renaming teams, and checking challenges
Limitations:
- You can’t use the app while in a multiplayer lobby
- You can’t play Apex missions through the app—only deploy teams
Still, the app is highly useful for maintaining strike team momentum while away from your console or PC. It’s well-designed, responsive, and worth checking out if you’re aiming for maximum reward efficiency.
Final Thoughts
Strike Teams aren’t a required part of Mass Effect: Andromeda, but they’re a low-effort, high-reward system that can bolster both your single-player experience and multiplayer performance. Between mission funds, trait customization, and loot box rewards, there’s plenty of value if you’re willing to put in a few minutes of planning each day.
Whether you’re farming credits, building the perfect squad, or just optimizing rewards from your phone with Apex HQ, Strike Teams are a surprisingly addictive side activity in Andromeda’s ever-expanding universe.
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