Grunt is one of the most beloved squadmates in the entire Mass Effect trilogy. A key reason why people like him is his joyous love of fighting and violence. He gets to embrace that aspect of his personality during his Rite Of Passage loyalty mission in Mass Effect 2.

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In it, you and Grunt have to face off against a few waves of deadly creatures in what is a ritual that all growing Krogan have to complete. It serves as a fun, action-packed mission but one that is also very dangerous. If you want to lower those danger levels, follow this guide.

Starting The Mission

To unlock the mission, Grunt needs to be out of his tank. Plus, you have to beat Horizon and a few more quests. Kelly Chambers will inform you when it's active - it'll also be in your journal.

The first objective of the mission is to speak to Grunt. So, head down to Cargo Holds on the Engineering Deck to see what the brute wants.

It turns out that he's not quite sure. Grunt is confused by his feelings, as he wants to kill people even more than usual. Go through the conversation to eventually decide that you must visit the Krogan homeworld to figure out what's happening to him.

So, head to Tuchanka, which is in the Krogan DMZ cluster.

Speaking With The Clan Leader

When you reach the planet, head inside the main area - a Krogan might block your access at first but will eventually let you through.

To get to the clan leader, you must go down the stairs, take a left, open the door, and head through the hole.

The Korgan you're here to meet is on a makeshift throne atop a giant pile of rubble - you'll be looking right at it after you've gone through the hole.

If Wrex survived the first game, he is the leader. If not, a guy named Wreav will be in his place.

Whoever it is, ask about Grunt when you get the chance. The leader explains that the young Krogan is becoming an adult and needs to complete a Rite Of Passage, as is tradition. A Krogan named Uvenk isn't too happy about it.

Next, you must speak with the Shaman who is upstairs. So, turn around, and head forward to find the way up - there are two Krogan at the bottom of the stairs.

When you get to the top, you can find The Shaman speaking with Uvenk. Engage The Shaman in conversation, and he will explain some things about the Rite.

During the conversation, you can headbutt Uvenk if you like by hitting the Renegade Interrupt. You don't need to do so, but it's a funny moment.

Something you do need to do is agree to start the Rite. This will trigger a cutscene to get things underway.

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Starting The Rite Of Passage

Before the first wave, you get to choose your squad. Grunt must be chosen, but the other teammate is up to you. There is no perfect choice for this one. Jack isn't a bad option, as her biotic power and shotgun can both come in handy.

After the cutscene of you arriving at the arena, you're instructed to hit the keystone, which is directly in front of you as you gain control of Shepard. However, feel free to look around for supplies before starting the first wave.

Beating Wave One

This initial wave consists entirely of Varren. Here are a few tips to beat this wave:

  • They're not the most threatening enemies individually, but there is a lot of them. And if you get surrounded, they can take you out quickly. So, keep moving and make sure not to get pinned.
  • As they can't attack you from a distance, try to make it a ranged fight as often as possible.
  • Depending on the difficulty level you're playing on, they may have armor. If that's the case, use incinerate, incendiary ammo, or armor-piercing ammo if you have them.
  • When they're on their health bars, use Biotics - if you have them - to make them vulnerable.

When they're all dead, you will be told to hit the keystone again. Before you do, pick up some ammo to get ready for wave two.

Beating Wave Two

Hit the keystone to begin wave two. This time you go up against red creatures called Klixen. These are some things you should know about fighting them:

  • Like Varren, they do their damage in close quarters. They're more deadly, though, due to their powerful fire-breathing attack. But they aren't too quick. Thus, you want to keep moving backward while shooting them. This allows you to fight and stay safe at the same time.
  • Don't bother attacking the giant creatures that drop Klixen. You can't harm them.
  • They're generally resistant to fire. But if you're on harder difficulties, they will have armor that does burn. So, incinerate and incendiary ammo aren't completely useless for this wave.
  • Warp ammo is also good power for this fight if you have it.
  • Grunt's concussive shot is handy for this battle, as unarmored enemies will be stopped in their tracks. This is good for when you're trying to create distance.

After you kill them all, the process is the same as before. Pick up any ammo before hitting the keystone to trigger the final wave.

Surviving Wave Three

For the final wave, you have to face a giant Thresher Maw. This beast is much more fearsome than the other foes you faced in this Rite. Yet, the game shows you mercy by not forcing you to kill it. All you have to do is survive five minutes. This is easier said than done, though.

Whether you're going for the kill or just trying to survive, here are a few tips for the battle:

  • When the Thresher Maw starts spitting acid, you need to be in cover. Unfortunately, all the metal structures are broken quickly. But the concrete pillar on the lower level is much sturdier. Try using that to remain safe.
  • You can keep track of where the maw is moving even when it's underground by following the clouds of dirt it creates.
  • When attacking, aim for the tongue, as it's the weak point.
  • If you've got a good heavy weapon that's suitable for this type of fight, use it.
  • The creature's 'health' bar is just armor. Therefore, armor-piercing rounds, incendiary ammo, and incinerate are good options to use on the monster.

The fight ends when you kill the beast or the time runs out. Regardless of how the battle concludes, the quest isn't over yet.

Fighting Uvenk

After the Rite, Uvenk shows up again. Because of Grunt's performance, he's changed his mind about the young Krogan. He thinks he can be an asset, but Grunt isn't interested. So, whatever you say, it leads to a battle with Uvenk and his troops.

This isn't an easy fight, but it could be worse. After all, if every Krogan charged you at once, you'd be doomed. Thankfully, you only have to deal with a few at a time.

These are the tips for this battle:

  • All the enemies start at a bit of a distance. Take advantage of this by getting some early shots in.
  • Make sure to always target the Krogan that is closest to you, as you want to try and kill each one before they get behind your cover.
  • If you've got Heavy Weapon ammo left, it may be time to use it on Uvenk.
  • You don't get a chance to pick up any supplies after the fight. So, if you want some, make sure to grab them before the battle is over.

After the skirmish, there is one last cutscene/conversation. Once that's over, so is the mission.

NEXT: Mass Effect: Who's the Better Soldier, Urdnot Grunt or Garrus Vakarian?