Though The Illusive Man may get more time in the spotlight, the Shadow Broker is one of the most truly evasive characters in theMass Effectuniverse. A title that has passed between several individuals, the Shadow Broker is slowly revealed to be pulling the strings behind some ofMass Effect: Legendary Edition’s most important events.
With a central and constantly shifting role acrossMass Effect: Legendary Edition, keeping track of the Shadow Broker’s story can be tough, even for fans who play through the trilogy looking for the Broker’s fingerprints. Here’s a breakdown of the Shadow Broker lore, and its connections to the strange story of the Yahg, a violent, predatory pre-spaceflight species that found one of its members at the heart of a galactic information network.
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The Shadow Broker In Mass Effect 1 And 2
Shepard first gets a hint at the Shadow Broker’s network onthe Citadel inMass Effect 1. Volus financial adviser Barla Von is revealed to be an agent of the Shadow Broker, but like most who sell information to the Shadow Broker he has no idea who he’s working for, or if they really are an individual at all.
The Shadow Broker collaborated withSaren Arteriussome time before the events ofMass Effect 1, before Saren betrayed him. Chora’s Den owner Fist is also an agent of the Broker. When Tali arrives on the Citadel with evidence incriminating Saren, she is put in contact with Fist, and hopes he can sell her information for a safe place to hide. Fist, however, betrays the Broker in favor of Saren.
This is howMass Effect 1’sKrogan companion Urdnot Wrexenters the story. The famed mercenary was hired by the Shadow Broker to take down those who turned against him. The Shadow Broker is also key to Shepard’s revival after their death at the start ofMass Effect 2. The Collectors hire the Broker to find Shepard’s body. Liara T’Soni, however, manages to rescue Shepard’s corpse after the Broker gets his hands on it.
Mass Effect 2reveals far more about the Shadow Broker’s identity. Now pursuing Liara, it’s also revealed that the Shadow Broker was responsible for the death of Thane’s wife, hiringBatariansto kill her. In the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC, Liara and Shepard finally manage to identify the Shadow Broker in-person, where he is revealed to be a Yahg. Liara and Shepard defeat him, and Liara takes over as the new Shadow Broker.
The Yahg
The Yahg encountered inMass Effect 2was not the first Shadow Broker. In 2125 the planet Parnack, the Yahg homeworld, was discovered by the Council. At the time, Yahg technology was roughly equivalent to that of Earth in the 20th century. The Citadel Council sent ambassadors to establish contact with the species. They did not anticipate just how aggressive the Yahg were, however, and the predatory species massacred the Council’s delegation. The planet was declared off-limits, and the Yahg banned from interaction with the galactic community.
The Shadow Broker at the time, however, was fascinated. Despite their limited technology, the Yahg were shown to be extremely adaptable, as smart asthe Salariansand far longer-lived. The Shadow Broker violated the Council’s isolation decree and recruited a Yahg as one of his agents. The Yahg’s violent instincts quickly made him more of a threat than an asset, however. When the Shadow Broker realized his mistake, it was already too late. The Yahg killed him, taking over his operation. With no-one knowing the Shadow Broker’s identity, the Yahg suddenly found himself behind the wheel of the galaxy’s greatest information exchange.
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The Shadow Broker In Mass Effect 3 and 4
Duringthe Reaper invasion, the Yahg homeworld, as a pre-spaceflight civilization, is spared. It is believed that their sharp intelligence and predatory instincts could allow them to become one of the dominant forces in the galaxy in the next cycle. Attempts by Salarian forces on Sur’Kesh to uplift and weaponize the Yahg in a similar way to the treatment of the Krogan during the Rachni Wars ended in a Yahg escaping, massacring many on its way out.
As with the Yahg’s ascension to the role, the secrecy surrounding the Shadow Broker allowsLiarato take over without arousing suspicion. The Shadow Broker is a fascinating part of Liara’s arc across the series, and her transformation from a relatively naïve researcher inMass Effect1 to a ruthless information dealer byMass Effect 3.
Although the visual design of the Shadow Broker was not revealed until the second game,Mass Effectconcept artist Matt Rhodes gave some insight into the character’s design on his blog back in 2013. He described the Shadow Broker as “Ares, in space.” Earlier designs for the Shadow Broker showed him a giant, centaur-like alien. It’s interesting that the Shadow Broker is so closely associated with physical strength, predation, and even theGreek god of warin theMass Effectuniverse.
The fact that a Yahg so easily took over the operation, and that he was willing to work withthe Collectorsfor no reason other than business, seems to correlate information brokering and ruthless mercantilism with classic predator-prey relationships. Despite their influence being so indirect, the Shadow Broker is shown to be one of the galaxy’s greatest predators, making Liara’s takeover a fascinating part of her arc.
Liara’s return in the trailer forMass Effect 4seems to suggest that the Shadow Broker’s story isn’t over just yet. In the teaser, she finds a part of Shepard’s N7 armor, suggesting that once again she is searching for the Commander’s body, perhaps hinting at Shepard’s return as the player character. If the game is set long after the events ofMass Effect 3, however, there’s no telling just what sort of person Liara has become as the Shadow Broker. One thing’s likely, however – she will be very different from the young Asari players first met inMass Effect 1.
Mass Effect: Legendary Editionis out now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One and backward compatible on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
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