Highlights

  • Javik's DLC status made him important to ME3 lore, but his fate could mean a noble goodbye and no appearance in Mass Effect 4.
  • The Protheans' dark past with Javik hints at potential conflict if they return as a dominant race in a future game.
  • Despite his wish to die alongside his species, Javik could still return in Mass Effect 4 to help rebuild the galaxy based on which ending is deemed canonical.

A new Mass Effect is coming at an unknown point in the future, but teasers from BioWare over the past few years have hinted that a direct follow-up to the trilogy’s conclusion is in the works. After the series’ Legendary Edition remastered collection brought Mass Effect back into the spotlight in 2021, the connections between the cast of Shepard’s adventures and the future of the galaxy have allowed players to reflect on how certain characters could factor into the next game. One party member with major significance to the lore despite originating as DLC seems like wasted potential in retrospect, but there’s still hope to redeem him in Mass Effect 4.

He may be available in the versions of ME3 that are readily available now, but the Prothean Javik was released alongside the game as DLC back in 2012. He was one of the most important squadmates to the lore of the franchise due to being the last known member of his entire race, and his exclusion from the base game on launch was the subject of controversy at the time. Mass Effect 3's Javik has continued to make a positive impression on many players in the years since, and he could still make a return despite his ultimate wish to die alongside his species.

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Javik’s Fate and the Truth of the Protheans

A Fitting End for the Prothean Race at the Time

Highly relevant in several key areas of the game despite his DLC status, Javik has also become remembered for his entertaining moments in ME3's Citadel expansion. If his entire storyline is progressed to its fullest extent, however, it seems that he will be driven to want to end his life after the defeat of the Reapers. It might seem extreme, but this type of honor-centric mentality fits with the samurai inspiration of Javik’s design and potentially serves to wrap up the Prothean story.

The End of Javik's Arc Makes Sense in Context

At several points throughout ME3, having Javik in the squad or talking to him on the Normandy will reveal an unexpectedly morbid history regarding the Protheans. Bringing him to Thessia, for example, confirms that the Asari were just one of several races not only guided by the Protheans in ancient times but subjected to inhumane experiments that influenced their development to apparently prepare for the Reapers.

On top of the guilt this reality may create in Javik, he will admit he personally killed many of his people to save them from Reaper indoctrination if the player encourages him to relive the memories of his Echo Shard.

Mass Effect 4 Could See Javik Return in One of Two Ways

The Chance for Javik to Rebuild with the Rest of the Galaxy

It’s the decision to use the Echo Shard that drives his desire to die, and choosing to leave these memories behind actually offers a route for Javik to appear again. He will instead express a desire to write a book with Liara, something that may be possible with her return in Mass Effect 4’s reveal trailer.

Even if he experienced his memories, the reality of the Destroy ending could still inspire Javik to join in the reconstruction of the Mass Effect civilization with other survivors. It's known that the Protheans had all their communication cut off from each other, but this doesn't necessarily mean that the species went fully extinct. Rather, if Javik is canonically dead now, Mass Effect may not be able to pursue this arc as succinctly.

The Dark Side of the Protheans Could Create a New Threat

The prospect of Mass Effect's extinct Protheans returning as a dominant race would be exciting in the newly formed galaxy that could follow ME3, but the insight provided by Javik shows that they might not be able to live in peaceful harmony. He makes it clear that his people had strict beliefs about only allowing the strong to survive, and that the Protheans were actually a massive empire that conquered and colonized the galaxy by force. If Javik, or even the Protheans end up returning in the next Mass Effect, there's no guarantee they will be on the same side as the new protagonist.