Should You Attack Balak or Let Balak Go to Save Hostages in Mass Effect Legendary Edition?

Upon arriving at Asteroid X57 in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, you must act fast to disable the thrusters projecting the object onto the planet below. After shutting down three of them, you’ll find yourself face to face with the Batarian who ran it all: Balak.

Balak is seeking justice against humans who put Batarians out and wishes to see him punished. Before you can properly arrest him, he gives you an ultimatum of stopping him or choosing to let him go and save the hostages. So, should you attack Balak, or let Balak go?

X57 Decisions in Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Should you attack Balak?

You should attack Balak if you want to make sure he will not escape. If you choose to attack Balak, you’ll have to face off against and his several guards. Before you start fighting, you’ll receive 25 Renegade points, and the hostages won’t make it. It’s a simple firefight with a handful of enemies to fight, but nothing you haven’t already faced before. When you’ve beaten Balak, you’ll have the option to end him yourself, or you can choose to allow the Alliance Military to have him.

Killing Balak will result in the death of the hostages. A memorial service will be held on Terra Nova for those who lost their lives on the X57. On top of that, Simon will be upset with your decision and react angrily. This will make it more difficult for you to get the usual armor and tools from him. As Balak won’t be back for future missions, a different Batarian will appear in his place in the mission that would have featured him in Mass Effect 3.

Should you let Balak go and save the hostages?

You should let Balak go if you want to make sure that the hostages will survive and receive paragon points. If you choose to allow Balak to escape to focus on saving the hostages, you receive 25 Paragon points for the decision. Balak will escape, and you’ll have to disarm the bombs scattered all over the room. There are three of them, and they’re guarded by several security drones that will be following you around. You want to take these out while you move throughout the large room. Once those are disarmed, you can speak with Kate Bowman, the woman who was assisting you with the operation and make sure the hostages are safe.

If Balak escapes, you’ll hear small news stations in Mass Effect 2 talking about the Asteroid that nearly hit Terra Nova if you completed the mission. There are other batarians to worry about in ME2, but Balak isn’t one of them. If you choose to save the hostages, they’ll talk about Balak still being large, and Bowman sends you an email. In Mass Effect 3, there is a mission called Batarian Codes that features Balak if he escaped and you saved the hostages. If Balak is spared at the end of Batarian Codes, he reluctantly pledges the Batarian fleet to the war effort.