Prothean Beacon

The Prothean beacon on Eden Prime that gives Shepard a vision of war and death.

The Prothean beacon recovered on Eden Prime is a critical artifact from the extinct Prothean race, designed to project raw visions of war and death directly into the mind of the user. In 2183, Commander Shepard reached this device after repelling a geth attack alongside squad members Kaidan Alenko and Ashley Williams. While rogue Spectre Saren Arterius activated it first before escaping, Shepard's subsequent interaction provided the only solid evidence needed to investigate his treason. This single moment bridged the gap between human suspicion and galactic reality, revealing the imminent threat of a machine race known as the Reapers.

Quick Facts

Discovery site: Eden Prime
Key user: Commander Shepard
Primary function: Vision of war and death

Lore & Background

Set in the year 2183 within the Milky Way galaxy, the beacon serves as a direct link to the Protheans, an ancient alien race believed to have built the Mass Relays. When Shepard touched the beacon, they received a specific vision depicting war and death, confirming the existence of the Reapers and their plan for galactic invasion. This information was vital because the Citadel Council initially refused to believe Ambassador Donnel Udina or Commander Shepard without proof of Saren Arterius's betrayal. The beacon also revealed the location of the Conduit, a hidden pathway leading to the Citadel Station.

Reader's Guide

To interact with a Prothean beacon, the player must locate it within specific ruins or excavation sites, such as those found on Eden Prime. On Eden Prime, Shepard reaches the beacon and receives a vision of war and death; Liara T'Soni later helps Shepard understand it.

Did You Know?

Shepard's vision from the beacon provided no solid evidence to convince the Citadel Council of Saren's treason initially.
The beacon is located on the human colony of Eden Prime in the year 2183.