Guide to the Sentinel Class in Mass Effect

The Sentinel is for someone who prefers to be more of a buffer in the group, someone who likes to stay in the back and support their squad. Since the Sentinel has a combination of biotics and tech, he is able to mix it up with how he wants to mess with the enemy and suport his team.

Unfortunately, the Sentinel has no major training for the four weapon types in the game so he will be ineffective in direct combat with guns. But he's still got some offense, just not as powerful as other classes, thanks to his Lift, Throw, Overload, and Sabotage talents. Those will do some damage, but don't expect firepower in the same vein as assault rifles and shotguns.

Since he will be no expert on pistols, shotguns, rifles, and sniper weapons, at least one weapon the Sentinel has is the tech proximity mines, a small bomb that will always be planted at any spot where Sabotage is used. Tech proximity mines deal small damage compared to what grenades could do. They explode on impact and do not need to be diffused.

Tech proximity mines can also be upgraded, as the Sentinel can increase its damage with Decryption; unfortunately he can't upgrade how widespread the damage is or the recharge time, since he has neither Damping or Hacking. If the Sentinel did have those talents, he would have been far more dangerous with his mines; Sabotage could recharge more quickly and its tech proximity mines would have a better chance of damaging more enemies in open space. But he dosen't, so you need to focus on his more supportive abilities.

With Barrier, the Sentinel has the right biotic to give him some additional defensive help. It will be relied on already since this class has no armor training talents and can only wear light armor. It's good to know that you can increase the strength and duration of his shields, so he can absorb additional damage.

Since the Sentinel's primary support techs are First Aid and Medicine, he can turn into a great healer. With Medicine, he can reduce the recharge time of Medi-gel use, that way he won't have to wait so long to heal again if necessary. Medicine works well with First Aid, a talent that improves how much health is restored every time Med-gel is used. If you have another teammate who also has First Aid, then both of your powers combined should restore plenty of health to the squad.