Wraith (Mass Effect)

Overview

Wraiths are kett-altered hunting animals derived from challyrions. They have camouflage capabilities and attack at close range, allowing a force to threaten opponents who are already watching more conspicuous enemies. The connection to challyrions matters because it identifies a particular local animal appropriated by kett conversion. They are not converted adhi merely because the two can occupy a similar combat role, and they are not supernatural spirits despite their name.

Andromeda's encounters and species codex describe the creature as part of the kett's use of transformed life as military material. Its ability to become difficult to see is a bodily adaptation represented in gameplay, not literal incorporeality. Pack behaviour and attacks on the flanks of a fight make the animal effective in combination with other troops. This profile concerns the living combat organism and excludes the original trilogy's similarly named firearm. The available bibliography supplies one narrative game plus its associated codex account, openly acknowledging that narrower coverage.

First appearances & development

Wraiths are documented in Mass Effect: Andromeda in 2017 as converted challyrion-derived animals. The profile concerns that creature and the game's species account. It excludes the similarly named shotgun and unrelated traditional spirits. No earlier trilogy appearance is claimed, and the codex supplies a second treatment within the same narrative release.

Canon & continuity

Andromeda's species codex identifies challyrion ancestry and the camouflage-bearing converted condition, while the creature reference supplies observed encounter behaviour. Their correspondence supports a specific engineered animal profile rather than a supernatural classification. The evidence is limited to this game and its documentation; no unrelated weapon or unverified later appearance expands the bibliography.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Mass Effect: Andromeda

   BioWare · 2017

   Planetary encounters, scanning observations and the Andromeda species codex.

2. 02

   Mass Effect: Andromeda — species codex

   BioWare · 2017

   In-game scientific reports on kett-modified animals, including explicitly provisional interpretations.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. ReferenceWraith (Mass Effect) — reference guideResearch access: 2026-10-05
2. Primary workAndromeda species codex — unofficial transcriptionResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.