Power combo

Power combos are specialized combat explosions that allow for extra damage and elemental effects. Power combos start when an enemy (or group of enemies) is primed, setting them up for a power combo, and then a detonator is used to detonate the explosion.

Combo types
There are four types of combo explosions:
 * Fire Combo Icon.png- Sets every enemy in the area on fire.
 * Cryo Combo Icon.png- Slows or freezes nearby enemies.
 * Tech Combo Icon.png- Creates a lingering electrical discharge that stuns enemies.
 * Biotic Combo Icon.png- Detonates with extreme force, sending enemies flying.

Mechanics
Many skills are primers, detonators, and some are even both.
 * Some skills are primers and/or detonators right away while other skills require specific skill point purchases to become primers and/or detonators. Look for primer and detonator icons on the skill menu for each skill when planning skill purchases.
 * There are consumables, boosters, melee weapons, and explosive canisters that can also prime enemies but none can act as detonators.
 * Squadmates can be specifically upgraded toward making them good at priming and/or detonating power combos.
 * Squadmates will automatically use skills to detonate primed enemies, as well as semi-randomly priming enemies.

Certain augmentations, profiles, and skills increase bonuses to combo explosions such as damage and/or radius.

The following augmentations increase power combos:
 * Reaction Displacer Icon.png Reaction Displacer
 * Reaction Optimizer Icon.png Reaction Optimizer

The following profiles increase power combos:
 * Adept Icon.png Adept
 * Engineer Icon.png Engineer
 * Sentinel Icon.png Sentinel

The following skills increase power combos:

Skill Primers
To set up a combo explosion, an enemy must first be "primed" with a skill. Skills that can prime enemies are marked with different icons on the Skills screen that indicate their primer type.
 * Fire Primer Icon.png Fire primers burn enemies and set them up for a Fire Combo.
 * Cryo Primer Icon.png Cryo primers chill or freeze enemies and set them up for a Cryo Combo.
 * Tech Primer Icon.png Tech primers electrify enemies and set them up for a Tech Combo.
 * Biotic Primer Icon.png Biotic primers lift enemies into the air and set them up for a Biotic Combo.

Consumable Primers
Consumable ammo items are able to prime enemies for combo explosions:
 * Cryo Primer Icon.png Cryo Ammo primes for a Cryo Combo.
 * Tech Primer Icon.png Disruptor Ammo primes for a Tech Combo.
 * Fire Primer Icon.png Incendiary Ammo primes for a Fire Combo.

The enemy will have to be successfully shot with rounds until there is a clear visual display that the enemy has been primed (ice, electrical charges, flames).

Care should be taken when using consumable ammo items to prime enemies. If you prime an enemy with a skill, and then shoot an enemy with consumable ammo before detonating the primed enemy, the skill primer will be replaced with the ammo primer.

The Cobra RPG consumable is also able to prime enemies for a Fire Combo. This consumable is different for priming enemies because the enemies will have to survive the Cobra RPG blast to be primed. All enemies that survive the Cobra RPG blast will show a clear visual display of flames indicating they are primed.

Booster Primers
Booster ammo items are able to prime enemies in multiplayer for combo explosions:
 * Cryo Primer Icon.png Cryo Ammo I, II, III, & IV primes for a Cryo Combo.
 * Tech Primer Icon.png Disruptor Ammo I, II, III, & IV primes for a Tech Combo.
 * Fire Primer Icon.png Incendiary Ammo I, II, III, & IV primes for a Fire Combo.

The enemy will have to be successfully shot with rounds until there is a clear visual display that the enemy has been primed (ice, electrical charges, flames).

Care should be taken when using booster ammo to prime enemies. If you prime an enemy with a skill, and then shoot an enemy with the booster ammo before detonating the primed enemy, the skill primer will be replaced with the booster ammo primer.

Melee Weapon Primers
Several melee weapons are able to prime enemies for combo explosions:
 * Cryo Primer Icon.png The Remnant Cryo-Gauntlet primes for a Cryo Combo.
 * Fire Primer Icon.png The Kett Vakarsh primes for a Fire Combo.

The enemy will have to be successfully hit with the melee weapon until there is a clear visual display that the enemy has been primed (ice, flames).

The Electric Firaan is NOT able to prime enemies for an electric Tech Combo.

Explosive Canister Primers
Explosive canisters are found in many battle areas. The color of the container indicates the type of explosion that will happen when they are detonated. Detonating these containers with an enemy nearby are able to prime enemies for combo explosions:
 * Fire Primer Icon.png Red Explosive Materials canisters prime for a Fire Combo.
 * Cryo Primer Icon.png Light-blue Coolant Containment canisters prime for a Cryo Combo.
 * Tech Primer Icon.png Yellow Dischargeable Supercapacitor canisters prime for a Tech Combo.
 * Biotic Primer Icon.png Purple Charged Element Zero Stasis canisters prime for a Biotic Combo.

The enemy will have to be successfully hit by the exploding container with a clear visual display that the enemy has been primed (flames, ice, electrical charges, biotic glow).

Detonators
Once an enemy is primed for a combo explosion, a detonator skill is required to set off the combo explosion. Detonator skills are marked with an icon  on the Skills screen. Any detonator will set off a combo explosion.

Consumable items, boosters, melee weapons, and explosive canisters WILL NOT detonate combo explosions.

There is one exception to the detonators rules involving one unique melee weapon, known as the Batarian Gauntlet, in multiplayer. This melee weapon is wielded by the Batarian Scrapper and Batarian Vanguard and will act as a combo detonator. Targets must be suitably primed and then a successful melee attack performed to detonate the combo explosion. However, using this melee weapon to act a detonator will not count towards any of the challenges involving combo detonations.

Combo Table
The table below lists all of the skill primers and detonators. Not all skills are available to every character:
 * A check mark (✓) in any Primer column implies that the skill can prime that type of combo explosion.
 * A check mark (✓) in the Detonator column implies that the skill is a detonator.
 * Any skill with a check mark that has an asterisk (✓*) has issues or restrictions. (Refer to the specific skill article in question for details)
 * Upgradeable skills require additional points to be spent on the skill to activate primers and/or detonators.
 * SP - Skill that Pathfinder Ryder can acquire in singleplayer mode.
 * SM - Skill of a squadmate in singleplayer mode.
 * MP - Skill in Multiplayer mode.

Achievements and trophies
The following achievements and trophies can be earned for Power Combos:
 * Fireworks.png Fireworks
 * With Our Powers Combined.png With Our Powers Combined

Challenges
Combos are the focus of the following challenges:
 * Biotic Detonations - (50), (250), (500)
 * Combat Detonations - (50), (250), (500)
 * Tech Detonations - (50), (250), (500)