You’re running through the Presidium Commons, probably trying to juggle three different requests for heating unit stabilizers or batarian codes, and you overhear a researcher on a bench. He's stressed. He's talking about a Prothean artifact—a "Rosetta Stone" of sorts—that his team had to leave behind because the Reapers moved in. This is the start of the ME3 Obelisk of Karza mission.
Honestly, it’s one of those "fetch quests" that feels small but actually carries some weight for the Alliance Engineering Corps. If you're looking for a quick way to boost your War Assets without engaging in a massive firefight, this is it. But the game doesn’t exactly hold your hand on the timing or the location.
How to Trigger the Mission
You can’t just go grab the obelisk whenever you want. First, you have to complete Priority: The Citadel II. Once the smoke clears from the Cerberus coup attempt, head over to the Presidium Commons on the Citadel.
Look for the courtyard area. There’s a researcher sitting on a bench near the stairs that lead down to the lower shops (near the Meridian Place billboard). You don't even have to talk to him directly; just stand near him and "overhear" his conversation about the dig site in the Hades Nexus. The mission Hades Nexus: Obelisk of Karza will then pop into your journal.
If you happen to find the artifact while scanning before you hear him talk, that’s fine too. The mission will just show up as "Citadel: Obelisk of Karza" and update later.
Where Exactly Is the Obelisk of Karza?
The game tells you it's in the Hades Nexus, but that sector doesn't even show up on your galaxy map until after you finish Priority: Rannoch. This is where a lot of people get confused—they get the quest early but can't find the system. Be patient. Once the quarian/geth arc is settled, the Hades Nexus opens up.
- Travel to the Hades Nexus cluster.
- Enter the Hoplos system.
- Look for the moon named Kopis. It orbits the planet Cybele.
- Scan Kopis and launch a probe.
That’s basically it. No ground mission, no shooting husks, just a quick orbit-and-probe job.
The Rewards: Is It Worth the Fuel?
You get 15,000 credits for this, which is a decent chunk of change if you're trying to upgrade your M-98 Widow or Black Widow sniper rifles. You also get 5 Reputation points.
The real prize is the update to the Alliance Engineering Corps War Asset. Every little bit of "Effective Military Strength" counts when you’re staring down the final push on London. The lore behind the item is actually pretty cool—it’s a translation tool that helps the engineers understand the Prothean designs for the Crucible. It makes sense that a "Rosetta Stone" for Prothean would be vital for a project based entirely on Prothean blueprints.
Common Hang-ups
There’s a weird glitch some players report where the mission doesn't seem to "turn in" properly. If you have the obelisk but the researcher won't talk to you, try leaving the Presidium and coming back, or docking at the Normandy and returning.
Also, keep in mind that many Citadel side quests have a "point of no return." You want to finish this before you hit Priority: Cerberus Headquarters. If you wait until you’re launching the final assault, the researcher (and your chance for those War Assets) will be gone.
Quick Summary for the Logistics:
- Unlock Requirement: Complete Priority: The Citadel II.
- Sector Access: Hades Nexus opens after Priority: Rannoch.
- Location: Hades Nexus > Hoplos > Kopis.
- The Researcher: Sitting on a bench in the Presidium Commons (Citadel).
Once you've grabbed the artifact from Kopis, just head back to the Citadel. Walk up to that same researcher on the bench, and Shepard will automatically mention that the Obelisk of Karza is waiting for him at the docks. Mission accomplished.
Actionable Next Steps: Check your galaxy map to see if the Hades Nexus is available. If you've already cleared Rannoch, head there immediately to scan Kopis. If not, keep pushing the main story until the quarian conflict is resolved, then make the Obelisk of Karza your first stop before heading to Thessia.
