Mass-effect – Why does Harbinger have only 4 claws

mass-effect-3

Most of you who played Mass Effect 3 must have realized that the Harbinger does not have 5 claws. It only has 4:

Harbinger

Other Sovereign class Reapers have 5:

Reaper

So why does Harbinger not have 5 claws? Did it lose in a battle or is it just its design?

Best Answer

Indeed, Harbinger design is different form the others reapers.

The Reaper known as Harbinger appears to be of a unique subtype; Alliance intelligence identifies it as being the largest Reaper in the armada, and its design differs notably from the Sovereign-class subtype, having only four main legs and multiple glowing "eyes". In addition, Harbinger's cannons appear to be capable of a much higher rate of fire than those of any other Reaper.
- Reaper article on masseffect.wikia

But why? (Spoiler from Mass Effect 3)

During its encounter with Shepard, Leviathan mentions that Harbinger was the first Reaper created, and that it was formed in the image of the Leviathans. Through Harbinger, the Catalyst directs the Reapers to harvest the galaxy of advanced life every 50,000 years. Each harvest ends with the birth of a new Reaper made in Harbinger's image.
- Harbinger article on masseffect.wikia