The advantages and feasibility of neutral beams with Z ≥ 3 formed from negative ions, accelerated to 0.5–1.0 MeV·amu−1, and neutralized, are investigated for use in tandem mirror reactor end plugs. A reactor plasma physics design incorporating these beams has been done with the result that such a reactor could produce Q's (ratio of fusion power to injected power) of 20–30. These beams thus might be a replacement for the currently proposed 200–500-keV neutral proton beams presently planned for tandem mirror reactors. Thus these Z ≥ 3 neutral beams could increase the potential attractiveness of tandem mirror reactors by offering a possible substitute for difficult high-energy neutral-hydrogen end plug beams.