BioWare games are famous for great characters and heart-wrenching decisions. Mass Effect 2 upped the game with its infamous Suicide Mission. Few players managed to save their entire crew on the first try, and even experienced players will struggle without careful planning.
With the Mass Effect Legendary Edition around the corner, some players might want to brush up to get the best ending. This guide will tell you how Commander Shepard can save their full crew and every squadmate.
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Loyalty and Mission Order
Players who want to save their squad members and the Normandy’s crew will have to pay careful attention to the order they complete missions in Mass Effect 2. One of the most significant factors in keeping squad members alive is their Loyalty. Each squad member has a Loyalty Mission unlocked by talking to them. Completing loyalty missions doesn’t guarantee the given squadmate will survive, but is the most important step the player can take.
While the exact order doesn’t matter, the player needs to complete all the available Loyalty Missions before beginning the Reaper IFF mission. It’s also advisable to compete either Miranda or Jack’s Loyalty Mission last. Doing so unlocks a confrontation between them. However, a high enough Renegade or Paragon score allows Shepard to maintain Loyalty with both of them.
Players can then begin the Reaper IFF mission. Completing it unlocks Legion as a party member and sets a hidden countdown. EDI will inform Shepard that she needs time to integrate the IFF into the ship’s systems. This allows the player to do Legion’s Loyalty Mission before the Collectors attack the Normandy. After which, every mission Shepard goes on reduces the number of surviving crew members. After the mission, there will be a confrontation between Legion and Tali. Once again, players need a high Paragon or Renegade score to secure both characters' Loyalty.
Upgrades
In addition to Loyalty, players need to purchase three specific Normandy upgrades before beginning the Mass Effect Suicide Mission. They are the Thanix Particle Cannon, Heavy Ship Armor, and Multicore Shielding. Players unlock them by talking to Garrus, Jacob, and Tali after their Loyalty Missions. Under the “Investigate” tab, there will be a new option to ask about upgrading the Normandy.
The Thanix Cannon costs 15,000 Platinum. Meanwhile, the Armor and Shielding each require 15,000 Palladium. It may also be worth investing in Miranda’s Scanner Upgrade and Thane’s Exploration upgrade. They make resource collection easier and cost 15,000 Iridium each. Party members will die unless the player acquires the Cannon, Shield, and Armor before entering the Omega 4 Relay.
Resources are generated semi-randomly on planets, so it can be hard to get enough without grinding. However, Quarem and Antictra in the Faryar system of the Hourglass Nebula are good places to look for Iridium, as is Tosal Nym in The Shrike Abyssal’s Xe Cha system. Several planets in the Crescent Nebula, Eagle Nebula, and Caleston Rift are rich in Platinum. Palladium is the most common and exists on almost every planet.
Choosing Specialists
During the final mission, the game has players assign party members to tasks. Giving a Disloyal character a task will usually result in their death. The first choice happens immediately after Shepard and the Normandy fight their way to the Collector base. Shepard will need to choose both a second squad leader and a technician to disable the base’s defenses. Selecting anyone other than Garrus, Miranda, or Jacob as squad leader gets the character killed. Likewise, only Legion, Tali, or Kasumi can safely hack the defenses.
Mass Effect 2 presents the second set of choices after Commander Shepard fights to where the Collectors are holding the rest of the crew. Players will once again need to assign a new squad leader, as well as a Biotic specialist. Garrus, Miranda, or Jacob are still the only viable squad leaders, and there is no penalty for using the same character twice in a row. Notably, a disloyal Miranda will survive if selected to lead the second squad, while Garrus and Jacob require Loyalty. As for the specialist, players should go with either Samara, Morinth, or Jack. They will also have the option of sending a party member to escort the surviving crew members to safety. Any Loyal character will do, but they will be unavailable for the duration of the mission.
Holding the Line
After selecting a party to face the final boss, the remaining squad mates will stay behind to hold off the Collectors. Each Mass Effect 2 squad member has a chance to die based on a hidden score. Loyal squad members contribute more points than disloyal ones, and Garrus, Grunt, and Zaeed contribute the most. As long as everyone is Loyal, and at least one of those three stays behind, Commander Shepard should have no trouble getting everyone out of Mass Effect 2 alive.
Mass Effect 2 is available on PC, PS3, PS4, and Xbox 360, and Xbox One. It’s included in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition releasing May 14th on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.