mass effect 2 main missions list

Mass Effect 2: All Main Missions List

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Mass Effect 2 contains many side missions that you wouldn’t want to skip, but what if you wanted the quickest route to the end of the game? We’ve got you covered, whether you’re a newcomer or a returning longtime fan. Here’s a list of all of the main missions in Mass Effect 2 .

Spoiler Warning : Please keep in mind that the names of some of the main missions can hint at some of the story beats in Mass Effect 2

All Main Missions in Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 allows players to complete many of its missions in whatever order they see fit, much like in Mass Effect 1. The following list of missions takes this into account by listing them in the general order that they appear in the story. The game is split up into three acts and several sections. Each section contains a number of individual missions to complete. That includes the highly recommended loyalty missions, even though they’re technically optional.

And that’s the list of every single main mission in Mass Effect 2 . If you’re looking for more tips, tricks, or other general info, check out our guide wiki for Mass Effect Legendary Edition . You can also have a look at our other Mass Effect coverage in the related articles below.

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Mass Effect 2 Guide

This page contains a walkthrough for the main missions of Mass Effect 2 . Major changes in the gameplay from Mass Effect are listed in the main Mass Effect 2 page , while the effects of importing a saved game from Mass Effect are listed in the Save File Transfer page. For a comprehensive introduction to the mechanics of the actual fighting the player must engage in on most missions, see the combat page .

Legendary Edition: If you are playing Mass Effect Legendary Edition , all content that was previously available only from Downloadable Content (DLC) is now included by default, but overall requirements and prerequisites for the missions and characters only available from DLC in the original game remain largely the same. Legendary Edition does feature many changes to the original Mass Effect 2, including changes to how certain equipment is obtained.

Prologue [ ]

Prologue missions take place at the beginning of the game, in mandatory progression. At the end of the prologue Shepard receives command of the Normandy SR-2 and is free to explore both the ship and the galaxy.

Prologue: Save Joker - Story and setting

Prologue: Awakening - Create your Shepard, Tutorial

Freedom's Progress - First mission with Miranda and Jacob

Stop the Collectors - Master mission for the rest of the game

25 May 2021

20 March 2017

Act 1 begins when Shepard receives the Stop the Collectors master mission along with command of the Normandy SR-2 and continues until the mission to Horizon , which is activated as soon as Shepard has recruited all four of Mordin , Garrus , Jack , and Grunt . Any other missions and assignments not completed during Act 1 can still be completed during Act 2. Note that the order in which squadmates are recruited during Act 1 is entirely up to Shepard and will not affect how events play out in any way.

You will also have the opportunity to perform various assignments —some are available on Omega , some on the Citadel , and others you can discover during the process of Planet Scanning . Assignments described as N7 Assignments usually involve squad deployments and combat—effectively small missions—and provide experience, credits, and other rewards. All assignments are optional, but they help advance the story and provide the opportunity for additional rewards and items.

Act 1 Dossiers [ ]

Perform dossier missions to recruit new squad members for your team. It is recommended that you recruit Mordin first so that you will be able to take advantage of upgrades in the Research Lab on the Normandy. When these four missions have all been completed, the Horizon mission will trigger and Act 2 will begin.

Dossier: The Professor - Mordin

Dossier: Archangel - Garrus

Dossier: The Convict - Jack

Dossier: The Warlord - Grunt

Act 1 DLC [ ]

The following DLC missions and assignments can be performed during Act 1, or saved until Act 2 if desired.

Dossier: The Veteran - Zaeed

Dossier: The Master Thief - Kasumi

Zaeed: The Price of Revenge - Loyalty

Kasumi: Stealing Memory - Loyalty

Firewalker Pack

Normandy Crash Site

Act 1 Progression [ ]

When all four of the original (non-DLC) dossier missions are complete, the Horizon mission will be activated and Act 2 will begin.

Act 2 begins upon successful completion of the Horizon mission. At this point the Normandy is able to travel to Illium and new dossiers and missions become available. New assignments also become available during the course of Act 2: some at Illium, some on Tuchanka , and many new N7 Assignments open up through Planet Scanning in new systems which open up for exploration. New merchants also become available, along with new items at some of the Act 1 merchants; see the Merchants Guide for a complete list of locations and wares.

Act 2 Dossiers [ ]

Four more squadmates can now be recruited, though Legion 's mission works differently in that it does not become available until after the Collector Ship mission, and triggers additional act progression. You will need at least eight total crew members, not counting Legion, to advance the plot.

Dossier: The Assassin - Thane

Dossier: The Justicar - Samara

Dossier: Tali - Tali

Reaper IFF - Legion

Act 2 Loyalty Missions [ ]

Starting in Act 2, speaking with squad members on the Normandy will elicit requests for you to perform Loyalty missions. Securing the loyalty of your squad will both unlock new powers for them and increase the likelihood that they, and indeed Shepard, will survive Act 3. All loyalty missions are optional—they increase the power of your team but are not required to be completed for the game to progress.

Miranda's and Jacob's missions can be obtained immediately when Act 2 begins. Additional missions become available one at a time in the order listed; if the character whose loyalty mission would normally unlock is not yet present (e.g. Grunt is still in his tank, or Thane has not been recruited) then the mission of the next character present will unlock instead. Speaking with Kelly Chambers between missions will let you know which squad members you can talk to for new loyalty missions.

Gaining the loyalty of a squad member unlocks their "Bonus Power" for them to use. The first time a Bonus Power is ever unlocked, it is also added to the Advanced Training list for Shepard.

Each squad mate also has one Normandy Upgrade or research project to unlock in the research lab. Once Shepard has access to the research lab, these can be unlocked, even during Act 1, by talking to the squad members before they offer their loyalty missions and selecting the "[NORMANDY UPGRADES]" option under the Investigate heading; otherwise it unlocks automatically as each loyalty mission is complete.

Miranda: The Prodigal

Jacob: The Gift of Greatness

Jack: Subject Zero

Mordin: Old Blood

Grunt: Rite of Passage

Garrus: Eye for an Eye

Samara: The Ardat-Yakshi

Tali: Treason

Thane: Sins of the Father

Legion: A House Divided

Act 2 DLC [ ]

The following DLC becomes available for the first time when Act 2 begins. These are both large, substantial, and challenging undertakings, and offer significant rewards.

Lair of the Shadow Broker

Act 2 Progression Missions [ ]

Several key progression missions take place during the course of Act 2. Only the Reaper IFF mission may be done whenever you're ready; the other two trigger automatically.

Collector Ship - triggered a few missions after the events on Horizon. See the acquisition section on the mission page for specifics.

Reaper IFF - choose anytime after the Collector Ship mission. However , once completed, a mission countdown activates, with the possibility of significant plot consequences if the player delays much before proceeding through the Omega 4 Relay and beginning Act 3.

Await IFF Installation - triggers aboard the Normandy immediately after obtaining the IFF from the Derelict Reaper .

Act 3, also known as the Suicide Mission , begins when the Normandy enters the Omega 4 Relay , which can be done freely any time after Await IFF Installation is complete. At this point the mission sequence is locked, and the game proceeds through to the Epilogue without any intervening break for Shepard to use the Galaxy Map , complete assignments, research upgrades, etc. If Shepard survives the Suicide Mission, however, additional missions and assignments (DLC or left over from Acts 1 and 2) can then be completed.

Before entering the Omega 4 Relay and thus launching Act 3, you will want to upgrade your ship. The important upgrades are the shields, the armor, and the cannon. Tali, Jacob, and Garrus, respectively, provide these upgrades. For each of these you do not upgrade, you will later lose one team member. Upgrades will also increase the Normandy's value as a War Asset in Mass Effect 3 .

The following list shows, in order of preference, which crew member will die if you haven't upgraded a particular part:

Note: This tier is sorted by the characters' order of dying in descending order. Squad members on the "Multicore Shielding" list will not die if they are in your party when you fight the Oculus . Bringing Jack to fight the Oculus will not protect her if you do not have Heavy Ship Armor, nor will bringing anyone on the "Thanix Cannon" list save them from their fate.

Act 3 Progression [ ]

The Normandy Attacked - Defend the Normandy from the Oculus.

Collector Base: Infiltration - Help your tech specialist through the ventilation shaft.

Collector Base: The Long Walk - Your biotic specialist escorts you through the Seeker Swarms.

Collector Base: Final Battle - Face the truth behind the abductions and make your decisions.

2 Romance (Mass Effect: Andromeda)

Mass Effect 2: Every Loyalty Mission, Ranked From Worst To Best

Mass Effect 2's loyalty missions are among the best missions in the series. But how do Tali's, Jack's and the rest rank from worst to best?

Despite coming out 10+ years ago, Mass Effect 2 is still being heavily discussed by fans today.

This is because the game had some of the best characters, storytelling, and world-building in RPG history. Nothing showed off these traits better than the game's loyalty missions. It was during these missions, where you got a closer look at your squadmates and their personal lives.

Every squadmate had a loyalty quest, and they all ranged from okay to amazing. For this list, we have ranked all twelve (including DLC) of them from worst to best.

12 Zaeed: The Price Of Revenge

The best thing about Zaeed's DLC loyalty mission is that your choices alter the way it plays out. Whether the Mercenary kills his target or not is based on your actions. Although, the story of Zaeed attempting to get revenge on his former business partner isn't anywhere near as compelling as some others on this list.

If it had some really awesome combat sections or set pieces, it could've landed higher on the list, but it doesn't.

11 Garrus: Eye For An Eye

Garrus is charming, cool, and one-of-a-kind, yet his loyalty mission doesn't share those qualities. Much like Zaeed, Garrus's mission takes the form of a basic revenge plot where you affect the outcome. At least this mission involves the scumbag Harkin getting some comeuppance, which is always welcome.

Combat-wise, the mission doesn't do anything revolutionary either. Although there is a close-range battle against two heavy mechs, that presents a nice challenge.

10 Miranda: The Prodigal

Throughout most of Mass Effect 2 , Miranda seems very cold, not caring for much beyond doing her duty. That is what makes her loyalty mission interesting, as you get to see another side of her while she attempts to stop her evil father from getting a hold of her genetic twin. For once, she isn't the ultra-professional Cerberus cheerleader; she is just a woman who's concerned for her sister's safety.

Why this mission doesn't get a higher spot on the list is because while the story is good, it still doesn't quite match some of the higher entries.

9 Thane: Sins Of The Father

Thane's mission stands out because it involves no combat. Instead, you have to follow a Turian politician who's being hunted by Thane's son Kolyat, to stop the young man from taking a life.

The highlight of the mission actually comes before all that, when you get to interrogate a man for information. There are multiple ways the interrogation can play out, and it's a unique scene for a Mass Effect game. Alongside the interrogation, the touching reunion of Thane and Kolyat and the subsequent mending of their relationship makes up for the lack of gunplay.

8 Mordin: Old Blood

The story surrounding this mission seems one of the more basic ones at first, as Mordin simply wants your help rescuing Maelen, his former protege. Yet, once you find Maelen, it turns out he is voluntarily helping the Krogan find a cure for the Genophage. This is when you get the option of whether to keep or destroy the scientist's data on the genetic mutation. It's a substantial decision for a loyalty quest since it affects some of the events in Mass Effect 3 .

In addition to that, the mission includes multiples fights with some tough Krogan, which adds a welcome layer of difficulty to proceedings.

7 Jacob: The Gift Of Greatness

Thankfully, Jacob's loyalty mission is a lot more interesting than he is. The quest involves investigating a distress signal that came from a ship Jacob's father is serving on, that went missing ten years prior.

While there, you discover the heinous acts that Jacob's dad committed. He gave women to the officers like pets, had his mechs target the crew members that tried to mutiny, and kept the ship's food for himself and other officers (forcing the crew to eat toxic alternatives). The way the mystery of what happened unravels is brilliant. And having only minimal combat helps the pace of that mystery.

6 Samara: The Ardat-Yakshi

Ardat-Yakshis are Asari who are born with a genetic condition that makes anyone they mate with have a brain hemorrhage. In Samara's loyalty mission, you hunt one down who is using her condition as a weapon. The target in question is Samara's daughter, Morinth.

To catch her, you need to lure her into a trap by acting as her potential prey. This requires flirting with her so that she invites you to her place, where Samara can launch an ambush. It's a clever and unique mission that tests your seduction techniques and not your combat skills.

5 Kasumi: Stealing Memory

Kasumi's DLC loyalty mission has the advantage of being significantly longer than most. However, its opening party section is the main reason it's so high on this list. This is because you and master thief Kasumi get to engage in a mini heist to open Donovon Hock's (the host) vault and steal a graybox back. It's an entertaining section of the game, that is enhanced by funny dialogue, from both Shepard and Kasumi.

In addition to the heist, the mission involves a solid boss battle against Hock. Also, it features one of the saddest moments in the game, when Kasumi finds a message from her now-deceased partner in the graybox.

4 Grunt: Rite Of Passage

For most loyalty missions, it is their stories that make them exceptional and memorable, that is not the case for this one. The main focus of Grunt's loyalty mission is combat, as you join the Krogan during his Rite Of Passage.

To complete the Rite, you have to survive battles against varren, klixen, and a Thresher Maw. It is a load of fun. And the way the Krogans build up the importance of the Rite beforehand makes the whole thing feel monumental. As a bonus after the Rite, you get to take on a Krogan Battlemaster, which is another enjoyable fight.

3 Jack: Subject Zero

Jack is one of the most interesting characters in the series. Initially, she seems like a cruel psycho, but when you get to know her, you realize why she is that way. You learn the most about her during her loyalty mission.

In the mission, you travel back to the now-abandoned Cerberus facility where she was raised. During the visit, Jack tells you about all the abuse and torment she suffered there, all while learning she wasn't the only one who had it bad. There's not much combat to speak off in the quest, but it doesn't need it. It's an emotional yet captivating mission that helps you understand a complicated character.

2 Legion: A House Divided

This loyalty mission doesn't just show you a new side to a squadmate; it gives you a new perspective on an entire species. The objective of the mission is to infiltrate a Heretic station and destroy the virus housed there. While at the station, Legion gives you some fascinating insight on the Geth and their split from the Heretics. And its the first time you get to see the Geth as anything but a perpetual enemy. At the end of the quest, Legion forces you to choose between destroying the Heretics or rewriting them in one of the hardest decisions in the series.

The mission also includes some fun strategy-based combat, including a tower defense-like sequence where you use turrets (controlled by Legion) to help defend your position from waves of Heretics.

1 Tali: Treason

Tali's mission surrounds a trial, as the Quarian is accused of treason. The trial gives you an intriguing look at Quarian's laws and politics in a way that Mass Effect has never done before. The moments outside the trial are equally compelling as you learn that it was actually Tali's father that was at fault, not his daughter. However, you only find this out after his death, and seeing Tali discover his body is heartbreaking.

Then you have to decide whether or not you want to prove Tali's innocence by incriminating her father, which goes against her wishes. Political intrigue, emotional moments, and difficult choices, this quest has everything you could want in a Mass Effect mission.

NEXT: Mass Effect vs. Dragon Age: Which Bioware Franchise Is Better?

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Mass Effect 2

Game plot - mass effect 2.

Are you prepared to lose everything to save the galaxy? You’ll need to be, Commander Shephard. It’s time to bring together your greatest allies and recruit the galaxy’s fighting elite to continue the resistance against the invading Reapers. So steel yourself, because this is an astronomical mission where sacrifices must be made. You’ll face tougher choices and new, deadlier enemies. Arm yourself and prepare for an unforgettable intergalactic adventure.

Game Features:

Shift the fight in your favour. Equip yourself with powerful new weapons almost instantly thanks to a new inventory system. Plus, an improved health regeneration system means you’ll spend less time hunting for restorative items.

Make every decision matter. Divisive crew members are just the tip of the iceberg, Commander, because you’ll also be tasked with issues of intergalactic diplomacy. And time’s a wastin’ so don’t be afraid to use new prompt-based actions that let you interrupt conversations, even if they could alter the fate of your crew…and the galaxy.

Forge new alliances, carefully. You’ll fight alongside some of your most trustworthy crew members, but you’ll also get the opportunity to recruit new talent. Just choose your new partners with care because the fate of the galaxy rests on your shoulders, Commander.

How many chapters in Mass Effect 2?

List of chapters in mass effect 2.

(Main missions only.)

How many side missions in mass effect 2, list of side missions in mass effect 2.

Crime in Progress Found Forged ID Krogan Sushi The Assassin: Salarian Family Data Blue Rose of Illium Indentured Service The Justicar: Smuggling Evidence The Justicar: Stolen Goods Found Liara: System Hacking Medical Scans The Prodigal: Lost Locket Found Abandoned Mine Abandoned Research Station Anomalous Weather Detected Archaeological Dig Site Blood Pack Base Blood Pack Communications Relay Blue Suns Base Captured Mining Facility Eclipse Smuggling Depot Endangered Research Station Hahne-Kedar Facility Imminent Ship Crash Javelin Missiles Launched Lost Operative Mining the Canyone MSV Estevanico MSV Strontium Mule Quarian Crash Site Wrecked Merchant Freighter FBA Couplings Serrice Ice Brandy Special Ingredients Archangel: Datapad Recovered Batarian Bartender Packages for Ish Struggling Quarian Patriarch The Professor: Missing Assistant Combustion Manifold Killing Pyjaks Old Blood: Missing Scout

How long to beat Mass Effect 2?

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COMMENTS

Mass Effect 2: All Main Missions List
Spoiler Warning: Please keep in mind that the names of some of the main missions can hint at some of the story beats in Mass Effect 2. Mass Effect 2 allows players to complete many of its missions in whatever order they see fit
Top 10 Best Mass Effect Missions to Play in Legendary Edition
The search for the Conduit is one of the main concerns during virtually all of the first Mass Effect title, and the mission on Ilos is basically the final chapter of the game. It's a final mission in a Mass Effect game
Mass Effect 2 Guide
This page contains a walkthrough for the main missions of Mass Effect 2. Major changes in the gameplay from Mass Effect are listed in the main Mass Effect 2 page, while the effects of importing a saved game
Reaper IFF
Reaper IFF is the penultimate core mission in Mass Effect 2, and will become available immediately after you complete the Collector Ship. The more missions you leave incomplete, the worse you'll perform during the final mission
Anyone have a list of the main missions and their locations for Mass Effect 2?
There is a complete list of missions for both games on the Mass Effect Wikia page here. The main missions take place in places you cannot access unless you are on that particular mission
How many chapters in Mass Effect 2
If you are scrolling down you may find information regarding the story line of Mass Effect 2! Game plot - Mass Effect 2. Exploring the Normandy SR2
ALL Anomalies/N7 Missions in Mass Effect 2 (Secret Side Missions)
These missions are completely optional and don't give you any major rewards or anything like that. They're just fun little bits of 20-40 minute gameplay sections that you can do in between missions