me2 assignment order

Mass Effect 2: Optimal Mission Order

In BioWare's Mass Effect 2, Shepard has the freedom to tackle most missions in any order. What is the best order to follow?

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Prologue: joining cerberus, act 1: putting together your team, act 2 – part 1: finishing recruitment, act 2 – part 2: gaining loyalty, act 3: endgame.

For the most part, Mass Effect 2 is a linear RPG. However, the game does give you some freedom when it comes to mission order. Each act of the adventure has an abundance of quests to take on, and it doesn't matter which you do first or which you save for later.

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Yet, playing each mission in a specific order can improve a playthrough in various ways. For instance, if you complete quests in the optimal sequence, you lower the risk of losing characters by the end of the game. Plus, your narrative experience can be enhanced simply by doing certain missions at certain times. So, here is the order in which you should complete all of the main content.

Updated January 26, 2024 By Ben Jessey: You can play most of the Mass Effect 2 missions in any order you want. However, there is an optimal order that improves the narrative experience and keeps characters alive. We laid out that optimal order in this guide. And now, we've returned to the piece to make sure it's still accurate and easy to read.

During Mass Effect 2's prologue, you have no control over which missions you play . The sequence of events includes an attack on the Normandy, Shepard joining Cerberus, and a visit to Freedom's Progress.

The lack of freedom in the opening stages makes sense as the game slowly introduces you to its mechanics and sets up the story.

Mission Order:

Things start to open up once the prologue ends as the Illusive Man gives you multiple recruitment missions to do at your leisure . You also have a few other quests to keep you busy.

Optimal Mission Order:

After the Horizon quest, the Illusive Man points you toward three more people you should recruit. Plus, this is when loyalty missions start appearing, so make sure you're regularly talking to your teammates.

For the first part of this act, you can only do five quests before triggering the next Collector assignment.

You have plenty of freedom in the wake of the Collector Ship investigation as the game doesn't force you to start the next mission. In fact, you want to avoid initiating the Reaper IFF quest for quite some time .

Instead, the second part of Act 2 is about getting almost all of the loyalty missions done . And these quests are crucial because they help you keep everyone alive during the Suicide Mission .

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Act 3 serves as the endgame , and it doesn't allow much time for side content. So, make sure that you've done everything before starting these quests .

Mass Effect 2 LE: How To Keep All Squadmates Alive In The Suicide Mission

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Mass effect 2: best mission order.

Players can complete missions in a specific order in Mass Effect 2 to give Shepard and their team the best chances of survival and success.

The galaxy can be a massive, sometimes overwhelming place, and exploring it in Mass Effect 2 can be an overwhelming undertaking. Securing squadmate loyalty is a major focus of Mass Effect 2 , particularly prior to the endgame Suicide Mission, where characters' survival depends on the player's choices. With 12 total squadmates, including DLC characters, players will need to make time and plan to complete 12 loyalty missions. Many loyalty missions rely on Shepard's Paragon or Renegade score, which is based on the player's moral choices during the game. It will be in a player's best interest to save the loyalty missions that require demanding Paragon/Renegade checks until they near the end of the main story. With Mass Effect: Legendary Edition launching later this year , returning fans and newcomers alike may find themselves wondering when to complete the various main story and side missions for optimal results.

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While there is no single right way to explore and complete missions in Mass Effect 2 , fans generally agree that there are some missions best saved for late-game to ensure the player has as many options and available outcomes as possible when it counts. Additionally, there are times in the game where a main mission will cut in and cannot be skipped or put off, or where a player will cross a point of no return. At these times, having a plan can position players for success. Here's an optimal way to complete missions in Mass Effect 2 .

Optimal Mission Order for Mass Effect 2

The optimal mission order for Mass Effect 2 ensures players can earn enough Paragon or Renegade points to access all possible Charm/Intimidate conversation options and outcomes and keep and maintain squad loyalty. Ultimately, the goal is to keep everyone alive during the Suicide Mission . It also ensures Shepard can gain access to key areas, like the Tech Lab aboard the Normandy, or find important weapons and upgrades.

Depending on Shepard's class and the selected difficulty setting, different mission orders may produce more desirable outcomes. Generally, however, fans point to this structure as having the most advantages for the greatest number of play styles.

Players should remember to scan planets in the systems they visit for resources any time they enter a new location. In doing so, they may discover anomalies. These are optional side missions that award credits, resources, experience, and sometimes upgrades, but none have any effect on the main story or the outcome of Mass Effect 3 . Players are free to complete these whenever and wherever they wish.

The Prologue is mandatory, and players will not have a choice about what to do or where to go until it has been completed and Shepard is aboard the Normandy SR-2.

• Prologue: Save Joker
• Prologue: Awakening (following character creation)
• Freedom's Progress
• Normandy SR-2 -  Meet the new Crew, get comfortable with the ship, and pick up side missions from Sergeant Gardener, Dr. Chakwas, and engineers Ken and Gabby.

There are two ways to approach the start of Act One. Players can either start on the Citadel or Omega. Both are hubs with good weapons, armor, and upgrades to purchase, and players can recruit squadmates, including the DLC characters , at each location. Ultimately, players will find there are more missions on Omega than the Citadel, but the order of these can be switched at any time.

• Dossier: The Veteran (Zaeed) - Players will immediately find Zaeed upon leaving the Normandy SR-2 and finding out Aria wants to speak with them.
• Omega: Aria T'Loak -  Players can unlock an optional side mission, Omega: The Patriarch , by talking to Grizz. They can also find the Serrice Ice Brandy at the Afterlife bar for Dr. Chakwas. In the Market District, they will find the FBA Couplings at Kenn's Salvage.
• Dossier: The Professor (Mordin) - Unlocks the Tech Lab on the Normandy and allows players to begin making upgrades to weapons, armor, and the ship. Players should speak to every squadmate about Normandy Upgrades and make all Ship Upgrades prior to the run to the Collector base.
• Dossier: Archangel (Garrus) - Make sure to bring the datapad info back to Aria for a reward.
• Investigate the Normandy Crash Site
• Project Firewalker -  There are 5 separate assignments to this mission. Players can start with Project Firewalker: Rosalie Lost here and choose whether to complete the rest now or later in the game.
• Dossier: The Thief (Kasumi) -  Players will find Kasumi immediately upon arrival at the Citadel. After this, they should head to the Presidium to meet with Anderson. They can find special ingredients for Sergeant Gardener and Serrice Ice Brandy for Dr. Chakwas at shops in the Wards.
• Kasumi: Stealing Memory
• Dossier: The Warlord (Grunt)
• Dossier: The Convict (Jack)
• Horizon -  Horizon is a mandatory mission that will trigger as soon as players complete the final dossier in this set. The four dossier missions (excluding Zaeed and Kasumi) are not optional.

Following the Horizon mission, players should begin speaking to their squadmates each time they disembark and then return to the Normandy. Yeoman Chambers will let Shepard know a specific squadmate wants to talk to them, which lets players know the loyalty mission has triggered. Players only get five missions between Horizon and the Collector Ship , so it is best to prioritize loyalty or recruitment missions. It's important to note that smaller fetch quests, including planet scanning for resources and Liara's quests on Illium, should not trigger the Collector Ship and are safe to complete. Investigating anomalies do count toward the five missions, however.

Players only need to complete two of the remaining dossier missions, so they can skip recruiting Tali, Samara, or Thane if they prefer.

• Dossier: Tali (Tali) - Players should try to keep Kal'Reeger alive by convincing him to stand down.
• Dossier: The Justicar (Samara) - Prior to this mission, players should make sure to find Liara and speak to her, as she has information about both Samara and Thane. Shepard can choose to help Liara with a few optional missions but should not choose the dialogue option to begin Lair of the Shadow Broker yet.
• Dossier: The Assassin (Thane) - Bring the datapad found on this mission back to the frazzled salarian for a reward.
• Grunt: Rite of Passage 
• Mordin: Old Blood
• Collector Ship -  The Collector Ship is a mandatory mission that will trigger five missions, including anomaly investigation missions, following Horizon .

During Act Three, players should take their time to finish all loyalty missions and any side missions they want to do before the endgame. They should not start the Reaper IFF mission until they have completed everything else, as this starts a timer that only allows room for completion of Legion's loyalty mission if players wish to save all members of the Normandy SR-2 crew. Players should save Lair of the Shadowbroker and Arrival until after the Suicide Mission for the most seamless transition to Mass Effect 3 .

Players should note that it is possible to fail Thane's, Samara's, Tali's, and Zaeed's loyalty mission. They will need to follow their teammates' instructions and sometimes will need to pass a demanding Paragon/Renegade check to succeed and secure loyalty.

• Miranda: The Prodigal -  While back on Illium, players can finish any smaller missions they may have missed, including Liara's requests.
• Jacob: The Gift of Greatness
• Garrus: Eye for an Eye
• Thane: Sins of the Father
• Jack: Subject Zero -  Following this mission, Jack and Miranda will fight. Shepard needs to use the Charm/Intimidate dialogue option to break up the fight. Choosing sides will result in the loss of loyalty from one of the two women.
• Samara: The Ardat-Yakshi
• Tali: Treason
• Zaeed: The Price of Revenge
• Overlord DLC

At this point, players need to be certain they have met the following conditions:

• All squadmates loyal
• Researched Normandy armor, weapons, and shields upgrades (from Jacob, Garrus, and Tali respectively)
• Completed all desired side missions
• Purchased all desired equipment
• Exhausted all dialogue options with squadmates
• Made all desired weapons/armor upgrades

They can then proceed to the endgame.

Once players retrieve the Reaper IFF, they can only access the Galaxy Map once before the Collectors attack the Normandy. Following this attack, if they complete other missions ahead of going through the Omega-4 relay, they will lose crew members.

• Reaper IFF -  Following this mission, players must decide what to do with Legion. They can either sell it or activate and recruit it. If they choose to recruit it, they will need to talk to it twice to unlock its loyalty mission.
• Legion: A House Divided -  Following this mission, Legion and Tali will fight. Shepard needs to use the Charm/Intimidate dialogue option to break up the argument. Choosing sides will result in the loss of loyalty from the unsupported squadmate.
• Collector Attack -  This small mission is mandatory. Players will control Joker and will need to follow EDI's instructions.
• The Suicide Mission (Stop The Collectors & Collector Base )
• Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC
• Arrival DLC

It's important to note not every player will want to complete the main story of Mass Effect 2  the same way, and there is no wrong way to order missions. For example, if a player intends to romance Garrus Vakarian , they may enjoy the story more if they can start with  Dossier: Archangel , even ahead of Dossier: The Professor . As another example, if players have a strong moral direction for their Shepard, once they hear about a dire situation, such as Thane's son's assassination attempt or Tali's hearing, they may choose to complete those missions sooner, as their Shepard might choose to act fast despite possible ramifications. Ultimately, players can shift missions around to make the most sense for their story and desired outcomes.

Next:  Mass Effect 2: How to Recruit Morinth

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition launches May 14 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with forward compatibility on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

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Assignments are the name given to side missions in Mass Effect 2 . Assignments DO NOT advance the main story, but completing them can help the player understand the inner workings of the game's universe, the interactions between Races , etc

All Assignments in Mass Effect 2

Normandy: FBA Couplings Normandy: Serrice Ice Brandy Normandy: Special Ingredients

Omega: Archangel: Datapad Recovered Omega: Batarian Bartender Omega: Packages for Ish Omega: Struggling Quarian Omega: The Patriarch Omega: The Professor: Missing Assistant

Citadel: Crime in Progress Citadel: False Positives Citadel: Found Forged ID Citadel: Krogan Sushi

These become available after completing Freedom's Progress

N7: Abandoned Research Station N7: Eclipse Smuggling Depot N7: Hahne-Kedar Facility N7: Lost Operative N7: MSV Estevanico N7: Wrecked Merchant Freighter

These become available after completing Horizon

N7: Abandoned Mine N7: Anomalous Weather Detected N7: Archeological Dig Site N7: Blood Pack Base N7: Blood Pack Communications Relay N7: Blue Suns Base N7: Captured Mining Facility N7: Endangered Research Station N7: Imminent Ship Crash N7: Javelin Missiles Launched N7: Mining the Canyon N7: MSV Strontium Mule N7: Quarian Crash Site

Illium: A Troublemaker Illium: Blue Rose of Illium Illium: Conrad Verner Illium: Gianna Parasini Illium: Indentured Service Illium: Medical Scans Illium: The Assassin: Salarian Family Data Illium: The Justicar: Smuggling Evidence Illium: The Justicar: Stolen Goods Found Illium: The Prodigal: Lost Locket Found

Tuchanka: Combustion Manifold Tuchanka: Killing Pyjaks Tuchanka: Old Blood: Missing Scout

Normandy Crash Site Project Firewalker: Geth Activity Project Firewalker: Prothean Site Project Firewalker: Rosalie Lost Project Firewalker: Survey Sites Located Project Firewalker: Volcano Station Overlord Overlord: Atlas Station Overlord: Prometheus Station Overlord: Vulcan Station Arrival

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Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition

Assignments

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• 1.1.1 Shepard's Background
• 1.1.2 Squad Member Assignments
• 1.2.1 General
• 1.2.2 Second Visit
• 1.2.3 Detainee Visit
• 1.3.1 Feros
• 1.3.2 Noveria
• 1.3.3 Virmire
• 1.4.1 Galaxy Collection Assignments
• 1.4.2 Uncharted Space Assignments
• 1.4.3 Morality-dependent Assignments
• 1.5.1 Bring Down the Sky
• 1.5.2 Pinnacle Station
• 2.1 Normandy
• 2.3 Citadel
• 2.6 Tuchanka
• 2.7.1 Project Firewalker
• 2.7.2 Project Overlord
• 2.7.3 Arrival

Assignments are the side missions of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 . These have little to no bearing to the overarching narrative, but completing them may further understanding of the series' underlying workings.

There is a large variety of assignments to complete; this page is a list of them. Click on a specific assignment in the list to read its detailed walkthrough. For a list of missions broken up by cluster and system, see the Mass Effect System Guide .

Some assignments are listed more than once; this is intentional and is intended to make them simpler to find by listing them in all relevant contexts as they appear in the Journal .

For an alphabetical list of assignments, see Category:Assignments ; for locations, see Category:Assignment Locations .

Mass Effect [ ]

Please Note: The assignment names as given here are intended to match those in the game; sometimes the game itself is inconsistent, in which case all of the variations are listed here ( e.g. Asari Diplomacy , Missing Person ).

Character-Specific Assignments [ ]

Shepard's background [ ].

These assignments relate to Shepard's pre-service history.

• Citadel: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things (only available if Shepard has the Spacer background)
• Citadel: Old Friends (only available if Shepard has the Earthborn background)
• Citadel: I Remember Me (only available if Shepard has the Colonist background)

Squad Member Assignments [ ]

These assignments relate to the histories of your fellow crewmates.

• Garrus: Find Dr. Saleon → Garrus: Dr. Saleon is Dead
• Tali and the Geth → Tali's pilgrimage
• Wrex: Family Armor

Citadel Assignments [ ]

General [ ].

These assignments are available during your first and all future visits to the Citadel.

• Citadel: Asari Consort
• Citadel: Doctor Michel → Citadel: Doctor Michel is Safe
• Citadel: Homecoming
• Citadel: Jahleed's Fears → Citadel: Jahleed's Secret → Citadel: Jahleed and Chorban | Citadel: Jahleed Returns Materials | Citadel: Jahleed Arrested | Citadel: Jahleed Set Free
• Citadel: Presidium Prophet
• Citadel: Reporter's Request
• Citadel: Rita's Sister → Citadel: Rita's Sister and Chellick → Citadel: Rita's Sister is Safe
• Citadel: Scan the Keepers
• Citadel: Schells the Gambler → Citadel: Schells' Scanner Given Away | Citadel: Schells has his Data
• Citadel: Signal Tracking
• Citadel: The Fan
• Citadel: Xeltan's Complaint → Citadel: Xeltan Convinced
• Missing Person → UNC: Privateers

Second Visit [ ]

These assignments are available after completing one of the major missions (Noveria, Feros or rescuing Liara).

• Citadel: Family Matter
• Citadel: Planting a Bug
• Citadel: Snap Inspection
• Citadel: The Fourth Estate

Detainee Visit [ ]

These assignments are only available during your detention at the Citadel.

• Citadel: Our Own Worst Enemy
• Citadel: Negotiator's Request

Charted Planet Assignments [ ]

These assignments are specific to their relative planet.

• Feros: Data Recovery
• Feros: Geth in the Tunnels
• Feros: Power Cells
• Feros: Varren Meat
• Feros: Water Restoration

Noveria [ ]

• Noveria: Espionage
• Noveria: Smuggling

Virmire [ ]

• Virmire: Assisting Kirrahe's Team → Virmire: Kirrahe's team | Virmire: Captain Kirrahe is Dead
• Virmire: Wrex and the Genophage → Virmire: Wrex is Convinced

Galaxy-Wide Assignments [ ]

These assignments span the entirety of Citadel-controlled space. Assignments prefixed with the UNC indicator represent assignments that take place on uncharted planets.

Galaxy Collection Assignments [ ]

These assignments involve traveling across Citadel space and finding numerous hidden collectibles.

• UNC: Prothean Data Discs → UNC: Collection Complete
• UNC: Turian Insignias → UNC: Collection Complete
• UNC: Valuable Minerals → UNC: Survey is Complete
• UNC: Locate Signs of Battle → UNC: Entire Collection is Found
• UNC: Asari Writings → UNC: Collection Complete

Uncharted Space Assignments [ ]

Morality-dependent assignments [ ].

• UNC: Besieged Base
• UNC: The Negotiation

Downloadable Content [ ]

Bring down the sky [ ].

• X57: Bring Down the Sky
• X57: Avoid the Blasting Caps
• X57: Missing Engineers

Pinnacle Station [ ]

• Pinnacle Station: Combat Missions
• Pinnacle Station: Convoy
• Pinnacle Station: Vidinos

Note: Pinnacle Station content is not available in Legendary Edition.

Mass Effect 2 [ ]

Note: The assignment names as listed here are intended to match those in the game; sometimes the game itself is inconsistent, in which case all of the variations are listed here ( e.g. Citadel: Found Forged ID , Citadel: False Positives ).

Normandy [ ]

• Normandy: FBA Couplings
• Normandy: Serrice Ice Brandy
• Normandy: Special Ingredients
• Omega: Archangel: Datapad Recovered
• Omega: Batarian Bartender
• Omega: Packages for Ish
• Omega: Struggling Quarian
• Omega: The Patriarch
• Omega: The Professor: Missing Assistant

Citadel [ ]

• Citadel: Crime in Progress
• Citadel: False Positives
• Citadel: Found Forged ID → Citadel: False Positives
• Citadel: Krogan Sushi
• Illium: A Troublemaker  →  Illium: Conrad Verner
• Illium: Blue Rose of Illium
• Illium: Conrad Verner
• Illium: Gianna Parasini
• Illium: Indentured Service
• Illium: Medical Scans
• Illium: The Assassin: Salarian Family Data
• Illium: The Justicar: Smuggling Evidence
• Illium: The Justicar: Stolen Goods Found
• Illium: The Prodigal: Lost Locket Found

Tuchanka [ ]

• Tuchanka: Combustion Manifold
• Tuchanka: Killing Pyjaks
• Tuchanka: Old Blood: Missing Scout

Downloadable content [ ]

• Normandy Crash Site

Project Firewalker [ ]

• Project Firewalker: Geth Activity (Labelled Project Firewalker: Geth Incursion on the Galaxy Map )
• Project Firewalker: Prothean Site (Labelled Project Firewalker: Prothean Ruin on the Galaxy Map )
• Project Firewalker: Rosalie Lost
• Project Firewalker: Survey Sites Located (Labelled Project Firewalker: Artifact Collection on the Galaxy Map )
• Project Firewalker: Volcano Station (Labelled Project Firewalker: Recover Research Data on the Galaxy Map )

Project Overlord [ ]

• Overlord (Labelled Investigate Project Overlord on the Galaxy Map )
• Overlord: Atlas Station
• Overlord: Prometheus Station
• Overlord: Vulcan Station

Arrival [ ]

• Arrival (Labelled Rescue Dr. Kenson on the Galaxy Map )
• Mass Effect
• 2 Romance (Mass Effect: Andromeda)

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