Key Choices and Consequences - Mass Effect 2 Guide - IGN (2024)

This page of IGN's Mass Effect 2 guide covers all the key choices you can make in Mass Effect 2, as well as what their effects and consequences are in that game and Mass Effect 3.

One of the hallmarks of the Mass Effect Trilogy is its ability to let you make choices for Shepard during conversations, story moments and gameplay, with effects ranging from very minor to far-reaching across the galaxy. This page documents the most notable choices and consequences in the second game, including any effects in Mass Effect 3.

On this page, we only list the choices that have Major and Moderate effects in Mass Effect 2 and/or its sequels, and have been split into these two sections and arranged roughly chronologically. Choices that have only minor effects, such as giving a single email in a sequel, are not listed. Interrupts are also included in this list.

WARNING: It goes without saying that there are HEAVY spoilers on this page, not just for Mass Effect 2, but 1 and 3 as well. This page will list the context of the choice and your options, then detail the consequences of each within a Spoiler Box. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

• Major Mass Effect 2 Choices and Consequences
• Moderate Mass Effect 2 Choices and Consequences
• Suicide Mission Deaths Consequences

Vido Escapes Zaeed Choice

During Zaeed: The Price of Revenge, you'll be forced to either help some factory workers escape the exploding facility, or ignore them and go after Vido. If you chose the former Paragon option, Vido will escape and Zaeed will get himself trapped under some debris. There are three possible outcomes here.

"You brought this on yourself"

"I'm leaving you here"

This option is only available after Shepard has survived the Suicide Mission with Zaeed and at least two other Squad Mates.

Any other option

Normandy Upgrades

One of the earliest ways you can affect the way the Suicide Mission plays out is to purchase three specific upgrades for the Normandy to bolster its defenses and firepower. Not purchasing one will guarantee a profoundly negative effect during a Suicide Mission scene that tests that attribute of the Normandy.

Silaris Armor Tech

The Silaris Armor Tech is unlocked by asking Jacob about Normandy upgrades, and costs 15,000 Palladium.

Thanix Cannon

The Thanix Cannon is acquired by talking to Garrus about Normandy upgrades, and costs 15,000 Platinum.

Cyclonic Shield Tech

The Cyclonic Shield tech can be unlocked by talking to Tali about Normandy upgrades, and costs 15,000 Platinum.

Awakening the Tank-Bred Krogan

After you complete the Mission "Dossier: The Warlord", you'll wind up back on the Normandy with Dr. Okeer's tank-bred Krogan in lieu of the doctor. At this point, you have the choice to open the tank or keep it sealed.

Open the Tank

Keep it Sealed

Miranda: The Prodigal

In the second half of Mass Effect 2, you can acquire Miranda's Loyalty Mission, The Prodigal. Completing or Ignoring this Mission will have a direct effect on Mass Effect 3.

Completed The Prodigal

Ignored The Prodigal

Jack VS Miranda

After you complete Miranda: The Prodigal and Jack: Subject Zero (their Loyalty Missions), when you next return to the Normandy you'll have to settle a big argument between the two. Successfully calming both of them down requires passing a very high Persuasion Check.

Charm / Intimidate

"Back off, Miranda" / "Too back, Jack"

Maelon's Data

At the end of Mordin's Loyalty Mission Old Blood, you'll be faced with the choice of either destroying Maelon's research data, or holding on to it. This will have a direct effect on a character in Mass Effect 3.

Spare the Data

Destroy the Data

Samara: The Ardat-Yakshi

Samara's Loyalty Mission is one of the few where it's possible to fail it, and is the only one where failure can occur at two different points. These are when you enter the club to attract Morinth's interest, and when talking to Morinth herself at the club table. If you fail to complete four club activities, or choose the wrong questions and responses at the club table, Morinth will leave.

Morinth Leaves

Morinth Doesn't Leave

Samara VS Morinth

At the end of Samara's Loyalty Mission, Samara: The Ardat-Yakshi, you meet up with Morinth in her apartment, and Morinth will seduce you. If you can pass the extremely high Persuasion check and avoid "Can't... think...", you'll resist her, and will now be able to choose between Samara or Morinth in the final confrontation, rather than siding with Samara automatically.

Kill Morinth

Kill Samara

Thane: Sins of the Father

Thane's Loyalty Mission is yet another that can be completed with him being Disloyal to you. Towards the end of the Mission you'll be in some upper catwalks, and must periodically inform Thane of the position of a Turian politician named Talid. You'll have a limited amount of time to do so.

Keep Track of Talid

Lose Track of Talid

Tali: Treason

Tali's Loyalty Mission is one that you can complete but have Tali come out Disloyal to you anyway. It all depends on what you pick at the end of Tali's trial, and what you choose won't just affect Tali's Loyalty, but Mass Effect 3 as well.

Charm / Intimidate / Rally the Crowd

"We have no evidence"

"Yes. Here is the evidence"

Fate of the Geth Sniper

After you complete the Reaper IFF mission at the Derelict Reaper, you'll have escaped with the shell of a Geth Sniper who shows familiarity with Shepard. Once you're back on the Normandy, you can go to the AI Core to decide whether activate the Geth to talk with it first, or sell it to Cerberus.

Activate the Geth Sniper

Sell the Geth Sniper

Tali VS Legion

After you complete both the Tali:Treason and Legion: A House Divided Loyalty Missions, when you next board the Normandy you'll find them in a big argument. As with Jack and Miranda, you'll need to pass a very high Persuasion check so you can pick a Charm / Intimidate option that settles both parties without making them Disloyal.

Charm / Intimidate

"Back off, Tali" / "Legion, stop transmitting"

Fate of the Crew

After you complete the Reaper IFF Mission on the derelict Reaper, where you pick up Legion, the Collectors eventually will show up and steal the Normandy's crew (this happens after you complete four non-DLC Missions and/or Assignments, or run out of of them, whichever happens first).

Once the crew is taken, the amount of Missions and Assignments you complete before starting the Suicide Mission directly impacts the fate of the Normandy's crew.

No Delay

Delay of 1-3 Missions and/or Assignments

Delay of 4 or More Missions and/or Assignments

Fate of the Collector Base

The very last decision you'll make at the end of Mass Effect 2's storyline will be to decide what to do with the Collector Base. You can choose to either destroy it, or save it. This may have a direct effect on Mass Effect 3.

Destroy the Collector Base

Save the Collector Base

Suicide Mission Choices

The Suicide Mission is easily the most important Mission in Mass Effect 2: the way you prepare for it and the Loyalties of your team will have a huge effect on how the mission will go. On top of that, specific choices and calls you make during the Mission can also major effects on the Squad and Mass Effect 3, sometimes regardless of how well you prepared beforehand.

• For a full breakdown on what effects your decisions will have, visit the How the Suicide Mission Works page.
• To see how specific Squad Mate deaths will affect Mass Effect 3, visit the Suicide Mission Deaths Consequences section below.

Veetor's Fate

At the end of the Freedom's Progress Mission, you'll be given the option to either let Veetor go with Tali for recovery, or have him taken with you to Cerberus for further questioning.

Veetor goes with Tali

Veetor goes with Cerberus

Normandy Crash Site

After acquiring the Normandy SR-2, you'll get a Private Terminal message from Admiral Hackett asking you to visit the crash site of the Normandy SR-1 and plant a memorial there (if you have the Normandy Crash Site DLC installed).

Plant the Memorial

Didn't Plant the Memorial

Dinner with Kelly

Early into Mass Effect 2 you'll be able to establish what you want your working relationship with Kelly will be like: Flirty, Friendly or Professional. Flirty will eventually allow you to invite Kelly up to the Captain's Cabin for dinner.

Had Dinner with Kelly

Didn't Have Dinner with Kelly

Ilium: Conrad Verner

When you enter the Eternity bar on Ilium, you may bump into Conrad Verner, if you used the Charm / Intimidate option in your third meeting in Mass Effect 1's "The Fan" Assignment. If you tell him either "Get lost Conrad, we're done" at the beginning or "Yes, you screwed up" at the end, you'll have different results from if you hadn't done that.

Help Conrad

"Get Lost" / "You Screwed Up"

Khalisa Al-Jilani

Outside the Dark Star Lounge on the Citadel, you can find Khalisa Al-Jilani, who was the smear reporter from Mass Effect 1's "The Fourth Estate" Side Quest. While she has no Side Quest in 2, your actions here will determine what you can do about her later.

Punch Her

Don't Punch Her

Kal'Reegar Interrupt

As you approach Tali's position towards the end of her Recruitment Mission on Haestrom, you'll bump into fellow Quarian Kal'Reegar, who will offer to fight the Geth Colossus ahead with his rocket launcher. As he gets up, you'll be prompted with a Paragon Interrupt.

Use Interrupt

Ignore Interrupt

Cheating on the Virmire Survivor

If you Romanced your Virmire Survivor in Mass Effect 1, you'll have a minor but significant impact on things in Mass Effect 3 if you're not loyal to them and Lock In a Romance with somebody else in Mass Effect 2.

Cheated on Them

Stayed Loyal to Them

Fate of the Geth Heretics

At the end of Legion's Loyalty Mission, A House Divided, you'll be presented with the choice to either Rewrite the Geth Heretics, or Destroy them.

Rewrite the Heretics

Destroy the Heretics

Lair of the Shadow Broker

Completing the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC will result in a status quo change for a major character, which will of course impact things for the future.

Shadow Broker DLC Completed

Shadow Broker DLC Ignored

Final Overlord DLC Choice

At the end of the Project Overlord DLC, you'll need to decide whether to take David Archer away, or to let his brother Gavin keep him for the project.

It's also worth noting that going through this DLC at all will mean that Shepard will be familiar with Gavin when he appears in Mass Effect 3's "Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists" Mission.

"David is coming with me"

"The project needs him"

Arrival DLC

The Arrival DLC will affect some minor aspects in Mass Effect 3, depending on whether or not you completed it.

When you do the Arrival DLC also has minor effects on the end of the Mission. If it was done after the Suicide Mission, the Collector General hologram is replaced by Harbinger itself, and Admiral Hackett will refer to the Normandy no longer being a Ceberus vessel.

Arrival DLC Completed

Arrival DLC Ignored

The Suicide Mission is one of the most influential parts of the Mass Effect Trilogy when it comes to the effects seen later on, especially the fate of the characters involved. There are a great many ways this can happen, so rather than explain HOW they can can die, this section deals with what happens IF they die. For a more detailed analysis of how your actions determine the fate of Shepard, their Squad and their crew, visit the How the Suicide Mission Works page.

It's worth mentioning that, with a few exceptions, all of these characters can be met on the Silversun Strip and invited to the party in Mass Effect 3's Citadel DLC if they survive, so these aren't mentioned below unless it's rather notable.

Lastly, there are four Squad Mates who can die or otherwise have their presence removed from the game before the Suicide Mission: Zaeed, Grunt, Samara, and Legion. These absences will have the same effects in Mass Effect 3 as them dying in the Suicide Mission, and will be noted below.

More than any other part of this page, this section contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Mass Effect 3. READ WITH CAUTION.

Jacob Taylor

Jacob Lives

Jacob Dies

Miranda Lawson

Miranda Lives

Miranda Dies

Kasumi Goto

Kasumi Lives

Kasumi Dies

Zaeed Massani

Zaeed Lives

Zaeed Dies

Zaeed can in fact die during his Loyalty Mission, the Price of Revenge, as well as in the Suicide Mission. The effects will be the same either way.

Garrus Vakarian

Garrus Lives

Garrus Dies

Grunt

Grunt Lives

Grunt Dies

Not awakening Grunt from his tank has the same effect as him dying in the Suicide Mission.

Jack

Jack Lives

Jack Dies

Mordin Solus

Mordin Lives

Mordin Dies

Samara

Samara Lives

Samara Dies

It's possible for you to recruit Morinth over Samara. Her death there has the same effects has her dying in the Suicide Mission, although with the potential presence of Morinth if she survives the Suicide Mission.

Morinth

Due to the way Morinth is recruited, she is mutually exclusive with Samara, meaning it's impossible for them to both be in your Squad at the same time.

Morinth Lives

Morinth Dies

Tali'Zorah vas Neema

Tali Lives

Tali Dies

Thane Krios

Thane Lives

Thane Dies

Legion

Legion Lives

Legion Dies

Selling off Legion to Cerberus instead of activating him will have the same effects as him dying in the Suicide Mission.