Getting Started

Getting Started with Mass Effect 2: A Beginner's Guide

Welcome to Mass Effect 2, a third-person action RPG where your choices matter. This guide will walk you through the critical first steps to ensure you start strong, avoid common pitfalls, and get the most out of your early game.

Character Creation (or Import)

If you have a save file from Mass Effect 1 (original or Legendary Edition), you can import that character, carrying over your appearance, class, and major story decisions. New players will use the Mass Effect 2: Genesis interactive comic (included in Legendary Edition or as DLC) to make key backstory choices for the first game. In this comic, you decide:

• Gender and Appearance: Customize Shepard's face, hair, and skin tone.


• Class: Choose from six classes: Soldier, Engineer, Adept, Infiltrator, Sentinel, Vanguard. Each has unique powers (biotics, tech, combat).


• Romance/Decisions: Select who Shepard romanced in ME1 and important plot outcomes (e.g., who dies on Virmire).

Recommendation for absolute beginners: Start with the Soldier class. It's the easiest to handle with straightforward combat and no need to manage powers heavily. You can switch later via the class-specific loyalty missions, but Soldier gives you a solid foundation.

First Hour Walkthrough (No Spoilers)

1. Prologue – The Normandy Explodes
- The game opens with a cinematic: the Normandy is destroyed, and Shepard is spaced. You briefly control Joker. Watch the cutscene; you can't miss it.
- After the title screen, you'll wake up on the Lazarus Station, disoriented. The control tutorial begins.

2. Tutorial – Lazarus Station
- Movement: Use left stick (controller) or WASD (keyboard). Walk around the station. You can interact with terminals and talk to Dr. Chakwas and Jacob.
- Combat Basics: Jacob will guide you through firing, aiming down sights (ADS), and using cover. Practice:
- Take Cover: Press the cover button (A on Xbox, X on PlayStation, Space on PC) to snap to walls.
- Reload: Press the reload button (X on Xbox, Square on PlayStation, R on PC).
- Use Powers: Press the power buttons (LB + face buttons on controller, 1-4 on keyboard). Jacob will instruct you to use a Combat Drone (if you're not Soldier).
- Pause Menu: Press Start (controller) or Esc (PC) to access the menu. Here you can save, load, adjust settings, and view the journal.

3. Cutscenes and Intro to Omega
- After the tutorial, you'll be on the Citadel briefly (visit the Council, get a new ship—the rebuilt Normandy SR-2). You must then head to Omega, a lawless asteroid station, to recruit the first squadmate, Mordin Solus.

4. Omega – Recruiting Mordin
- Land on Omega. You'll enter the spaceport, then work your way to Afterlife club. Along the way, you can buy upgrades at the shop (but don't waste credits yet).
- In Afterlife, talk to Aria T'Loak for information. Then proceed to the Mordin Recruitment Mission (a lab overrun by violent Krogan). This mission teaches advanced combat and stealth. Complete it to get Mordin in your squad.

Total first-hour goal: Import/character creation, finish Lazarus tutorial, complete the first mandatory recruitment (Mordin).

Controls on All Platforms

Mass Effect 2 Legendary Edition (or original) uses similar controls across platforms. Here's a quick reference:

Pro tip: On PC, you can rebind all keys. The controller scheme is very responsive. Use the pause menu to customize controls.

UI Overview (Heads-Up Display)

• Health & Shields: Top-left corner. Blue bar = shields (recharges), Red bar = health (needs medi-gel).


• Weapon & Ammo: Bottom-middle. Displays current weapon, ammo count, and heavy weapon ammo (glowing icon).


• Powers: Bottom-left (quick slots). You can assign up to 2 powers for quick use (or 4 on PC via number keys).


• Squad Health/Shields: Bottom-left next to powers, showing your two squadmates' status.


• Compass / Minimap: Upper-right area. Shows mission objectives and enemies (red dots).


• Dialogue Wheel: When speaking to NPCs, options appear on-screen. Left side = Paragon (diplomatic/heroic), right side = Renegade (ruthless/intimidating). Middle often neutral.


• Squad Commands: Hold the command wheel button to pause and issue move/attack/use power orders to squadmates.




Essential Early Objectives



1. Complete the Lazarus Station tutorial – don't skip the lessons.
2. Recruit Mordin Solus on Omega (first mandatory squadmate).
3. Recruit Garrus Vakarian on the Citadel (you can do this right after Omega).
4. Recruit Jack (Prison Ship Purgatory).
5. Complete the first priority mission – Horizon (main story, no spoilers).
6. Start scanning planets for resources (element zero, iridium, palladium, platinum).
7. Upgrade the Normandy – early upgrades (scan range, fuel capacity, armor) help immensely.



What to Do First (and What to Avoid)



Do first:


• Save often – quicksave (F5 on PC) and manual saves. The game autosaves at checkpoints but not always before conversations.


• Talk to your crew after every major mission – they give side missions and loyalty missions.


• Scan planets whenever you have time – resources are crucial for upgrades.


• Take cover in combat – standing in the open gets you killed fast.


• Use squad powers – order your team to use biotic/tech combos (e.g., Throw + Warp).


Avoid:


• Spending credits on expensive weapons early – save for armor upgrades and heavy weapon ammo.


• Rushing the main story – side missions yield XP, credits, and loyalty.


• Ignoring planet scanning – you'll run out of resources for upgrades later.


• Neglecting loyalty missions – each squadmate has one; completing it grants their loyalty power and a more powerful final mission.


• Trying to be a "perfect" Renegade or Paragon – it's okay to mix; the game adapts.




Early Resource Priorities



Resources (minerals) are collected via planet scanning on the Normandy's galaxy map. You need them to unlock upgrades at the Tech Lab. Prioritize:

1. Element Zero (Eezo) – used for tech and biotic upgrades (e.g., better shields, power damage).
2. Platinum – for heavy weapon upgrades and armor slots.
3. Palladium – for weapon damage and health upgrades.
4. Iridium – for miscellaneous upgrades (e.g., grenade capacity).

Tip: Early game, focus on upgrading the Normandy's armor, shields, and scanner range to survive encounters and scan more efficiently.



Common Beginner Mistakes




• Not using cover – ME2 is cover-based; always snap to walls.


• Forgetting to use squad powers – squadmates have powerful abilities; order them to use them (e.g., Mordin's Incinerate on armor, Miranda's Warp on barriers).


• Ignoring the heavy weapon – you have a heavy weapon (e.g., Missile Launcher) that can clear groups. Use it sparingly but don't hoard it.


• Trying to 100% scan every planet early – you'll waste time. Scan only rich or promising planets (check the description for mineral richness).


• Not upgrading weapons – visit the weapons locker and the Tech Lab on the Normandy periodically.


• Skipping dialogue – you miss crucial story and relationship building.


• Using the wrong ammo type – some enemies have armor (use Incendiary), shields (use Disruptor), or barriers (use Warp).




Day-One Checklist



For your very first play session (2–3 hours), aim to complete:


• [ ] Create or import character (or complete Genesis comic).


• [ ] Customize Shepard's appearance (optional but fun).


• [ ] Finish the Lazarus Station tutorial.


• [ ] Watch the Citadel cutscenes and equip your first squad (Jacob/Miranda).


• [ ] Travel to Omega and recruit Mordin.


• [ ] Return to the Normandy and talk to your crew (especially Miranda, Jacob, and Joker).


• [ ] Scan at least 2–3 planets for resources (e.g., in the Omega Nebula).


• [ ] Spend any initial skill points (try to unlock one new power or passive).


• [ ] Save the game manually (you can have multiple saves).


• [ ] Equip your squad with appropriate weapons (check their loadout).


• [ ] Set keybindings or controller layout to your preference.

Once you finish this checklist, you'll have a solid foundation for the rest of the game. Remember: Mass Effect 2 is about the journey and your decisions. Take your time, explore, and enjoy the story!