Can I Do Legion’s Loyalty Mission and Still Save the Crew in Mass Effect 2?

Yes, absolutely! You can complete Legion’s loyalty mission and still save the entire Normandy crew in Mass Effect 2. It requires careful planning and precise timing, but it’s a perfectly achievable feat that allows you to experience all the content the game has to offer without sacrificing your crew. The key is to prioritize loyalty missions and understand the game’s trigger points.

The Tightrope Walk: Timing is Everything

The window of opportunity to complete Legion’s loyalty mission, “A House Divided,” while still saving your crew is notoriously tight. The game operates on a hidden counter. It’s triggered when you complete the Reaper IFF mission, which results in the abduction of your crew soon after. The crucial steps are as follows:

1. Complete all other loyalty missions before the Reaper IFF mission. This includes the loyalty missions for characters like Garrus, Miranda, Jacob, Mordin, Grunt, Jack, Samara/Morinth, Thane, and Tali.
2. Acquire Legion by completing the Derelict Reaper mission.
3. Immediately activate Legion. Don’t delay.
4. Talk to Legion and exhaust his dialogue options to unlock his loyalty mission.
5. Complete Legion’s loyalty mission immediately.
6. Initiate the Suicide Mission immediately upon returning to the Normandy. Do not undertake any further missions or exploration.

If you follow these steps, you will reach the Collector Base in time to save the entire crew. Failing to adhere to this strict timeline will result in some or all of your crew perishing during the Collector attack.

Understanding the Consequences

Delaying the Suicide Mission has severe consequences. After the crew is abducted, the game gives you a limited number of missions before some of the Normandy’s crew members start to die. If you delay too long, Kelly Chambers, the Yeoman, and the other captured crew will be turned into goo by the Collectors.

Factors That Influence Survival

Several factors play a role in the success of the Suicide Mission and the survival of your crew.

• Loyalty: A character’s loyalty significantly increases their chances of survival in the Suicide Mission. This is primarily due to the increased stat buffs given to loyal squadmates.
• Ship Upgrades: Failing to upgrade the Normandy’s armor, shields, and cannons will result in the deaths of crew members during the initial approach to the Collector Base.
• Squad Assignments: Assigning the right squad members to the correct tasks is critical. Some characters are better suited for specific roles.
• Team Composition: The characters you bring with you to the final boss fight have a significant impact on the survival of the crew holding the line.

Planning Your Suicide Mission: A Detailed Guide

To achieve a perfect outcome, consider the following assignment guidelines:

1. Vents: Kasumi is ideal for vents due to her stealth abilities and high defense stats. If Kasumi isn’t loyal, Tali is your next best option, with Legion being the third best.
2. Fire Team Leader: Good leadership skills are necessary for holding the line. Garrus, Miranda, and Jacob are all excellent choices.
3. Biotic Specialist (The Long Walk): Jack or Samara/Morinth (if loyal). These characters have the strongest biotic abilities.
4. Crew Escort Back to the Normandy: Characters with low defensive stats are best suited to return to the Normandy with the rescued crew. For example, Mordin, Tali, or Kasumi are all good options.
5. Holding the Line: Characters left to hold the line must have high defense scores. Loyal characters like Zaeed, Grunt, Garrus, Legion, James, and Samara/Morinth are the best choices.
6. Final Boss Squad: Take your two strongest squadmates with you. Squadmates who are not loyal should be left to hold the line or sent back to the Normandy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many players make mistakes that jeopardize their crew’s survival. Here are some common pitfalls:

• Delaying Legion’s Activation: Waiting to activate Legion or delaying his loyalty mission is the biggest mistake.
• Skipping Ship Upgrades: Neglecting ship upgrades can result in immediate casualties.
• Incorrect Squad Assignments: Assigning the wrong characters to crucial tasks.
• Ignoring Loyalty: Going into the Suicide Mission with several unloyal characters drastically increases the risk of casualties.
• Exploring After Abduction: Engaging in additional missions or exploration after the crew is abducted is a death sentence for some or all of the crew.

The Importance of Legion

Legion is a crucial character, not just for his loyalty mission but also for the larger Mass Effect narrative. His unique perspective on the Geth and their relationship with the Quarians makes him invaluable. He also plays a critical role in achieving peace between the Geth and the Quarians in Mass Effect 3.

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

1. Can I bring Legion on Tali’s loyalty mission and save the crew?

Yes, but you must complete everyone else’s loyalty mission (except Tali’s) before acquiring Legion. Then, after reactivating Legion, do Tali’s mission, and talk to Legion after her mission to trigger his. Just be sure to launch the Suicide Mission immediately after completing Legion’s loyalty mission to save the crew.

2. Can Legion survive if he is not loyal?

Yes, but it requires careful planning. Do not assign him to any specialist roles during the Suicide Mission, do not take him with you to the final boss, and make sure you have enough loyal characters to ensure a high survival rate for those holding the line.

3. Can I save everyone without gaining everyone’s loyalty in Mass Effect 2?

Yes, it’s possible, but very difficult. Ensure disloyal characters aren’t assigned to any crucial tasks and that the Normandy is fully upgraded. A higher number of loyal squadmates will ensure you are less likely to have losses.

4. What happens if Garrus dies in ME2?

Garrus will not be present in Mass Effect 3. Certain events that he would participate in will be covered by stand-in characters. His absence is felt, especially given his significant role in the trilogy.

5. Can Tali survive without loyalty?

Yes, but it becomes increasingly difficult. Upgrade the Normandy’s shields, send Tali back to the Normandy when she is not needed. Do not use her for high risk tasks.

6. What is the best outcome for Legion’s loyalty mission?

The best outcome depends on your long-term goals for Mass Effect 3. Rewriting the heretics grants Paragon points, while destroying them is a Renegade action that benefits the Quarians. Both options ultimately allow you to keep Legion. However, destroying them makes peace easier.

7. Is it better to rewrite or destroy the heretics?

Rewriting is generally considered the “Paragon” choice, while destroying them is the “Renegade” choice. The best option depends on your preferred playstyle and the overall tone you want to set for your Shepard.

8. Can you romance Tali if she gets exiled?

You can still romance Tali if she is exiled, but only if you did not present the evidence against her father during her loyalty mission. If you presented the evidence, the romance option will be blocked.

9. Do you ever see Tali without her mask?

In the original release of Mass Effect 3, players who romanced Tali were shown a picture of her face in Shepard’s cabin. The picture was later altered due to complaints about its use of a stock photo.

10. Who replaces Garrus if he dies?

No one directly “replaces” Garrus in Mass Effect 3. Other characters will step in to fill some of his roles, but his absence is keenly felt.

11. Do I let Garrus take the shot during his loyalty mission?

The decision is yours. Letting Garrus take the shot provides closure for him, but allowing Sidonis to live and confront his betrayal can also be a meaningful Paragon choice.

12. What happens if you don’t upgrade the Normandy?

If you don’t upgrade the Normandy, crew members will die during the approach to the Collector Base. Not upgrading the armor will lead to Jack’s death; not upgrading the shields can result in Kasumi or Legion’s death; not upgrading the cannons can lead to the death of a random squadmate.

13. Can you get Legion’s loyalty mission and save Kelly?

Yes, but you must choose to immediately go save the crew after they are kidnapped. Do not delay or select the “I’m not ready” option, as this will lead to Kelly’s death.

14. Can Legion and Tali both survive?

Yes, Legion and Tali can both survive the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2. They will also both be present throughout Mass Effect 3, though Legion will sacrifice himself near the end of the game, regardless of Shepard’s actions.

15. Can you save the Geth and Quarians without Legion?

No. Legion is essential for brokering peace between the Geth and the Quarians in Mass Effect 3. Without him, achieving peace is impossible.

Mastering Mass Effect 2: A Blend of Strategy and Story

Saving your crew and completing all loyalty missions in Mass Effect 2 requires strategic planning, efficient execution, and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. It’s a rewarding experience that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the rich narrative and complex characters of the Mass Effect universe. It is a game that can be used for Games Learning Society. More information about the organization can be found at GamesLearningSociety.org.