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What carries over in the Mass Effect Trilogy?

What carries over in the Mass Effect Trilogy?

Mass Effect is a huge sci-fi saga that stretches into three games. The way you play each of the entries in the series will have major and minor impacts on the subsequent title. There is even an achievement in the Legendary Edition of the game called Long Service Medal if you end up using the same character throughout the trilogy.

Mass Effect 2 and 3 will allow you to import your previous character to let you carry over your custom-made Commander Shepard’s career including major plot choices.

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Importing Save / Character in Mass Effect

Importing Save / Character in Mass Effect

Once you move on to Mass Effect 2 or 3, having completed the previous game, you will be presented with the opportunity to import your character when starting a new game. If you select this option then all the major decisions you took in the prior game will be brought forward along with your psychological profile.

These decisions will have consequences in the next title which we will go into detail below.

You can however change the appearance of your Commander Shepard and their class but the decisions or history are set in stone and can not be altered. The only difference is that if Shepard died in the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2, you won’t get the option to import the character in Mass Effect 3.

So let us see what exactly gets carried over in terms of basic stats and decisions.

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Stats

Stats in this case refers to the money, XP, resources, and morality you have unlocked in the entry before.

Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2

Your character level and money in your wallet won’t transfer to the other game one-to-one. Instead, there are a couple of starting bonuses that you will be given depending on your character level. These bonuses according to the level of your character are:

  • Level 1 – 49:
    • 1,000 XP
    • 20,000 credits
    • 2,500 of each resource
  • Level 50 – 59:
    • 2,000 XP
    • 30,000 credits
    • 5,000 of each resource
  • Level 60:
    • 4,000 XP
    • 50,000 credits
    • 10,000 of each resource
  • If you had 1 million credits in Mass Effect then you will receive an additional 100,00 credits in Mass Effect 2.
  • Depending on where your lie in terms of morality i.e. Paragon or Renegade, a portion of these points will transfer as well, but not all.

Mass Effect 2 to Mass Effect 3

In this case, your money won’t transfer but your character level will be brought forward from 2 to 3. If you prefer to stay in the same class as before then all your previously unlocked abilities will carry over.

However, if you change classes then you will be given ability points as per your level to spend immediately.

Major Decisions / Plot Choices and Consequences

Now comes the juicy bit of this import. Throughout the series, your Commander Shepard will be taking some significant decisions that will have major consequences not only in that particular part but will carry over to the following entry as well.

These decisions will have major and minor impacts on the ensuing adventure from the way the world is molded, the way it reacts to you, and which characters survived along with many other variations that you put into effect.

Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2 consequences

These are all the major and minor consequences of your decisions in Mass Effect that will evolve Mass Effect 2 in some shape or form.

Major Consequences

  • Wrex’s Survival on Virmire
    • If Wrex survives, he will appear as the leader of Clan Urdnot; if not, Urdnot Wreav will take his place.
  • Saved Kaidan or Ashley on Virmire
    • Whoever dies will not be available, whilst the other will appear in the game, albeit not as a squadmate or romance possibility.
  • Saved the Citadel Council or let them die
    • As a gesture of goodwill for saving the Council, it will grant you an audience and reinstate you as a Spectre in Mass Effect 2.
    • If you let the Council die then you will not be granted an audience or reinstated as a Spectre by the Council. However, Anderson will reinstate you as a Spectre if you elect him as a Councillor. Other races you encounter in the Citadel will be antagonistic to you.
  • The human representative you nominated for the Council
    • If you save the council: The Salarian Councillor will ask Shepard for their suggestions on who should be the Councillor for Humanity, underlining that their vote will be very important. You have the option of going to Udina, Anderson or letting the council decide.
    • If you let the Council die: Udina intends to form a new Council. If your Paragon Points exceed those of Renegade, Udina intends to form a multi-species Council led by mankind. If your Renegade Points are higher, Udina intends to have a human-only Council. Following that, you can choose whether Udina or Anderson will serve on the Council.

Minor and Other Consequences

  • The companion you chose to romance
    • Their picture will in your room. If you move on to any other romance in Mass Effect 2 then you will have to have an uncomfortable conversation with your previous romance.
  • Spared Fist or not
    • If he survived, he may be found in the Afterlife club.
  • Saved the colonists on Feros
    • If the colonists were rescued, you will meet one of their representatives on Illium.
  • Let Balak go or killed him
    • Depending on whether or not Balak is still at large, you may hear varying news stories.
  • Incited Garrus to kill the doctor (Renegade) or Inspired him to spare the doctor (Paragon)
    • If you pushed Garrus to be a Renegade, he tried to be a Spectre but never completed his training. If he is Paragon, he attempted to rejoin C-Sec but was unsuccessful.
  • Tali was given the data for her pilgrimage in her personal mission
    • You can mention the data you provided Tali to prove to her that you are the true Commander Shepard.
  • Captain Kirrahe survival on Virmire
    • Mordin will talk to you about Captain Kirrahe, and the dialogue will vary based on whether or not Kirrahe survived.
  • Spared Rana Thanoptis or not
    • If Rana is still alive, you will run into her on Korlus.
  • Saved the Rachni Queen or not
    • If you save the Rachni Queen, she will thank you and there will be news stories about rachni ships that flee as they are sighted. If she is dead, rachni cloning at Peak 15 will be mentioned in the news.
  • Helped Gianna Parasini on Noveria
    • If you assisted Gianna, you can locate her on Illium and accept a new mission.

Besides these, your choices in optional assignments may lead to alterations in gameplay, such as emails, passing comments, and/or cameos.

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Mass Effect 2 to Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 2 to Mass Effect 3 consequences

Mass Effect 3’s story will be influenced by the decisions you take in both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. It will have the same kind of impact as mentioned before. Both the major and minor consequences from either of the previous entries are listed below:

Major Consequences from Mass Effect

  • Wrex’s Survival on Virmire
    • The same consequence as before so please refer to the previous section.
  • Saved Kaidan or Ashley on Virmire
    • The person that has died will not reappear. Whoever did survive has since evolved into a Spectre and is available as a squadmate.
  • Saved the Citadel Council or let them die
    • If you save the Council: The Alliance fleet will be weaker War Assets, however, you will gain the Ascension as a War Asset as well.
    • If you let the Council die: The Alliance fleet will count as superior War Assets.
  • The human representative you nominated for the Council
    • The same consequence as before so please refer to the previous section.

Minor and Other Consequences from Mass Effect

  • Saved the colonists on Feros
    • If the colonists were saved, they become a war asset.
  • Let Balak go or killed him
    • Balak will return during the Citadel: Batarian Codes quest if you let him live.
  • Captain Kirrahe survival on Virmire
    • Captain Kirrahe will become a war asset if he survives. Kirrahe’s fate will also be determined by whether Thane survives in Mass Effect 2.
  • Spared Rana Thanoptis or not
    • If you spared Rana, you would discover that she was indoctrinated.
  • Saved the Rachni Queen or not
    • The Rachni Queen will be captured by the Reapers if she was saved, but she will grant you her support if she is freed. If you do not save her, an artificial Rachni Queen who is a lot shadier will take her place.

Major Consequences from Mass Effect 2

  • Squadmates who survived the Suicide Mission
    • If Garrus and Tali survive, they will be available as squadmates again, whereas other squadmates from Mass Effect 2 will return in some form but will not be available for your team.
  • Normandy crew who survived the Suicide Mission
    • If they survived, Dr. Chakwas, Kelly, Gabby, and Kenneth will return, and some of them will rejoin your crew.
  • Legion’s survival and if it was sold to Cerberus
    • If Legion survives, it will aid in the fight against the Reapers. If you sell Legion to Cerberus, though, you will have to confront it on Chronis Station.
  • Saved or destroyed Mordin’s genophage research
    • The details regarding Eve the female Krogan will vary according to your choice.
  • Rewrote or destroyed the heretic geth collective during Legion’s personal assignment
    • If the heretics are exterminated, the Quarians will be a stronger war asset, while the Geth will be a weaker war asset. If you rewrite the heretics then they will be a more powerful war asset, whereas the Quarians will be a less powerful war asset.
  • Killed or saved Morinth
    • If Morinth is killed, Samara will appear and become a war asset. If Morinth was saved, you will have to fight her on Earth.
  • Destroyed or preserved the Collector Base
    • If destroyed, you will get the Reaper Heart war asset. If preserved, you will get the Reaper Brain war asset.

Minor and Other Consequences from Mass Effect 2

  • The companion you chose to romance
    • Some Mass Effect 3 characters can only be romanced if they were previously romanced in Mass Effect 2.
  • Kasumi’s personal assignment
    • In Mass Effect 3, Kasumi will return, but she will only aid in the war provided you finish her personal assignment.
  • The Lair of the Shadow Broker mission
    • If you finish this mission, you will gain an upgrade at the start of the game and there will be new dialogue options when talking to Liara.
  • The Arrival mission
    • If you do not finish this task, the Alliance 103rd Marine Division’s war asset value will be reduced by 50 military strength.
  • Prevented or allowed Tali to be exiled
    • It will be easier to broker peace between the quarians and the geth if you prevented Tali’s exile.

Besides these, your choices in optional assignments may lead to alterations in gameplay, such as emails, passing comments, and/or cameos.

Items

The following items will be carried over from Mass Effect 2, however, certain collectibles may require some hunting.

  • Primary ship upgrades
  • Mineral resources
  • Model ships
  • Space hamster
  • Pet fish

There are some major plots and decisions that bleed into the later entries in the Mass Effect series and having this knowledge now, you can make the right decisions. Although, we do recommend to blind-play the game the first time you experience it as it will make the journey all the more special to you.