How to Save Miranda Lawson in Mass Effect 3:

Cerberus Files // Subject: Miranda Lawson // Status: Compromised

Miranda Lawson was designed to be perfect. In Mass Effect 2, she is one of the hardest squadmates to kill. But in Mass Effect 3, she is tragically fragile.

Unlike other characters who die in a blaze of glory on the battlefield, Miranda's death is quiet. It happens because of paperwork you didn't read, a warning you didn't send, or a breakup you mishandled.

To keep the former Cerberus operative alive, you must navigate three critical conversations perfectly. One mistake, and she dies in your arms on Horizon.

Phase 1: The Three Meetings

Miranda is not a squadmate in ME3. She appears on the Citadel three times. You must meet her every single time and choose the supportive dialogue options.

Meeting 1: The Citadel Docks (After Mars)

She will tell you she is worried about her sister, Oriana.

Critical Action: You must promise to help her.

Meeting 2: The Spectre Office (After Palaven)

She will ask for access to Alliance resources to find her sister.

Critical Action: You must give her access to the Alliance resources. Do not deny her.

Note: If you romanced her in ME2 and break up with her here, she will be so devastated that she essentially gives up. She will almost certainly die later.

Meeting 3: The Presidium Apartments (After Tuchanka)

She will tell you she has found her father.

Critical Action: Just talk to her and give her the closure she needs.

Phase 2: The Hidden Trap (Kai Leng)

This is where 90% of players fail. The game does not tell you this is a requirement.

After the coup attempt on the Citadel, you will receive a dossier on the assassin Kai Leng. You can read this on your private terminal on the Normandy.

Read the Dossier: Open the email about Kai Leng immediately after the coup.
Warn Miranda: During the third meeting (in the apartments), if you have read the dossier, Shepard will automatically warn Miranda about Kai Leng.

The Consequence: If you do not warn her, Kai Leng will sneak up on her during the final confrontation on Horizon. She will suffer a fatal wound.

Phase 3: Sanctuary (Horizon)

During the mission Priority: Horizon, you will finally find Miranda confronting her father, Henry Lawson.

If you did everything right: She will have the strength (and the Alliance intel) to kill her father and survive her injuries. She shares a final moment with Oriana and survives the game.
If you missed a step: She will still kill her father, but she will collapse from her wounds. She will die surrounded by you and her sister.