Mass Effect 2 Romance Guide: How to Woo Garrus, Tali, and Miranda

ROMANCE GUIDE - MASS EFFECT 2

Cerberus Personnel Files // Social Dynamics // Clearance: Shepard

Mass Effect 2 opens up the galaxy's dating pool significantly. With a larger, more diverse crew, the romance options are deeper, darker, and more complex.

However, this freedom comes with a risk. Pursuing a new love interest in ME2 will have consequences for your ME1 partner in Mass Effect 3. Tread carefully, Commander.

⚠️ Archive Alert: The Past Matters

Did you romance someone in the first game? 

Their photo will be on your desk in the captain's cabin. If you romance someone new in ME2, that photo will be face down. 

Review the ME1 Romance Guide here.

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Phase 1: The Candidates

Your options are extensive:

• Miranda Lawson: Male Shepard only.
• Tali'Zorah: Male Shepard only.
• Jack: Male Shepard only.
• Jacob Taylor: Female Shepard only.
• Garrus Vakarian: Female Shepard only.
• Thane Krios: Female Shepard only.
• Kelly Chambers (Yeoman): Both (Casual fling, doesn't count for Paramour achievement).

Note: Samara is NOT romanceable (she is bound by her code). You can try, but she will politely reject you.

Phase 2: Romancing Miranda (Male Shep)

Miranda is guarded and professional. To win her over, you must respect her competence.

1. Talk to her after every mission: Visit her office. Ask about her background.
2. Be confident: She likes a man who takes charge but respects her skills.
3. Loyalty Mission: You MUST complete her loyalty mission (saving her sister Oriana).
4. The Fight (Jack vs. Miranda): After their loyalty missions, they will fight. You MUST side with Miranda or use a Paragon/Renegade check to diffuse it. If you lose her loyalty here, the romance ends.

Phase 3: Romancing Tali (Male Shep)

Tali has had a crush on Shepard since ME1. She is shy but incredibly loyal.

1. Recruit her on Haestrom: Be kind to her.
2. Talk to her in Engineering: Ask about the flotilla. Flirt gently.
3. Loyalty Mission: You MUST complete her trial without getting her exiled (see our Tali Guide).
4. The Outcome: She will explain that being with you physically is dangerous for her immune system. Reassure her it's worth the risk.

Phase 4: Romancing Garrus (Fem Shep)

Garrus is awkward but deeply devoted. The romance starts as "blowing off steam" and becomes serious.

1. Recruit Archangel: Save him on Omega.
2. Talk to him in the Main Battery: Swap war stories.
3. The Reach and Flexibility: When he mentions sparring, you can flirt by saying you want to "blow off steam."
4. Reassure him: He will be nervous about interspecies relationships. Tell him you want *him*, not just a sparring partner.

Phase 5: Romancing Thane (Fem Shep)

Thane is a tragic romance. He is dying of Kepral's Syndrome. The relationship is spiritual and intense.

1. Recruit the Assassin: Find him on Illium.
2. Talk to him in Life Support: Discuss his memory and his son.
3. Loyalty Mission: Help him stop his son Kolyat from becoming a murderer.
4. Accept the End: He will tell you he is dying. Tell him you want to be with him anyway.

Phase 6: The Suicide Mission Lock-In

Just like ME1, the romance is locked in right before the final mission (The Omega 4 Relay jump).

• The Cabin Scene: Your partner will come to your cabin. If you accept them, you get the romance scene and the "Paramour" achievement.
• Survival: Remember, if your partner dies during the Suicide Mission, the romance ends tragically. Use our Suicide Mission guide to keep them alive!

Mission Archives: Related Guides

Omega 4 Relay

How to Save Everyone in ME2

Keep your love interest alive >

Tali's Loyalty

How to Prevent Tali's Exile

Secure her loyalty >

The Perfect Ending

How to Get the 'Shepard Lives' Ending

Unlock the breath scene >

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"I had reach, but she had flexibility." - Garrus Vakarian

Mass Effect Original: Romance Guide: How to Woo Ashley, Kaidan, and Liara

Paramour GUIDE IN MASS EFFECT - making alien love...

Personnel Files // Social Dynamics // Clearance: Shepard

Romance is a core pillar of the Mass Effect experience. In the original game, your options are limited but significant. 

The relationships you forge here will carry over, evolving or complicating your life in Mass Effect 2 and 3.

However, navigating these relationships can be tricky. One wrong sentence can end a romance before it begins, or accidentally trigger a relationship you didn't want.

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Phase 1: The Candidates

In the original Mass Effect, your options are determined by your Shepard's gender. There are only three romance paths:

• Ashley Williams: Available to Male Shepard only.
• Kaidan Alenko: Available to Female Shepard only.
• Liara T'Soni: Available to Both Male and Female Shepard.

Note: Tali and Garrus are NOT romanceable in ME1. You must wait until ME2 to pursue them.

Phase 2: Romancing Ashley (Male Shep)

Ashley is a soldier who values family, faith, and duty. She is initially distrustful of aliens.

1. Talk to her after every main mission: Visit her in the armory (cargo bay).
2. Be Supportive (but not a pushover): You can disagree with her views on aliens, but respect her military service and family history.
3. The "Sister" Trap: She will eventually talk about her sister. Be kind here.
4. Virmire: CRITICAL STEP. You must save Ashley on Virmire. If you leave her behind with the nuke, the romance ends (obviously).

Phase 3: Romancing Kaidan (Fem Shep)

Kaidan is a biotic who carries guilt from a past accident (Brain Camp). He is introspective and calm.

1. Talk to him after every main mission: Visit him in the mess hall.
2. Listen to his history: Ask about his biotic training (BAaT) and Rahna.
3. Don't be dismissive: Kaidan is sensitive. Using "Renegade" (bottom right) options often shuts him down completely.
4. Virmire: CRITICAL STEP. You must save Kaidan on Virmire. If he dies, the romance dies.

Phase 4: Romancing Liara (Both)

Liara is a Prothean archaeologist who is fascinated by Shepard. She is socially awkward but deeply sincere.

1. Recruit her early: Go to Therum (Artemis Tau cluster) immediately after becoming a Spectre. The longer you wait, the less time you have to bond.
2. Be patient: She will express interest in you "scientifically" at first. Flirt back.
3. Reassure her: She is nervous about human relationships. Tell her the attraction is mutual.

Phase 5: The Confrontation (Warning)

It is very easy to accidentally romance two people at once (e.g., Ashley and Liara). If you do this, the game forces a confrontation.

The Locker Room Standoff

After completing a few main planets, both love interests will confront you by the lockers. They will demand you choose.

• Choose One: The other will back off (and be locked out permanently).
• "Can't I have both?": This option fails. The human (Ashley/Kaidan) will call you crazy and storm off, ending their romance. Liara will remain, but the human relationship is over.

Phase 6: The Lock-In (Ilos)

The romance is officially "locked in" when the Normandy is grounded at the Citadel (before the final mission to Ilos).

• The Comfort Scene: Your chosen partner will come to comfort you near the lockers. They will lean in for a kiss.
• The Bedroom Scene: On the way to Ilos, your partner will come to your cabin.

Note: If you reject them in the bedroom scene, the romance is cancelled, and you will not get the "Paramour" achievement.

Mission Archives: The Next Steps

Mass Effect 2 Guide

How to Woo Tali, Garrus, & Miranda

New relationships await >

Mass Effect 3 Guide

How to Lock In Your Final Romance

Commit to the end >

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"We don't know how much time we have left. I want to spend it with you."

Mass Effect Legendary Edition: How to Get the Secret "Shepard Lives" Ending for ME3

Operation: The Perfect Destroy

Mission Probability: <1% // Status: Critical // Clearance: Shepard

"There's no Shepard without Vakarian."

For millions of players, the Mass Effect trilogy is about the journey. But for many, the destination matters just as much. T

he burning question that has haunted the fanbase since 2012 remains: Can Commander Shepard survive the end of the war?

The answer is Yes.

However, survival is not guaranteed. It is the hardest ending to unlock in the entire franchise. It requires a specific philosophy, a ruthless tactical mind, and the support of the entire galaxy.

⚠️ Intel Alert: Legendary Edition Exclusive

This guide is calibrated for Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. In the original 2012 release, this ending required playing Multiplayer mode to boost "Galactic Readiness." 

In the Legendary Edition, Multiplayer is removed, meaning you must achieve a much higher raw War Asset score (7400+) purely through single-player gameplay.

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Phase 1: The Hard Choice (Destroy)

When you reach the Catalyst (the "Star Child"), you are presented with three choices: Control (Blue), Synthesis (Green), and Destroy (Red).

The Only Path to Survival

Shepard ONLY survives in the High-EMS Destroy Ending.

• Control: Shepard's body disintegrates. Their consciousness becomes an AI god.
• Synthesis: Shepard throws themselves into the beam, disintegrating to rewrite the DNA of all life.
• Refusal: The Reapers win. The cycle continues.

To survive, you must choose Destroy. You must walk to the red tube on the right and shoot it until it explodes.

The Lore Cost: This is a "Renegade" outcome in philosophy. By choosing Destroy, you kill the Reapers, but you also kill EDI and the entire Geth race. 

Survival has a price.

Phase 2: The Magic Number (EMS)

Choosing "Red" is not enough. If your Effective Military Strength (EMS) is too low, the Crucible will misfire. It will destroy the Reapers, but the shockwave will vaporize Earth and the Citadel, killing Shepard instantly.

The Legendary Edition Calculation

In the original game, you needed multiplayer to boost your "Galactic Readiness." In the Legendary Edition, multiplayer is gone. You need raw War Assets.

Target Score: 7,400+ Total War Assets

If you have fewer than 7,400 before launching the final assault on Cerberus Headquarters (the point of no return), Shepard will likely die.

Phase 3: Gathering the Fleet

You cannot hit 7400 just by playing the main story. You need to scour the galaxy.

1. Scanning (The Grind)

You must scan 100% of the planetary systems. Every fuel depot, every wreckage, every banner helps. Do not skip a single cluster. Evade the Reapers and get the assets.

2. The Major Decisions

• Cure the Genophage: If Wrex and Eve are alive, you get massive Krogan support. (See our Mordin Guide).
• Peace on Rannoch: If you broker peace, you get BOTH the Geth and Quarian fleets. This is the single biggest asset boost in the game. (See our Rannoch Guide).
• Save the Council (ME1): The Destiny Ascension is a huge asset (70 points). If you let them die, the human fleets are stronger, but the net loss is often greater.

3. The "Secret" ME1 & ME2 Assets

Some assets only appear if you did specific side quests in previous games:

• Matriarch's Writings (ME1): If you collected these for Conrad Verner, they eventually grant a War Asset in ME3.
• Zhu's Hope (ME1): Saving the colonists on Feros gives you "Zhu's Hope Militia."
• Overlord DLC (ME2): Saving David Archer grants you access to the Grissom Academy assets and a specific heavy weapon upgrade.
• Leviathan DLC (ME3): Completing this DLC adds devastating "Enthrallment Spheres" to your war score.

Phase 4: The Breath Scene

If you have 7,400+ assets and choose Destroy, the ending plays out differently.

1. The Citadel arms open. The red beam fires.
2. The Reapers collapse. EDI smiles at Joker one last time before deactivating.
3. The Normandy crash-lands on a jungle planet. Joker and your Love Interest (Liara, Garrus, Tali, etc.) step out.
4. The Plaque: Your Love Interest holds Shepard's nameplate to put on the memorial wall... but they hesitate. They look up, refusing to believe you are gone.
5. The Scene: The camera cuts to the rubble of the Citadel beam run. We see N7 armor pieces in the concrete.
6. The Breath: A chest piece heaves. A sharp inhale is heard. Shepard is alive.

Lore FAQ: The Aftermath

Q: Can Shepard survive the Synthesis ending?
A: No. Shepard's biological material is disintegrated to fuse organic and synthetic life. There is no body left to recover.

Q: Is Shepard canonically biotic?
A: This depends on your class, but in cutscenes (like the Kai Leng fight), Shepard often displays soldier-like reflexes. However, lore-wise, a Vanguard or Adept Shepard uses biotics during the final charge to the beam.

Q: Does Shepard reunite with the crew?
A: The game ends on the breath. However, Bioware has hinted (and fans widely accept) that with the Reapers dead, the Alliance would eventually rescue the Commander from the Citadel rubble.

Mission Archives: Related Guides

Omega 4 Relay

How to Save Everyone in ME2

The perfect suicide mission >

Rannoch Peace

Broker Peace: Geth & Quarians

Maximum War Assets >

Genophage Cure

How to Save Mordin Solus

The secret survival path >

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"I should go." - Commander Shepard

How to Save Everyone in the Mass Effect 2 Suicide Mission: Ultimate Guide

How to Get the "No One Left Behind" Achievement in Mass Effect 2

Mission Probability: 0% // Threat Level: Terminal // Clearance: Shepard

The "Suicide Mission" in Mass Effect 2 is not hyperbole. It is a tactical simulation where command decisions have immediate, lethal consequences. 

Unlike other RPGs where "friendship power" saves the day, the Omega 4 Relay respects only preparation and logistics.

• If your ship is weak, the Collectors will tear it apart. 
• If your team is undisciplined, they will die in the vents. 
• If you fail completely, Commander Shepard will die.

This guide is your tactical flowchart. Follow it precisely to achieve the impossible: bringing everyone home alive.

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Tactical Analysis: Possible Outcomes

Before we begin, understand the stakes. The mission simulates a real command structure. 

Bad intel leads to casualties.

Scenario Omega (Total Failure)

Outcome: Shepard dies. The entire squad dies. The Normandy is destroyed.

Cause: Zero upgrades. Zero loyalty. Joker is the sole survivor, left to mourn over Shepard's coffin in the wreckage.

Scenario Pyrrhic (Partial Success)

Outcome: The Collector Base is destroyed, but Shepard dies in the escape jump.

Cause: You survived the fight, but fewer than 2 squadmates made it out alive. Shepard slips while boarding the Normandy and falls to their death.

Scenario Grim (Hollow Victory)

Outcome: Shepard survives, but the team is decimated. Mordin takes a bullet holding the line. Tali burns to death in the engine room. Garrus is carried off by Seeker Swarms.

Cause: Poor tactical assignments (e.g., asking a Soldier to do a Tech job).

Scenario Golden (The Perfect Run)

Outcome: No casualties. The entire crew survives.

Requirement: 100% Loyalty. 100% Ship Upgrades. Perfect Specialist Assignments. This guide outlines the path to this victory.

Phase 1: The Approach (Ship Upgrades)

The moment you exit the Relay, the Collector Oculus fighters will attack. If the Normandy SR-2 is not upgraded, the hull will breach before you even land.

• Heavy Ship Armor (Silaris Armor): Research provided by Jacob.
  Failure Consequence: The Oculus laser slices the hull. Jack is instantly killed in the cargo hold.
• Multicore Shielding (Cyclonic Barriers): Research provided by Tali.
  Failure Consequence: The engine core overloads. A squadmate dies in the explosion (usually Kasumi, Legion, Tali, or Thane).
• Thanix Cannon: Research provided by Garrus.
  Failure Consequence: You cannot destroy the Collector Cruiser fast enough. It fires back, killing a squadmate (usually Thane, Garrus, Zaeed, or Grunt).

Phase 2: The Infiltration (Vents & Fire Team)

Once inside the base, you need a tech expert to hack the doors via the ventilation shafts (heat hazard) and a leader to command a diversionary fire team.

Role 1: Vent Specialist (Tech Expert)

Safe Choices (Must be Loyal): Tali, Legion, or Kasumi.

Fatal Choices: Thane, Jacob, Garrus. While they have tech skills, they are too slow. They will take a rocket to the head while trying to close the door.

Role 2: Fire Team Leader (Command Experience)

Safe Choices (Must be Loyal): Garrus (Archangel), Miranda (Cerberus Officer), or Jacob (Alliance Corsair).

Fatal Choices: Zaeed (he is a mercenary loner, not a commander), Grunt (too aggressive), or Samara (works alone). If the leader fails, the Vent Specialist dies.

Phase 3: The Long Walk (Biotic Bubble)

You must traverse the Seeker Swarm nests. Conventional shields fail here. You need a Biotic Field to repel the insects.

Role 3: Biotic Specialist

Safe Choices (Must be Loyal): Samara/Morinth (Asari Justicar) or Jack (Subject Zero).

The Trap: Miranda will volunteer, claiming she can do it. She is wrong. While powerful, she lacks the pure biotic endurance of an Asari or Jack. Her bubble will fail at the very end, and the Swarms will carry off one of your squadmates.

Role 4: Fire Team Leader (Part 2)

Safe Choices (Must be Loyal): Garrus, Miranda, or Jacob.

Note: Miranda has unique "plot armor" here and can survive leading this second team even if disloyal, but don't risk it.

Phase 4: The Crew Escort

You find the surviving crew (Dr. Chakwas, Kelly Chambers). They cannot fight. You must decide whether to send a squadmate to escort them back to the ship.

• Send an Escort (Must be Loyal): The crew survives. The escort survives.
• Send NO Escort: The crew is slaughtered by Collectors on the way back.

Tactical Advice: Send Mordin Solus. He is physically frail and contributes very little to the final "Hold the Line" defense score (see below). Sending him away actually improves the survival odds for the rest of the team.

Phase 5: The Final Battle (Hold the Line)

This is the hidden math that kills most players. 

You pick 2 squadmates to fight the Human-Reaper. The rest stay behind to hold the door against the Collector horde.

The Defense Score Algorithm

The game calculates a "Defense Score" for the team left behind. You need an average score of 2.0 or higher to ensure everyone survives.

• The Tanks (4 Points): Garrus, Grunt, Zaeed. (These are your anchors).
• The Soldiers (2 Points): Thane, Legion, Samara, Jacob, Miranda.
• The Weak Links (1 Point): Mordin, Tali, Kasumi, Jack.

The Golden Rule: Leave the Tanks Behind!

Do NOT take Garrus, Grunt, or Zaeed to the final boss. Their high defense score is required to protect the "Weak Links" at the door. If you take Garrus with you, the average score drops, and Mordin or Tali will die holding the line.

Recommended Final Boss Squad: Take Tali, Jack, or Kasumi. They are useless at holding the line but great for the final fight, effectively removing their "low score" from the average calculation.

Mission Archives: Related Guides

Genophage Cure

How to Save Mordin Solus

The secret survival path >

Rannoch Peace

Broker Peace: Geth & Quarians

Save both fleets >

Virmire Crisis

How to Save Wrex on Virmire

Secure the Krogan future >

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"Assuming direct control." - Harbinger

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How to Save Miranda Lawson in Mass Effect 3: The Complete Guide

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.

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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.

1. Read the Dossier: Open the email about Kai Leng immediately after the coup.
2. 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.

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Mission Archives: Related Guides

Genophage Cure

How to Save Mordin Solus

The secret survival path >

Rannoch Peace

Broker Peace: Geth & Quarians

Save both fleets >

Virmire Crisis

How to Save Wrex on Virmire

Secure the Krogan future >

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"I don't make mistakes. I make them go away." - Miranda Lawson

How to Save Mordin Solus in Mass Effect 3

Operation: The Scientist Salarian

Special Tasks Group (STG) // Medical Log: Mordin Solus // Clearance: Shepard

"Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong."

This is widely considered the most heartbreaking moment in the Mass Effect trilogy. Most players assume Mordin Solus simply must die to cure the Genophage. It feels like a fixed point in time—a heroic sacrifice that cannot be avoided.

But that assumption is wrong.

There is a way to save Mordin Solus. He can survive Tuchanka, join the crucible project, and live to see the end of the war. However, the cost of his survival is high. To save the doctor, you have to doom a species.

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Phase 1: The "Monster" Prerequisites

You cannot save Mordin by making a simple choice in Mass Effect 3. This outcome requires a specific "Renegade" history that spans the entire trilogy. If you have played a heroic Paragon, Mordin will refuse to back down and you will have to shoot him or let him die.

The Checklist of Doom

For Mordin to be convinced that the Cure is a mistake, the following must be true:

1. Wrex must be DEAD: You must have killed Wrex on Virmire in ME1. His brother, Wreav, must be the leader of clan Urdnot.
2. Eve must be DEAD: In ME2, you must have chosen to destroy Maelon's data during Mordin's loyalty mission. Without this data, Eve (Bakara) will not survive the stress of the procedure in ME3.

The Logic: If Wrex is alive, he will guide the Krogan to peace. If Eve is alive, she will temper their aggression. If both are gone, the Krogan are led solely by Wreav, a violent warlord who openly plans to start a new war the moment the cure is dispensed.

Only under these specific conditions will Mordin realize that curing the Genophage might be a catastrophic error.

Phase 2: The Tower Scene

If you meet the conditions above, proceed with the mission Priority: Tuchanka.

1. When the Dalatrass offers you the deal to sabotage the cure, accept it (or stay silent). Do not reveal the sabotage to the Krogan in the truck.
2. At the final tower console, Mordin will prepare to disperse the cure.
3. You must try to stop him. A dialogue wheel will appear.

The Critical Conversation

Because Wreav is a tyrant and Eve is dead, you can use the Reputation check:

• "Why cure them?" / "Not now."

Shepard will argue: "With Eve dead and Wreav in charge, this won't lead to a renaissance. It will lead to war."

Mordin, relying on logic, will pause. He will look at the data. He will realize you are right.
"I made a mistake. focused on big picture. Big picture made of little pictures. Too many variables. I... I am not sure."

He will agree to fake the cure deployment. The Shroud will disperse a placebo. The Krogan will think they are cured, but they are not.

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Tactical Appendix: The Outcome

The price of a life.

File: Status Report

• Mordin Survived: He goes into hiding to work on the Crucible project. He provides 25 War Assets.
• Salarian Support: Because you sabotaged the cure, the Dalatrass gives you the full Salarian First Fleet (150 War Assets).
• Krogan Support: Wreav is too stupid to realize the cure was fake. He pledges the Krogan clans to you (300+ War Assets).

Tactical Summary: Mechanically, this is one of the highest War Asset outcomes in the game. You gain the full strength of both the Salarians and the Krogan, and you save a beloved friend.

Moral Cost: You have deceived an entire species and condemned them to slow extinction to win a war.

Mission Archives: Related Guides

Rannoch Peace

How to Broker Peace: Geth & Quarians

Save both fleets >

Virmire Crisis

How to Save Wrex on Virmire

Secure the Krogan future >

Tali's Loyalty

How to Prevent Tali's Exile

Win the trial perfectly >

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"Life... finds a way." - Mordin Solus

The Virmire Standoff: How to Keep Wrex Alive for the 'Best' ME3 Ending

The Virmire Standoff: Saving Wrex to Save the Genophage

Special Tactics and Reconnaissance // Mission Report: Virmire // Clearance: Shepard

In the original Mass Effect, the mission on Virmire is famous for forcing you to choose between Ashley and Kaidan. But before that heartbreaking choice, there is an even more dangerous standoff that can ruin your entire trilogy run.

Urdnot Wrex, the last true hope for the Krogan people, discovers Saren has found a cure for the Genophage. He draws his shotgun on you, demanding answers. If you do not handle this conversation correctly, Wrex dies on that beach.

If Wrex dies in ME1, his violent brother Wreav takes over in Mass Effect 2 and 3. Wreav is a warmonger who will doom the Krogan to extinction. 

To get the "Golden Ending" for the Krogan in ME3, Wrex must survive Virmire.

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Phase 1: The Standoff

When you arrive at the Salarian camp on Virmire, Wrex learns that Saren is breeding a cured Krogan army. He is furious that you plan to destroy the facility.

The confrontation happens automatically. Wrex will pull his weapon. Your squadmates will aim at him. The tension is lethal.

The Trap: Ashley's Trigger Finger

If the conversation goes on too long without a resolution, or if you signal her, Ashley Williams will shoot Wrex in the back.

This is permanent. Wrex dies. You cannot revive him. His story ends here.

Phase 2: How to Save Wrex (The 3 Methods)

To talk Wrex down, you need to use one of the following methods. You only need one of these to work.

Method A: The Family Armor (Best Method)

This is the safest way to save him without needing high stats. Before going to Virmire, talk to Wrex on the Normandy. He will tell you about his family armor stolen by a Turian.

1. Go to the planet Tuntau (Argos Rho cluster, Phoenix system).
2. Raid the hidden base and recover the Krogan Family Armor from the safe.
3. Return the armor to Wrex.

Result: If you have done this quest, Wrex already trusts you. When the standoff happens on Virmire, select the option: "I wouldn't do this if it wasn't right" or "We are friends." He will stand down immediately.

Method B: Charm / Intimidate (The Stat Check)

If you didn't get his armor, you can talk him down with raw charisma.

• Charm (Blue): Requires 8 Points in Charm. "These aren't your people!"
• Intimidate (Red): Requires 8 Points in Intimidate. "Don't be so naive."

Warning: If you do not have 8 points, these options will be grayed out, and you will be forced to kill him.

Method C: The Completionist (Only if you have very few squadmates)

If you rushed the game and have not recruited Garrus or Liara yet (so you only have Wrex, Kaidan, Ashley, and Tali), Wrex will automatically back down because the game literally cannot afford to lose another squadmate (you need a minimum of 3 for the final mission).

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Tactical Appendix: The ME3 Consequence

Why Wrex is the key to the future.

File: The Krogan Future

In Mass Effect 3, the decision to cure the Genophage depends entirely on who is leading the Krogan.

• If Wrex is Alive: He is a reformer. He wants to rebuild Tuchanka, not conquer the galaxy. If you cure the Genophage, he honors the alliance. You get the Krogan support AND the Turian support. This is the "Golden Ending."
• If Wrex is Dead (Wreav is Leader): Wreav is a tyrant. He openly plans to use the cure to breed an army and start a new war. If you cure the Genophage for Wreav, you are dooming the galaxy to a Second Krogan Rebellion.

Saving Wrex on Virmire is the only way to save the Krogan soul in ME3.

Next Step: Wrex is safe. Now, learn how to handle the other major crisis in the galaxy.
Read the Guide: How to Broker Peace in Mass Effect 3

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"Shepard. My friend." - Urdnot Wrex

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