This article contains story SPOILERS for Mass Effect 1 and 2.
As many know, the save files between each Mass Effect game carry over, if the player chooses to do this at the start of each game. This means all background traits, choices, deaths, and consequences in Mass Effect 1 will roll over to Mass Effect 2. While it may not be as impactful as decisions carrying over from ME 2 to ME 3, here’s how players can prepare for the sequel based on the choices Commander Shepard made in Mass Effect 1.
RELATED: Mass Effect: How to Leave the Citadel
The Major Mass Effect Characters and Romance
Unless players take the right steps, many characters will likely die throughout their playthrough of the Mass Effect trilogy. In the first game, one major decision relates to Wrex and whether or not Shepard should kill him. Due to a conflict of interest, he could be a potential issue, warranting Shepard or Ashley to use force against him. But there’s a way to get out of this situation civilly.
Shortly after, Commander Shepard will have to decide who to sacrifice on Virmire: Ashley or Kaidan. One must die, and only one can be saved. This means the dead character will not be in any following games. Additionally, dialogue with Commander Shepard can influence how either Ashley or Kaidan, depending on who lives, feels about aliens.
After defeating the main antagonist of Mass Effect 1, Shepard must decide to either save the Council or focus the Alliance’s efforts on killing a Reaper. If the Council dies, they will be replaced by lookalikes if Shepard chooses not to make an all-human Council per Ambassador Udina’s request. Shepard will also decide if either Udina or Anderson becomes the human Councilor.
Finally, if Shepard decides to romance a character in Mass Effect 1: either Kaidan, Ashley, or Liara, that will carry over into Mass Effect 2, where players can stay loyal to their partner or romance someone new.
RELATED: Mass Effect 3: What Happens if Garrus Dies in ME 2?
Other Mass Effect Missions and Character Choices
When Shepard meets Fist, they’ll have the option to either kill or spare him. However, if Wrex is in the squad, he will kill Fist himself regardless of Shepard’s choice. If he lives, Fist can be met in the Afterlife in Mass Effect 2. Another Mass Effect side mission regards a small group of human colonists on Feros and an Asari named Shiala that was indoctrinated, and their fates will roll over into Mass Effect 2 as well.
On Noveria, deciding if the Rachni Queen should be killed or set free is a decision that is mentioned off-hand in Mass Effect 2, but has a bigger influence in Mass Effect 3. Also on Noveria, aiding Gianna Parasini can lead to another mission in Mass Effect 2 while ignoring her leads to her death.
At some point when building a rapport with Garrus Vakarian, he will request Shepard’s help with a corrupted doctor selling organs on the black market. While confronting the doctor, Shepard will tell Garrus to either stand down or let the Turian kill him. This will affect Garrus’s morality levels, and therefore dialogue, in Mass Effect 2. Likewise, whether or not Shepard helps Tali with her pilgrimage assignment by giving her the Geth data will change some dialogue in the sequel.
On Virmire, a side character named Rana Thanoptis can either be killed or spared, and this decision will carry over to Mass Effect 2 during Grunt’s recruitment. Another side character met on the same planet can also live or die. A number of conditions have to be met to save Captain Kirrahe, however.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
MORE: Every Interaction, Choice, and Consequence Related to Mass Effect: Legendary Edition’s Rachni Queen
