Mass Effect 2's suicide mission is one of the most memorable conclusions in video gaming. Depending on whether the player manages to complete loyalty missions throughout the game, the outcome can vary from a deathless run to a 100% mortality rate (including the player, as Shepard). However, the effects of ME2's ending are not isolated, with potential deaths having far-reaching consequences in the conclusion of the original trilogy.
Mass Effect 3 tasks Commander Shepard with taking on the Reapers and former allies Cerberus, with pre-existing relationships going a long way to preparing the galaxy for the series' epic finish. Whether it be Tali's contribution on Rannoch or Mordin's work on a cure for the genophage, things can play out very differently if any squad members do not make it out of the second game alive.
Jack And Life After Subject Zero
Jack appears in a small role in ME3's Grissom Academy: Emergency Evacuation mission. If she died in the suicide mission, she'll be replaced by Jason Prangley, a student who takes on her dialogue and takes charge of the endangered students. He represents the students more sympathetically, asking Shepherd for more time to recover after burning through a lot of energy using biotic abilities. Prangley is guaranteed to die protecting Ensign Rodriguez from incoming gunfire. Beyond that, Jack's name will appear on the memorial wall of the Normandy as Jacqueline Nought.
Legion Is Critical To Peace Between The Geth And Quarians
Legion is the name given to an individual consciousness specifically designed to work beyond the Perseus Veil, which separates the Terminus Systems from Geth space. An integral part (along with Tali'Zorah) of brokering peace between the Geth and Quarians during the Priority: Rannoch mission, if he dies during the suicide mission (or was sold to Cerberus by Shepard), Geth VI replaces him here. Securing peace between the Geth and Quarians without Legion is impossible, resulting in losing a war asset. If Shepard lets the Geth die, Geth VI will become hostile and be killed by either Tali'Zorah or Admiral Shala'Raan. If Shepard uploads the Reaper code to save the Geth, it will also dissolve into the consensus.
Thane Krios Saves A Salarian
The Drell assassin Thane Krios is a recurring character in Mass Effect 3's main story, eventually giving his life to save the Salarian councilor from Kai Leng's attack on The Citadel. However, if Thane died during the suicide mission, Salarian STG officer Captain Kirrahe takes on Thane's would-be role, laying down his life to foil the assassination. However, if Kirrahe died on Virmire in the first Mass Effect and Thane is not present, no one will be able to save the Salarian Councillor, who will be killed following a tense stand-off between Shepard and Kai Leng. As a result, ensuring Ashley or Kaidan's survival becomes more difficult, potentially losing them as a war asset in the fight against the Reapers. His name features on the memorial wall in the event of his death.
Mordin Solus Cures The Genophage And Saves Eve
If Mordin survived his brush with the Collectors, he'll return in Mass Effect 3 only to sacrifice his life to cure the Genophage, making amends for his role in the Krogan genocide. If Mordin was killed in the events of ME2, he's replaced by Padok Wiks, the base commander on Sur'Kesh. The main storyline remains the same here, with both characters able to sacrifice themselves to distribute the cure and Shepard able to either talk them down or kill them to stop the cure from being dispersed. The ability to save Eve is dependant on keeping Maelon's data in the second game and is unaffected by the character change.
Miranda Lawson Distances Herself From Cerberus
Although Miranda Lawson is one of the most memorable characters from the series, she is reduced to a minor appearance in Mass Effect 3. It's unclear what happens after she leaves Cerberus, but she reappears in Priority: Horizon, where she is looking for her sister, Oriana. If Miranda dies at the end of ME2, Priority: Horizon instead begins via an e-mail from Oriana, saying she is in trouble on Sanctuary. If Miranda survived the events at the end of ME2, but her loyalty mission wasn't complete, she will die during Priority: Horizon. Her death causes her name to appear on the memorial wall in the Normandy.
Garrus Vakarian Is Still Shepard's Most Reliable Companion
One of the most memorable characters in the series, Garrus is unique in that a comparable character does not replace him in Mass Effect 3 if he died during the suicide mission. What should be Garrus' introduction in Mass Effect 3 is handled instead by Liara and a newly introduced Turian officer, General Corinthus. Other characters perform the rest of his designated dialogue and tasks, with some in the game remarking on him not being there. Garrus' name features on the memorial wall of the Normandy, reminding all of the character's significant part in the series.
Tali'Zorah nar Rayya Is The Other Side Of The Geth And Quarian Conflict
Given her importance to the trilogy, it's only fitting that Tali's death would have the most tangible effects on the events of Mass Effect 3. During Priority: Rannoch, Tali is crucial to securing peace between the Quarians and the Geth; if she's dead, peace is impossible. Her replacement for the mission, Admiral Xen, will fulfill the same task but is much more gleeful about hostility towards Geth. Shepard will still be forced to choose between the Quarians and the Geth, though Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay fills in for Tali. With no option for peace, the Admiral will commit suicide if Shepard chooses the Geth, though she will shoot herself instead of leaping from the cliff as Tali does. If Shepard sides with the Quarian, the Admiral will dispatch Legion or Geth VI with a shotgun after it becomes hostile.
Morinth Is Still The Most Dangerous Of The Ardat-Yakshi
The daughter of Samara, Morinth is an Ardat-Yakshi who first appears during Samara's loyalty mission, where Shepard can allow Morinth to kill Samara assume her identity. Despite this, Morinth's death in the final mission of Mass Effect 2 means she will not appear at the conclusion of the trilogy. Even if she does survive long enough to be in the last game, she only appears in the form of e-mails from Morinth to her sisters in Kallini: Ardat-Yakshi Monastery. She can also appear as a banshee that Shepard has to fight during the assault on Earth.
Grunt Is A Uniquely Strong Genetically Engineered Krogan
During Attican Traverse: Krogan Team, Shepard meets Aralakh Company, which Grunt now leads. However, if Grunt died at the end of Mass Effect 2 or was never released from his tank, Urdnot Dagg replaces him here. There is a moment where Shepard overlooks the fight between the Krogan and the Rachni, which plays out differently, as Dagg will have far more difficulty holding them off than Grunt does. Both Grunt and Dagg will put their lives on the line to allow Shepard and his team to escape, but only a loyal Grunt can survive. Dagg is guaranteed to die at this point, as is a Grunt who isn't loyal. Grunt's name will appear on the memorial wall of the Normandy.
Samara Must Stick To The Justicar Code
Samara makes a few minor appearances in the third game during the Kallini: Ardat-Yakshi Monastery mission and on the Citadel. Bound by the Justicar code, Samara is faced with the prospect of killing the last of her daughters when the Monastery is destroyed, as letting them live would risk allowing Ardat-Yakshi to roam free. Samara will attempt to kill herself instead, which Shepard can either stop or allow to happen. In the event of Samara's death in ME2, she will not appear in Mass Effect 3 in any form. Regardless of her fate, Samara's name appears on the memorial wall.
Jacob Taylor Finds A New Life With Former Cerberus Scientists
A soldier who worked for Cerberus, Jacob leaves the organization when he realizes their true motivations at the end of the second game. He does reappear in a small role in the third game and can become a war asset if Shepard successfully navigates the Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists mission. If Jacob dies at the conclusion of Mass Effect 2, Dr. Webber will fulfill his minor part in ME3. Without Jacob to vouch for him, Shepard will initially be met with mistrust by the refugee leader if Jacob is not there to vouch for him; otherwise, there is little tangible difference to how the story plays out. In the event of his death, his name will appear on the memorial wall aboard the Normandy.
Kasumi Goto Is Still Just As Morally Ambiguous In Mass Effect 3
Kasumi is a master thief and infiltrator who Cerberus recruits to help Shepard fight against the Collectors. Her primary role in Mass Effect 3 is during Citadel: Hanar Diplomat. She prevents the player from having to choose between saving the Salarian Spectre, Jordan Bau, or stopping the upload of a virus that will disable the defenses of the Hanar homeworld. Without Kasumi, Shepard must decide between the two as another character does not replace her. There are also many missed dialogue options during Citadel: Hanar Diplomat if Kasumi is not present, but none that directly affect how the story plays out.
Zaeed Massani Is Not Recognised On The Normandy
Zaeed is the ruthless bounty hunter who Cerberus contacted in the second game to assist Shepard in his cause against the Collectors. He appears in Mass Effect 3 during the Citadel: Volus Ambassador mission, but if he died or was never recruited, he'll be replaced by a nameless Krogan and Human who fulfill his necessary actions and dialogue. If Shepard did not gain his loyalty in the second game, Shepard will find him dying after he saves Din Korlack, a Volus ambassador, from mercenaries funded by Cerberus. There are no other consequences to the story in the final game if Zaeed does not feature and his name does not appear on the Normandy memorial wall.