Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
If you skip the Normandy’s three critical upgrades before Mass Effect 2’s Suicide Mission, each missing upgrade can cost one squadmate during the ship’s approach to the Collector base. Skip all three and you can lose three squadmates before Shepard’s ground team enters the base. That does not automatically fail the entire mission, and the specific casualties can vary.
Which Normandy upgrades affect survival?
Only three upgrades are tied to squadmate losses during the approach. Prima Games lists each at a cost of 15,000 units of the relevant mineral and identifies the squadmate who proposes it.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Mass Effect 2 | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Mass Effect Legendary Edition - PlayStation 4 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Mass Effect 3 - Playstation 3 | $10.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Mass Effect 2 Platinum Hits (Renewed) | $10.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Mass Effect - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $9.09 | Buy on Amazon |
| Upgrade | Suggested by | Guide cost | What can happen if you skip it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Ship Armor | Jacob | 15,000 Palladium | A squadmate can die during the crash-landing sequence. |
| Multicore Shielding | Tali | 15,000 Palladium | A squadmate can die in the debris-field approach. |
| Thanix Cannon | Garrus | 15,000 Platinum | A squadmate can die in the Collector-ship encounter. |
Prima’s guide says each omitted upgrade costs one squad member on the final approach to the Collector base beyond the Omega 4 relay. Prima Games’ Normandy upgrade guide and its Suicide Mission walkthrough describe the losses at different points in the approach.
Who can die if you skip an upgrade?
There is no single guaranteed victim for each missing upgrade. Game Informer lists possible losses for missing Multicore Shielding as Garrus, Legion, Kasumi, Grunt, Tali, Zaeed, or Thane; for missing Heavy Ship Armor, Kasumi or Jack; and for missing the Thanix Cannon, Samara or Morinth, Garrus, Jack, or Grunt. Prima’s endgame chart gives different possibilities for some upgrades, so treat character lists as conditional rather than universal outcomes.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Space based RPG action as you create your version of Commander Shepard, customize your appearance and tailor your own abilities and strengths
- Take cover, command an elite squad, utilize over 20 weapons including new heavy weapons
- Explore an entire galaxy of unique planets and embark on side missions to uncover more secrets in the Mass Effect universe
- Exclusive Dark Horse digital comic allows PS3 players to experience the events of the first game and make choices related to them
- The three previously released DLC packs and one-time access code to the Cerberus Network, where additional content can be downloaded
The outcome depends on the game state, and guides do not present identical casualty lists. For a fuller account of the mission’s outcomes and role checks, see Game Informer’s Suicide Mission guide.
Do other Normandy upgrades prevent these deaths?
No. The approach deaths are tied to Heavy Ship Armor, Multicore Shielding, and the Thanix Cannon. Other Normandy upgrades have separate benefits:
Rank #2
- One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced.
- Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
- Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, including promo weapons, armors, and packs - remastered and optimized for 4k Ultra HD.
- Advanced Mineral Scanner: speeds up planetary scanning.
- Extended Fuel Cells: increase fuel capacity.
- Modular Probe Bay: increases probe capacity.
- Med-Bay Upgrade: heals Shepard’s facial scars.
These are useful for their stated purposes, but they are not substitutes for the three critical ship upgrades. See the RPG Site Normandy research guide for the distinction.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What else affects survival in the Suicide Mission?
Ship upgrades cover only the approach. Later survival checks are separate: squad loyalty, the specialists and fire-team leaders chosen for mission roles, and how soon you rescue the Normandy crew after the Reaper IFF event all matter. Prima’s endgame guidance treats loyalty, ship upgrades, and role assignment as distinct parts of a full-squad survival plan. Game Informer also warns that delaying the crew rescue can result in crew deaths even if all three ship upgrades are installed.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Science-fiction RPG
- Explore uncharted worlds and uncover mystery
- Real-time, squad-based combat
- Character customization with a deep role-playing systems
- Credible digital actors
Rank #4
- Improved NPC conversation system where Commander Shepard can take matters into your own hands
- The second act of BioWare's epic sci-fi RPG trilogy continues the story of Commander Shepard and humanity's first steps onto the galactic stage
- Integration with the original Mass Effect game allows players to import saved files and contiue play with those files in Mass Effect 2
- Choose from 19 different weapons, including devastating heavy weapons that can end a battle in seconds
- New location based damage system allows for targeting of key weak points, blasting off limbs, igniting enemies, or cripple and disable enemy troops
Rank #3
- Battle as Commander Shepard on many worlds across the galaxy as you unite the ultimate force to take back the Earth before it's too late
- Enormous enemies and take on a smarter type of foe that will consistently challenge your best combat tactics and put you on the edge of your seat
- Customize your Commander Shepard, your squad and weapons to engage the enemy on your terms
- Allows the option to import decisions from both of the previous games into the new game, but can also be played as a standalone game
- Experience a new emphasis on melee combat, movement and an improved cover system
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
