Mass Effect 2 tips and check list

This is more of a check list and anti-frustration guide. I tried limit the spoilers.

First of all, Paragon responses are generally up on the circle. Renegade responses are generally down. Save before all conversations if possible.
Sometimes you can get more ren/para points for extra investigations.

Don't waste cash on Hack Module or Bypass Module. Just save before you hack or bypass. Reload if you fail. Save after you succeed.

On first playthrough, you won't be able to buy all upgrades. Also, you will only make level 26.
After you've completed the game with any character, you get 25 xp bonus, 200k credits and 50k of all elements, even with new characters.
This allows all upgrades and level 30 by end game.
All pricing includes discounts possible without import from ME1 as I've never played it. I just got ME1, but it doesn't want to work on my PC.

What you need without buying vanity items:

* 210,000 palladium
* 225,000 platinum
* 220,000 iridium - minus 45k irridium for making heavy weapons on import character from ME2
* 35,000 element zero
* 1,250,000 credits

I like to write these numbers down and subtract as I use them. It's one way to keep from mining too much.

Engineers get 25 off elements used in research.

On mining planets. To save time and probes, only mine rich planets, only send probes to 6 bars or higher resources.

************************ Missions****************

* Prologue: Awakening
* 7500 Credits

************ Freedom's Progress
* Heavy Weapon Ammo
* 2000 Irridium
* 20,000 Credits

************ Horizon
* Heavy Skin Weave
* Biotic Damage
* Collector Particle Beam
* Retrain Powers
* 2000 Platinum
* 60,000 Credits

* At this point you get to do 5 missions before being forced into the Disabled Collector Cruiser mission.
I like to buy the starcharts on Illium and hit the following planets in this order:

Crescent Nebula - Lucern - Tarith (4th planet)
2000 Platinum
7500 Credits
opens Destroy Bloodpack Base
The Shrike Nebula - Xe Cha - Zada Ban (1st) Planet - Destroy Bloodpack Base
Heavy Weapon Ammo
2000 Platinum
7500 Credits
Rosetta Nebula - Enoch - Joab (3rd planet)
500 Element Zero
7500 Credits
Opens Strontium Mule
Omega Nebula - Ariniarkan - MSV Strontium Mule
Heavy Skin Weave
2000 Irridium
7500 Credits
Pylos Nebula - Dirada - Canalus (3rd planet)
Damage Protection
7500 credits
2000 Palladium

Other options of all 5 crew members loyal or dossiers

************ Disabled Collector Cruiser
* Damage Protection
* Tech Damage
* Weapon Training - first runthrough only or M-98 Widow sniper rifle ? Soldier or Infiltrator only (go kill yourself an elephant)
* 500 Element Zero
* 75,000 Credits

************ Derelict Reaper - IFF - Legion
* Sniper Rifle Damage
* Heavy Skin Weave
* Shotgun Damage
* 50,000 Credits

***************Flagged Planet Missions*********************
N7: Blue Suns Base - Stop Blue Suns Attack:
* Sigurd's Cradle - Decoris - Sanctum
* 2000 Irridium
* 7500 Credits

N7: Javelin Missiles Launched
* Sigurd's Cradle - Skepsis - Franklin - Stop the Missile Attack
* 2000 Palladium
* 7500 Credits

Save Crashing Ship
* Pylos Nebula - Nariph - MSV Broken Arrow
* 2000 Irridium
* 7500 Credits

N7: Eclipse Smuggling Depot
* Hourglass - Faryar - Daratar - Secure Smuggled Cargo
* 500 Element Zero
* 7500 probably, depends on how many crates you save.

N7: Lost Operative
* Omega Nebula --- Father --- Lorek
* 2000 Platinum
* 7875 Credits
* Data choice may have effect on ME3

Caleston Rift - Solveig - Sinmara (2nd Planet)
Caleston Rift - Talava - Taitus (4th Planet)
Crescent Nebula - Zelene - Helyme
Eagle Nebula - Amun - Neith (4th Planet) - opens Jarrache Station
Eagle Nebula - Strabo - Jarrache Station
Hades Nexus - Sheol - Gel Hinnom (Wrecked Merchant Freighter)
Hourglass Nebula - Ploitari - Zanethu (2nd Planet)
Minos Wasteland - Fortis - Aequitas (3rd Planet)
Titan Nebula - Haskins - Capek (flagged)

There are a lot of rich planets in these systems. Make sure to have plenty of probes.

************************ Dossiers *********************************

************ The Professor - Omega
* Assault Rifle Damage
* Medi-Gel Capacity
* Weapon: M-6 Carnifex
* 1000 Element Zero
* 2000 Palladium
* 2000 Platinum
* 2000 Irridium
* 48,000 (Paragon) or 50,000 (Renegade)

************ Archangel ? Omega
* Submachine Gun Damage
* Tech Damage
* Vindicator Battle Rifle
* 500 Element Zero
* 40,000 Credits

************ The Convict - Purgatory
* Damage Protection
* Shotgun Damage
* 500 Element Zero
* 30,000 Credits

************ The Warlord - Korlus
* Sniper Rifle Damage
* Krogan Vitality
* 2000 Platinum
* 40,000 Credits

************ The Assassin - Illium
* Submachine Gun Damage
* Weapon: M-97 Viper
* 500 Element Zero
* 60,000 Credits
* Data Pad - not shown in Mission Summary

************ The Justicar - Illium
* Biotic Damage
* Weapon: M-27 Scimitar
* 2000 Platinum
* 55,200 (Paragon) or 60,000 (Renegade)
* Upload Data - not shown on Mission Summary

************ Tali - Haestrom
* Heavy Pistol Damage
* Assault Rifle Damage
* Weapon: M-9 Tempest
* Weapon: Geth Pulse Rifle (on Hardcore or Insanity difficulty)
* 2000 Irridium
* 69,000 Credits

************ Legion - Derelict Reaper - IFF
* Sniper Rifle Damage
* Heavy Skin Weave
* Shotgun Damage
* 2000 Platinum
* 50,000 Credits

************************ Loyalty Missions *************************

************ Garrus: Eye for an Eye
* Sniper Rifle Damage
* 2000 Irridium
* 28,800 Credits (seems there should be 1200 more. If there is, I can't find it.)
* Fake ID

************ Grunt: Rite of Passage
* Shotgun Damage ? Awarded after quest
* 2000 Platinum
* 30,000 Credits

************ Jack: Subject Zero
* Biotic Damage
* 500 Element Zero
* 30,000 Credits

************ Jacob: The Gift of Greatness
* Heavy Pistol Damage
* 500 Element Zero
* 30,000 Credits

************ Miranda: The Prodigal
* Submachine Gun Damage
* Medi-Gel Capacity
* 30,000 Credits
* 2000 (hmmmmf, missed one)
* Trinket - doesn't show up on mission summary

************ Mordin: Old Blood
* Krogan Vitality
* Heavy Weapon Ammo
* 2000 Irridium
* 30,000 Credits

************ Tali: Treason
* Geth Shield Strength
* Tech Damage
* 2000 Palladium
* 45,000 Credits
* Model Ship

************ Thane: Sins of the Father
* Heavy Pistol Damage
* 30,000 Credits

************ Samara: The Ardat-Yakshi
* Assault Rifle Damage
* 500 Element Zero
* 30,000 Credits

************ Legion: A House Divided
* Geth Shield Strength
* 2000 Palladium
* 30,000 Credits

************ Zaeed: The Price of Revenge:
* Heavy Weapon Ammo (Paragon) or Assault Rifles damage (Renegade)
* Firestorm Heavy Weapon
* 2000 Palladium
* 39,000 Renegade or 60,000 Paragon

************ Kasumi: Stealing Memory:
* Tech Damage ? On a dead mercenary by a door near the end of the mission
* M-12 Locust - Next to the gray box
* 2000 Platinum
* 60,001 Credits

************************ Firewalker Missions *************************

************ MSV Rosalie
* Hammerhead
* 15000 Credits

************ Artifact Collection
* 2500 Credits
* 3750 Platinum

************ Artifact Collection
* 3500 Irridium
* 1625 Credits

************ Prothean Ruin
* Biotic Damage
* 1500 Element Zero
* 7500 Credits

************ Geth Incursion
* 5000 Palladium
* 2500 Credits

******************** Upgrades *********************

************ Assault Rifle Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
10 Damage 2,500 Iridium
20 Damage 5,000 Iridium
30 Damage 7,500 Iridium
40 Damage 10,000 Iridium
50 Damage 60,000 Credits
60 Damage 60,000 Credits
Penetration 15,000 Iridium
Accuracy Improvement 25,000 Iridium

************ SMG Upgrades
upgrade Cost
10 Damage 2,500 Iridium
20 Damage 5,000 Iridium
30 Damage 7,500 Iridium
40 Damage 60,000 Credits
50 Damage 60,000 Credits
Shield Piercing 15,000 Iridium
Extra Rounds 25,000 Iridium

************ Heavy Pistol Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
10 Damage 2,500 Palladium
20 Damage 5,000 Palladium
30 Damage 7,500 Palladium
40 Damage 60,000 Credits
50 Damage 60,000 Credits
Armor Piercing 15,000 Palladium
Critical Hit 25,000 Palladium

************ Shotgun Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
10 Damage 2,500 Platinum
20 Damage 5,000 Platinum
30 Damage 7,500 Platinum
40 Damage 60,000 Credits
50 Damage 60,000 Credits
Shield Piercing 15,000 Platinum
Extra Rounds 25,000 Platinum

************ Sniper Rifle Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
10 Damage 2,500 Platinum
20 Damage 5,000 Platinum
30 Damage 7,500 Platinum
40 Damage 60,000 Credits
50 Damage 60,000 Credits
Armor Piercing 15,000 Platinum
Headshot Damage 25,000 Platinum

************ Heavy Weapon Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
15 Heavy Weapon Ammo 2,500 Iridium
30 Heavy Weapon Ammo 5,000 Iridium
45 Heavy Weapon Ammo 7,500 Iridium
60 Heavy Weapon Ammo 10,000 Iridium
75 Heavy Weapon Ammo 30,000 Credits
90 Heavy Weapon Ammo 30,000 Credits
*only on first run through - subtract 45k irridium on import character from ME2
*Weapon: ML-77 Missile Launcher 5,000 Iridium
*Weapon: M-622 Avalanche 15,000 Iridium
*Weapon: M-920 Cain 25,000 Iridium

************ Cybernetic Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
10 Health 2,500 Palladium
20 Health 5,000 Palladium
30 Health 7,500 Palladium
40 Health 90,000 Credits
50 Health 90,000 Credits
Melee Damage 15,000 Palladium
Melee Damage Protection 25,000 Palladium

************ Shield Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
10 Damage Protection 2,500 Palladium
20 Damage Protection 5,000 Palladium
30 Damage Protection 7.500 Palladium
40 Damage Protection 90,000 Credits
50 Damage Protection 90,000 Credits
Redundant Generator 15,000 Palladium
Hard Shields 25,000 Palladium

************ Bio-Amp Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
10 Damage 500 Element Zero
20 Damage 1,000 Element Zero
30 Damage 1,500 Element Zero
40 Damage 2,000 Element Zero
50 Damage 90,000 Credits
60 Damage 90,000 Credits
20 Duration 3,000 Element Zero
20 Cooldown Reduction 5,000 Element Zero

************ Omni-tool Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
10 Damage 500 Element Zero
20 Damage 1,000 Element Zero
30 Damage 1,500 Element Zero
40 Damage 2,000 Element Zero
50 Damage 90,000 Credits
60 Damage 90,000 Credits
20 Duration 3,000 Element Zero
20 Cooldown Reduction 5,000 Element Zero
Bypass Module 30,000 Credits
Hack Module 30,000 Credits


************ Medical Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
1 Medi-Gel Capacity 2,500 Platinum
2 Medi-Gel Capacity 5,000 Platinum
3 Medi-Gel Capacity 7,500 Platinum
4 Medi-Gel Capacity 30,000 Credits
5 Medi-Gel Capacity 30,000 Credits
Trauma Module 15,000 Platinum
Emergency Shielding 25,000 Platinum

************ Ship Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
Med-Bay Upgrade 50,000 Platinum
Thanix Cannon 15,000 Platinum
Heavy Ship Armor 15,000 Palladium
Multicore Shielding 15,000 Palladium
Advanced Mineral Scanner 15,000 Iridium
Modular Probe Bay 15,000 Iridium
Extended Fuel Cells 3,000 Element Zero

************ Squad Member Upgrades
Upgrade Cost
Geth Shield 2,500 Platinum
Geth Shield 5,000 Platinum
Krogan Vitality 1 2,500 Platinum
Krogan Vitality 2 5,000 Platinum
20 Mordin Tech Damage 3,000 Element Zero
20 Jack Biotic Damage 3,000 Element Zero
Weapon - Grunt: M-300 Claymore 15,000 Platinum
Weapon - Legion: M-98 Widow 15,000 Platinum

**************** Shops **********************
All pricing after discount


OMEGA SHOPS
********************
HARROT'S EMPORIUM Price Slot
----------------------------------- ------- --------
Visor 1666 Head - Armor Choice
Model Ship 13 - Geth Ship 1666 Ship
Capacitor Chestplate 3333 Chest - Armor Choice
Hack Module 25000 None

OMEGA MARKET
---------------------------
Stimulator Conduits (+10 Storm Speed) 3333 Legs - Armor Choice
Model - Turian Cruiser 416 Ship
Sniper Rifle Damage 50000 None
Fornax 4 0

KENN'S SALVAGE
----------------------------
Heavy Weapon Ammo 25000 None
Heavy Skin Weave 75000 None
Shotgun Damage 50000 None


CITADEL SHOPS
*********************
SIRTA FOUNDATION Price Slot
------------------------------- ------- ------
Medi-Gel Capacity 25000 None
Life Support Webbing (+10 Health) 6666 Legs - Armor Choice

SARONIS APPLICATIONS
--------------------------------------
Tech Damage 75000 None
Damage Protection 75000 None

ZAKERA CAFE
-----------------------
High Grade Provisions 416 Chef's quest on Normandy
Ascension Novel 4 -
Revelations Novel 4 -
.

CITADEL SOUVENIRS
---------------------------------
Space Hamster 7666 Vanity
Illium Skald Fish 416 Vanity - Renegade - Lie to Krogan
Model - Normandy SR1 416 Vanity
Model - Destiny Ascension 416 Vanity

RODAM EXPEDITIONS
----------------------------------
Sniper Rifle Damage 50000 None
Heavy Pistol Damage 50000 None
Submachine Gun Damage 50000 None
Off-Hand Ammo Pack 1666 Hands - Armor Choice
Aegis Vest (+5 Health) 1666 Chest - Armor Choice


ILLIUM SHOPS
******************
SERRICE TECHNOLOGY Price Slot
------------------------------------- ------- ------
Biotic Damage (+10 Squad Biotic Damage) 75000 None
Bypass Module - Doubles time limit for bypass 25000 None
Medi-Gel Capacity +1 25000 None

GATEWAY PERSONAL DEFENSE
----------------------------------------------------
Heavy Skin Weave 90000 None
Submachine Gun Damage 60000 None
Assault Rifle Damage 60000 None
Amplifier Plates (+5 Power Damage) 2000 Shoulder - Armor Choice
*No discount found. Maybe some way with ME1 imported character.

MEMORIES OF ILLIUM
----------------------------------
Prejek Paddle Fish 6666 Vanity
Model - Alliance Cruiser 416 Vanity
Model - Athabasca Class Freighter 416 Vanity


BARIA FRONTIERS
-----------------------------
Star Chart - Hades Nexus 500
Star Chart - Minos Wasteland 500
Star Chart - Pylos Nebula 500
Star Chart - Shrike Abyssal 500


TUCHANKA SHOPS
************************
RATCH'S WARES Cost Equip
-------------------------- ==== =====
Heavy Weapon Ammo 25000 None
Stabilization Gauntlets 3333 Hands - Armor Choice
Death Mask 6666 Head - Armor Choice
Pygak Meat 0 Feed the Varren

FORTACK'S DATABASE
------------------------------------
Assault Rifle Damage 50000 None
Biotic Damage 75000 None
Heavy Pistol Damage 50000 None
Shotgun Damage 50000 None