Throughout the main story of Mass Effect 2, Shepard will encounter new potential upgrades to weapons, armor, squates, and even the Normandy itself. The upgrade system in Mass Effect 2 is accessed via the Tech Lab on the Normandy. To unlock it, players will need to recruit Mordin Solus on Omega. The terminal in the Tech Lab allows Shepard to see all available upgrades and research them using rare minerals. Some upgrade schematics can be purchased from vendors at hubs like Omega, the Citadel, Tuchanka, and Illium, or found on missions. Others come from squates' suggestions or as a result of making enough upgrades from the Weapons and Armor categories.
The Prototype section of the Mass Effect 2 upgrade interface serves as a sort of catch-all for upgrades that may be difficult to classify. These can include upgrades to specific squate abilities, new weapons, improved shields and protections, and new abilities. Some of these are obtained during squate Loyalty missions. Others can be unlocked by speaking to various squates aboard the Normandy. In this miscellaneous category, players can easily get overwhelmed trying to decide what to research first. While all Prototype upgrades in Mass Effect 2 can be useful and worth getting, there are a few players should prioritize, especially early in the game. Here are the best Prototype upgrades to research first in Mass Effect 2.
Best Prototype Upgrades to Get Early in Mass Effect 2
The order in which Shepard unlocks Prototype upgrades in Mass Effect 2 will depend in part upon the order in which they recruit squates from The Illusive Man's Dossiers. Generally, however, it is always a good idea to prioritize upgrades that enhance shielding and squate abilities.
To ask squates about potential upgrades, Shepard needs to find the squate aboard the Normandy between missions and use the Investigate dialogue option, followed by [NORMANDY UPGRADES]. After a brief bit of dialogue, this will automatically open the upgrade interface from the Tech Lab. Players can choose Prototypes to see all available options. If they have enough materials, they can purchase the upgrade on the spot. If not, they can exit the interface and the conversation with the squate and access the upgrade again later from the terminal in the Tech Lab.
With the exception of Legion's upgrade, Shepard can purchase most squate Prototype upgrades fairly early in the game. The upgrade, squate, and mineral cost of each of these appear below:
- Mordin Omni-tool: Mordin; 3,000 Element Zero
- Subject Zero Biotic Boost: Jack; 3,000 Element Zero
- Krogan Shotgun: Grunt; 15,000 Platinum
- Geth Sniper Rifle: Legion; 15,000 Platinum
Players will only receive the Geth Sniper Rifle upgrade in conversation with Legion following their Loyalty mission, due to how late in the game players find him.
While not attached to a squate, it is also a good idea to prioritize the Heavy Weapon Ammo get more use from the heavier weapons. There are seven levels of this upgrade for players to unlock, and they can be found during various missions or purchased from vendors if missed. These are also important for unlocking new Heavy Weapons later.
Next, Shepard should prioritize upgrades that improve health for themselves and their squates. There are only three of these, and the means of unlocking them vary. They are:
- Heavy Skin Weave 1-7: Researched using various quantities of Palladium and purchased from various vendors; grants Shepard +10% Health per upgrade level
- Krogan Vitality 1-2: Found during Grunt's recruitment mission and Mordin's Loyalty mission; 2,500 Platinum and 5,000 Platinum; grants krogan squates +25% health
- Geth Shield Strength 1-2: Found during Tali's and Legion's Loyalty missions; 2,500 Platinum and 5,000 Platinum; grants +25% shield strength to all Geth squates.
Because Shepard will again need to wait to recruit Legion and complete their Loyalty mission, Geth Shield Strength may not be as necessary right away.
The heavy weapons are also sometimes worth unlocking quickly, particularly when Shepard deals with Scions and Praetorians, as well as the Thresher Maw on Tuchanka. The options include:
- ML-77 Missile Launcher: 5,000 Iridium; unlocked after 1 Heavy Weapon Ammo upgrade
- M-622 Avalanche: 15,000 Iridium; unlocked after 2 Heavy Weapon Ammo upgrades
- M-920 Cain: 25,000 Iridium; unlocked after 3 Heavy Weapon Ammo upgrades
Of these, the Cain is usually the most effective against larger enemies, even on Insanity difficulty, and should be prioritized. If possible, players should try to get this upgrade ahead of Horizon, or at the very least ahead of the Collector Ship.
Though not required, the remaining Prototype upgrades will depend on playstyle. If Shepard spends a lot of time out of cover and charging enemies, particularly in the Vanguard class, or if Husks have become a problem, players can also choose to prioritize the following:
- Heavy Bone Weave: Shepard takes -50% damage from melee attacks; 25,000 Palladium; unlocked after 2 Heavy Skin Weave upgrades
- Heavy Muscle Weave: Shepard does +25% melee damage; 15,000 Palladium; unlocked after 3 Heavy Skin Weave upgrades.
Advanced Training and Retrain Powers are usually circumstance-based. Advanced Training unlocks Shepard's bonus power if this is the player's first time through Mass Effect 2 or allows Shepard to change bonus powers whenever they want. Retrain Powers refunds all squad points, allowing players to respec Shepard. Advanced Training requires 5,000 Element Zero to research each time, and Retrain Powers costs 2,500 Element Zero each time. Making these upgrades are often up to player needs and preferences, and they can be prioritized and de-prioritized as needed.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition launches May 14 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with forward compatibility on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.