Mass Effect 2: The Reaper IFF - walkthrough Mass Effect 2 guide, walkthrough

Last update: 02 June 2021

Received from: The Illusive Man [Normandy SR-2]

Description: You will be allowed to start this quest as soon as you've returned from the Collector ship (second Collector mission), however I would STRONGLY recommend that you wait. Your top priorities should be to complete an entire team for the suicide mission and to raise loyalty levels of certain squad members. Once you're ready to begin this mission use a mass relay and plan a course for Hawking Eta. After you've arrived in Chandrasekhra use a refuelling station, because you'll have to fly to a nearby Thorne system. Locate an abandoned Reaper ship and confirm that you want to begin docking procedures. It would be a good idea to take Tali for this mission (or someone else with highly developed technological powers), because her drone ability will make this mission a lot easier.

Begin your exploration of the [Derelict Reaper] by heading forward. Once you're inside a new room take your time to hack into two safes to collect 2000 and 4000 credits. You can also take 2000 credits from one of the terminals and listen to a message. Proceed to the next section of the ship.

Get to the opposite end of this corridor where you'll be given a chance to listen to a new message using one of the terminals. Don't forget to interact with both medical stations, especially since you may need a lot of medi-gel soon. Try opening a nearby door and you'll trigger cut-scene informing you about updated mission objectives (you don't have to think about choosing your answers). Your top priority from now on will be to destroy the generators.

Make sure to examine a new log using a nearby computer station. LEAVE the rest of the team somewhere over here, SAVE your current game and proceed alone to your right. As soon as you notice husks appearing near your position move back to a safe distance and start shooting at them. Be careful, because you're also going to be attacked by abominations and you must prevent them from moving too close. Use Tali's drones to distract the monsters, allowing you to kill them without taking any major risks.

Notice that there are a lot of explosive containers and crates in the area and naturally you should use them to your advantage. Each time you must wait for the monsters to get closer and then go for the explosion. Slowly continue moving forward and remain in the exact same spot until you've eliminated each new group of zombies.

As long as you don't make any mistakes and don't take any unnecessary risks you should be able to get to the next area without having to use medi-gels. Be on a look out for a new terminal along the way (first screenshot) and read a message. Eventually you'll reach a larger section of the balcony (second screenshot). Look around to collect power cells, 2000 units of platinum and 3500 credits (terminal). You can also scan a rifle here to acquire a new plan for a research project.

SAVE your game again, because you're about to take part in a much more difficult battle. New zombies will appear as soon as you've arrived in a new area (first screenshot). Attack them from higher ground. You'll have to be careful here, because husks and abominations are soon going to be joined by a scion.

Remember that it's very important to attack a scion from a larger distance and to keep moving in order to avoid its shockwave attacks. The same applies to the rest of your team, because otherwise you would have to spend valuable medi-gel trying to heal them. There are also a few explosive crates here and you should consider blowing them up.

Keep fighting until it's safe here and then enter this area again, this time in hopes of exploring it. Listen to a new recording (computer), pick up a med kit and scan one of the terminals (first screenshot) to add a new plan for a research project to your database. Finish off by examining an altar and talking about your discovery the rest of your squad.

You must now choose a side passageway which you might have already noticed during the last battle (first screenshot). Approach a door and solve a well-known mini-game to open it. Save your game here and then open a new door to watch an interesting cut-scene featuring a geth sniper. Wait until you reclaim full control over your team and start eliminating new husks. You can't let the monsters get too close, because you don't have anywhere to retreat.

The next big battle is going to take place soon after you've tried using the stairs (first screenshot). Order your squad to remain somewhere in the back, because you won't be able to prevent all the husks from using the stairs. A scion will join this battle in a few seconds (second screenshot) and you should begin attacking this creature even when it's still far away.

Keep defending yourselves until all the monsters have been defeated. Head down and inspect the surrounding area to find standard ammunition. You may now proceed towards a new balcony section (first screenshot). Turn left when you get there to find a med kit, ammunition and a new terminal (3000 credits). It would be wise to save your progress here.

Order your teammates to remain near the terminal you've just used. Just as before, you should move forward alone and wait for the husks and abominations to show up. Keep attacking the monsters from a large distance and blow up crates and containers to inflict extra damage. Spend some time looking around when it's safe again - you'll be allowed to take 3500 credits from one of the terminals (second screenshot).

I would recommend that you order your team to take cover somewhere near the second terminal you've just used. Head down alone, take a med kit and wait for new creatures to show up. The first group should be easy to kill (first screenshot). Go back up, take cover somewhere near the stairs and deal with the rest of the zombies with the help of your team (second screenshot).

You'll soon have to change priorities, because a new scion will appear in this area. Just as before, try killing the creature or at least injuring it before it gets too close and start using shockwave attacks. Use the ramp again and turn right. Search this area to find power cells and scan a shotgun (second screenshot) to acquire a new plan for a research project.

SAVE your game and choose a heavy weapon from your inventory before setting off on a new journey. Choose a nearby ramp and then locate a terminal with 3500 credits (it's to your right - first screenshot). Be careful, because once you've reached a new area (second screenshot) you're going to be attacked by husks and by TWO scions.

Don't forget to use a heavy weapon during the battle with the scions and to maintain safe distance for as long as possible. There are some new explosive crates near the ramp (first screenshot) and consider blowing them up when the monsters get closer. Head forward once it's safe and save your game before moving on to the next area (second screenshot).

Get ready for a new battle with husks and two other scions. This time it's going to be even harder to kill the scions from a distance. They'll be covered by objects from the environment, making them tough to spot. Don't forget to use explosive objects to your advantage and you'll also find power cells nearby (second screenshot).

Make sure that you've eliminated all hostile units and proceed towards a door seen in the distance (first screenshot). Collect ammunition and a med kit when you get there. Hack the door and walk through a short corridor where you'll have a chance to open a safe (2500 credits) and to collect the IFF (second screenshot). SAVE your game here, because the final battle of this part of the quest is about to begin.

As soon as you've entered the last room of the ship you're going to be rewarded with a short cut-scene and a new battle will commence. You won't encounter any bosses here, but you'll be dealing with very large groups of husks. Your primary objective will be to destroy the Reaper's core and it will be possible only when the core is exposed (first screenshot). Use this opportunity to fire at the core using your best guns. If the core is closed (second screenshot) you must wait and switch your attention to killing zombies.

You shouldn't have any major problems eliminating most of the zombies, even if you decide to remain in one spot instead of running around. I would recommend changing positions only if you're about to run out of ammunition. Notice that you'll be allowed to take 1000 credits from one of the terminals during this battle (second screenshot). It can be achieved without completing any mini-games, but you must take the money before destroying the core.

The main part of this mission will end with the destruction of the core. A few cut-scenes later you'll return to the Normandy and this is when you'll have to decide whether you want to activate the captured geth or leave in unactive. Naturally I would recommend adding the machine as a new member of the team, however this may result in losing Tali's loyalty. Make sure to read the description of Legion: A House Divided quest to find out more. For now you'll find out that EDI is going to need some time to install the module you've just found.

Saving the Normandy from the Collectors: You won't have to wait long for the installation process to be finished, because one of the upcoming missions (primary or secondary) is going to be interrupted by EDI saying that the IFF is ready and operational. Your entire team will take off in a shuttle and Normandy is going to be attack and boarded by the Collectors.

Get ready for a very interesting assignment, because during this part of the mission you'll be playing as an unarmed Joker and your primary objective will be to get rid of the Collectors on board of the Normandy. Start off by moving forward. I wouldn't recommend running, because it won't be necessary and Joker would only lose some of its strength.

Notice red blinking lights on the floor panels - EDI will use them to guide you. Make sure to stay on this path until the end of the mission. After you've reached the main area of the second deck you'll have to turn left (first screenshot). Ignore some of the nearby fights and keep heading towards the laboratory.

Go to the opposite end of the laboratory and you should be able to find a ladder (first screenshot). Approach the ladder and confirm that you want to get down to the third level of the ship. Exit the first room, turn right and proceed towards the main elevator.

Ignore all enemy units you encounter during this mission, including the creatures seen inside the elevator. Choose a corridor located to the right of the elevator (first screenshot) and keep heading forward until you reach the clinic (second screenshot). Continue heading straight until you enter a room marked as AI core.

You'll have to perform only one action here and that is to interact with a computer panel of the AI core (first screenshot). Talk to EDI and then locate a new ladder found inside this room (second screenshot). Use the ladder to get to the fourth deck of the ship.

Once again you must use the blinking red lights and EDI's comments to reach your destination safely. Use the stairs BUT stop at about a half way through (first screenshot). Wait for the aliens to leave and once EDI has confirmed you can go proceed to the upper level and through the left door (second screenshot).

Interact with a console found inside the machine room (first screenshot) to end this mission. Once you've disposed of the Collectors you'll witness a new cut-scene featuring all of your crew members. Choosing the dialogues won't affect the campaign, but you'll have a chance to earn a couple of renegade or paragon points.