It has been two years since the events ofMass Effect, things have changed and Commander Shepard has a new enemy to face. However, to overcome the odds that are quite literally suicidal, Shepard will need an elite team of specialists. Many of which are unique, offering various abilities in battle.
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So, who are these squadmates inMass Effect 2, and are they all as useful as one would expect from an elite squad? No, they are not. Shepard has a number to choose from, several of which deserve a spot at the Commander’s side. Meanwhile, others are best left on the ship, but they allneed to work togetherto survive the hell that awaits them.
Updated June 16, 2025 by Tom Bowen:Thanks to the release of Mass Effect Legendary Edition in May of 2021, it’s never been easier to replay the original Mass Effect trilogy. Despite more than a decade having now passed since their original releases, all three games hold up incredibly well, although many still believe Mass Effect 2 to be the pick of the bunch. The game features some of the very best squad members in the series, though that’s not at all to say that there aren’t one or two blanks mixed into the clip as well. For those looking for the best companions in Mass Effect 2, this list should therefore prove to be pretty useful when it comes to separating the potential buds from the useless duds.
Appearances: Mass Effect 2 & Mass Effect 3
Where exactly Jacob waswhen BioWare was handing out personalities is anybody’s guess, because this guy is a wet blanket. He is one of the two starting squad members, alongside Miranda, and, spoiler alert, she is a lot higher on the list. As soon as Shepard heads to Omega, they have the option of recruiting Mordin and Garrus. The quicker they are on board, the faster the commander can bench Jacob.
There is very little to say about Taylor, except that he is rather irritating and has practically no use in battle. His biotic prowess is non-existent when compared to his fellow teammates. Moreover, Jacob’s arsenal is lacking. Seriously, he lacks a punch in every department. However, a female Shepard needs toturn down Jacob’s advancesseveral times, so he is nothing if not persistent.
Appearances: Mass Effect 2 & Mass Effect 3
Considering Zaeed is a mercenary, he comes up surprisingly short in the excitement department. The guy is on the more boring side of things in most measurable ways, while also not being all that special in combat either. Moreover, Zaeed is a DLC character, meaning players actually have to pay to unlock him.
Also, in a game that requires playing in a squad, good banter is pretty crucial. In theory, there is nothing worse than running around in awkward silence. Then again, it is painful to listen to drivel and jokes that just do not land. Zaeed would be in good company with Jacob Taylor and Kaidan Alenko. What a hoot.
Legion is an interesting squadmate in that he is a Geth. Of course, those who played the first game will remember the Geth as being the enemy. Yet, inMass Effect 2, Legion wants to help Commander Shepard, despite the somewhat awkward history between the two races.
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In battle, Legion uses a sniper rifle, much like another entrant on this list. Except, while the Geth is interesting in his own special way, Garrus is in a league of his own. There is a comradery with Garrus that just can’t be formed with Legion no matter how hard he or the commander seems to try.
The daughter of Samara, Morinth could become a squad member should Shepard find himself on more of a renegade path. There really isn’t all that much to her though. The woman is kind of moody and certainly doesn’t enjoy being aboard the Normandy.
Morinth, like any other Asari, has biotic capabilities but she is rather lackluster. Despite what she may claim, Morinth is no more powerful than her mother. Despite her reputation, Shepard may as well keep their word and help Samara rid Omega of her. If for no other reason than to save Morinth from becoming a giant hideous banshee inMass Effect 3. Be done with her now, and save a fight further down the line.
The Justicar falls on the more serious end of the scale. Samara does offer good support in the form of her biotic abilities. However, Miranda Lawson and Jack are just as valuable, if not more so on the battlefield. While it is worth helping Samara in her loyalty mission and standing by her, there is no benefit to being team Morinth.
Samara is well-spoken and polite, two characteristics that do not create an entertaining squadmate. Moreover, she is not all that interesting to speak to either. She is essentially the law in the Asari race, and the law really doesn’t have much of a place among such a diverse group of misfits.
Ah Mordin, the Salarian scientist is lovable in his own special way. His rambling can be highly amusing, and somewhat educational, while on the battlefield,Mordin is an accomplished tech specialist. As such, he can provide support, along with clever retorts that may be too smart for the room depending on who he is teamed with.
Also, purely for the talk he has with Shepard should they romance Miranda or Jacob, Mordin has to be considered one of the funniest beings aboard the Normandy. Granted, humor isn’t everything, but given how lacking some of the other squad members are in this department, Mordin definitely stands out.
Thane was a good addition toMass Effect 2. It was nice to see even more species of aliens in this vast galaxy, and the Drell are quite fascinating. Thane finds himself in the middle of the pack through no fault of his own. Rather, he just doesn’t quite meet the heights of those ahead of him but steamrolls the teammates that are behind him.
The assassin may not be the funniest squaddie to talk to, but what Thane lacks in wit and humor, he more than makes up for in interesting remarks. He also happens to have a great loyalty mission, one that gives Shepard much more of an insight into their new friend.
Appearances: Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 & Mass Effect 3
Tali grows quite a bit in betweenMass EffectandMass Effect 2. The Quarian has grown up in a sense, given she was on a pilgrimage previously. However, she is now a respected operator among her people. If Shepard is in need of a teammate that packs a punch with firearms, there are other people that could prove more useful, but Tali remains just as charming as she was in the first game.
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Unlike inMass Effect, Tali’Zorah is romanceable in the sequel, with her story continuing intoMass Effect 3. For people thatlove a good romance, it is definitely worth exploring the growing attraction between Shepard and Tali, as it provides a lot more insight into the backstory and motivations of the character.
Miles apart from the other DLC character, Kasumi Goto is an excellent addition to Shepard’s squad. More than that, her loyalty mission is one of the best in the entire game. When it comes to combat, Kasumi has some attacks that allow her to sneak up on the enemy. A valuable tool should Shepard be an aggressive commander, the enemy will not see such an underhand assault coming.
There is much more to the thief than her prowess in combat though, with Kasumi also capable of partaking in some great banter with practically any squadmate. She also has an interesting backstory that is worth exploring. Honestly, when it comes to the top five squad members, there is very little to separate them.
Garrus is back, and this Turian has upped his game in the two years since he last saw Shepard. He remains just as sharp as everwith a sniper rifletoo, which still makes him a fantastic choice. Pairing him up with Grunt or a powerful Biotic like Jack can lead to total devastation.
Due to popular demand, Garrus, and Tali for that matter, became romance options inMass Effect 2. To his credit, the Turian has a nice story, with some sweet moments to be found as he tries to woo a female commander. It does feel a little out of character at times but is still pretty enjoyable to observe nonetheless.
