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Things have changed in the world of Mass Effect. No longer do you simply have to click on unexplored systems to mine resources, now it actually takes some skill
Pay Attention to Scanner Reports:
The first thing you always do before dispatching a probe to a planet is check it’s scanner rating. Ranging from depleted to rich, you can always save time by gauging whether a particular system is worth your time. Best of all, as you mine rich planets you’ll see their rating gradually going down as you extract their valuable resources.
Gently comb the Planet:
Yes it’s tempting to just quickly sweep a planet’s surface for treasure but if you take some time out to properly comb the surface you’ll realise that the difference between finding 2000 palladium and only 500 can be as little as a centimetre. Take your time and delicately move the mouse or thumbstick around, in order to find the best spot.
Check the Codex:
The Codex provides a short history of the planet
Not only do these texts flesh out the Mass Effect 2 universe, they often hint at mining potential. Any secret alliance planets, or those that aren’t recorded in the archive of the Citadel often have element zero deposits which are rare and invaluable when researching new upgrades for biotics.
Listen Carefully:
Only an idiot would play Mass Effect 2 on mute, but aside from missing out on all the excellent voice acting you’ll also make mining impossible. Keeping an ear out for changes in the scanners pitch and tone is vital when detecting any mineral deposits. High pitched clicks indicate that you’ve hit a proverbial goldmine whereas the low repeating sound means there’s nothing to plunder.
Go further than Mass Relays:
Stock up on fuel and venture out into the darkness of space.
Scanning planets next to a Mass Relay is convenient but prospective miners need to make sure they are fully stocked up on the maximum amount of fuel (1000) and have all the probes you can facilitate (30). Like many BioWare titles Mass Effect 2 rewards those who are willing to explore and there are still plenty of pirate bases and mineral deposits far from the standard galactic systems. If you have the time and the money, don’t be afraid to go that extra mile. |
