Mass Effect 2 rebuilds both Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew from the ground up. And with this reconstruction comes a chance for fresh faces and new abilities to be introduced as you journey through the Omega 4 Relay.
Compared to the other two games in the trilogy, Mass Effect 2 boasts a giant roster of Squadmates for players to choose from. So much so that sometimes it’s hard to know which companions work well as a unit. Don't worry though, we're ranked your best options.
15 Miranda and Legion
An unlikely combo, pairing the Geth Squadmate Legion with the loyal Cerberus Officer Miranda Lawson can be a great team for those playing through with a Commander Shepard that isn’t a Tech-focused class.
While Legion is quite late to join the Normandy crew, their Tech powers and long-range combat make them a great Squadmate to bring along to any fight. Similarly, Miranda’s ability to use Overload and Warp makes her power usage versatile enough for any enemy type.
14 Grunt and Kasumi
There’s something particularly pleasing to the eye about bringing both the smallest and largest Squadmates to a fight. Essentially the antitheses of the brain and brawn combination, Kasumi and Grunt are a surprising match to bring along for the Mass Effect 2 journey.
As is the Korgan way, Grunt is built like a tank and can take down waves of enemies with his shotgun. While Kasumi’s Tech abilities Shadow Strike, Overload and Flashbang Grenade can effectively take down shields, Grunt can go in and finish the job.
13 Samara and Tali
Tali’s Tech heavy skillset paired with Samara’s Biotic prowess can be a great team to bring along with a Soldier or combat-heavy Commander Shepard. Both Squadmates are especially useful for combat situations that have you coming up against multiple enemies at once.
Samara’s Biotic power Reave is a solid asset in any fight and one of the best Biotic powers in the whole trilogy. Investing talent points into Tali’s combat drone essentially creates an extra teammate to draw out enemy fire.
12 Jack and Miranda
Despite the narrative of Mass Effect 2 pitting these two women against each other, they make a great team from a gameplay perspective. Especially for those wanting a Biotic heavy Squad.
Jack serves as Mass Effect 2’s Vanguard Squadmate and adds fast-paced and dynamic combat assistance unlike anything seen before in the series. Pairing Jack’s Shockwave or Pull with Miranda’s Warp attack can lead to some massive Biotic damage. And for any situation that requires shields to be taken down, Miranda can simply Overload.
11 Mordin and Thane
What’s interesting about pairing these two characters together is the way they both almost operate as two sides of the same coin. Both characters follow similar redemption arcs and are presented as experienced and ruthless killers who do deep down possess a strong sense of morality.
Mordin’s Incinerate and Cryo Blast are great Tech abilities that can rip through shields and health. In contrast, Thane can take down Barriers and Biotic focused enemies while picking off targets from afar with his Sniper Rifle.
10 Garrus and Zaeed
Zaeed and Garrus are the Mercenary duo that makes sure the mission gets done no matter the cost. Zaeed’s Inferno Grenade is a strong Tech power that can do lasting fire damage when fully upgraded.
Both Squadmates have Concussive Shot at their disposal which can lead to some combat power mania. While this team lacks Biotic abilities, a Vanguard, Sentinel or Adept Commander Shepard can help round off this Squad.
9 Miranda and Samara
A Biotic heavy combination with a small sprinkle of Tech, these two provide a wide variety of powers to use and combine to cause all sorts of blue magic panic. They both also maintain a cold and calculated approach in their interactions with other characters and in combat.
While Biotics may be the main feature of these combinations, both are quick-moving Squadmates that can change up positions and run across maps with ease.
8 Miranda and Mordin
What makes these two both individually great Squadmates is that they can be paired with virtually any other companion, and it’ll still be a solid matchup. Naturally, bringing them both along makes for a great team.
While both Mordin and Miranda lack long-range weapons, their tracking focused Biotic and Tech powers have the distance needed to compensate for this. They’re also a great team to pair with an Infiltrator or Soldier class Shepard.
7 Legion and Samara
For anyone who loves the Soldier Class but still wants to have Tech and Biotic abilities in combat, this pairing is for you.
As Tech and Biotic specialists respectively, Legion and Samara can offer powers that counteract any enemy that Mass Effect 2 throws at the Normandy team. Legion and Samara still can provide long-distance gun support and their powers can come in handy when enemies get a little too close for comfort.
6 Grunt and Tali
Grunt and Tali are a combination that works against any type of enemy. While they may not offer any Biotic powers, Grunt’s brute force and Tali’s Tech skills make them an underrated team throughout Mass Effect 2.
Tali’s combat drone works as the perfect distraction for both characters to then run in with their shotguns and get the job done as quickly as possible. This rushing style of attack means players can either choose to join in or sit back and offer covering fire without being directly in harm's way.
5 Miranda and Thane
Any Barriers that need to be Warped? If the answer is yes, then this squad combination has that covered.
Miranda and Thane work well as a unit and can be utilized either as a Biotic force to stack powers or as nimble and efficient shooters. While this duo may struggle against the Geth or other synthetic heavy missions, bringing them along when facing The Collectors makes quick work of what can sometimes be frustrating gameplay scenarios.
4 Garrus and Grunt
Playing through Mass Effect 2 on the higher difficulties means that sometimes the fancy Biotic powers must be cast aside in favour of some Squadmates who simply stay alive. Given that one of the best squad combinations in the first Mass Effect was Garrus and Wrex, simply swapping out one Krogan for another still makes for a great duo.
Garrus’ Overload means shields can still be taken down quickly without fear. And in terms of both short-range and long-range combat, this team has that covered in spades. Garrus with the Sniper Rifle and Grunt with his shotgun, what more could you need?
3 Garrus and Tali
As the only two companions from Mass Effect to join the Normandy crew, fans often choose to buddy these two up. And while they may seem like a tech-heavy combination, they both offer enough difference to make a strong unit.
Where Garrus prefers to take enemy’s out with a long-range combat style, Tali prefers to go in all guns blazing with her shotgun. And for those who know just how close these two can get in Mass Effect 3, bringing them along for the Mass Effect 2 journey can be a funny third wheel situation for Shepard.
2 Garrus and Mordin
Mordin has arguably the best Tech abilities in Mass Effect 2. He is a great Squadmate to combine powers, whether it be combining his own or with other characters’ abilities.
Combining Garrus’ Concussive shot with power like Cryo Blast makes for a big explosion and can deal big damage. They’re both able to take down all types of enemies and are an effective squad against Mechs, The Geth and The Collectors.
1 Garrus and Thane
Choosing to bring Garrus and Thane along for the ride across the Mass Effect 2 Universe is like choosing your loyalist buddies to back you up. They always have your back and can support you when needed. Between Garrus and Thane, their long-distance support does exactly that, however, they both possess Tech and Biotic powers to help minimize any variety in enemy attacks or health
What also makes this team successful is their ability to survive combat encounters and not go down without a fight. They’re both warriors and their performances throughout Mass Effect 2 reflect that.