Mass Effect 2: Resources list #1 Mass Effect 2 guide, walkthrough
Last update: 02 June 2021
Introduction
Methods of gathering resources:
There are two methods of finding resources in the game:
1) You can collect them during missions - a lot of them are placed in small containers, however you may also find them in different forms. Most of the missions (not counting prologue and some of the primary quests) offer you a chance to find either 500 units of element zero or 2000 units of iridium, palladium or platinum. It's not much but you shouldn't be too picky, especially since locating containers won't be a big problem.
Most of the resources can be taken from small containers.
2) You can obtain them by scanning surface of different planets. This is a much more interesting solution, because it will allow you to find more resources. Scanning a single planet usually takes about 5-10 minutes and results in finding several thousand units of three or four types of minerals each. Keep reading this section of the atlas to find out more about how this all works.
Scanning planets allows you to collect a lot of resources in a short amount of time.
Preparations:
Successful scanning of the planets is only possible with probes (you can buy them at fuel depots) and to scan a single planet thoroughly you should send between 20 and 30 probes.
If the planet you wish to scan is not located in the same system as the mass relay you'll have to use a fuel depot to purchase fuel. This will allow you to fly over to a nearby system from where you'll be allowed to object of your interest.
Fuel and probes are very cheap so you won't have to worry about making a lot of trips back and forth - your budget can definitely handle it. I also wouldn't recommend being too greedy when it comes to the probes so you won't run out of them while scanning a planet. Otherwise you would have to return to the fuel depot to restock.
Don't forget to purchase Normandy upgrades concerning resource gathering - you'll be allowed to take more fuel and probes on board of the ship.
Before you begin scanning more planets you should also take interest in a technology named Advanced mineral scanner. Developing this technology will speed up the entire process. A plan for this technology can be obtained from Miranda (ask her for ideas for new upgrades).
Scanning the planets - useful hints:
You don't have to spend countless hours scanning planets, because you won't need a lot of resources to develop new technologies. If you see that you're running out of resources you should consider scanning one of very rich planets and/or objects where a rare element zero can be found.
I would recommend spending at least 5-7 minutes on orbit of a single planet. Don't be in a lot of hurry and keep scanning slowly so that you won't miss any larger stockpiles. The most effective method is to use a grid seen on the screen to scan the planet column by column.
After your scanner has picked up some reading check the surrounding area on the planet's surface to make sure that there aren't any bigger stockpiles in the vicinity. This is very important, because sending a probe will prevent you from finding new resources in the surrounding area. As a result you should always send the probe to the area with the strongest signal.
Ignore the informations provided by the scanner concerning remaining resources, because even if you'll be informed that a planet has been depleted you'll still have a chance of finding several large stockpiles.
Don't forget to scan the planets where primary or secondary mission has already taken place. You may forget about them later and the game will automatically classify them as examined objects in space, without informing you about the state of resources.
Element zero
The table seen below contains a list of all the planets and moons where you may find element zero. The last column of the table informs you how much resources you can find: very poor (0-1500 units), poor (1500-3500 units), moderate (3500-6000 units), rich (6000-9000 units), very rich (more than 9000 units).
Name of the planet/moon | Location | Quantity |
Caleston | Caleston Rift :: Balor | moderate |
Tarith | Crescent Nebula :: Lusarn | rich |
Helyme | Crescent Nebula :: Zelene | moderate |
Anhur | Eagle Nebula :: Amun | rich |
Sekhmet | Eagle Nebula :: Amun | moderate |
Preying Mouth | Eagle Nebula :: Relic | rich |
Gotha | Far Rim :: Dholen | moderate |
Bothros | Hades Nexus :: Hekate | poor |
Dobrovolski | Hades Nexus :: Pamyat | moderate |
Gei Hinnom | Hades Nexus :: Sheol | moderate |
Etamis | Hawking Eta :: Schwarzschild | rich |
Daratar | Hourglass Nebula :: Faryar | rich |
Erinle | Hourglass Nebula :: Osun | rich |
Thegan | Hourglass Nebula :: Ploitari | moderate |
Mantun | Krogan DMZ :: Nith | moderate |
Invictus | Minos Wasteland :: Caestus | moderate |
Yamm | Nubian Expanse :: Kalabsha | poor |
Eingana | Omega Nebula :: Amada | moderate |
Nearog | Omega Nebula :: Batalla | poor |
Thunawanuro | Omega Nebula :: Batalla | rich |
Siano | Pylos Nebula :: Dirada | poor |
Boro | Pylos Nebula :: Satent | moderate |
Raisaris | Pylos Nebula :: Satent | rich |
2176 Aeia | Rosetta Nebula :: Alpha Draconis | poor |
Joab | Rosetta Nebula :: Enoch | moderate |
Laban | Rosetta Nebula :: Enoch | poor |
Mizraim | Rosetta Nebula :: Enoch | poor |
Prospect | Shadow Sea :: Iera | very poor |
Sanctum | Sigurd's Cradle :: Decoris | moderate |
Watson | Sigurd's Cradle :: Skepsis | very rich |
Ekuna | The Phoenix Massing :: Salahiel | moderate |
Talis Fia | The Shrike Abyssal :: Urla Rast | moderate |
Tosal Nym | The Shrike Abyssal :: Xe Cha | moderate |
Zada Ban | The Shrike Abyssal :: Xe Cha | rich |
Capek | Titan Nebula :: Haskins | moderate |
Farlas | Valhallan Threshold :: Micah | moderate |
Israfil | Valhallan Threshold :: Micah | poor |
Kakabel | Valhallan Threshold :: Micah | poor |
Gorvug | Valhallan Threshold :: Paz | rich |
The table seen below contains a list of planets and moons where you may find element zero during missions (primary or secondary). In most cases you'll find the minerals inside containers, however sometimes you'll have to interact with other objects. Check the description of each quest for more info.
Name of the planet/moon | Location | Quest type | Number of units |
Aeia: Hugo Gernsback Crash Site | Rosetta Nebula :: Alpha Draconis | companion | 500 |
Alchera | Omega Nebula :: Amada | DLC | 500 |
Capek: Hahne-Kedar Facility | Titan Nebula :: Haskins | N7 | 500 |
Daratar: Eclipse Depot | Hourglass Nebula :: Faryar | N7 | 500 |
Illium: Dantius Towers | Crescent Nebula :: Tasale | main | 500 |
Illium: Spaceport | Crescent Nebula :: Tasale | companion | 500 |
Joab: Dig Site | Rosetta Nebula :: Enoch | N7 | 500 |
Omega: Archangel's Base | Omega Nebula :: Sahrabarik | main | 500 |
Omega: Slums | Omega Nebula :: Sahrabarik | main | 1000 |
Pragia: Teltin Facility | Nubian Expanse :: Dakka | companion | 500 |
Prison Ship Purgatory | Hourglass Nebula :: Osun | main | 500 |
Unactive Collector Ship | - | main | 500 |