Mass Effect 2: Adept Guide / Horizon Guide (Adepting Through Insanity) Part 1

[hudson5188]

Man, when the reapers come, I want you over Shepard, leading the army!

[XxLasTxReBeLlioNxX]

in all honesty I thought the engineer was the easiest class to go through with, because you got your upgrades faster with the Class's Passive ability which reduces the cost of upgrades making your characters ridiculous by this part of the game. I always took the combat heavy characters too in combat. So I had Grunt, Garrus, or Zaeed running the crowd while I used a combat drone to offer support while me and another support were in the back just offering support.

[lookrepusnamcirtap]

im getting better at playing my adept. did collector ship without dying. i still hold true to my point

[LordLolinghamThe3rd]

I just picked everything without even reading what it did until I got the sniper rifle. Then I just ran around quick-scoing.

[infections]

After playing through this game about 8 or 9 times I can honestly say, horizon on insanity is the biggest rape fest ever...

[werderfreak88]

@infections imho that platform lvl on the collector ship with the harbnger was so much pain

[DrDuckDockin]

Did I make a mistake by choosing dominate as my loyality ability? I heard it really helps later on but idk bout it right now

[MJ1284]

@DrDuckDockin From my experience Dominate is very good bonus ability on just about any class, mostly because it creates extra target for enemies to shoot (and flush them out of cover) and it'll inflit some extra damage to enemies too. You'll need it at Rank 4 to get any use out of it though, there's a small windup time before the whole mind control thingie kicks in.

[Bassintraining]

Great help! Thanks a million! I'm still working on getting the hang of biotics. Cuz i did a run thru with soldier and im just used to shooting things haha :P

[infections]

I don't see how people manage to do anything above veteran with a solider. Soliders have to sit outside of cover for a while to inflict decent damage. Even with the ammo powers, the amount of defense and health enemies have make it almost a stalemate rather than an advantage on anything above veteran.

[passwordresetisbroke]

@infections On insanity a well built soldier will one hit kill most things with a mantis, if you have the widow it becomes laughable.

You take almost no damage whilst in adrenaline rush, because the enemies seem to fire less when the time is slowed. And above that soldiers are the 2nd toughest class in the game.

I have no idea how anyone can play adept on ME2 personally. They are 100% useless until the enemy is just on health, and an enemy on health is a one hit/burst kill for a soldier

[passwordresetisbroke]

@passwordresetisbroke As an even further aside, if you have the DLC which gives you the mattock (dont know which DLC that is), insanity is made EVEN easier, because of the sheer dps the mattock can do in one hieghtened insanity rush, ie it can kill the gunship on Garruses recruitment mission in one hieghtened insanity rush if you use the mattock.

[infections]

@passwordresetisbroke I used a sentinel :D

[lookrepusnamcirtap]

@passwordresetisbroke THANK YOU! infections youre wrong. fuck adepts

[reclaimor117]

I'm going to be starting my insanity play through, should i start a new game with the adept? because my current character is a vanguard. and if not whats the best class for insanity mode?

[danielpogreb]

i'v actualy played a level 30 adept on the insanity mode and i gotta admit .....its actualy MOCH esier then with any gun heavy char. no need to watch yoar ammo and since adepts are masters at killing at a distance you can actualy take out entire hoards of enemies witout getting hit. the 2 main problems are that you are voulnrable at short range (much like everyone alse on insanity) other then thath its just a matter of adjusting yoar tactic.

[Jovenza]

I'm new since I have PS3. What's nuke?

[tukarak]

Adept is my favorite class and most fun to play with,I hadnt had problems on insanity with my adept,i tear every enemy with my biotics and locust with warp ammo

[MrWillard69]

i'm loving the adept class, easier to use and you do more damage with biotics. but i must say... sniper rifle + incendiary ammo + adrenalin rush = the godly combination that makes soldier my favorite class.

[donothack]

3 reapers pressed the dislike button.

[Shadowelf93]

It's a shame you can't pick up a new weapon in the collector ship on a second playthrough, because that would make Insanity SO much easier, Being able to use the Widow to its fullest potential while also thoroughly abusing the Revenant (which in my personal opinion will beat the GPR anyday)

[IceColdKilIah]

What would you suggest for a bonus power? I started my character with barrier, but I'm thinking about training for either dominate, reave, or warp ammo, because i hardly use barrier and the recharge time is slow. I see that your using energy drain but you don't use it. Is energy drain good?

[PwnageMaster77]

what is NG+?

[squiremarr]

@PwnageMaster77

new game plus, where you start a second playthrough with your first playthrough character.

[TheArnold46]

A biotic with Miranda and Mordin? Very risky. My biotic used Garrus and Grunt most of the time.

[nash3timemvp]

i found insanity not that hard to be honest but i did a play threw on hardcore with an adept and then used that lvl 30 character on the insanity play threw .one thing is for sure about this game you always have to give you squad orders and upgrade every chance you get dropping grouped enemies shields throwing a singularity and sending a shockwave with jack is always useful to

[KAIner102]

I Kill the Husks always with throw

[KAIner102]

i will only play Haestrom on insanity because there is the Geth Pulse Rifle

[kris10ish]

im only on level 7 or 8 but im playing through casual

[bentenx]

Hardest parts for me were:

Horizon - two scions. It took quite a time for me to figure out the right tactics. Saving quarian - I was pissed off by these dogs, adept really lacks firepower. Or I lack skill. Both praetorians were piece of cake. Collector's ship was easy. I don't know why people fear those platforms.

[maxulic]

@bentenx Yeah I too was surprised that the parts I expected being tough were actually not harder than anything else. And when it comes to the Pratorians I guess that once you know how to deal with them even at lower difficulty it is not much different except it takes more time and you got to move much more...

Like you, but on my Vanguard, swarms of varrens during the saving mission and the swarms of husks on the derelict Reaper in the very last part were the most challenging times.

[bentenx]

@maxulic Yep. Husks are the worst on derelict Reaper boss battle.

[bentenx]

I was inspired by your videos to play this game on insanity. I'm not a hardcore gamer, which prefers maximum challenge, but more like an adventure lover. But this game is just way too perfect. And you know what? Insanity really advances game experience. Personally, I think adept is the best choice for an unskilled player like me. Mostly, because of his singularity skill. Adept really proves - crowd control is a life-saver.

[Acadianpvt]

You should've choosen Garrus or Grunt(Concusive Blast,usefull against the biotic barriers), and Jack (shockwave, very usefull against the annoying Husks). I know you know this, i just wanted say it because it worked very well with me!...Nice Vid!

[maxulic]

@Acadianpvt I went through Insanity with my Vanguard and picked exactly the same team mates. Miranda has wrap which is *both* effective against barriers and armors (just what you need here) and Mordin's Incinerate - especially the area Blast - is awesome to take care of armors (works great to take down Husks to the health level quickly).

[patatepowa]

how cute, full paragon

[DkFr88]

@SPARTASTRUEWARRIOR

its an SMG (the shittiest in the game tho, no match for the Locust)

[03flare15star1990]

Wow you made this seem easy awesome job and thanks for the great gameplay hints

[VRpride]

u shud try and beat garrus loyalty mission w/o nuke its extremely hard 4 me

[DkFr88]

@VRpride

????? Which part is hard for u? the first part when u have to resist waves of Eclipse is just camping with a S. Rifle or the Locust, the only one that gave me some trouble was the BloodPack part when u have to close some doors and then save Garrus's ass, the gunship is easy, just warp it up and whoop its ass with the Viper or Locust.

[VRpride]

@DkFr88 the bloodpack part but i got it already at colllector ship now =)

[SaintsRow2OwnsGTA4]

if you own a xbox 360 and get to 10 squad points.. if you save the game.. then delete the patch and play off line... you can get infinity squad points.. by selecting up to the third point.. and then hit X+A at the same time.. and you get the 10 points back pluss up to the 4th level.. this works.. if you want to max out powers or soldier class.

[ogelrok]

can someone explain to me why i cant use my dlc weapons? on this game i chose to be an adept but when i try to use any other weapons i have it wontlet me not even weaponns recieved from dlc and it sucks cuz i can only use pistols and rocket launchers

[doomblackdragon]

The game says the warp will eat up another biotic abilty like life and sing. The effects will cause the warp to explode the secondary effect doing double damage. This weay warp does more damage and has an aeo effect.

[doomblackdragon]

Wow Insanity with the adept. Wow that impressive sence enemys always have shield barrels and armor. Must make the game a living nightmare.

[Fuhjem]

I'd have to say that Garrus and Mordin would be the ideal partners for this mission.

Garrus' Concussive Blast can take down Biotic Barriers like it's no-one's business, and his Overload will break any enemy's shields.

Mordin has Incinerate which works perfect with melting Armor.

[Oishasan]

I always use triple adepts - - Samara, Jack and I'm an adept. It's a lot of fun, yet it's a pain in the ass. lol

[toshytosh04]

*Yawn* Huh? What? What happened?

[xXLDeusXx]

in the xbox 360 (only)

when you go to envolve you power hold "A+X" that so you keep your points and envolve your power  do this as many times as necessesary (try so save 10 points since the begining and then use the trick

[SuperDonster]

I will repeat one last time. When ppl show they are on INSANITY mode, that doesn't mean a whole lot. Show me you are @ level 30 and on your 2nd playthrough on INSANITY mode. Then you will see how hard it is. If I see a VID where your not @ level 30 to start your 2nd playthrough on INSANITY, then your really not going "hard". I challenge anyone to post a vid where they DESTROY @ level 30, INSANITY mode, 2nd playthrough.

[ThatAverageGatsby]

its not significantly more difficult. Its only difficult because you don't have access to the upgrades. otherwise its exactly the same. The AI still operates in the exact same way. For classes that are ability heavy like the adept, its actually easier than the gun heavy classes who really need their weapon upgrades.

My infiltrator montage is a single playthrough NG+ insanity.

[ThatAverageGatsby]

I'm only mentioning this because I'll eventually be doing Adepting 2.0 NG+ edition and I've been playing it on the side.

[SuperDonster]

That makes sense that the AI works the same way on the 2nd playthrough. I just got the impression/fealing that the AI was allot harder on the 2nd playthrough. To me, it seemed allot harder and I had more problems on the 2nd go-around. I had so much trouble in certain parts (like the Collector Ship level) on my 2nd playthrough that I really did not experience on my 1st playthrough.

[ThatAverageGatsby]

@SuperDonster Its a weird deal mainly because you don't have the same survivability that you have by end game. You'll see once you get all the upgrades you need, its the same game. On my NG+ run, I actually go buy all the upgrades I can before I even hit mordin's mission, and then after mordin I make sure I've gotten every available upgrade before going to the next. I try to trigger mordin or grunts loyalty before I recruit anyone after horizon so I can shop on Tuchanka and Illium.

[SuperDonster]

In most games, as you level up, so do the enemies you face. So, if you start your second play through [referring to ME2] @ level 30, wouldn't the enemies be tougher from the "get-go" as opposed to the same enemies on the first play through when your at a lower level? So, your saying the only difference is that you don't have upgrades when you start?

[Thuggychan]

part of it is upgrades, but part of it is also the way enemies seem to scale. Their difficulty does seem to jump when shep is at level 30, at least from my personal anecdotes. It's partly why I've always found horizon to be the toughest mission in the game on insanity NG+.

[maxulic]

@SuperDonster They would be as tough as the enemies you fight at the end of the game. Although they are stronger than they were when you were mid level, fighting a Collector at lvl 30 on the Collector Base or fighting one at lvl 30 on Horizon is *exactly* the same thing. It's even easier at max lvl than say at lvl 9, since you lack upgrades and powers.

It is just not adviced to try out Insanity for the 1st time with a lvl 30 Shepard, it's easier to learn the ropes with a lvling Shepard/enemies.

[Acejake96]

@SuperDonster Take a look at 'Lets play mass effect 2' thats a '2nd playthrough at lvl 30 INSANITY, if not, message me back saying so, i cant really remeber

[greebwee]

@SuperDonster I'm doing a series of Adept NG+ lvl 30 vids if you're curious. Starting after thane's recruitment and running all biotics. I'm not done yet, but there are 4 vids up now. Check out my channel.

[CampbellofNZ]

Gatsby? What Gatsby? Loved doing that book in high school. We had so much fun with it. The car crash scene is epic!!!

[fishyjja]

on insanity im pretty sure if you stand against any enemy and shoot repetadly until one is dead they will always win so its about patence and making the most of the regenaration ability if you ask me

[SuperDonster]

I have a level 30 Vanguard all skills maxed out w/Geth Shield Boost. I can not beat the Collector Ship level. I can get through the 1st two platforms/waves of enemies, but the Harbinger(s) and Scion(s) keep kicking my ass. I watched all the videos on using charge, But I Vanguard is just too weak. I tried for 4hrs! I think I might of done too many stupid side missions before I could upgrade my biotics/shield/health/weapons. But its forcing me to play this level. I might be screwed huh?????

[slaughtabal]

@SuperDonster try different squad mates if your still stuck and use their abilities more than yours if it's not working bro

[SuperDonster]

@slaughtabal . I realized something that I haven't heard anyone address. If you play INSANITY on the 2nd playthrough, it is SOOOO much HARDER than insanity on the 1st playthrough. When ppl show they are playing on INSANITY, that DOES'NT MEAN SHIT unless it's when they are @ level 30 on the 2nd playthrough on INSANITY. I dare anybody with a "beast vanguard" to try n roll up on enemies and hit a "a one hitter quiter" on INSANITY on the 2nd playthrough. It won't happen. Try it and tell me im wrong.

[WhoIamisIamwhois]

gatsby, you could improvise from time to time, its way funnier than studing the enviroment and learn where the AI will get stuck

[SinerAthin]

Insanity is actually pretty easy, played through it as soldier.

Though one side mission was 10 times harder than the entire rest of the game, pitted against 3 relentless, nearly immortal mechs in a tiny, tiny ravine. Never exploited that much in a single fight.

[Yamagashi]

I wouldn't call insanity easy. It's just very doable if you're patient.

[SinerAthin]

True enough, my friend.

The HP of some of those enemies are just redicilous ;P

[Neonxceh]

Sweet, might play adept after I've completed my vanguard run, preppin' for nobody left behind :D great guide and very useful, keep it up :)

[PhotonicDoctor]

I am a soldier right now. I use Zaeed and Grunt all soldier class. I lay waste to everything on hard difficulty. I think 2 less from Insanity.

[breathicy]

since horizon seems like the biggest pain i would have figured you'd give miranda the warp/operative skills instead of overload

[Excellentsaku]

working this on xbox 360 insanity i completed the game on casual imported me2 char and had 30 lvl adept. I suggest taking miranda always to missions coz she is good with heavy warp and overload. Horizon, collector ship,reaper iff and suicide mission the gayest parts on insanity....

[kespec]

can you show some level 30 insanity videos please.

[ThatAverageGatsby]

@kespec If you check out the Adepting Through Insanity playlist, I have some late game stuff. Reaper IFF is lvl 27 or 28, and then I have the entire suicide run, no deaths, with live commentary and that's level 30.

[thi711]

"adepting through insanity" lol that's a very clever title :)

[digitaldud]

AverageGatsby? More like AboveAverageGatsby

[Luciferdesrea]

I'm doing this as a soldier and i gotta say it's so much bullshit trying to get through everything

[THuGZZTA]

@Luciferdesrea

I actually found soldier a lot more easier to use then anything else. I can easily beat hardcore with soldier, but I am having trouble with adept. I guess you just have to get used to a certain class.

[PhotonicDoctor]

U have to use biotics with guns and one biotic with another biotic from your class or combing yours with another characters' class.

[dawnofwinter1]

leet warp is the best skill eva

[runescaper128]

i fucking hate that cunt at the end.

[ashboy1994vids]

One of my favorite biotic powers is slam because it lifts the enemy in the air like pull then it crushes them then hurls them to the ground it is amazing and I use it on my soldier.

[ajw34307]

Adept is my favourite class, I tend to use my powers more than my weapons which is why I find insanity that bit harder. This walkthrough truly is a godsend, thank you.

[Anfmethodjor]

You're a God sent buddy. Thx for the vids. I'm stuck on the last arena. My squad mates die too fast when the zombie grunts storm along with the two heavy zombie that use singularity.

The longest I lasted was by running around like a run-&-gun (Lost Planet), but it's too tricky to predict and evade both singularities along with the storming zombies.

I had Miranda w/ heavy overload & heavy warp, & Jacob w/ Squad Flame ammo 4 extra armor damage,& lvl 1 Pull 4 warp blasts. I'll watch all vids

[Anfmethodjor]

*sorry* I meant shockwave instead of singularity, and I talking about the scions.

[masanf]

For those stuck on the Scion ship, I highly recommend you use the Cain heavy weapon. If you have it at 100% or more, it destroys absolutely everything in its path. The first scion platform will start coming in right after the first platform that is full of collector drones. When the Scion platform starts to come down, start charging up your Cain. When you release it at the first scion, most times it will also kill every single enemy on the very first platform. It is easy from then on.

[masanf]

@masanf

My last post applies to those doing it on insanity.

[Fluffyfier]

Engineer - Insanity: DONE

[twiztidmadrox713]

Can you make a video of the vanguard on the collector ship im stuck the scions keep raping my teamates insanitys really a bitch

[masanf]

@twiztidmadrox713

Use the Cain heavy weapon for that part. If you unleash it at exactly the right time, you can kill the first scion and all of the enemies on the very first platform. It is the single easiest way to get past that part. Also it is easy if you are an adept. Use warp on everything. Take Thane and max his warp and take Grunt and max out Concussive shot. Then launch singularities and it will suck up the ones without shields.

[Mossasan]

Im so used to play soldier so when I try other classes I miss my assultrifle and adrenaline rush way to much.

[StreetMarker]

and the ones who charge at you basically destroy this tactic so best take those rushing guys first before proceding to the cover guys. and that stair trick you showed right at the beginning is actually cause your fighting AI who don't charge at you. that's why they stay far and shoot, while as some Ai will charge and ruin your tactic

[StreetMarker]

There are two types of enemy AIs in this game, first one is the ones who think their smart and hide behind covers and shoot, and second is the ones that charge at you like Vorchas, Krogans, and a few geth. The ones who charge at you are actually the smarter ones because if you play on harder difficulties such as insanity, you best option is to play by cover and shoot, use techs/biotics.

[StreetMarker]

I beat insanity with my soldier

[DMCXReaper]

awesome narration, easy to listen to and your very skillful with biotic combo's

[xepharnazos]

Your narration is good, easy to listen to and informative, but I'd really, really recommend trying to put your mic somewhere where you aren't blowing into it as much.

[Justin13L]

I'm getting this game soon, but I don't know if I should get it on the PC or the 360 My PC is good and has a nice graphics card, but this game looks like it'll lag...

[abenhorsen]

@Justin13L I'm using a cheap Radeon 4830 512mb I picked up last April for $70 and I have no problems playing at 1920x1080 (even while FRAPs recording). This game was optimized really well so as long as you have a solid graphics card, you should be able to run this game just fine.

[intoxsik]

Good video.

I have one question:

Why do you use Singularity over Pull Field? I'm curious about this b/c I have Pull Field maxed on my Adept, but I want to know if there is something about Singularity that really stands out in making it better than Pull Field.

[ThatAverageGatsby]

I choose singularity because of its ability to trap enemies and lock them down no matter if they have shields/barrier/armor. Also, u can shoot singularity at the ground and essentiall establish a ~30 second wall against light enemies like husks. You'll see how I use it in later videos if you keep watching.

[intoxsik]

Well, that there is a good reason.

Thanks for your prompt response, I'll implement your advice next time I play.

[IceCaliber]

@ThatAverageGatsby

so singularity can trap enemies even if they have defenses? and pull is only effective if there defenses are down?

[ThatAverageGatsby]

yes. doesn't mean pull is useless by any means though. I use it extensively in later videos. I just wanted to keep things simple for this one.

[Anfmethodjor]

I use it a lot with Jacob for quick finishes once they lose their shields/armor, because many foes recharge their shields on insanity.

[masanf]

@IceCaliber

Singularity doesn't have nearly as much effect on enemies with shields and armor as it does on enemies who no longer have shields and armor.

[cheesytrojan]

@masanf it does however stop enemies with shields, barriers and armor in their tracks. they can still shoot, but they are trapped by it. useful

[ThatAverageGatsby]

Thats actually incorrect. An enemy trapped in the "stun-lock" of singularity cannot do anything but attempt to move out of the stun-lock. It doesn't have time to fire in between getting stunned. If it seems like an enemy is firing in the singularity, he's probably just behind it.

See any of my videos to see this in action.

[Spoonuser12]

Hey man, nice vids! I just finished my Sentinel Insanity playthrough, I tried it with the vanguard but the class imbalances are so severe with some of the classes, due to the enemy defenses. Charge needs some heavy revisions.

[Virus940]

You should use Jack once you do her loyalty mission and max out warp ammo on her so that she can give it to the whole squad. Not only does it help rip through shields, barriers, and armor, but it also does more damage to enemies being affected by biotics.

[Ted2of25]

Why don't you play Insanity with a lvl 30 Shep? I know it's more challenging but atleast you have all your abilities at your disposal.

[ThatAverageGatsby]

Good questions:

I'm trying to make this a guide for people who are playing as an adept at really any difficulty, i just chose insanity to show that it indeed can be done and effectively. Anything done on insanity will apply on veteran, perhaps even better.

While I would have more options at 1) it wouldn't be too useful for someone trying to go through the first time and 2) if someone was looking for tips at Level 30, they probably already have their own strategy worked out.

[iferg15]

nice job, i play engineer myself but this seems like it could be real helpful when i try adept!

[creston918]

Great stuff. Can't wait to see you tackle the collector ship and the final mission on Insanity. :)

[d12h8]

great job. i had some trouble on this level on insanity.

[cruz1ale]

great video, interesting to watch especially having not played adept before.. Looking forward to it :P

[TheWalrus192]

@cruz1ale

Oh it's fun. People may complain about how weak Adepts are weak against shielded targets, I just think it makes it more fun since I have to rely on my squad more

[cruz1ale]

@TheWalrus192

Yeah I noticed that today when I started out my Adept. Definitely requires more tactics, you can't just go around guns blazing especially with the guns at your disposal. That's not to say playing Soldier isn't fun, I have one Soldier career going on and it's tons of fun to just spam everyone with incendiary ammo and with my optional shield boost to ensure I can continue spamming 8)

[woojaekeem]

you sound like seananners.

[hvissotz]

Listen to this dude. His marklar is wise and true.

[TwooGiz]

Nice vid but the part im having trouble on now is the Collector ship. ugh! so frustrating.

[Pocketgb]

Pocketgb from the forums, here. 5'd and fav'd, love this guide :)

[eralttatt]

Really nice. I always find it odd that everyone says "once they're down to health they are pretty much dead". But fact is, using biotics in combination can take out enemies pretty much as fast as a shot from the Widow

[Zalman1337]

True. If you use a Warp combo it does a massive amount of damage. I prefer Unstable Warp because it has a shorter cooldown and larger area of effect.

[NekronX20]

Nice vid, definately helpful.