Mass Effect 2: How to Secure Tali’s Loyalty

Each of the 12 squadmates Shepard picks up in Mass Effect 2 has an individual side mission they will ask Shepard to help them complete. These missions, while optional, help prevent each character from facing any distractions and make them fully committed to the mission, increasing their chances of survival. The Loyalty missions across the Mass Effect trilogy tend to be some of the most fun side missions and can give Shepard a chance to get to know and bond with their crew. They also provide additional lore to the story and serve as trigger points for romances. For most squadmates in Mass Effect 2, it is simply enough for Shepard to complete the mission, regardless of actions taken or choices made during the experience. Some squadmates’ missions can be failed, however, depending on Shepard’s actions and choices. Tali’Zorah’s Loyalty mission is one of those with a fail condition.

During the mission Tali: Treason, Shepard and Tali will find incriminating evidence about her father’s experiments with the Geth. Such information could get his legacy erased posthumously, something Tali would like to avoid, even if it means she is exiled in the process. There are several possible endings to this mission, each with certain consequences for the Mass Effect 2 endgame Suicide Mission and the events of Mass Effect 3. Once secured, Tali’s Loyalty can also still be lost depending on how Shepard handles her fight with Legion later in the game. Players will need to be careful and strategic to ensure she remains loyal and has the best chance of survival. Here’s how to make Tali Loyal in Mass Effect 2.

How to Complete Tali’s Loyalty Mission Successfully in Mass Effect 2

Players unlock Tali’s Loyalty mission in Mass Effect 2 sometime after saving and recruiting her on Haestrom. Yeoman Kelly Chambers will alert them that Tali received a message that upset her and wanted to talk. Shepard can meet her in Engineering to learn she has been put on trial for treason. If convicted, the punishment is exile. Shepard will go with her to the Migrant Fleet to clear her name.

Tali’s Loyalty mission has one of the more demanding Paragon/Renegade checks in the entire game, so this mission is often best saved for last, just before going to retrieve the Reaper IFF and starting the run to the endgame. While players can technically complete it wherever they want to, waiting will give them access to the greatest number of dialogue options for roleplaying their unique Shepard’s reactions to the situation.

Long before this mission, players will want to have saved two particular quarians. First, they will need to let Veetor return with Tali rather than be taken to Cerberus for interrogation during the Prologue mission on Freedom’s Progress. Then, they will need to ensure Kal’Reegar survives the encounter on Haestrom by ordering him to stand down against the Geth Colossus. This ensures that, even if Shepard’s morality score isn’t high enough to unlock the Charm/Intimidate dialogue options, they still have a way to clear Tali of all charges.

After fighting through the Geth in the Alarei and returning to the Rayya to complete the trial, Shepard will be asked to present new evidence to the Admiralty Board. It is important that Shepard avoids sharing the evidence of Tali’s father’s crimes found on the Alarei. While doing so clears Tali of all charges, it will traumatize her and lose her Loyalty.

Instead, Shepard can select one of four options, each with a slightly different outcome:

• Use the Charm Dialogue Option: With a high enough Paragon score, Shepard delivers an impassioned speech about Tali’s character and shames the Admirals for using Tali as a pawn to play politics. Tali is cleared of all charges and becomes Loyal, and Shepard earns Paragon points.
• Use the Intimidate Dialogue Option: With a high enough Renegade score, Shepard tells the Admirals off, publicly shaming them for their sham trial. Tali is cleared of all charges and becomes Loyal, and Shepard earns Renegade points.
• Rally the Crowd: If Veetor and Kal’Reegar were saved, Shepard can use this option to work up the crowd, convincing both men to step up and testify in Tali’s favor. Tali is cleared of all charges and becomes Loyal. No morality points gained.
• Lie About Evidence: If all else fails, Shepard can lie and tell the Admirals they found no new evidence. Tali is convicted and exiled but still becomes Loyal. Shepard earns a few Paragon points. This option may prevent Shepard from brokering peace between the Geth and quarians in Mass Effect 3.

Once Tali’s Loyalty has been secured, Shepard will need to be careful to use the Charm/Intimidate dialogue option to avoid taking sides during her fight with Legion. Should Shepard take Legion’s side in the argument, Tali’s Loyalty will be lost. It is possible to regain her Loyalty in a later conversation, but the check for this is extremely demanding. Once Tali’s loyalty has been lost, a male Shepard will no longer be able to romance Tali in Mass Effect 2 or Mass Effect 3, regardless of whether it is regained later.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will launch on May 14, 2021 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with forward compatibility for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

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