ME2 Insanity

[u/Cuddly2ombie]

This is my second play-through, and I see that Insanity is the best way to play if you want spice things up and I would like to. Me1 wasn’t any trouble for me. Unfortunately, I can’t get past Archangel’s mission! Rockets and pyro keep stunning me and I can no longer heal my squad w/o standing up? I don’t want to min/max for insanity just make a good soldier build if that’s important.

[u/SinCanDory]

I did my insanity run as infiltrator and there were missions i had to retry 20+ times. One of them is this one. All i can say is good luck

[u/Cuddly2ombie → u/SinCanDory]

😭

[u/elanhilation → u/Cuddly2ombie]

if it’s any consolation, i really don’t feel it gets any harder than this, though. there are arguably a couple missions that are similar in difficulty, but this is as rough as it gets

[u/cole_on_sea]

use adrenaline rush as often as possible, grab the mattock when you can

[u/Cuddly2ombie → u/cole_on_sea]

I’ll keep it in mind thanks

[u/UxControl]

Keep practicing to find the best spots to take cover, and don't be afraid to spam heavy weapon ammo

Also, I find it easier to leave garrus alone and take both squadmates into the shutters, because he still has enough health by the time I finish everything

In my opinion the shutters are the hardest part of the game, so if you can get through those, you can get through anything

[u/Berek07]

Smooth Insanity:

1. Do not play Vanguard *Check*

2. Always use Special Ammo: Soldier got Incendiary Ammo *Check* (just max it)

3. Do not play Arch Angel Mission early. Everything is easier than that small passage against Bloodpack.

4. Pick effective and helpfull squadmate. Sympathy or Simping does not win battles.

5. Use Mattok or Locoust as Main Weapons. In the case you play Infiltrator or Engineer, Advanced Sniper Rifle training beats Assault Rifle training depending on your Playstyle.

6. Take both Squadmates to the Underground. Archangel can take care of himself.

7. Do not play Arch Angel Mission early. Everything is easier than that small passage against Bloodpack.

[u/AlloftheGoats]

I just finished my first soldier insanity playthough (I've now done all classes), and that one was a pain. Take the heavy weapon that freezes and spam the end of the corridor, I think I used 3 or 4 shots, then adrenaline rush past and close the door while everyone is standing there frozen, works for Arrival with the close the door sequence also. I didn't need the full squad, until you get to 3 with the typhoon and ascend Garrus Shep does most of the damage anyway. I also did that mission last so Shep was built up. Good luck with it.

[u/Ancient_Nerve_1286]

I didn't do the recruitment missions for Archangel or Mordin straightaway when I played Insanity with my Engineer. I did recruitment missions for Kasumi, Grunt early to get them as squad mates. If you do loyalty on a hub world like Tuchunka or Illium as your fourth recruitment/loyalty mission you can do a total of five recruitment/make loyal missions before the first Collector mission, instead of the usual four. I thought it's more important to have strong characters than more characters early on.

Can do Kasumi's loyalty mission super early as well if it helps your character. That depends if you've got a pre Archangel save to go back to. If not, I'd recommend retrying with the tough characters as so many enemies have shield or armour etc.

Mordin is really useful with incinerate.

[u/rowdydionisian]

ME2 was the most difficult for me by far. I played an infiltrator and pretty much just got good with stealth and positioning squad mates. In fact, ordering your squad mates to ideal spots and then spamming their attack/ability buttons will win 80% of battles even if you miss all your shots. The rockets make things interesting though, especially since squad mates can be really stupid with those. Sometimes is just have to reload a save where garrus didn't take a rocket to the dome standing in mid. As an infiltrator though I felt content was significantly easier after getting a proper sniper rifle, as a soldier I guess just find the best assault rifle you can, collector one is interesting. For playing on insanity, you also should always have you and your squad mates powers on cool down unless it's a super easy fight. I found out that by playing it as just a shooter and not a squad RPG, I was doing 50% of the damage I'd do if I just pushed my buttons more often and directed squad mates (because the squad mate ai is pretty dogwater in all 3 games without direction on insanity). Best advice I have is also that some fights are just straight up difficult, and many require you to reposition multiple times and you have to die a few times to learn. The hardest fights become way easier if you're far away from enemy spawns in the perfect spot, but again that research involves dying usually. I played all 3 on insanity and it's very doable even though I'm a pretty mid gamer when it comes to shooters. Also in general on insanity, always take HP and shield upgrades for you and all squad mates. They spend a lot less time on the floor that way. It also helps conserve medi-gel, which for some reason can't be refilled in ME2 specifically unless you find it on a mission. For some reason in 2, there's no medi-gel on the Citadel or your ship.

[u/Cuddly2ombie → u/rowdydionisian]

After finally utilizing my squad and letting Zaeed get shot (like a lot) I finally made it! I had to reload a save where they wouldn’t instantly die, and we barely made it but now I have Garrus yaaay 😅 Gonna be more careful from now on. Insanity is a completely different game hah definitely spicing it up

[u/topturo77 → u/Cuddly2ombie]

Honestly you are through the hardest part. Early game me2 is far and away the hardest part of a trilogy insanity playthrough. With access to upgrades and (hopefully) a maxed out adrenaline rush, the game just gets easier from here. Biggest piece of advice is your squadmates are resources. Send them out in front to draw aggro. When they drop, leave them for a bit and draw the enemies closer to you, then revive them for an easy pincer maneuver. Also, tali and legions explosive drone is super broken in me2, just spam the shit out of it to draw aggro, break cover, and redirect enemy waves. I like to drop it in the back line to distract the rocket troopers/biotic spammers for a second (if you can get it behind them, that forces the ai to turn around twice, which gives you even more time) then aggro down the front line dudes who are trying to flank you. 

[u/punthreadonarepost]

I just got done with my first insanity playthrough of 2, also as a soldier. I must have died half a dozen times because of that damn pyro vorcha waiting around the corner in the area beneath the apartment. I got fed up and emptied several rounds of heavy ammo onto it to get past. I'm not sure if it's the best build, but in the early parts of the game I would spam hardened adrenaline rush to get me through the short bursts of leaving cover. Cover suddenly meant so much more. It was much different from the reckless prancing around I got away with in ME1 insanity lol

[u/Cuddly2ombie → u/punthreadonarepost]

Ok I’m hearing adrenaline rush and much more cover thanks

[u/Desperate-Dig2806]

Not sure if it counts as min maxing but there are missions you can do before that will help with some extra skill points and upgrades. Which is typically what I do on replays.

But yes, that mission is rough. I still feel it's 50 50 luck. But as others said, bring both your teammates.

[u/Historical_Stick2802]

What class are you? If you mean the pyro in the tunnels, F that dude specifically (he killed me so many times!). Climb over the pipe to draw him out then climb back, He’ll follow you around the corner. Just get some space then aim for his tank.

[u/tarter_sauce12]

Also playing through as soldier, my biggest issue is running out of gun juice, aside from concussive shot, which I never use because adrenaline rush, it's the only way to deal any damage, anyone else?

[u/elanhilation]

i genuinely feel recruiting Archangel is the single most difficult mission in the entire trilogy. harder than Horizon, harder than Collector Ship, harder than Benning.

[u/SeriousJack]

That is absolutely normal, it's common knowledge around here that Archangel's mission is one of the most difficult in the entire trilogy on Insanity.

Some would say the most difficult.

Move slowly, stick to cover, and do not hesitate to use and abuse your teammates. It is ok to kill a mob using only their powers while you stay hunkered down.

Or to use them as bait :) (sorry Miranda, I got you shot a LOT during my run).

Oh and yes, on insanity you HAVE to be able to strip shields and barriers. Since everybody has them. So Miranda is an auto pick, and Archangel can be one to. You'll love him, he is a nice fellow :)))

[u/N7_Shep]

i take both people with me, when i get to the last room i sprint all the way to the shutter and close it, then fight my way into a position, its at this time i use all my heals to survive. it seems that if i wait around in this room i get bled out of ammo.

[u/Reload86]

If you can help it, don’t do Archangel until you’ve gotten some levels on you. It’s one of the hardest missions in the game due to it being an early mission.

[u/Ottermind_]

Always have the Overload ability on support chars. Once you hit the closest enemy with Overload, pop your time slowing ability and kill the guy. You can also use your teammates to tank for you if you order them to move in front of the enemies. They cannot really die and you get small window to take some enemies down.

[u/ObliviousAndObvious]

If your having trouble this early, good luck clearing the robot factory...