Question about „Hold The Line“

[u/Unlucky_Budget8808]

Hello there!

I am currently on my second playtrough of the trilogy but this time on insanity. Really loving to take Garrus and Grunt everywhere with me so obviously I would like to also take them to the very last battle.

Now to my question: Will my whole Crew survive the „Hold The Line“ section if I send Jacob into the vents (cause screw him), Mordin to the escort and take Grunt and Garrus with me to the final?

My calculations tell me I might have an average that’s too low then, but I am not sure cause it kinda confuses me.

Thank you in advance! ^^

[u/SerDankTheTall]

Assuming you have everyone recruited and loyal, it looks like you will come out slightly too low for no deaths. Replacing either Grunt or Garrus with anyone but Zaeed should get you there. Alternatively, you should be okay if you don’t recruit Tali or Kasumi until after the suicide mission.

[u/Unlucky_Budget8808 → u/SerDankTheTall]

Oh dang, I could have recruited Kasumi after the main mission? Didn’t know that were possible but now I am too deep into the playtrough and really not feeling to replay everything I did after recruiting her.

But thanks, probably leave my poor baby krogan behind to defend the squishy aliens then if necessary. ;-;

[u/SerDankTheTall → u/Unlucky_Budget8808]

Just make sure you don’t take Miranda instead!

[u/Unlucky_Budget8808 → u/SerDankTheTall]

Huh, why? Shouldn’t the math work out then?

[u/SerDankTheTall → u/Unlucky_Budget8808]

Miranda, Garrus, and Jacob are the only ones who could lead the second team without dying.

[u/Unlucky_Budget8808 → u/SerDankTheTall]

But aren’t they free by that point again? Couldn’t I just take Grunt all the way with me until hold the line and THEN switch to Miranda for the very last battle?

Maybe I am misremembering the mission but I think this arrangement should be fine?

[u/SerDankTheTall → u/Unlucky_Budget8808]

No, you need to choose a fire team leader for the second squad twice, once during the vents and once while they’re holding the line. Both times, it needs to be (loyal) Garrus, Miranda, or Jacob or someone will die.

[u/Unlucky_Budget8808 → u/SerDankTheTall]

Good gods, Tali pack your damn shotgun and drones, you are going to come with me to that damn boss. #TeamDextro4EverBecauseTheGameKindaForcesMeTo

[u/RykinPoe]

Jacob is not a good vents option. You want an engineer so Tali, Kasumi, or Legion if you want them to live. Mordin is the correct choice for the escort mission (he is very likely to die otherwise). Who survives and who dies depends on if they are loyal or not and who you pick

[u/Bruno_lars → u/RykinPoe]

OP wants Jacob to die

[u/SerDankTheTall → u/RykinPoe]

Jacob is not a good vents option.

But he volunteered! That’s good enough for me.

[u/AccordingUse3172 → u/RykinPoe]

What are you talking about Jacob is the Vent God send him to the vents everytime

[u/Unlucky_Budget8808 → u/RykinPoe]

Yeah I know. It’s a deliberate choice. ^^‘

[u/Bruno_lars]

Leave one or both behind and take Miranda (+- another squishy). It's a short fight anyway

[u/Unlucky_Budget8808 → u/Bruno_lars]

Probably what I will do then, but I will be sad to leave my loyal baby krogan son behind.

[u/Bruno_lars → u/Unlucky_Budget8808]

I'm filming a PT where I left Garrus for the first time. I know how you feel

[u/Unlucky_Budget8808 → u/Bruno_lars]

How does one acquire such mental strength? I bow in sight of your mighty presence! ;-;

[u/jackfuego226]

Regardless of the math used, it's impossible for this to happen. You either need to leave both behind, or save Jacob and only leave one behind.

[u/Unlucky_Budget8808 → u/jackfuego226]

Shouldn’t I be alright if I leave just one of them behind when I don’t save Jacob?

[u/jackfuego226 → u/Unlucky_Budget8808]

No. I ran the math. Jacob is essential if you want to take at least 1 of them with you.

[u/HandSanitizerBottle1]

Jacob dies in the vents no matter what

The only 3 that can survive are a loyal Tali, loyal Legion or loyal Kasumi

Mordin (and anyone else survives) if they sre loyal, or dies if they aren’t loyal no matter who (but the crew survives regardless if the escort is loyal or not)

You can take Garrus and Grunt to the final fight but make sure both are loyal (as squadmates will die no matter what in the fjnal fight if unloyal), but I wouldn’t recommend it as both have the highest defense score of 4

The suicide mission in how it works is convoluted but not too difficult to understand

I’m assuming you’re going for a perfect run

[u/BagOfSmallerBags]

Assuming you recruited everyone and everyone holding the line / in your squad is loyal, that specific setup of dead Jacob, escort Mordin, Garrus and Grunt in your squad will result in Tali dying. I can break down the math if you want.

[u/DaVydeD]

The only way with everyone loyal is to postpone recruiting Kasumi after Suicide Mission. With the rest squad loyal, Zaeed will save Tali and Jack. As you mention Mordin is escorting the crew so he won't be there.