No, money (credits) from Mass Effect 2 does not carry over to Mass Effect 3. While importing your save is crucial for narrative continuity, your financial reserves from the previous game will not be transferred.
Understanding Save Imports in Mass Effect 3
When you import a save file from Mass Effect 2 into Mass Effect 3, certain elements of your progress and choices are carried over, while others, like your accumulated credits and your exact character level, are reset or converted into starting bonuses.
What Doesn't Directly Transfer
It's important to note that not all aspects of your Mass Effect 2 playthrough will directly transfer in their exact form:
- Money (Credits): Regardless of how wealthy you were in ME2, you will start Mass Effect 3 with a fresh financial slate. You'll need to earn credits from scratch within the new game.
- Character Level: Your specific character level from Mass Effect 2 does not become your starting level in Mass Effect 3. Instead, your imported level influences a set of starting bonuses.
The Benefits of Importing Your Save
Despite money and character levels not directly carrying over, importing your Mass Effect 2 save is highly recommended and significantly impacts your Mass Effect 3 experience:
- Narrative Continuity: Your major choices, relationships, and the outcomes of key decisions made in Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2 will directly influence the story, dialogue, character appearances, and available missions in Mass Effect 3. This ensures a personalized and consistent narrative arc for Commander Shepard.
- Starting Bonuses: Based on the level of the character you import from Mass Effect 2, you will receive valuable starting bonuses in Mass Effect 3. These benefits are designed to give you an initial advantage, such as a boost to reputation, war assets, or other beneficial starting conditions that acknowledge your prior progress.
- Legendary Mode Enhancements: For players of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, the impact of your imported character's level on these starting bonuses is significantly amplified. The game essentially treats your imported level as if it were multiplied by two when calculating the initial advantages you receive in Mass Effect 3. This means higher-level characters imported from ME2 in the Legendary Edition will receive even more substantial starting benefits.
For a deeper dive into what carries over across the entire Mass Effect trilogy, you can find more information on save file transfers and their impact on reputable gaming resources.
Ultimately, while your wallet won't follow you, your legacy and decisions will.
