Mass Effect 3 complete scanning guide - and how to get the best possible ending

8th Mar 2012 | 17:00

Scanning planet systems through the Galaxy Map on board the Normandy allows you to discover additional war assets, artifacts and intel, however scanning too many times in one system attracts the attention of the Reapers who will appear and chase you off the map.

By using our complete guide to quickly locate discoverable items you can avoid all of these confrontations and gather a total war asset strength of 1845, setting you well on the way to unlocking the best ending Mass Effect 3 has to offer.

Not all of the systems listed below are available from the start as they gradually unlock during the course of the game, so if you can't find a particular one on your Galaxy Map then complete some more missions and check again.

Take discovered artifacts to the relevant contacts on the Citadel for additional war assets and credits, and after finding intel items use the Intel Terminal in Liara's Cabin to unlock power upgrade bonuses.

In this guide items are listed from left to right as viewed across each system's screenshot.

There are no items to scan in:

Annos Basin (0)
Far Rim (0)
Horsehead Nebula (0)
Kepler Verge (0)
Ninmah Cluster (0)
Perseus Veil (0)
Petra Nebula (0)
Serpent Nebula (0)
Shadow Sea (0)

Aethon Cluster (9)

Satu Arrd (2)

Nalisin - War Asset: Volus Engineering Team (50)
Wreckage - 200 Units of Fuel

Esori (2)

Solu Paolis - War Asset: Volus Dreadnought Kwunu (50)
Wreckage - 300 Units of Fuel

Aru (3)

Cherk Sab - War Asset: Volus Fabrication Units (45)
Wreckage - 200 Units of Fuel
Irune - Artifact: Book of Plenix - Take to Angry Accountant in Presidium Commons = War Asset: Citadel Defence Force updated (40) + 15000 Credits

Nura (2)

Oma Ker - Intel: Volus Intelligence Archives = Power Damage +5% or Health +5%
Wreckage - 250 Units of Fuel

Apien Crest (5)

Castellus (2)

Digeris - Artifact: Banner of the First Regiment - Take to Officer in Purgatory Bar = War Asset: Alliance Seventh Fleet (40) + 15000 Credits
Wreckage - 350 Units of Fuel

Gemmae (3)

Wreckage - 750 Units of Fuel
Pheiros - War Asset: Turian 79th Flotilla (40)
Wreckage - 800 Units of Fuel

There are no items to scan in Trebia

Arcturus Stream (3)

Arcturus (2)

Wreckage - 350 Units of Fuel
Arcturus Station - Intel: Intel from Battle of Arcturus = Weapon Damage +5% or Shields +5%

Euler (1)

Wreckage - 100 Units of Fuel

Argos Rho (6)

Phoenix (3)

Intai'sei - Artifact: Fossilized Kakliosaur - Take to War Strategist in Presidium Commons = War Asset: Krogan Clans updated (40) + 15000 Credits
Wreckage - 450 Units of Fuel
Pinnacle Station - War Asset: Turian Spec Ops Team (40)

Gorgon (1)

Camaron - War Asset: Advanced Power Relays (50)

Hydra (2)

Canrum - War Asset: Haptic Optics Array (50)
Wreckage - 270 Units of Fuel

Athena Nebula (9)

Tomaros (2)

Wreckage - 200 Units of Fuel
Pronoia - War Asset: Asari Cruiser Nefrane (30)

Orisoni (2)

Egalic - War Asset: Asari Research Ships (35)
Wreckage - 350 Units of Fuel

Parnitha (1)

Tevura - War Asset: Asari Cruiser Cybaen (30)

Ialessa (2)

Trikalon - War Asset: Asari Engineers (30)
Wreckage - 500 Units of Fuel

Vernio (2)

Polissa - Artifact: Hesperia-Period Statue - Take to Scientist in Presidium Commons = War Asset: Alliance Engineering Corps updated (40) + 15000 Credits
Wreckage - 400 Units of Fuel

Attican Beta (4)

Theseus (2)

Feros - War Asset: ExoGeni Scientists (40)
Wreckage - 240 Units of Fuel

Hercules (2)

Eletania - War Asset: Interferometric Array (45)
Wreckage - 370 Units of Fuel

Exodus Cluster (7)

Utopia (2)

Zion - War Asset: Prothean Data Files (75)
Wreckage - 200 Units of Fuel

Asgard (5)

Tyr - War Asset: Alliance Naval Exploration Flotilla (75)
Wreckage - 250 Units of Fuel
Borr - Intel: Remains of Reaper Destroyer = Store Discount Bonus +5% or Power Recharge Speed +5%
Terra Nova - War Asset: Alliance Cruiser Shanghai (40)
Loki - War Asset: Alliance Spec Ops Team Delta (35)

Gemini Sigma (4)

Han (2)

Mavigon - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered
Wreckage - 470 Units of Fuel

Ming (2)

Parag - War Asset: Alliance Cruiser Nairobi / Alliance Third Fleet updated (25)
Wreckage - 320 Units of Fuel

Hades Gamma (9)

Dis (2)

Klensal - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered
Wreckage - 200 Units of Fuel

Plutus (1)

Nonuel - War Asset: Special Ops Team Zeta & 103rd Marine Division (70)

Antaeus (2)

Trebin - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered
Wreckage - 300 Units of Fuel

Farinata (2)

Wreckage - 200 Units of Fuel
Juntauma - War Asset: Alliance Frigate Agincourt & Alliance First Fleet (105)

Cacus (2)

Wreckage - 400 Units of Fuel
Chohe - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered

Hades Nexus (7)

Sheol (1)

Gei Hinnom - Artifact: Prothean Sphere - Take to Refugee in Docks: Holding Area = War Asset: Alliance Engineering Corps updated (40) + 15000 Credits

Pamyat (2)

Dobrovolski - Alliance Frigate Leipzig / Alliance First Fleet updated (15)
Wreckage - 100 Units of Fuel

Hekate (2)

Asteria - Alliance Frigate Hong Kong / Alliance Fifth Fleet updated (15)
Wreckage - 380 Units of Fuel

Hoplos (2)

Wreckage - 250 Units of Fuel
Kopis - Artifact: Obelisk of Karza - Take to Researcher in Presidium Commons = War Asset: Alliance Engineering Corps updated (40) + 15000 Credits

Hourglass Nebula (7)

Ploitari (1)

Zanethu - War Asset: Terminus Freighters (30)

Sowilo (2)

Wreckage - 200 Units of Fuel
Hagalaz - War Asset: Shadow Broker Support Team (40)

Osun (2)

Wreckage - 100 Units of Fuel
Erinle - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered

Faryar (2)

Wreckage - 600 Units of Fuel
Alingon - War Asset: Shadow Broker Starship Tech (50)

Ismar Frontier (1)

Aquila (1)

Metaponto - Intel: Advanced Biotic Implants = Power Damage +5% or Power Recharge Speed +5%

Kite's Nest (5)

Harsa (3)

Khar'shan - Artifact: Pillars of Strength - Take to Preacher in Docks: Holding Area = War Asset: Batarian Fleet (40) + 15000 Credits
Wreckage - 300 Units of Fuel
Verush - Intel: Weapon Upgrade Kit = Ammo Capacity +5% or Weapon Damage +5%

Untrel (2)

Wreckage - 100 Units of Fuel
Adek - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered

Krogan DMZ (1)

Nith (1)

Wreckage - 300 Units of Fuel

There are no items to scan in Aralakh

Minos Wasteland (2)

Fortis (2)

Pietas - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered
Wreckage - 200 Units of Fuel

Nimbus Cluster (6)

Agaiou (1)

Carcosa - Artifact: Library of Asha - Take to Military Trainer in Purgatory Bar = War Asset: Asari Sixth Fleet updated (40) + 15000 Credits

Pelion (4)

Wreckage - 750 Units of Fuel
Trategos - Intel: Intact Reaper Weapon = Weapon Damage +5% or Ammo Capacity +5%
Wreckage - 750 Units of Fuel
Wreckage - 650 Units of Fuel

Kallini (1)

Wreckage - 300 Units of Fuel

There are no items to scan in Mesana

Nubian Expanse (6)

Dakka (2)

Pragia - Intel: Research Data from Pragia = Power Recharge Speed +5% or Power Damage +5%
Wreckage - 350 Units of Fuel

Kalabsha (2)

Yamm - War Asset: Alliance Marine Recon Unit / 103rd Marine Division updated (25)
Wreckage - 300 Units of Fuel

Qertassi (2)

Norehsa - Alliance Frigate Trafalgar / Alliance Third Fleet updated (15)
Wreckage - 50 Units of Fuel

The Shrike Abyssal (4)

Urla Rast (2)

Talis Fia - Artifact: Prothean Obelisk - Take to Diplomat in Citadel Embassies = 20000 Credits
Wreckage - 300 Units of Fuel

Xe Cha (2)

Zada Ban - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered
Wreckage - 150 Units of Fuel

Sigurd's Cradle (4)

Skepsis (2)

Watson - War Asset: Javelin Missile Launchers (50)
Wreckage - 200 Units of Fuel

Decoris (2)

Wreckage - 350 Units of Fuel
Laena - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered

Silean Nebula (11)

Loropi (2)

Yasilium - War Asset: Armali Sniper Unit (30)
Wreckage - 300 Units of Fuel

Nahuala (2)

Wreckage - 250 Units of Fuel
Hyetiana - War Asset: Serrice Guard (30)

Phontes (3)

Oltan - War Asset: Elcor Flotilla (40)
Dekuuna - Artifact: Code of the Ancients - Take to Angry Elcor in Purgatory Bar = War Asset: Citadel Defence Force updated (40) + 15000 Credits
Wreckage - 175 Units of Fuel

Kypaladon (1)

Hanalei - War Asset: Dr. Jelize (25)

Teyolia (3)

Nevos - Artifact: Rings of Alune - Take to Consultant in Huerta Memorial Hospital = War Asset: Citadel Defence Force updated (40) + 15000 Credits
Quirezia - Salvage: 10000 Credits Recovered
Wreckage - 375 Units of Fuel

Valhallan Threshold (6)

Raheel-Leyya (1)

Wreckage - 95 Units of Fuel

Paz (2)

Garvug - Artifact: Prothean Data Drives - Take to Soldier in Normandy Dock: Bay D24 = War Asset: Alliance Engineering Corps updated (40) + 15000 Credits
Wreckage - 160 Units of Fuel

Micah (3)

Elohi - War Asset: Emergency Fuel Pods (30)
Wreckage - 340 Units of Fuel
Farlas - War Asset: Element Zero Converter (50)

Need more tips, cheats and guides? You need our 10 Essential Tips For Saving The Galaxy in Mass Effect 3, our expert guide to Mastering Mass Effect 3's Class System and our tour of Mass Effect 3's Normandy.

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