Search and Rescue

This article is about the system in Mass Effect 3 to recover War Assets. For the system used to scan planets for resources in Mass Effect 2, see Planet Scanning.

Search and Rescue is a system in Mass Effect 3 that replaces the Planet Scanning mini-game from Mass Effect 2. The Normandy SR-2 is equipped with a new and improved scanning pulse that can detect objects of interest. This can be used to uncover War Assets, artifacts, intel, and salvage as the player flies around a system. The effective range of a pulse is limited, so multiple scans are often required to cover an entire system. Objects of interest can be found in numerous celestial bodies and oftentimes in the empty spaces between planets as well: wreckage floating around and initially unseen on the Galaxy Map can also be salvaged for fuel.

Mechanics

The system scanning itself is done by a push of a button wherein a pulse originates out from the ship for a short distance revealing anything of interest within its effective range. Once a point of interest is found, be it something on a planet or a wreck in space, it shows up with a red circle and marker that allows the player to fly to it. When flying over a wreck, the player may interact with the object by investigating it. If the object is on a planet, the Normandy must be flown into the planet's atmosphere. From here, the player may scan the planet's surface in a manner similar to the Planet Scanning system of Mass Effect 2. When the point of interest on a planet is located, a probe must be sent out to retrieve it. Unlike Mass Effect 2, the Normandy has an infinite number of probes and does not need to purchase any of them.

It is possible to find and salvage solar system wreckage that is not on planets without using the scanner. When the Normandy flies over wreckage, a tone can be heard. The player can then double click (on the PC) on that spot to salvage the fuel from the wreckage without having first scanned it. Note that salvaging wreckage in this manner will not cause the "XX% Assets Recovered" indicator to be displayed, although it will be updated if it is already displayed. Conversely, planets must be system scanned before the planetary scanner button will be present after entering orbit.

In total, 1290 War Assets can be obtained from the Search and Rescue system, with an additional 200 from Mass Effect 3: Leviathan, 440 from artifacts, and 50 from completing Aria: Blue Suns using the Paragon route. A total of 100,000 credits can be salvaged, with an additional 10,000 from Mass Effect 3: Leviathan and 170,000 from artifacts. In addition, 7 Intel items can be found.

A pop-up window occurs on entering the first system outside of the Serpent Nebula with a brief explanation of the mechanics and that performing a mission is sufficient to wait out any Reapers active in the system.

Reaper detection

Every scanning sweep done in a system that does not contain a mission fills a small meter that indicates the Reapers' growing awareness of the Normandy's location. This bar fills faster or slower depending on how many entry points to the system the Reapers have, and how close to them the player is when the Scanner is used. Once the meter fills, all Reapers occupying the system enter it, and chase the Normandy. The only way to evade capture and destruction by the Reapers is to exit the system, either by reaching the system boundaries or by reaching the mass relay in a gateway system. Reaper awareness meters on all compromised systems are reset after completing a mission.

Although Reapers will eventually reach higher speed than the Normandy, their initial movements are slow. One can easily scan the system quickly to find all the points of interest and then evade the Reapers. Reapers do not advance on you as you investigate a place of interest. However, it is not suggested that you conduct a mission while Reapers are in your system. Note that sending a scanning pulse will momentarily decrease your speed slightly.

The location of your ship when re-entering an alarmed system depends on the way your ship faces before entering: the Normandy will enter the system at such a point that the ship's FRONT will face towards the CENTRAL STAR, and the ship will be facing the same direction it does on the cluster map. This can be used to great advantage if you know about a point of interest near the edge of the star system - fly out of the system (to the cluster map), and with a tiny engine burst, orient yourself in the appropriate direction. When you click on "Enter system", you will be near the point of interest and can retrieve it before Reapers even reappear.

Detection Types

Note: The identity of an object found on a planet is only revealed after a probe has been launched to its location.

Resource	Upgrades
Wrecks	Wrecks of various types of vessels, contains fuel.
Military Units (Planets)	A military unit, either ground forces or a ship is found that has evaded the Reapers.
Upgrades (Planets)	Some kind of upgrade is found on the planet.
Objects (Planets)	Some type of object is found, triggering a side mission.
Credit Caches (Planets)	A credit cache is found on the planet.

Planet Scanning Guide

This table contains the locations of various wrecks, war assets, upgrades, credits or mission specific items, listed by cluster, system, and planet. Locations not on this list do not have any searchable objects.

All wreckage fuel is transferred to the Normandy immediately upon clicking the Investigate button, whether the ship's fuel capacity is full or not. It is therefore strategic to leave wreckage in the system with the relay alone initially and then consume it after exploring the other systems in the cluster. This uses the wreckage to cover the cost of the return to the relay system rather than throwing it away.

If JavaScript is enabled, the columns may be sorted by clicking on the up/down arrow icons in the column headers.

Cluster	System	Location	War Asset
Aethon Cluster	Aru	Irune	Artifact: Book of Plenix
Aethon Cluster	Aru	West of Irune, north-west of asteroid belt	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Aethon Cluster	Aru	Cherk Sab	Volus Fabrication Units
Aethon Cluster	Esori	Solu Paolis	Volus Dreadnought Kwunu
Aethon Cluster	Esori	East-south-east of star, between 3rd and 4th ring	Wreckage - 300 fuel
Aethon Cluster	Nura	Oma Ker	Intel: Volus Intelligence Archives
Aethon Cluster	Nura	Northeast of Star, before 3rd ring	Wreckage - 250 fuel
Aethon Cluster	Satu Arrd	Nalisin	Volus Engineering Team
Aethon Cluster	Satu Arrd	West-southwest of star, near 3rd ring	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Apien Crest	Castellus	South of Fiax, East of Nios	Wreckage - 350 fuel
Apien Crest	Castellus	Digeris	Artifact: Banner of the 1st Regiment
Apien Crest	Gemmae	Pheiros	Turian 79th Flotilla
Apien Crest	Gemmae	South of Pheiros	Wreckage - 800 fuel
Apien Crest	Gemmae	West of Pheiros	Wreckage - 750 fuel
Arcturus Stream	Arcturus	Arcturus Station	Intel: Intel from Battle of Arcturus
Arcturus Stream	Arcturus	West of Themis	Wreckage - 350 fuel
Arcturus Stream	Euler	Southwest of Yukawa	Wreckage - 100 fuel
Argos Rho	Gorgon	Camaron	Advanced Power Relays
Argos Rho	Hydra	South of Star, 2nd ring	Wreckage - 270 fuel
Argos Rho	Hydra	Canrum	Haptic Optics Array
Argos Rho	Phoenix	Pinnacle Station	Turian Spec Ops Team
Argos Rho	Phoenix	Intai'sei	Artifact: Fossilized Kakliosaur
Argos Rho	Phoenix	East-north-east of Intai'sei	Wreckage - 450 fuel
Athena Nebula	Ialessa	East of star, between third and fourth ring	Wreckage - 500 fuel
Athena Nebula	Ialessa	Trikalon	Asari Engineers
Athena Nebula	Orisoni	Egalic	Asari Research Ships
Athena Nebula	Orisoni	East-southeast of star, between second and third ring	Wreckage - 350 fuel
Athena Nebula	Parnitha	Tevura	Asari Cruiser Cybaen
Athena Nebula	Tomaros	South of Niagolon	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Athena Nebula	Tomaros	Pronoia	Asari Cruiser Nefrane
Athena Nebula	Vernio	Polissa	Artifact: Hesperia Period Statue
Athena Nebula	Vernio	Northeast of star, just past asteroid belt	Wreckage - 400 fuel
Attican Beta	Hercules	Eletania	Interferometric Array
Attican Beta	Hercules	Southeast of star, between 2nd and 3rd ring	Wreckage - 370 fuel
Attican Beta	Theseus	Feros	ExoGeni Scientists
Attican Beta	Theseus	Northeast of star, east of Feros	Wreckage - 240 fuel
Caleston Rift	Aysur	North-north-east of the star, just outside fourth ring	Wreckage - 150 fuel1
Caleston Rift	Balor	North of the star, between second and third ring	Wreckage - 350 fuel1
Caleston Rift	Balor	Bres (asteroid belt north of star)	Synthdiamond Heat Sinks1
Crescent Nebula	Lusarn	Beyalt (asteroid belt northwest of star)	Salvage - 10,000 credits1
Crescent Nebula	Lusarn	East of star and southwest of Tarith, between third and fourth ring	Wreckage - 150 fuel1
Crescent Nebula	Tasale	Illium	Liquid Assets1
Crescent Nebula	Tasale	North of Illium, just above the third ring	Wreckage - 350 fuel1
Exodus Cluster	Asgard	Tyr	Alliance Naval Exploration Flotilla
Exodus Cluster	Asgard	Terra Nova	Alliance Cruiser Shanghai
Exodus Cluster	Asgard	Loki	Alliance Spec Ops Team Delta
Exodus Cluster	Asgard	Northwest of star, between third and fourth ring	Wreckage - 250 fuel
Exodus Cluster	Asgard	Borr	Intel: Remains of Reaper Destroyer
Exodus Cluster	Utopia	South of Eden Prime, between second and third ring	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Exodus Cluster	Utopia	Zion	Prothean Data Files
Gemini Sigma	Han	East of star, between fourth and fifth ring	Wreckage - 470 fuel
Gemini Sigma	Han	Mavigon	Salvage - 10,000 credits
Gemini Sigma	Ming	Southeast of star, below Antiroprus	Wreckage - 320 fuel
Gemini Sigma	Ming	Parag	Alliance Cruiser Nairobi, Alliance Third Fleet
Hades Gamma	Antaeus	Southwest of the Mass Relay, between the fifth and sixth ring	Wreckage - 300 fuel
Hades Gamma	Antaeus	Trebin	Salvage - 10,000 credits
Hades Gamma	Cacus	Chohe	Salvage - 10,000 credits
Hades Gamma	Cacus	West of Xamarri, between fourth and fifth ring	Wreckage - 400 fuel
Hades Gamma	Dis	Northeast of Nearrum	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Hades Gamma	Dis	Klensal	Salvage - 10,000 credits
Hades Gamma	Farinata	Between star and Juntauma	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Hades Gamma	Farinata	Juntauma	Alliance Frigate Agincourt, Alliance First Fleet
Hades Gamma	Plutus	Nonuel	Special Ops Team Zeta, 103rd Marine Division
Hades Nexus	Hekate	East of star and Southwest of Mass Relay, between second and third rings	Wreckage - 380 fuel
Hades Nexus	Hekate	Asteria	Alliance Frigate Hong Kong, Alliance Fifth Fleet
Hades Nexus	Hoplos	Kopis	Artifact: Obelisk of Karza
Hades Nexus	Hoplos	West of star, near fourth ring	Wreckage - 250 fuel
Hades Nexus	Pamyat	Dobrovolski	Alliance Frigate Leipzig, Alliance First Fleet
Hades Nexus	Pamyat	South of star, between third ring and asteroid belt	Wreckage - 100 fuel
Hades Nexus	Sheol	Gei Hinnom	Artifact: Prothean Sphere
Hourglass Nebula	Faryar	Alingon	Shadow Broker Starship Tech
Hourglass Nebula	Faryar	Northwest of Alingon	Wreckage - 600 fuel
Hourglass Nebula	Osun	Erinle	Salvage - 10,000 credits
Hourglass Nebula	Osun	Southwest of Erinle	Wreckage - 100 fuel
Hourglass Nebula	Ploitari	Zanethu	Terminus Freighters
Hourglass Nebula	Sowilo	Hagalaz	Shadow Broker Support Team
Hourglass Nebula	Sowilo	North of star (Between 4th & 5th Rings)	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Ismar Frontier	Aquila	Metaponto	Intel: Advanced Biotic Implants
Kite's Nest	Harsa	Verush	Intel: Weapon Upgrade Kit
Kite's Nest	Harsa	West of Verush	Wreckage - 300 fuel
Kite's Nest	Harsa	Khar'shan	Artifact: Pillars of Strength
Kite's Nest	Indris	Cholis	Governor Grothan Pazness1
Kite's Nest	Indris	North North-East of star just outside second ring	Wreckage - 300 fuel1
Kite's Nest	Untrel	Adek	Salvage - 10,000 credits
Kite's Nest	Untrel	Southwest of Adek	Wreckage - 100 fuel
Kite's Nest	Vular	Vana	Black Market Artifacts
Kite's Nest	Vular	Northwest of star, third ring	Wreckage - 150 fuel
Krogan DMZ	Dranek	Rothla	Shadow Broker Wet Squad
Krogan DMZ	Dranek	Southeast of star, between second and third ring	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Krogan DMZ	Nith	Northeast of star, between first and second ring	Wreckage - 300 fuel
Minos Wasteland	Fortis	South of Mass Relay	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Minos Wasteland	Fortis	Pietas	Salvage - 10,000 credits
Nimbus Cluster	Agaiou	Carcosa	Artifact: Library of Asha
Nimbus Cluster	Kallini	South of Pania	Wreckage - 300 fuel
Nimbus Cluster	Pelion	South of Aitis	Wreckage - 650 fuel
Nimbus Cluster	Pelion	Trategos	Intel: Intact Reaper Weapon
Nimbus Cluster	Pelion	Northeast of Trategos	Wreckage - 750 fuel
Nimbus Cluster	Pelion	Northwest of Sthenia	Wreckage - 750 fuel
Nubian Expanse	Dakka	Pragia	Intel: Research Data from Pragia
Nubian Expanse	Dakka	Southeast of star, between 3rd and 4th ring.	Wreckage - 350 fuel
Nubian Expanse	Kalabsha	Yamm	Alliance Marine Recon Unit, 103rd Marine Division
Nubian Expanse	Kalabsha	Northeast of star, between 1st and 2nd ring	Wreckage - 300 fuel
Nubian Expanse	Qertassi	Norehsa	Alliance Frigate Trafalgar, Alliance Third Fleet
Nubian Expanse	Qertassi	Northeast of Norehsa	Wreckage - 50 fuel
Pylos Nebula	Dirada	Sineus	Radiation Shielding Sheath1
Pylos Nebula	Dirada	Northeast of the star and south-southeast of Sineus	Wreckage - 250 fuel1
Pylos Nebula	Nariph	Isale	Jovian Dissertation1
Pylos Nebula	Nariph	Northeast of the star, between first and second ring	Wreckage - 300 fuel1
Pylos Nebula	Zaherin	South of the outermost planet Rotesk, just outside third ring	Wreckage - 350 fuel1
The Shrike Abyssal	Kyzil	Heshtok	Void Devils Fighter Wing1
The Shrike Abyssal	Kyzil	South of Rustaka	Wreckage - 350 fuel1
The Shrike Abyssal	Thal	West of the star, between first and second ring	Wreckage - 400 fuel1
The Shrike Abyssal	Thal	Tyrix (North part of the asteroid belt closest to star)	Vorcha Labor Team1
The Shrike Abyssal	Urla Rast	Talis Fia	Artifact: Prothean Obelisk
The Shrike Abyssal	Urla Rast	Northeast of star near outermost orbital ring	Wreckage - 300 fuel
The Shrike Abyssal	Xe Cha	Zada Ban	Salvage - 10,000 credits
The Shrike Abyssal	Xe Cha	Southeast of star, between second and third ring	Wreckage - 150 fuel
Sigurd's Cradle	Decoris	Laena	Salvage - 10,000 credits
Sigurd's Cradle	Decoris	Southern part of Decoris between the orbital rings	Wreckage - 350 fuel
Sigurd's Cradle	Lenal	Triginta Petra	Dextro Rations1
Sigurd's Cradle	Mil	Chalkhos	Husk Neural Map1
Sigurd's Cradle	Skepsis	Watson	Javelin Missile Launchers
Sigurd's Cradle	Skepsis	East-northeast of Crick, near outermost ring	Wreckage - 200 fuel
Silean Nebula	Kypladon	Hanalei	Dr. Jelize
Silean Nebula	Loropi	East of Wreckage, just outside 1st ring	Wreckage - 300 fuel
Silean Nebula	Loropi	Yasilium	Armali Sniper Unit
Silean Nebula	Nahuala	Hyetiana	Serrice Guard
Silean Nebula	Nahuala	West of Agessia, between 2nd ring and asteroid belt	Wreckage - 250 fuel
Silean Nebula	Phontes	Dekuuna	Artifact: Code of the Ancients
Silean Nebula	Phontes	Oltan	Elcor Flotilla2
Silean Nebula	Phontes	East of Lenuamund - South of Telluune, between second and third rings	Wreckage - 175 fuel
Silean Nebula	Teyolia	Nevos	Artifact: Rings of Alune
Silean Nebula	Teyolia	Quirezia	Salvage - 10,000 credits
Silean Nebula	Teyolia	East-southeast of star - between 3rd and 4th ring	Wreckage - 375 fuel
Valhallan Threshold	Micah	Elohi	Emergency Fuel Pods
Valhallan Threshold	Micah	Farlas (East of star, near asteroid belt)	Element Zero Converter
Valhallan Threshold	Micah	Southeast of star, near asteroid belt	Wreckage - 340 fuel
Valhallan Threshold	Paz	Garvug	Artifact: Prothean Data Drives
Valhallan Threshold	Paz	East of star	Wreckage - 160 fuel
Valhallan Threshold	Raheel-Leyya	Northeast of larger star	Wreckage - 95 fuel

¹ Requires Mass Effect 3: Leviathan
² In Legendary Edition, one must first pick up Dekuuna: Elcor Extraction before this can be acquired.