Mass Effect 3 Search and Rescue Guide: Checklist for Scanning Targets
Search and Rescue is a brand-new mechanic in Mass Effect 3, acting as the game’s equivalent to the Discovery Assignments from the first title and the Planet Scanning approach from the second. Instead of roaming on foot for everything, you use the Normandy to travel through the Galaxy Map, then rely on the Scanner to locate objects hidden within a system. Those targets can include fuel, Salvage worth credits, and even War Assets—but keep in mind that scanning too aggressively will put you on the Reapers’ radar.
On this page of our Mass Effect 3 wiki guide, you’ll learn how to track down every Search and Rescue item found in the game.
Before We Begin
Since Search and Rescue is essentially a “find it first, see it later” activity—often while you’re under pressure from the Reapers after excessive scanning—we’ve done our best to include clear details about where each item can be located. Still, a screenshot is always better than text, but adding images for everything would make this page far too long. Instead, you’ll find the visuals on the individual cluster pages.
Here are a few more practical tips for Search and Rescue:
- Planets don’t show up on the map automatically. They will appear once you fly the Normandy over them.
- If an item is floating in space, you can locate it without using the Scanner. When the Normandy approaches the object, you’ll hear the same “boo-boop” audio cue that plays when you pass over a planet. Use that sound to spot targets ahead of time, then reveal as many as possible during a single scan.
- If you’re trying to refill Fuel, skip the Fuel Station. Land on the Citadel, then immediately depart—this restores your Fuel for free and prevents unnecessary spending.
This section covers Search and Rescue content from the base game. Even so, there are three notable exceptions worth calling out. The first group involves two Quest Items connected to Side Missions that become unavailable after you complete “Priority: Tuchanka.” Those locked items are:
- Ismar Frontier: Prototype Components
- Citadel: Barla Von (Krogan DMZ)
Second, the Elcor Flotilla on Oltan, located in the Phontes system within the Silean Nebula, can’t be accessed until you speak with the Elcor Diplomat in the Citadel Embassies. That encounter is tied to the Side Mission “Dekuuna: Elcor Extraction.” The relevant mission is:
- Dekuuna: Elcor Extraction
Aethon Cluster Discoverables
Apien Crest Discoveries
Arcturus Stream Discoveries
Argos Rho Discoveries
Athena Nebula Discoveries
Attican Beta Discoverables
Exodus Cluster Discoverables
Gemini Sigma Discoveries
Hades Gamma Discoveries
Hades Nexus Discoveries
Hourglass Nebula Discoveries
Ismar Frontier Discoveries
Kite’s Nest Discoveries
Krogan DMZ Discoverables
Minos Wasteland Discoveries
Nimbus Cluster Discoverables
Nubian Expanse Discoveries
Sigurd’s Cradle Discoveries
Silean Nebula Discoveries
The Shrike Abyssal Discoveries
Valhallan Threshold Discoveries
The Search and Rescue items from the Leviathan DLC are separated into their own section. The main reason is that the DLC gradually unlocks multiple clusters, while also adding new systems to areas you might already know—such as expanding the Ismar Frontier.
Looking for more help with Mass Effect 3? Take a look at these other pages:
- Legendary Edition Changes
- How-To Guides
- Key Choices and Consequences
- Romance Guide
- Walkthrough
- Side Missions
Up Next: Galaxy Map Guide
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