If in your save game Shepard is dead, you will NOT be able to import Shepard into ME3. Also note, that based on Shepard's actions and decisions in Mass Effect 2, there is a chance that Shepard died in ME2 and did not survive. You can only use Mass Effect 2 characters. During character creation stage, select the 'Import ME2 Character' option to import your Mass Effect 2 character into Mass Effect 3 Note: You MUST have completed Mass Effect 2 in order to be able to import Shepard to Mass Effect 3 After you select the import option, it will say: 'Searching for characters to import' You can NOT import Mass Effect 1 files directly into Mass Effect 3.