Garrus and Wrex: Your Dynamic Duo in Mass Effect

Absolutely! In the original Mass Effect trilogy, you can indeed have both Garrus Vakarian and Urdnot Wrex as squadmates. They are two of the most iconic and beloved characters in the entire franchise, and their interactions, along with their individual combat prowess, make them invaluable assets on your journey to save the galaxy. Recruiting them both is highly recommended for any playthrough.

Finding and Recruiting Garrus and Wrex

Recruiting both Garrus and Wrex requires some legwork on the Citadel early in the first Mass Effect game. Here’s a breakdown of how to add them to your team:

• The Citadel Investigation: After being tasked with gathering evidence against Saren Arterius, your initial goal is to investigate his dealings. This will lead you on a quest through the underbelly of the Citadel.

• Barla Von and Chora’s Den: Start by speaking with Barla Von at the First Bank of the Presidium. He’ll point you towards Chora’s Den. Once inside Chora’s Den, find Harkin and extract information from him regarding Saren’s activities.

• Finding Garrus: Harkin will tell you about Dr. Michel’s clinic in the Wards, near Flux. Head there, and you’ll find Garrus in a tense standoff. After dealing with the situation at the clinic, Garrus will be ready to join your squad.

• Finding Wrex: As you continue investigating Saren, you’ll be directed to C-Sec headquarters to speak with Captain Anderson. While there, Anderson will introduce you to Wrex, a Krogan mercenary who has valuable information about Saren. He can be recruited into your party at this time.

• Optional Recruitment: While both Garrus and Wrex are technically optional squadmates, you must recruit at least one of them to progress the main story. If you recruit one, you can choose whether or not to recruit the other.

• Garrus after Wrex: If you recruit Wrex before Garrus, Garrus will be waiting by the elevator in C-Sec HQ. When you try to go up the elevator to the Normandy, he should approach you about joining. This is similar to how Wrex would appear if you hadn’t recruited him before finding Tali.

Having both Garrus and Wrex in your squad significantly enhances your combat capabilities and provides compelling narrative moments throughout the trilogy.

Why Garrus and Wrex Are Great Together

Garrus and Wrex are fan favorites because they offer a potent combination of combat skills, strategic thinking, and engaging personalities. They also cover different strategic and tactical requirements.

• Combat Synergy: Wrex is a tank, capable of absorbing incredible amounts of damage and dealing heavy damage up close. Garrus excels at long-range combat with his sniper rifle and tech abilities, providing crucial support.

• Strategic Thinking: Wrex offers raw, battle-hardened experience, while Garrus offers tactical insight.

• Personality: Garrus and Wrex have very distinct personalities, and their interactions are often entertaining and insightful. Witnessing their respect and camaraderie develop throughout the series is one of the highlights of the Mass Effect experience.

Maximizing Your Squad Composition

When building your squad, consider the strengths and weaknesses of each character. In the first game, finding the best mix can come down to enemy shields or armor.

• Class Balance: Wrex is a powerful soldier with biotic abilities, while Garrus is a soldier with engineering skills. If you want to build a balanced squad, consider playing a class with biotic abilities and engineering skills, such as a Sentinel.

• Exploiting Enemy Weaknesses: Always consider enemy types when choosing your squad. Certain enemies are weak to specific types of damage or abilities. For example, synthetics are vulnerable to tech powers, while organic enemies are susceptible to biotics.

Garrus and Wrex in Subsequent Games

Both Garrus and Wrex play significant roles in the sequels, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, although Wrex’s presence is dependent on your decisions in the first game.

• Garrus’s Loyalty: In Mass Effect 2, completing Garrus’s loyalty mission is crucial for his survival during the Suicide Mission.

• Wrex’s Influence: If Wrex survives the first game, he continues to play a critical role in Krogan affairs.

• Impact on Mass Effect 3: The fates of Garrus and Wrex in the previous games have a significant impact on the events of Mass Effect 3. Their roles in the fight against the Reapers will be shaped by your choices throughout the trilogy.

Whether they’re calibrating weapons or headbutting enemies, Garrus and Wrex are essential characters. By actively seeking them out and investing in their stories, you can enhance your Mass Effect adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about Garrus and Wrex in the Mass Effect trilogy:

1. How do you get Garrus and Wrex in Mass Effect?

As mentioned earlier, you can find Garrus at Dr. Michel’s clinic in the Wards after following leads from Barla Von and Harkin on the Citadel. Wrex is introduced to you by Captain Anderson at C-Sec headquarters while you investigate Saren.

2. What is the best class to play with Wrex and Garrus?

To balance out the squad, a class with biotic and tech abilities is ideal. The Sentinel class is a great choice, providing crowd control and tech support.

3. What happens if Wrex dies in Mass Effect 1?

If Wrex dies on Virmire, his role in the subsequent games is replaced by his younger brother, Wreav. Wreav’s personality and leadership style are very different from Wrex’s, which can have significant consequences for the Krogan and the galaxy as a whole.

4. How do you ensure Garrus survives the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2?

To ensure Garrus’s survival, you need to make sure he is loyal by completing his loyalty mission. Additionally, assign him roles that suit his strengths during the mission, such as leading a squad or defending a flank.

5. Can you romance Garrus in Mass Effect 1?

No, you cannot romance Garrus in Mass Effect 1. Romance options with Garrus become available starting in Mass Effect 2.

6. What does Garrus like to talk about?

Garrus likes to talk about justice, duty, and his experiences as a C-Sec officer and vigilante. He also appreciates discussing weapons, tactics, and his relationship with Shepard.

7. Is Garrus a good guy?

Garrus is generally a good guy, although his methods can sometimes be questionable. He believes in justice but is willing to bend or break the rules to achieve it. This moral flexibility is part of what makes him such a compelling character.

8. How old is Wrex in Mass Effect?

As a Krogan, Wrex is very old, approximately 678 years old.

9. Why is Wrex so strong?

Wrex’s strength comes from being a Krogan and his vast battle experience. Krogan are naturally strong and resilient, and Wrex has centuries of combat under his belt.

10. What are the benefits of having Wrex in your squad?

Wrex offers significant firepower and crowd control, and is an excellent tank.

11. Can you lose Garrus’s loyalty?

No, Garrus’s loyalty mission does not have a fail condition; as long as Shepard completes it, his Loyalty will have been earned.

12. How to keep Tali and Garrus alive?

For the Biotic Specialist, choose a loyal Samara, a loyal Jack, or a loyal Morinth because otherwise, they could get Tali or Garrus killed. If both Garrus and Tali are loyal, you can ensure their survival by choosing them as your final squad at the end of the Suicide Mission.

13. Can male shepard date Garrus?

They’re still works in progress, but there’s currently enough there to romance Garrus as Dude-shep in both games, snuggling up with him throughout the battle against the Collectors, and the Reaper war. “While playing as Male Shepard, you can now ask Garrus out,” says the creator, bugbuns.

14. Why did Sidonis betray Garrus?

Garrus’ team died between games because Sidonis betrayed them to the Blue Sun’s mercenaries. It turns out that the Blue Suns forced Sidonis to betray Garrus after capturing him on Omega.

15. What happens if Garrus dies in ME2?

If Garrus dies in Mass Effect 2, he’s just not in Mass Effect 3. If other significant crew members are lost throughout the trilogy, they’re sometimes replaced by stand-in characters of their same race.

The Mass Effect series demonstrates how storytelling and gameplay can intersect to create compelling learning experiences. Exploring games as learning environments can be further investigated through organizations like the GamesLearningSociety.org.