Garrus Vakarian

Lore & Background

Garrus begins as a C-Sec officer described by Executor Pallin as 'very good' but lacking patience, while Harkin labels him a 'hothead.' Frustrated by regulations that hinder justice, he leaves the force to join Shepard. In Mass Effect 2, he forms a vigilante group on Omega, only for his team to be wiped out by betrayal from Sidonis. This event leaves Garrus with scars and cracked armor after being shot by a gunship's mass accelerator cannons. He later confronts Sidonis, offering the player a choice to kill him or convince Garrus to spare the regretful traitor. In Mass Effect 3, having lobbied his father for defenses against the Reapers, he commands a 'Reaper task force' on Palaven's moon before rejoining Shepard as an advisor and squadmate.

In Their Own Story

On Omega, Garrus stands atop a derelict tower, his team decimated by mercenaries after Sidonis's betrayal. Shot by a gunship's mass accelerator cannons, he survives with cracked armor and facial scars. When Shepard arrives to recruit 'Archangel,' Garrus removes his helmet, revealing his identity. The narrative turns on the choice regarding Sidonis: kill him for vengeance or spare him, an act that influences Garrus's survival odds during the game's final mission. In Mass Effect 3, the conflict shifts to Palaven, where Garrus guides Turian troops against the Reaper invasion. A female Shepard can pursue a romance with him, but only if they were romantically involved in Mass Effect 2. Throughout these events, composer David Kates scored his missions to reflect the internal struggle between healing and justice.

Reader's Guide

Garrus is available as a squadmate in all three original trilogy games, though he can be refused during recruitment in Mass Effect 1 if Wrex is chosen first. In Mass Effect 2, he becomes a romance option for female Shepard, provided the Sidonis mission is completed. His survival in the final mission of Mass Effect 2 depends on whether that mission was undertaken. For Mass Effect 3, an imported save where Garrus survived and (optionally) was romanced in the previous game is required for his appearance and romance continuation. Visually, players can customize his armor with undamaged sets or slight color variations, though his default state after recruitment shows cracked armor. His design retains the blue-and-black theme and visor across all titles, with silver added in Mass Effect 3 to denote rank.

Did You Know?

• Garrus was not originally a romance option in Mass Effect because developers were unsure if alien squadmates could be emotionally compelling.
• Brandon Keener used his natural speaking voice for Garrus but spoke slightly more formally and added reverb effects.
• Early iterations of Garrus's head model included a medical bandage to cover his facial injury before the scarred look was finalized.
• David Kates compared the chord vocabulary used in Garrus's Mass Effect 2 mission music to Wendy Carlos' language in Tron.
• In Mass Effect 3, Garrus appears as an advisor on Palaven's moon only if he survived the events of Mass Effect 2.

Career Evolution and Vigilante Justice

Garrus starts as a C-Sec officer whose frustration with bureaucracy drives him to leave for Shepard's crew. In Mass Effect 2, he forms a vigilante group on Omega that is destroyed by betrayal, leaving him scarred. By Mass Effect 3, he advises Turian forces against the Reapers.

Character Design and Visual Identity

Garrus wears blue-and-black armor with a visor throughout the trilogy. In Mass Effect 2, he has scars and cracked armor from a gunship attack. In Mass Effect 3, silver accents are added to reflect his new rank, and his armor is heavier for battle.

Developmental Origins and Creative Challenges

Mac Walters wrote Garrus for Mass Effect 1 and 2; John Dombrow took over for Mass Effect 3. Matt Rhodes created the initial blue-and-black concept art. Developers initially doubted alien characters' emotional appeal, omitting romance in Mass Effect 1, but added it in Mass Effect 2 due to fan demand.

Personality Dynamics and Voice Performance

Voiced by Brandon Keener using a formal natural voice with reverb, Garrus is described as having a conscience and wry humor. Players can influence him to respect rules or embrace a loose cannon style. David Kates composed music for his missions to convey his desire for healing and justice.