Garrus Vakarian

A Turian marksman who trades bureaucracy for justice.

Garrus Vakarian is a Turian squadmate appearing in all three games of the original Mass Effect trilogy. Originally introduced as a C-Sec officer frustrated by bureaucratic rules, he joins Commander Shepard's crew to investigate Saren. By Mass Effect 2, he operates on Omega as 'Archangel,' leading a vigilante group before suffering betrayal and severe injuries from a gunship attack. In Mass Effect 3, he advises Turian forces against the Reapers. Voiced by Brandon Keener, Garrus is celebrated for his wry humor, conscience, and desire to do good. His design evolved across the series, maintaining his signature blue-and-black color scheme and visor while adding scars in the second game and silver accents for rank in the third.

Quick Facts

Series: Mass Effect
First: Mass Effect (2007)
Voice: Brandon Keener
Also known as: Archangel
Race: Turian
Home: Palaven

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.

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?

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.

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.