Urdnot Wrex

Concept and design

Urdnot Wrex is a Krogan, an alien species nearly sterilized by other galactic races in the Mass Effect universe. To distinguish him from other Krogan, the art team gave his head a fiery red pattern covering his skull plate, along with abundant facial scarring to convey combat experience. The team designed several facial expressions to guide animation. Senior writer Mac Walters handled Wrex's writing in the first game, aiming to make the character both distinct and representative of the Krogan species. Wrex's confrontation with Commander Shepard was designed to build tension slowly, with escalating discussion and camera angles indicating a struggle for dominance, culminating in a player decision.

Appearances

Wrex appears in every game of the Mass Effect trilogy, as well as in the tie-in comic series Mass Effect: Foundation. He is one of four squadmates included in the Mass Effect: Board Game – Priority Hagalaz, with a unique skill set, and appears in the amusement park ride Mass Effect: New Earth. In the first Mass Effect, Wrex is a bounty hunter hired by the Shadow Broker to assassinate a former agent. After joining Commander Shepard's squad, conversations reveal insights into the genophage.

He asks Shepard to retrieve a family armor heirloom. A confrontation occurs on Virmire at a Krogan cloning facility run by antagonist Saren Arterius, where Wrex protests destroying the facility and its genophage cure. Shepard may convince him to stand down, or kill him; survival is always possible if the family armor was found. In Mass Effect 2, if alive, Wrex returns as a reformer leader of the Krogan on Tuchanka, assisting Shepard with Grunt or Mordin Solus.

Reception and analysis

Dark Horse released PVC statues, including a limited edition of 1000 units with white and pink armor, and Diamond Select Toys produced a figurine. Wrex earned 'Sidekick of the Year' in the Official Xbox Magazine 2007 Game of the Year Awards. Critics praised his character evolution and role as a progressive reformer, while noting his reduced role in later games. PC Gamer's Christopher Livingston highlighted his deep-thinking yet tough nature, and The Washington Post's Jhaan Elker commended his emotional connection to the genophage storyline. Game Informer's Jeff Marchiafava named him the fictional character he would invite to Thanksgiving. His utterance of 'Shepard' became a frequently quoted line.