Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2

Garrus Builds

Optimize Garrus Vakarian's build in Mass Effect 2. Focus on sniper skills, armor-piercing rounds, and abilities for maximum combat effectiveness.

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Garrus Builds

Garrus Vakarian is a fan-favorite companion, and optimizing his build can significantly enhance your squad's combat effectiveness. This guide focuses on creating powerful Garrus builds, emphasizing his sniper capabilities, armor-piercing rounds, and unique abilities to make him a lethal force on the battlefield.

Garrus Vakarian, the former C-Sec officer turned vigilante, is a cornerstone of Shepard's crew in Mass Effect 2. His specialization in ranged combat and his unique abilities make him an invaluable asset. Building Garrus effectively means focusing on his strengths as a marksman and ensuring he can consistently deal high damage, especially against armored targets. This guide will help you create a devastating Garrus build.

Garrus's Core Strengths:

Garrus excels at mid-to-long range combat. His signature ability, Concussive Shot, is excellent for staggering enemies and disrupting their attacks. He also has access to Armor Piercing Rounds, which are crucial for dealing with heavily armored foes, a common threat in Mass Effect 2. His passive abilities often focus on improving weapon damage and accuracy.

Ability Prioritization:

When allocating skill points for Garrus, prioritize the following:

  • Concussive Shot: This is his most versatile ability. Maxing it out will increase its damage, reduce its cooldown, and add secondary effects like increasing the damage taken by the target. It's invaluable for crowd control and breaking enemy defenses.
  • Armor Piercing Rounds: This power is essential for taking down shielded and armored enemies. Invest in its upgrades to maximize the bonus damage and penetration.
  • Garrus's Passive Tree: Look for upgrades that boost his weapon damage, accuracy, and critical hit chance. These passive bonuses are crucial for making him a consistent damage dealer.

Weapon and Armor Choices:

Garrus is most effective with sniper rifles and assault rifles. Equip him with the best sniper rifle you have available, such as the M-92 Mantis or the Black Widow (if you have the DLC). For assault rifles, weapons like the M-8 Avenger or the Geth Pulse Rifle can also serve him well. Ensure his weapon mods focus on increasing damage, accuracy, and stability.

For armor, look for pieces that provide bonuses to weapon damage, accuracy, or shield strength. While Garrus isn't a frontline tank, a bit of extra survivability can ensure he stays in the fight longer to dish out damage.

Example Build: The Sniper Specialist

This build focuses on maximizing Garrus's effectiveness as a sniper:

  1. Max Concussive Shot: Invest all available points into Concussive Shot, focusing on its damage and crowd control aspects.
  2. Max Armor Piercing Rounds: Ensure this ability is fully upgraded to deal with any armored threat.
  3. Prioritize Weapon Damage and Accuracy: Invest heavily in Garrus's passive tree, focusing on upgrades that boost his sniper rifle damage and critical hit chance.
  4. Equip Best Sniper Rifle: Always equip Garrus with the most powerful sniper rifle available, along with mods that enhance damage and stability.

Tactical Considerations:

Position Garrus strategically during combat. Keep him at a distance where he can effectively use his sniper rifle and Concussive Shot without being overwhelmed. Use his abilities to stagger dangerous enemies or break through heavy armor, allowing Shepard and other squadmates to finish them off. A well-built Garrus can consistently provide high damage output and control the battlefield from afar.