While dealing with issues of diplomacy and preparing for war against the Reapers in Mass Effect 3, Shepard can rekindle and continue her relationship with turian rebel Garrus Vakarian. Where the romances in both Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2 are largely one-night experiences, the romantic relationships between Shepard and a squate paramour in Mass Effect 3 are generally more complex and mature. As the relationship between Garrus and Shepard grows, they will provide emotional for each other as they each navigate difficult and unfamiliar situations during the war effort.

Related: How to Romance Tali in Mass Effect 2

If he survived the Suicide Mission, Shepard will reunite with Garrus during Priority: Palaven. As long as Shepard romanced Garrus in Mass Effect 2, the romance can continue in Mass Effect 3. As before, Garrus is only a romance option for a female Shepard. The progression of his romance is similar to that of other companions: Shepard will need to reaffirm her commitment to him in conversation aboard the Normandy, then meet him on the Citadel for a kind of "date" to fully commit and lock in the romance. Here's how to continue Garrus' romance in Mass Effect 3.

How to Continue a Romance with Garrus in Mass Effect 3

Shepard kisses Garrus in Mass Effect 3

The Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, they can instead change the options in the Mass Effect: Genesis comics optional experience ahead of loading Mass Effect 3. This way, they can input the decision to romance Garrus and activate his romance without needing to complete another playthrough.

Shepard reunites with Garrus on Menae during Priority: Palaven, where he is acting as military consultant for the turian forces. The reunion will be somewhat awkward, as the Primarch is present. Following this mission, Shepard can speak with Garrus in the Main Battery aboard the Normandy. Garrus will inquire about their relationship and whether Shepard still has feelings for him. She has the option to break off the relationship here or to recommit with a kiss.

Sometime after this conversation, Shepard should make a point to find Garrus on the Citadel. He will be temporarily located in the Holding Area of the Docks helping coordinate relief for turian refugees. During this conversation, he will remind her to come up for air every once in a while because he needs her. She can also find him in the cockpit trading jokes with Joker or trying to his father and sister, who were still on Palaven when the Reapers attacked.

Shepard and Garrus talk in her cabin in Mass Effect 3

Following Priority: Citadel II, Garrus will send Shepard a message at her Private Terminal asking her to meet him on the Citadel. They will take a skycar to the top of the Presidium. Here, he will ask Shepard if she is ready to commit to the relationship. This is the final chance to break things off. If Shepard commits here, all other romance options will be blocked for the remainder of the story. Shepard will officially tell Garrus she loves him, and the two will kiss before engaging in a bottle shooting competition with sniper rifles. Shepard can either hit the target or miss on purpose.

Like other romanced squates during the Citadel DLC, Garrus will be the first one to come to Shepard's aid during the ambush and can be brought to the Casino for the infiltration. After the final fight, he will invite Shepard back to the Casino bar. They will roleplay a first date, and Garrus will eventually pull Shepard onto the dancefloor, where he leads her in a tango. There are two Renegade interrupts Shepard can take during this scene that slightly change her actions and reactions at various points in the dance. It is implied the two are intimate following this scene. Garrus can also attend Shepard's party, and the two will wake up in bed together the morning after.

Just before the mission Priority: Cerberus Headquarters, Garrus will come to Shepard's cabin and offer to keep her company. If she agrees, the two will spend an intimate night together, and, when Shepard awakens from another nightmare, Garrus reassures her.

Shepard says goodbye to Garrus in Mass Effect 3

Garrus is one of Shepard's final goodbyes during Priority: Earth. During this conversation, he jokes about retiring somewhere warm and trying to find out what a turian-human baby looks like. He asks her to meet him at the bar in heaven should things go badly, then gently orders her to come back alive. They will share a kiss, and Shepard can choose to offer her own words of comfort, promising that no matter what, he will never be alone.

If Garrus is part of Shepard's squad during the run up to the beam, he will be severely injured and evacuated back to the Normandy. Despite his protests and refusal to leave her, she will need to leave him behind. She will tell him she will always love him, to which he will respond he loves her too. He will later be seen either putting Shepard's name on the Memorial Wall or refusing to do so, depending on the player's chosen Mass Effect 3 ending.

If Shepard does not romance either Tali or Garrus, the two will end up together by the end of the game. Shepard can overhear some of their conversations via comms when visiting either one on the Normandy. They can also "catch" the pair in an intimate moment in the Main Battery ahead of Priority: Earth.

Next: What Mass Effect Characters Should Return For ME4

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will launch on May 14, 2021 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with forward compatibility for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.