To convince the Council of Saren's guilt and get them to revoke his Specter status near the beginning of Mass Effect, Shepard will need to recruit a few allies on the Citadel. While exploring the Citadel, Shepard will learn about a man named Fist, who wants to use a quarian with evidence against Saren, Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, to extort him. Shepard will also learn that a krogan battlemaster named Wrex is on a mission to kill Fist first. Shepard can choose to recruit Wrex to their growing squad in the fight against Saren.
Wrex, like Garrus, is easy to miss or skip in Mass Effect if players aren't careful or don't know where to find him. However, there are several possible opportunities to make him part of Shepard's team ahead of the mission on Virmire. If he has been recruited, and if Shepard keeps him alive on Virmire, he plays a prominent role in Mass Effect 2 and can return as a squadmate in Mass Effect 3. Here's where to find Wrex and how to recruit him in Mass Effect.
Where to Find Wrex on the Citadel in Mass Effect
When Shepard reaches the Citadel for the hearing following the events on Eden Prime in Mass Effect, they can explore the Wards and the Presidium before going up to the Citadel Tower to meet the Council. Should they end up at Chora's Den, they will likely encounter a dismissive krogan who threatens Fist's bouncers before bumping into the squad. This, they will find out later, is Wrex.
Following the hearing, Shepard will have the option of pursuing Garrus, Wrex, or both for leads. If Shepard chooses to pursue Wrex first, they should stop by the bank on the south side of the Presidium and speak to Barla Von to find out where the krogan is. The Volus is very open with information and will let Shepard know Wrex was taken to C-Sec for questioning. If Shepard pursues Garrus at the Clinic first, they will not need to stop at the bank, as Garrus will tell them where to find Wrex instead.
The easiest route to C-Sec will depend on Shepard's location. If Shepard goes to find Wrex from the bank, they should use the Elevator south of the Embassies. If they seek Wrex out from the Clinic after recruiting Garrus, they should leave the Clinic, turn right, and take the center staircase down. They should then take the door to the left of the staircase, go through the long corridor, and take the Elevator.
After a cutscene with Wrex and a few C-Sec officers, Shepard can agree to let Wrex join the team. It may not be a good idea to bring him along to confront Fist, as he has been contracted to kill him and will take the shot. If he is not in the squad, Shepard can spare Fist instead. Though Wrex initially signs on to complete his bounty against Fist, he will remain on the squad to defeat Saren and Sovereign.
If Shepard goes to deal with Fist and save Tali without recruiting Wrex first, he will seek out the team near the Elevator on their way back to the Normandy and ask to join the squad anyway. Shepard can agree or decline. If they decline at this point, Wrex will stay at Chora's Den through most of the main campaign of Mass Effect and can be picked up and recruited later, usually any time before the mission to Virmire. If he is not recruited, he will be mentioned, but not appear, in the sequels.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition launches May 14, 2021 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with forward compatibility for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.