Matthew Garret
Colonel Matthew Garret leads the Deschutes County Militia from its base on Wizard Island in Crater Lake. His army aims to wipe out the Freakers and store humanity's knowledge in a cave he calls the Ark. Deacon works under him in the Law And Disorder storyline.
- Role
- Antagonist
- Affiliation
- Deschutes County Militia
Found in
- Crater LakeCrater Lake is the far southern region built around the real lake and Wizard Island, the Militia's headquarters. It opens in the second half of the story and has the most encampment jobs and NERO research sites in the game.
- Wizard IslandWizard Island sits in the middle of Crater Lake and is the Deschutes County Militia's main base. You work for Colonel Garret here, with Dee's gun shop and Caleb Tomlinson's garage as the draw.
Good to know
- He is a US military veteran and a former addict.
- Before the outbreak he led a religious movement called God's Army.
- He calls the caves under Wizard Island the Ark, a vault for human knowledge.
- He refuses to recruit anyone with a criminal past.
- His shirt shows four stars, the insignia of a general, despite his title.
- He often gets his Bible references wrong, and Deacon corrects him.
- His weapon of choice is the Mayor.
Before the outbreak
Garret believed God had shown him the end of the world. He spent two decades telling his followers to prepare for it. His military service was long ago, and he was never an officer.
The Militia
Early in the outbreak he formed the Militia, raided NERO and government sites and blew bridges to slow the hordes. His field teams gather supplies and research for the Ark. Survivors who cannot fight end up in his work camp.
Personality
He is brutal and fanatical. He talks about tolerance but kills outsiders without a second thought. He even forgets the names of his own officers.
Role in the storySpoilerShow
Garret makes Deacon a requisition officer for his researchers. After Doc Jiminez dies, he locks his scientists in the Ark. He then claims God told him humanity is the real enemy and orders every other camp destroyed.
FateSpoilerShow
Garret holds Sarah at gunpoint in his chambers during the assault on Wizard Island. He is choking Deacon when the tea Sarah laced with hemlock kills him.
Things to know
A War We Can Win is a walk and talk with Garret. Finishing it opens the Crater Lake and Highway 97 regions. Several Law And Disorder missions are just Garret speeches, such as We Must Fill The Ark and Evil Surrounds Us. Each runs to midnight and pays 1,000 Wizard Island trust and 4,000 XP. Finishing Law And Disorder gives you his gun, the Mayor. On the island, Jacob D'Angelo sells guns, Caleb Tomlinson handles bikes and Ella Salazar collects bounties.
We Must Fill The ArkColonel Matthew Garret has called the Militia together for a speech. You drive over and listen to what he has planned for Wizard Island.
I Know Things Are StrangeSarah needs yeast for her work at Wizard Island. You head out on a supply run to find some and bring it back to her lab.- Throw Them Into The FurnaceColonel Matthew Garret is giving another speech to his Militia. You drive to the spot and stand in the crowd to hear him out.
You Can't Do This AloneThe final push on Wizard Island. With Lost Lake's fighters behind you, you storm the Militia's stronghold and fight your way into the Ark toward Colonel Garret.- For An Outlaw BikerThe final push into the Ark on Wizard Island. You fight through the Militia inside, save Weaver, settle things with Skizzo and head for the Colonel's chamber.
- My Eyes Have Been OpenedColonel Garret calls Wizard Island together for another speech. You stand with the camp and listen to what he has to say.
- You Can't Be ReplacedYou drop in on Doc Jiminez at the Wizard Island infirmary again. It is a short visit on the island to see how he and Wade Taylor are doing.
- Just Another Acquisition FormSarah wants to go on a supply run, and you are her ride. You drive to her tent on Wizard Island, follow her while she gets ready, then walk with her back to your bike.
- What Kept Me GoingYou and Sarah set out from Wizard Island to ride north over the Thielsen Pass. The goal is the old Cloverdale facility, where she can get the equipment she needs.
- We Will Take Back This WorldColonel Matthew Garret wants you to report in on Wizard Island. You meet him and get his view of the war against the Freakers, plus your next assignment.
- How Far We've FallenColonel Garret calls you in to report on Wizard Island. It is a short meeting mission with the Militia's leader.
- Evil Surrounds UsColonel Garret is giving another speech at Wizard Island in Crater Lake. Head to the gathering spot and listen to what he has to say to his soldiers.
I Don't Wanna HangTaylor, a young Militia soldier, has run from Wizard Island, and you ride out to bring him back. The trail leads to a ski lodge held by marauders.- We Do Not DiscriminateColonel Garret is addressing Wizard Island again. Go to the gathering spot in Crater Lake and listen to his speech with the rest of the camp.
- Shadow Of DeathDeacon tries to get Sarah off Wizard Island. You take out the Militia's RPG, reach Sarah's lab in the Ark and lead her to the top of the volcanic cove.
- A War We Can WinA War We Can Win is the story mission where Deacon arrives at Wizard Island, the Deschutes County Militia's fortress in Crater Lake. Colonel Garret walks you through the base and explains what his Militia is fighting for.
- A Good SoldierA Good Soldier is the storyline where Deacon signs on with the Deschutes County Militia so he can find out what is going on in the south. It covers his time as a Militia recruit under Captain Kouri and Colonel Garret at Wizard Island.
- Law And DisorderLaw And Disorder is the storyline about Colonel Matthew Garret, leader of the Deschutes County Militia. Deacon plays soldier at Wizard Island while working out what kind of man the Colonel really is.
Related characters
- Image: Bend Studio / PlayStationSupporting
Sarah Whitaker
Sarah Whitaker is Deacon's wife, a botanist with two PhDs who studied rare plants at Cloverdale's Iron Butte lab. You get to know her through flashback missions in the I Remember storyline. Deacon believes she was lost in the first days of the outbreak.
- Supporting
Derrick Kouri
Captain Derrick Kouri commands the Militia's Diamond Lake outpost and is second in command to Colonel Garret. Deacon meets him after saving two of his soldiers, and Kouri brings him into the Militia. He is wearing the Mongrels ring Deacon gave Sarah.
- Supporting
James Weaver
Lieutenant James Weaver is the Militia's chemist at Wizard Island, working on an advanced napalm to burn out Freaker hordes. Garret introduces him right after Deacon enlists. He gives Deacon jobs in the Blow It Up Good storyline.
- Supporting
Arturo Jiminez
Doctor Arturo Jiminez, called Doc, is the only physician in the Deschutes County Militia and holds the rank of captain. He gives Deacon his medical check when he enlists at Wizard Island. He is one of the kindest people you meet in the Militia.