TL;DR – Key Takeaways
- Act 1 has 13 collectibles spread across four chapters.
- All 13 count toward the Memories From E-Day achievement.
- None of these collectibles are missable mid-chapter — but you can’t return after the chapter ends.
- Chapter 1 has 3, Chapter 2 has 4, Chapter 3 has 2, and Chapter 4 has 4.
- Most are off the main path — check side rooms, desks, and alley walls as you go.
Act 1 of Gears of War E-Day drops you right into the chaos of Emergence Day. The streets are on fire, Wretches are crawling out of the walls, and somehow there are still 13 collectibles hidden in every corner. Easy to miss, never marked on your HUD. If you want 100% completion, you need all of them — and they all count toward the Memories From E-Day achievement, which tracks every collectible across all five acts.
This guide covers every single one in order, chapter by chapter, with clear directions so you can grab them without slowing down too much. No backtracking, no confusion.
Also check out our full Gears of War E-Day chapters and acts guide if you want a breakdown of the full campaign structure.
How Many Collectibles Are in Act 1 of Gears of War E-Day?
There are 13 collectibles in Act 1. Here is how they are spread across the four chapters:
- Chapter 1 – Emergence: 3 collectibles
- Chapter 2 – Survival of the Fittest: 4 collectibles
- Chapter 3 – A Gear in Need: 2 collectibles
- Chapter 4 – Back in the Fold: 4 collectibles
None of these are permanently missable in the traditional sense, but once you move to the next chapter, you cannot go back within the same session. So pick them up as you go.
Chapter 1 – Emergence Collectibles (3 Total)
Chapter 1 is the tutorial chapter. It walks you through the opening moments of Emergence Day in Kalona. Three collectibles are tucked along the way. None require major detours — just keep your eyes open.
Collectible 1 – Monster Jaw
After the first wave of Wretches bursts out of the ground and you beat them down, a short cutscene plays. Once you are back in control of Marcus, look to your right near the newsstand on the street. The Monster Jaw is on the ground in front of it, next to the body. Hard to miss if you look right instead of rushing forward.
Collectible 2 – Bloody Transit Worker’s Helmet
After you get the Gnasher and head underground, you will fight through some Locust in the maintenance tunnel. Keep moving forward and look for a small room off to the left side of the corridor. Inside, there is a dead worker on the ground with a flashlight next to him. The helmet is right beside the body. Grab it before climbing the yellow ladder at the end of the tunnel.
Collectible 3 – Front Page of the Kalona Times
After you emerge from the maintenance tunnel and help a trapped civilian move some rubble, clear out the Wretches that spawn nearby. Then head into the Café and Bakery directly across the street. Go through the door to the left of the counter and into the kitchen at the back. The newspaper is sitting on the kitchen counter next to the fridge.
Chapter 2 – Survival of the Fittest Collectibles (4 Total)
Chapter 2 takes you through the Kalona Police Department and then on to the COG Recruitment Center. Four collectibles are here, two in each location. This is the meatiest chapter for loot in Act 1, so take your time.
Collectible 4 – KPD Police Bulletin
Right at the start of Chapter 2, you enter the main bullpen of the Kalona Police Department. Check the tables on the left side of the room. The bulletin is sitting on one of the desks near the back-left corner, right beside a free-standing bulletin board. Grab it before heading to the armory.
Collectible 5 – Bloodied Police Chief’s Badge
After the shooting range practice section, you move into the Tactical Operations wing of the police station. Push through the rooms until you find the police chief — his body is pinned to the wall. The badge is on his left side, right on the shelf next to him. You will hear the team react to the scene, so you will know you are in the right spot.
Collectible 6 – Army Recruitment Pamphlet
Fight through the Locust outside and eventually you will be let into the COG Recruitment Center by some civilians sheltering inside. Once inside, go behind the reception desk at the back of the room. The pamphlet is sitting on the counter under the COG emblem on the wall. Simple grab — just walk behind the desk.
Collectible 7 – Try On Pilot Helmet
Still inside the same Recruitment Center, do not leave yet. Look to the right side of the room from where you grabbed the pamphlet. There is a display row of COG helmets along the wall. The pilot helmet is the third one from the left. Pick it up to add it to your collection before escorting the civilians out.
Chapter 3 – A Gear in Need Collectibles (2 Total)
Chapter 3 is shorter than the others. You head to a Pay-N-Save warehouse to link up with a Gear pinned down by Locust. Two collectibles are here. Both are inside the warehouse, so don’t rush through.
Collectible 8 – Tomatoes, Canned
As soon as you enter the Pay-N-Save warehouse, move forward through the first room and into the second area. Head down the left aisle near the back and look on the ground near a corpse. The can of tomatoes is sitting right there. It sounds like an odd thing to collect, but that’s part of the charm of Gears collectibles.
Collectible 9 – Broken Lancer Bayonet
After the lengthy defend sequence inside the warehouse, a cutscene plays where Marcus gets his scar. Once you regain control, do not leave the building yet. Turn left and look for a dead COG soldier on the ground nearby. The broken bayonet is sticking out of the body. Pick it up before heading out to meet Tai.
Chapter 4 – Back in the Fold Collectibles (4 Total)
Chapter 4 is the finale of Act 1. You are escorting Mayor Shaw and dealing with waves of Locust across a long stretch of the city. Four collectibles are spread out here, so keep your eyes moving as you push forward.
For a deeper look at the story beats happening here, check out our Gears of War E-Day review.
Collectible 10 – Front Page of the Tyran Chronicle
Right at the start of Chapter 4, you are walking down the main street with the squad. Stay on the right side of the road and look for a vertical “Bar & Lounge” sign. Just to the right of it there is a wide alley — walk into it and look at the doorstep on the right side. The newspaper is sitting right there. Easy to walk past if you stay in the center of the road.
Collectible 11 – Anti-UIR Propaganda Poster
After fighting through a back alley and breaking open a gate, you come back out onto the street facing the Landa Medical building. Head down the small set of steps in front of you and turn right. Follow the path down and you will see the poster flat on the wall to your right, just past the red Major Burger van. It blends into the graffiti-covered wall, so look carefully.
Collectible 12 – Landa Memorial Medical Supplies Memo
Inside the Landa Medical clinic, Shin moves to help a wounded COG soldier. As you follow them through the building, keep to the right side of the hallway. There is a small office space with a desk on the right — the memo is sitting right there next to a computer monitor. Don’t skip past the office door.
Collectible 13 – COG Tags of Private Brick Rosso
This is the final collectible of Act 1. Just before the entrance to Echo Park, look to your left for a blue police car parked on the street. Walk around to the back of the car and you will find a fallen COG soldier on the sidewalk. The COG tags are right next to the body. Grab them before heading into the park or you will trigger the next major sequence.
Do Act 1 Collectibles Unlock Anything?
Collecting all 13 in Act 1 alone does not pop an achievement by itself. However, every collectible you find in the game — all 140 of them across all five acts — counts toward the Memories From E-Day achievement. If you want the full completion, Act 1 is where it starts. Don’t skip these early — going back is not as simple once you are deep into later acts.
If you are curious about everything that changed going into this prequel, our Gears of War E-Day biggest changes article breaks it all down.
Tips for Finding Collectibles in Gears of War E-Day
- Slow down after combat encounters. Most collectibles spawn or become accessible right after a fight. Take 30 seconds to look around before pushing to the next area.
- Check every side room. The game often puts collectibles in rooms just off the main corridor. If there’s an open door, go through it.
- You don’t need to finish the chapter to keep the collectible. Once picked up, it is saved immediately. You can die or restart a checkpoint and keep it.
- Play on any difficulty. Collectibles appear on all difficulty settings, so do not stress about difficulty choice for the purpose of hunting them.
Where to Play Gears of War E-Day
Gears of War E-Day is available on Xbox Series X/S and PC. You can find it and pre-order details at the following links:
Frequently Asked Questions
How many collectibles are in Act 1 of Gears of War E-Day?
There are 13 collectibles in Act 1, spread across four chapters: Emergence (3), Survival of the Fittest (4), A Gear in Need (2), and Back in the Fold (4).
Can you miss collectibles in Gears of War E-Day Act 1?
Yes. Once a chapter ends you cannot return to it in the same session. Collectibles must be grabbed before the chapter concludes. That said, you can replay chapters from the chapter select menu to go back and pick up anything you missed.
Do Gears of War E-Day Act 1 collectibles count toward an achievement?
Yes. All 13 Act 1 collectibles count toward the Memories From E-Day achievement, which requires you to find all 140 collectibles across the entire campaign.
What difficulty do you need to find collectibles in E-Day?
Collectibles appear on every difficulty setting. You do not need to be on a specific difficulty to find or pick them up.
Where is the Monster Jaw collectible in E-Day?
The Monster Jaw is in Chapter 1 (Emergence). After the first fight against Wretches near the first e-hole, look to the right by the newsstand on the street. It is on the ground in front of it.
Where are the COG Tags of Private Brick Rosso in E-Day?
They are the last collectible in Act 1, found in Chapter 4 (Back in the Fold). Look for a blue police car just before the entrance to Echo Park. The tags are next to a fallen soldier behind the car on the sidewalk.
