Gears of War E-Day All Weapons List

TL;DR

• Gears of War E-Day has 10 primary and secondary weapons, 2 sidearms, and 4 equipment items.
• The Prototype Lancer and Gnasher are starting weapons for most classes — and still among the best.
• New weapons include the Incinerator (Imulsion shotgun), Gut Puncher (grenade launcher), and Ripper (LMG).
• Each weapon has four mod slots. Mods are earned through Hard Cases, secondary objectives, and Horde Siege class levels.
• In Horde Siege, weapons are unlocked by leveling up each class separately.
• In Versus, all players start with the same loadout. No mods. Power weapons spawn on the map.
• The Chainsaw Lancer prototype gets an origin story in the campaign — it is a key part of the game’s plot.

How Weapons Work in Gears of War E-Day

Gears of War E-Day uses a full weapon mod system for the first time in the series. Every reloadable weapon has four mod slots. You fill them with mods you earn through Hard Cases in the campaign, secondary objectives, and Horde Siege class progression.

Weapons are split into three loadout slots: Primary or Secondary weapon, Sidearm, and Equipment (throwables). You carry one primary or secondary at a time, one sidearm, and one piece of equipment.

Every weapon also benefits from the Active Reload system. Land a perfect active reload and your next magazine deals bonus damage. Some weapons — like the Breechshot and Gnasher — use a round-by-round reload system, which lets you stop mid-reload once you have enough shots to finish a kill.

Weapon mods follow the weapon, not the class. If you mod a Prototype Lancer on Assault, those same mods carry over when any other class picks it up. You only need to build each weapon once.

To see how mods connect to class builds, check our guide on Gears of War E-Day best builds for all classes. For unlocking extra mod slots in the campaign, see our Gears of War E-Day how to unlock more weapon mod slots guide.

All Primary and Secondary Weapons in Gears of War E-Day

1. Prototype Lancer (Assault Rifle)

Prototype Lancer

The Prototype Lancer is the most versatile weapon in the game. It fires faster and holds more rounds than recent Lancer variants. It is the starting weapon for the Assault class in Horde Siege and unlocks at Level 4 for all other classes.

This is the iconic Lancer before the chainsaw bayonet was standardized. It is not locked to any one playstyle, which makes it the safest choice for players still figuring out their approach. Cover Brace and Full Metal Jacket are the most important mods to put on it early.

Best for: All-round combat, cover-based fighting, beginners
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Starting Loadout | Breacher — Level 4 | Marksman — Level 4 | Medic — Level 4

2. Lancer Mk1 (Assault Rifle)

The Lancer Mk1 — also known as the Retro Lancer — is the more aggressive of the two Lancer variants. It returns in its Gears 3 role as a sustained fire rifle. It is the starting weapon for Breacher and unlocks at Level 6 for Assault and Medic.

The Mk1 hits harder per shot but feels less forgiving than the Prototype Lancer. If you are comfortable managing recoil, the Mk1 rewards you for it. It is a solid primary for Medic since that class often fights at mid-range while staying close to the squad.

Best for: Sustained damage, mid-range pressure, experienced players
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Level 6 | Breacher — Starting Loadout | Marksman — Level 13 | Medic — Level 6

3. Hammerburst (Burst Assault Rifle)

The Hammerburst fires an accurate six-round burst. It is built on the original Gears of War version, not the later semi-auto design. A perfect active reload raises its rate of fire, which is one of the best active reload bonuses in the game.

It rewards controlled bursting over holding the trigger down. Headhunter Burst and Precision Rifling are the best mods for it. Marksman and Medic both start with the Hammerburst in their loadouts.

Best for: Accurate burst fire, mid-to-long range, controlled engagements
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Level 4 | Breacher — Level 6 | Marksman — Starting Loadout | Medic — Starting Loadout

4. Gnasher (Shotgun)

The Gnasher is the signature close-range weapon of Gears of War. In E-Day, it uses a round-by-round reload system. You can load one or two shells mid-fight instead of waiting for a full reload. To pay for that flexibility, the capacity drops from 8 shells to 6.

The Gnasher also works while sliding. You can slide toward an enemy and fire at the same time, which keeps the aggressive push-and-shoot style intact. Bayonet and Skeleton Frame are the best mods for it. All four classes start with the Gnasher.

Best for: Close range, aggressive play, executions, Breacher class
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Starting Loadout | Breacher — Starting Loadout | Marksman — Level 6 | Medic — Starting Loadout

5. Incinerator (Imulsion Shotgun)

The Incinerator is one of two brand new weapons in E-Day. It fires a shotgun-style burst of Imulsion that melts anything in close range. The key difference from a standard shotgun is that it keeps dealing damage after the initial shot — enemies caught in the Imulsion continue burning.

This makes it excellent for forcing enemies out of cover and for dealing with groups of weaker enemies. It is the heart of the Breacher build and unlocks earliest for that class at Level 9. Assault and Marksman do not get it until Level 25.

Best for: Close range, Breacher class, crowd control, dense indoor sections
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Level 25 | Breacher — Level 9 | Marksman — Level 25 | Medic — Level 21

6. Breechshot (Precision Rifle)

The Breechshot returns from Gears of War: Judgment. It uses the same round-by-round reload system as the Gnasher, so you can chamber individual rounds mid-fight. It is a mid-to-long range precision rifle with strong stopping power per shot.

In Versus, a headshot with the Breechshot kills immediately. It also has a distinctive axe execution animation. It is one of only three weapons with mods in all eight mod categories, which makes it one of the most customizable guns in the game.

Best for: Mid-to-long range, precision play, Versus headshot pressure
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Level 13 | Breacher — Level 13 | Marksman — Level 9 | Medic — Level 13

7. Longshot (Sniper Rifle)

The Longshot is the dedicated sniper rifle. It rewards patience and accuracy. It is the primary weapon for the Marksman class in Horde Siege and shines on maps with long sightlines and elevated positions.

Precision Long Barrel, Forged Barrel, Full Metal Jacket, and Marksman Scope are the best mods for it. The Marksman Scope gives a 3x zoom with fast aim speed. One landed headshot on most standard enemies is a clean kill. For bosses and elites, combining the Longshot with the Pulse Drone’s damage bonus is the most efficient approach.

Best for: Long range, Marksman class, boss weak point targeting, sightline control
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Level 17 | Breacher — Level 25 | Marksman — Starting Loadout | Medic — Level 30

8. Ripper (Light Machine Gun)

The Ripper is a Locust-manufactured LMG assembled from scavenged COG and UIR parts. It has two top-mounted box magazines and two barrels. Its fire rate increases the longer you hold the trigger, which rewards players who can sustain damage output without releasing.

It holds 70 rounds across its two magazines. It is a fully automatic weapon built for suppression and sustained fire. It works well or not at all — there is not much middle ground. If you like holding down the trigger through entire waves, the Ripper delivers. If you prefer burst control, stick with the Lancer variants.

Best for: Sustained fire, suppression, holding chokepoints
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Level 9 | Breacher — Level 28 | Marksman — Level 21 | Medic — Level 25

9. Gut Puncher (Grenade Launcher)

The Gut Puncher is the other brand new weapon in E-Day. It fires grenades with timed detonation — not impact-only fuses. You control when it explodes by holding the fire input after shooting and releasing it at the right moment.

This makes it a geometry weapon. You can bounce rounds around corners and detonate them behind cover. In the campaign, Gut Punchers are found on the ground in areas where Bilefrogs and large Locust groups appear. In Horde Siege, its best value is for E-Hole denial and lane control.

The common mistake is treating it like a straight impact launcher. Hold the trigger, let the round travel, and release to detonate at the target’s location. That is when it becomes dangerous.

Best for: Cover denial, E-Hole control, enemies behind obstacles, Medic class
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Level 28 | Breacher — Level 30 | Marksman — Level 30 | Medic — Level 9

10. Torque Bow (Precision Bolt Launcher)

The Torque Bow fires a charged explosive bolt. You hold the fire button to charge the shot, then release it to launch. A fully charged bolt deals massive damage to weak points, which makes it the best solo boss weapon in the campaign.

The tradeoff is the vulnerability during charging. You are a stationary target while powering up the shot. In the campaign, Torque Bows first appear when a Locust cuts scene, and Torque Bow ammo is found in Act 3 Chapter 1. In Horde Siege, it is a late-game unlock for most classes.

Best for: Boss weak points, high-value targets, single powerful hits
Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Level 30 | Breacher — Level 21 | Marksman — Level 17 | Medic — Level 28

All Sidearm Weapons in Gears of War E-Day

Snub Pistol (Sidearm)

The Snub fires as fast as you pull the trigger and has the fastest draw speed of any weapon in the game. It is a cleanup tool — useful when your primary is empty, reloading slowly, or wrong for a close target you need to finish quickly. Every class starts with the Snub. You first find it in Act 1 Chapter 1: Emergence in the campaign.

Horde Siege unlock: All classes — Starting Loadout

Striga (Burst Pistol)

The Striga is a burst-fire pistol — a Locust sidearm that fires in controlled bursts. It is a stronger option than the Snub for players who want more damage output from their sidearm slot. You find it in the campaign in Act 3 Chapter 2: Enemy Lines.

Horde Siege unlock: Assault — Level 21 | Breacher — Level 17 | Marksman — Level 28 | Medic — Level 17

All Equipment (Throwables) in Gears of War E-Day

Smoke Grenade

Explodes on impact and creates a thick smoke screen that blocks vision and disrupts targeting. Every class starts with this in Horde Siege. When combined with the Marksman’s Pulse Drone, tagged enemies remain visible through the smoke — letting you fire freely while staying hidden. Found in Act 3 Chapter 3: Last Foothold in the campaign.

Frag Grenade

Explodes after a short delay and deals high damage in a blast radius. Unlocks at Level 4 for all classes in Horde Siege. Found in Act 3 Chapter 3: Last Foothold in the campaign. Standard use across all game modes.

Concussion Grenade

Explodes after a short delay and stuns enemies in the blast radius rather than killing them. This pairs naturally with the Assault class’s Opportunity Targeting armor mod, which increases damage to stunned enemies. Unlocks at Level 7 for Assault and Level 14 for all other classes. Found in Act 3 Chapter 3: Last Foothold in the campaign.

Explosive Decoy

A deployable that draws enemy attention before exploding. Useful for redirecting Locust groups during Horde Siege wave defense. Unlocks at Level 10 for Assault and Medic only.

Heavy Weapons in Gears of War E-Day

Heavy weapons are not part of your standard loadout. They are picked up during combat — either found on the battlefield or ripped directly off enemy turret bases. Carrying a Heavy weapon slows your movement but most movement options remain available.

The key heavy weapons in E-Day include:

• Heavy Boomshot — The Locust’s prototype Boomshot. Classified as a Heavy so it delivers massive damage without breaking gameplay balance. It is the Locust version of the weapon at this point in the Gears timeline.
• Troika Heavy Machine Gun — A Locust heavy turret that can be ripped off its base and carried.
• Vulcan Gatling Gun — A high-capacity rotary weapon. Effective against grouped enemies but heavy to carry.

The Chainsaw Lancer — Its Origin Story in E-Day

The Chainsaw Lancer is the most iconic weapon in the entire Gears of War franchise. E-Day tells the story of how it came to exist. The Prototype Chainsaw Lancer appears in the campaign and has its own origin tied directly to the events of Emergence Day and Bravo Squad’s fight for survival.

The prototype has a higher rate of fire and a deeper magazine than later Lancer variants. When you first get the chainsaw execution working in the campaign, it is a genuine moment. The game earns it instead of just handing it to you.

For a full look at how E-Day handles its prequel setting and what the biggest changes are, see our guide on Gears of War E-Day biggest changes as a prequel.

How to Unlock Weapons in Horde Siege

In Horde Siege, weapons unlock by leveling up each class. Every class has a separate level track that goes to Level 30. The weapons available to each class at each level are different. Some weapons are in the starting loadout; others require reaching a specific level.

There is also a second way to get weapons mid-match. Enemies can drop weapons when killed, and Supply Drops or Caches during a mission may contain them as well. These on-map finds are usable for that mission only.

Once equipment is unlocked on one class, it becomes available for all your other classes too. Weapon unlocks stay class-specific.

How to Unlock Weapons in the Campaign

In the campaign, weapons are found on the battlefield throughout the five acts. You pick them up from dead enemies, supply caches, and specific scripted locations. Some weapons first appear in Act 1; others like the Striga and Torque Bow do not show up until Act 3.

Secondary objectives also reward weapon mods directly. Completing them gives you mods before you would normally find them via Hard Cases. See our guide on Gears of War E-Day all secondary objective locations to make sure you do not miss any.

Weapons in Versus Mode

In all 4v4 Versus modes, every player starts with the same default loadout and no weapon mods are active. Versus is a level playing field. During a match, teams compete for Power Weapons that spawn on the map — these can swing a fight heavily and are worth contesting.

Weapon skins are purely cosmetic and can be equipped through the Armory. They do not affect stats.

Where to Play Gears of War E-Day

Available on Xbox Series X|S and PC:

• Official Gears of War Website
• Buy on Xbox Store
• Buy on Steam

For a full breakdown of the game, read our Gears of War E-Day review.

Frequently Asked Questions