Gears of War E-Day: Elias Trench Character and Skins Guide

Elias Trench is a brand-new character to the Gears of War franchise — E-Day is his first appearance in any Gears game, novel, or comic.
He holds the rank of Colonel and takes military command of Kalona during the Locust invasion on Emergence Day.
He is a ruthless, results-at-any-cost tactician who clashes with the city’s Mayor and his own subordinates throughout the campaign.
Elias Trench has two skins: Colonel Trench (earned free via Horde Siege) and Bloody Star Trench (store purchase).
The Colonel Trench skin requires 15 successful extractions on Commander difficulty or higher in Horde Siege.
He is voiced by Paul Jarrett.

Colonel Elias Trench is one of the most memorable characters in Gears of War: E-Day — not because he’s likeable, but because he isn’t. He is the senior COG officer running the military response in Kalona on Emergence Day, and his methods make him one of the most compelling antagonistic figures in the franchise’s history. He’s not a Locust. He’s technically on your side. But that doesn’t make him safe.

This guide covers everything about Elias Trench in E-Day — his character profile, lore, role in the campaign, both of his skins, and how to unlock each one. The Colonel Trench skin is free, but it takes real effort to earn.

Table of Contents

Who Is Elias Trench in Gears of War E-Day?

Colonel Elias Trench is a COG Army officer and the highest-ranking military authority in Kalona when Emergence Day begins. He takes command of the city’s defence the moment the Locust emerge, overriding the city’s civilian mayor and centralising all military decisions through himself.

He is, by any measure, a capable soldier. He established himself as a fierce tactician during the Pendulum Wars and earned his rank through results. But the armistice that ended the war left him sidelined — assigned to Kalona’s local regiment to oversee the decommissioning of the city’s century-old military facilities. He considers this assignment beneath him, and that resentment shapes everything about how he responds when the Locust show up.

He sees the invasion as his chance to do what he was built for. And he will secure victory at any cost — including costs that others are not willing to pay.

Elias Trench Character Profile

Full Name: Elias Trench
Rank: Colonel
Faction: COG (Coalition of Ordered Governments)
Unit: COG Army
Character Type: NPC
Voice Actor: Paul Jarrett

Trench is ruthless in the most specific sense of the word. He doesn’t disregard consequences out of incompetence or panic — he makes deliberate decisions that prioritise the military objective over everything else, including civilian lives. During the campaign, he overrides Mayor Shaw on civilian protection decisions, and his fixation on retrieving a secret Lightmass Missile research project from inside the city drives several of the story’s most tense moments.

He also makes an early strategic blunder that players and other characters notice immediately: when the Locust first emerge, Trench assumes the attack may be connected to the UIR — the human enemy faction from the Pendulum Wars. He’s reaching for the threat he already knows how to fight, which tells you a lot about how he approaches the unknown. He also mentions bringing the Hammer of Dawn online, raising the stakes around what he’s willing to deploy inside a city full of civilians.

For the full cast, see our Gears of War E-Day All Characters and NPCs guide.

Is Elias Trench a New Character?

Yes — completely. Elias Trench is a brand-new character created specifically for Gears of War: E-Day. He has no prior appearances in any Gears of War game, novel, or comic. The Gears of War fandom wiki lists his first appearance as Gears of War: E-Day with nothing before it.

He is part of a group of original characters built for E-Day to surround the returning faces of Marcus and Dom. Like Captain Akila Grey and Bravo Squad newcomers Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes, Trench exists purely within E-Day’s story — and he makes a strong impression in the time he has.

Elias Trench’s Role in the E-Day Campaign

Trench’s role in E-Day is that of the senior military authority in Kalona — and a human antagonist within the COG’s own command structure. He is not a villain in the traditional sense. He’s a Colonel doing what he believes is necessary. But his idea of necessary puts him in direct conflict with everyone around him who still cares about the people of Kalona.

He first appears in a strategy briefing at City Hall during Act 2, where he takes command from Mayor Shaw. The tension in that scene is immediate — she is focused on the civilians trapped in the city, he is focused on the fight. He wins the argument because he outranks her.

His most damaging decision comes later in the campaign, when he orders civilians to be used as bait to draw the Locust into a position. It is the kind of call that reveals exactly who he is — not a monster, but a man who has completely stripped human cost from his tactical calculus. That decision has consequences for him. Colonel Trench is killed during the campaign, during the retreat across Allfathers Legacy Bridge as the Oria Stadium FOB falls to the Locust.

He also pursues a secret Lightmass Missile research project hidden inside Kalona — a discovery that ties his objectives to the broader history of the COG’s military technology and gives his decisions a secondary motive beyond just holding the city.

Want to follow the full story? Our All Chapters and Acts Explained guide and Act 2 Walkthrough cover the campaign in full detail.

Elias Trench Voice Actor

Elias Trench is voiced by Paul Jarrett, who is confirmed in the official Metacritic cast listing for Gears of War: E-Day. Jarrett brings a controlled intensity to Trench that fits the character perfectly — authoritative, clipped, and completely convinced he is always right.

All Elias Trench Skins in Gears of War E-Day

Elias Trench has two skins in Gears of War: E-Day. Unlike most NPC characters, his free skin is one of the harder unlocks in the game — it requires sustained Horde Siege play on a specific difficulty. Here’s the full breakdown:

1. Colonel Trench (Free — Earned)

How to Unlock: Successfully extract from Horde Siege missions on Commander difficulty or higher.

Colonel Trench

The Colonel Trench skin is free but not easy. It requires you to successfully extract — meaning complete the mission and escape — from Horde Siege on Commander difficulty or higher. The unlock tracks a counter that you can see in the Barracks: it reads 0/15 extractions at the start, and the skin unlocks once you hit 15 successful extractions at that difficulty.

This is one of the most demanding earned skins in E-Day. Commander difficulty is a serious step up from the base Horde Siege modes. You need to play smart, coordinate with your squad, and make it out — not just survive for a while. Each failed or incomplete run does not count.

The skin’s name is a direct reference to his rank — it’s the formal military title he carries throughout the campaign. Unlocking it through Horde Siege extractions gives it a fitting earned quality: Trench was all about securing the objective and getting out, whatever it took.

2. Bloody Star Trench (Store)

How to Unlock: Purchase at the Barracks for 12,000 Coins or 700 Iron.

The Bloody Star Trench skin is the store purchase alternative. The name likely references the Embry Star — the COG’s highest military decoration, referenced multiple times across the Gears franchise — with a darker twist that fits Trench’s character. A “bloody” version of a war medal is very on-brand for a man who considers civilian casualties an acceptable line item.

At 12,000 Coins or 700 Iron, the price matches other store skins in the same tier. Coins accumulate through Versus and Horde Siege matches, Player Level milestones, and Medals. If you’re grinding the Colonel Trench unlock anyway, the Coins will stack up naturally alongside it.

For everything available at the Barracks, see our Gears of War E-Day All Skins and Cosmetics List.

How to Unlock Colonel Trench Faster — Tips for Commander Difficulty Extractions

Fifteen successful extractions on Commander difficulty is a serious grind. Here’s how to approach it without burning out:

Play with a coordinated squad. Commander difficulty punishes solo carries. Four players who communicate and cover each other’s classes dramatically improve your extraction rate.
Stick to Blitz missions first. Blitz is the shorter playlist. Shorter matches mean more extraction attempts per hour, which means the counter climbs faster even if each individual run is slightly easier to complete.
Choose classes that complement each other. A balanced squad with a Medic, an Assault, a Marksman, and a Breacher covers more situations than four players running the same class. Check our All Tactical Gear List for class loadout options.
Prioritise the extraction point early. Failed extractions don’t count. In the final waves, make sure the whole squad knows where the extraction point is and start positioning before the last Locust wave ends.
Track the counter in the Barracks. You can check your current extraction count at any time without leaving the multiplayer menu. No need to guess how close you are.

How to Equip Elias Trench Skins

Once you’ve earned or purchased a skin, equipping it is straightforward:

Go to the multiplayer lobby screen.
Open the Barracks menu.
Find Elias Trench under your COG characters.
Select the skin you want to equip.

The skin carries over automatically to both Horde Siege and Versus. A skin is confirmed as unlocked when it appears in the list with no lock icon or active progress bar. For the Colonel Trench skin, the progress bar will show your current extraction count and disappear once you hit 15.

Where to Play Gears of War E-Day

Gears of War: E-Day is available on Xbox Series X|S and PC:

More Gears of War E-Day Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elias Trench a new character in Gears of War?

Yes. Colonel Elias Trench is completely new to the franchise. He has no appearances in any previous Gears of War game, novel, or comic. Gears of War: E-Day is his first and only appearance.

Does Colonel Trench die in Gears of War E-Day?

Yes. Colonel Trench is killed during the campaign. He dies during the retreat across Allfathers Legacy Bridge as the Locust overrun the Oria Stadium FOB. His decisions throughout the story — including using civilians as bait — lead directly to his end.

How do you unlock the Colonel Trench skin?

Successfully extract from 15 Horde Siege missions on Commander difficulty or higher. The counter is visible in the Barracks and reads 0/15 when you start. The skin unlocks automatically once you hit 15 completed extractions at that difficulty level.

How much does Bloody Star Trench cost?

The Bloody Star Trench skin costs 12,000 Coins or 700 Iron in the Barracks store. Coins are earned through regular gameplay. Iron is the premium currency purchased with real money.

Who voices Elias Trench in Gears of War E-Day?

Elias Trench is voiced by Paul Jarrett, confirmed in the official Metacritic cast listing for the game.

Is Elias Trench playable in Gears of War E-Day?

Elias Trench is not a playable character in the main campaign — he appears as an NPC and the senior commanding officer in Kalona. He can be used as a playable character in Horde Siege and Versus multiplayer after encountering him in the story.

What is Commander difficulty in Horde Siege?

Commander is one of the higher difficulty settings in Horde Siege. At this level, Locusts are more dangerous and matches are harder to complete. Successfully extracting at Commander or above is required to unlock the Colonel Trench skin.