Gears of War E-Day: Gill Gettner Character and Skins Guide

Gill Gettner is a COG NPC in Gears of War: E-Day and the pilot of King Raven unit KR-Eight Zero.
This is her first ever appearance in a Gears of War video game — she was only in the novels and comics before E-Day.
She is a Lieutenant in the COG Air Corps and part of the famous Butcherbird air cavalry squadron.
Gill Gettner has two skins in E-Day: Butcher Bird Gill (free) and Repair Bay Gill (store purchase).
She is voiced by Jen Oleksiuk.
You can use her as a playable character in Horde Siege and Versus multiplayer modes.

Gill Gettner is one of the most talked-about characters in Gears of War: E-Day — and for good reason. Long-time fans of the franchise know her from the Gears of War novels, where she played a key role flying Delta Squad out of danger more times than anyone could count. Now, in E-Day, she finally gets her moment in an actual game.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Gill Gettner — who she is, what she does in the campaign, her full character lore, both of her skins, and exactly how to unlock them. Whether you’re a lore nerd or just want the free skin, we’ve got you covered.

Table of Contents

Who Is Gill Gettner in Gears of War E-Day?

Gill Gettner is a Lieutenant in the COG Air Corps and one of the best King Raven pilots the Coalition has ever produced. She flies KR-Eight Zero, which belongs to the Butcherbird air cavalry squadron. Her crew includes Specialist Daan Riggs, who handles the door gun while Gettner handles the controls.

In E-Day, she serves as an NPC who provides aerial support to Bravo Squad during the fall of Kalona on Emergence Day. She appears in extraction missions and support sequences throughout the campaign — she’s the one pulling your squad out when the ground situation goes sideways.

She is not a playable character in the main campaign. However, after you encounter her in the story, she becomes available as a playable character in Horde Siege and Versus multiplayer modes.

Gill Gettner Character Profile

Full Name: Gill Gettner
Rank: Lieutenant (later Major in the novels)
Faction: COG (Coalition of Ordered Governments)
Unit: COG Air Corps — Butcherbird air cavalry squadron
Aircraft: KR-Eight Zero (King Raven)
Crew: Daan Riggs (door Gunner and Crew Chief)
Character Type: NPC in campaign, playable in multiplayer
Voice Actor: Jen Oleksiuk

Her personality is best described as no-nonsense. The game itself puts it perfectly — her voice is a blend of “seen-it-all” and “pure acid.” She doesn’t soften things for anyone. But underneath that rough exterior, she’s deeply reliable. Her skills and quick decisions have saved countless lives, both during the Pendulum Wars and on Emergence Day in Kalona.

For more on the full cast, check out our Gears of War E-Day All Characters and NPCs guide.

Gill Gettner Lore — Her History in the Gears Universe

If you’ve only played the Gears of War games, you might not know Gill Gettner at all. That’s because, up until E-Day, she never appeared in any Gears video game. E-Day is her first in-game appearance ever.

Her story actually starts in the novels. She made her first-ever appearance in Gears of War: Aspho Fields, the first novel in Karen Traviss’s Gears of War book series. The books bridge the gap between games and expand the lore in ways the games never could — and Gettner was a big part of that.

Here’s a quick look at her history across the Gears universe:

The Pendulum Wars

Gill Gettner was already an experienced pilot by the time the Locust showed up. She flew missions during the Pendulum Wars — the 80-year conflict between human factions on Sera that ended just before Emergence Day. Her record during this period is what made her one of the most trusted pilots in the Air Corps.

Emergence Day and the Fall of Kalona

Gettner was present at the Fall of Kalona on Emergence Day — which is exactly where Gears of War: E-Day is set. This is where she first met Sergeant Marcus Fenix and Private Dominic Santiago. The game brings this moment to life for the very first time.

She flew KR-Eight Zero through hostile, Locust-infested airspace to support Bravo Squad during the chaos of the invasion’s first hours. Her extraction runs during this period were crucial to getting survivors out alive.

The Locust War

After Emergence Day, Gettner continued flying KR-Eight Zero throughout the Locust War. She supported Delta Squad on multiple missions, including the Lightmass Offensive and the Mission to Tollen. She even carried Delta Squad to Vectes Island after the Sinking of Jacinto. By that point, she had risen to the rank of Major and become the highest-ranking member of the COG Air Corps.

One memorable detail from the books: while other COG pilots called Lambent enemies “glowies,” Gettner called them “shinies.” Small detail, but very much on-brand for her character.

As the Lambent Pandemic worsened in the later years of the war, Gettner became increasingly weary. She spent most of her time sitting in KR-Eight Zero’s cockpit, waiting for the next mission — a rare glimpse behind the tough exterior the game presents.

Want to understand the full scope of E-Day’s story? Read our Gears of War E-Day All Chapters and Acts Explained breakdown.

Gill Gettner Voice Actor

Gill Gettner is voiced by Jen Oleksiuk in Gears of War: E-Day. She’s a Canadian actress known for her work in Siren (as Lieutenant Maeda) and Get Shorty (as Brenda). Her delivery in E-Day captures exactly what the character description promises — that hard, lived-in voice that feels both world-weary and razor-sharp at the same time.

All Gill Gettner Skins in Gears of War E-Day

There are currently two skins available for Gill Gettner in Gears of War: E-Day. One is free. One costs in-game currency or real money. Here’s the full breakdown:

1. Butcher Bird Gill (Free)

How to Unlock: Complete the Onboarding Mission in Horde Siege.

Butcher Bird Gill

This is the free skin and the one most players will want to go after first. The Butcher Bird skin is named after Gettner’s own squadron — the Butcherbird air cavalry unit. It’s a fitting look for a pilot who’s been in the thick of it since Emergence Day.

To unlock it, you just need to complete the Onboarding Mission in Horde Siege. The Onboarding Mission is the built-in tutorial that teaches you how Horde Siege works — classes, Supply Caches, Energy, objectives. It’s designed for new players, so it’s not a hard task. You should be able to get through it in your first session.

The Butcher Bird Gill skin is also part of the Foundations Challenges — a set of permanent, never-expiring objectives that cover the core mechanics of E-Day’s multiplayer. You won’t miss the reward window on this one.

2. Repair Bay Gill (Store)

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

The Repair Bay Gill skin is a store purchase. You can buy it with Coins — the in-game currency you earn through playing Versus and Horde Siege — or with Iron, which is the premium currency bought with real money.

12,000 Coins is a reasonable grind if you play regularly. Iron gives you a faster shortcut if you’d rather skip the wait. Featured items at the Barracks sometimes come at a discounted Iron price, so it’s worth checking the weekly rotation.

For the full picture of what’s available in the cosmetics store, see our Gears of War E-Day All Skins and Cosmetics List.

How to Equip Gill Gettner Skins

Once you’ve unlocked a skin, here’s how to put it on:

Go to the multiplayer lobby screen.
Open the Barracks menu.
Navigate to Gill Gettner under your COG characters.
Select the skin you want to equip.

A skin is confirmed as unlocked when it appears in the character list with no lock icon or progress bar. The skin you equip in the Barracks carries over to both Horde Siege and Versus — you don’t need to set it separately for each mode.

Also worth knowing: character skins and classes are completely independent. You can run Gill Gettner’s Butcher Bird skin with any class in Horde Siege. The look is just cosmetic — it doesn’t affect your stats or abilities.

How to Earn Coins Fast to Buy Repair Bay Gill

If you want the Repair Bay Gill skin but don’t want to spend Iron, here’s how to build up Coins faster:

Play Versus and Horde Siege matches — Coins drop from multiplayer performance.
Hit Player Level milestones — leveling up rewards Coins regularly.
Complete Medals — in-game medal completions add to your Coin balance.
Complete Challenges — both weekly and seasonal challenges often include Coin rewards.

At 12,000 Coins, it’s a manageable goal if you play a few hours a week. There’s no time limit on store skins, so you can earn at your own pace.

Where to Play Gears of War E-Day

Gears of War: E-Day is available on Xbox and PC. You can pick it up through the following platforms:

More Gears of War E-Day Guides

Need help with other parts of E-Day? Here are some guides to get you going:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gill Gettner playable in Gears of War E-Day?

Gill Gettner is not a playable character in the campaign. She is an NPC who supports Bravo Squad with aerial operations. However, once you encounter her in the story, you can use her as a playable character in Horde Siege and Versus multiplayer.

How do you unlock Gill Gettner’s Butcher Bird skin?

Complete the Onboarding Mission in Horde Siege. This is the tutorial mission for the Horde Siege mode and is part of the permanent Foundations Challenges, so it never expires.

How much does the Repair Bay Gill skin cost?

The Repair Bay Gill skin costs 12,000 Coins or 700 Iron in the Barracks store. Coins are earned through gameplay. Iron is the premium currency purchased with real money.

Is Gill Gettner a new character in Gears of War?

She’s new to the games, but not to the franchise. Gill Gettner first appeared in the Gears of War: Aspho Fields novel in 2008. E-Day marks her very first appearance in a video game.

Who voices Gill Gettner in Gears of War E-Day?

Gill Gettner is voiced by Jen Oleksiuk, a Canadian actress known for roles in Siren and Get Shorty.

What is Gill Gettner’s rank in E-Day?

In Gears of War: E-Day, she holds the rank of Lieutenant. In the novels, which take place later in the timeline, she eventually rises to the rank of Major and becomes the highest-ranking member of the COG Air Corps.

What is the Butcherbird squadron?

The Butcherbird air cavalry squadron is the unit that Gill Gettner and Daan Riggs belong to within the COG Air Corps. KR-Eight Zero is their King Raven helicopter. The Butcher Bird Gill skin is named after this squadron.