Gears of War E-Day: Hammerburst Weapon Guide

• The Hammerburst is the Locust Horde’s standard assault rifle — a burst-fire weapon that COG soldiers pick up and use throughout the game.
• It fires in accurate six-round bursts and is modelled on the original Gears of War version, not the later Hammerburst II.
• A Perfect Active Reload on the Hammerburst increases its rate of fire — one of the best Active Reload bonuses in the game.
• It is the starting weapon for the Marksman and Medic classes in Horde Siege.
• The best mods for it are Full Metal Jacket, Headhunter Burst, Precision Rifling, and Combat Scope.
• With the right mods, it becomes a fast, mobile burst weapon that rewards accurate players who aim for weak points and heads.
• It ranks A-Tier in PvE and is a reliable option in PvP for controlled mid-range play.

What Is the Hammerburst in Gears of War E-Day

The Hammerburst is the Locust Horde’s standard-issue assault rifle. Where COG soldiers carry Lancers, Locust Drones carry the Hammerburst. It fires in fast, accurate six-round bursts and is built around one strength: putting rounds exactly where you aim them. It does not spray. It does not need to. Every burst is tight, and at mid range that tightness makes it a very dangerous weapon in the right hands.

In Gears of War E-Day, The Coalition modelled the Hammerburst on the original Gears of War version — the Classic Hammerburst — rather than the later Hammerburst II that appeared in Gears 2 and 3. The original version has a 6-round burst fire mode and rewards precision shooting. This is the Hammerburst the Locust Drones were using on Emergence Day, and it is the version you will be picking up and using in both the campaign and Horde Siege.

You can see the full list of weapons available in our Gears of War E-Day All Weapons List.

Hammerburst Lore and History

The Hammerburst is a Locust weapon through and through. It was the standard-issue rifle for Locust Drones during the early Locust War — which means it is the weapon that COG soldiers were facing on Emergence Day. When the Locust came out of the ground, Drones were carrying this rifle. It is the Locust counterpart to the COG’s own Lancer Assault Rifle: where the Lancer fires full-auto with a bayonet attachment, the Hammerburst fires in controlled six-round bursts with no melee tool to speak of.

The Hammerburst was later replaced on the battlefield by the Hammerburst II — a redesigned version with larger caliber rounds and a slower, semi-automatic fire mode that appeared in Gears of War 2. The Classic Hammerburst from the original game, which E-Day uses, was eventually pulled from frontline service as the Hammerburst II took over. In E-Day, this is before that change. The Drones you fight at the start of the Locust War are using the original model.

COG soldiers found the Hammerburst on the bodies of fallen Drones and started using it themselves. Despite standing rules against using enemy weapons, the Hammerburst’s accuracy and damage made it useful enough that Gears in the field kept picking it up. In E-Day, that is exactly what happens — you take a Locust weapon and make it your own. You can learn more about the characters fighting through these early days of the war in our Marcus Fenix Character Guide and Dom Santiago Character Guide.

Hammerburst Stats and Strengths

The Hammerburst rewards accurate players who fight at mid to long range. Here is what it brings to your loadout:

• Accurate six-round burst — each burst lands tightly grouped at mid range. No spray. If you aim well, the rounds land close together every time.
• Strong mid-to-long range performance — it covers the range band where burst rifles are most effective. It is not a close-range weapon, but it picks enemies apart from a distance.
• Perfect Active Reload bonus: increased rate of fire — this is one of the best Active Reload bonuses in the game. Land a Perfect Reload and your bursts come out faster, letting you apply more pressure before enemies can react.
• High accuracy per burst — consistent shot placement makes it reliable for targeting enemy weak points and heads.
• Good build flexibility — it can be built as a precision headshot rifle with the Headhunter Burst mod, or as a faster, more mobile burst weapon with different mod combinations.

The Hammerburst ranks A-Tier in PvE. Some tier lists place it in S-Tier for players who use it with the right mods and playstyle. It is not as universally forgiving as the Prototype Lancer — it rewards players who aim carefully and hit their reloads. Players who spray or rush will get less out of it than those who hold an angle and pick targets deliberately.

In PvP, it is a strong precision-focused weapon for players who enjoy controlled burst combat rather than aggressive close-range pressure.

How to Get the Hammerburst

In the campaign, the Hammerburst appears throughout as a weapon dropped by Locust Drones. It is one of the first enemy weapons you will find during Emergence Day. You can also equip it directly at Supply Cache points — the green equipment cases spread across each chapter. These let you swap weapons, adjust mods, and refill ammo in one stop.

In Horde Siege multiplayer, the Hammerburst is the starting weapon for the Marksman and Medic classes. It is available for the Assault class at Level 4 and for the Breacher class at Level 6. Mod slots expand as you level up your class, so the more you play, the more you can customize it.

Check our Act 1 Walkthrough and Act 2 Walkthrough for details on where the weapon appears across campaign chapters.

Best Weapon Mods for the Hammerburst

The Hammerburst has up to four mod slots. In the campaign, extra slots unlock from Act 2 onwards through Hard Cases and secondary objectives. In Horde Siege, all four slots open up as you level your class. Weapon mods follow the gun — not the class — so mods you build carry over to any class that picks the weapon up.

Precision Build (Recommended for Marksman and Most Classes)

• Full Metal Jacket — Converts Perfect Reloads into Perfect Ammo, giving increased damage on the next magazine. This is the best mod in the game and the first one you should slot on any weapon, including the Hammerburst. The Hammerburst’s Perfect Reload bonus already increases fire rate — stack Full Metal Jacket on top of that and a successful reload gives you faster bursts AND stronger rounds at the same time.
• Headhunter Burst — Changes the Hammerburst’s burst timing to reward headshots. This is the key mod that turns the Hammerburst into a precision weapon. Aim for enemy heads, land a Headhunter Burst, and the damage output climbs significantly. Best used by Marksman players who are comfortable staying behind cover and picking targets at range.
• Precision Rifling — Tightens burst grouping and improves overall accuracy. Makes individual shots within each burst land more consistently, especially on moving targets. Works directly with Headhunter Burst to keep shots on target.
• Combat Scope — A mid-range optic suited to the Hammerburst’s natural engagement range. Gives you a cleaner view at the distances where the weapon performs best without being too slow to bring up at close range.

Aggressive Mobile Build (Breacher and Assault)

• Full Metal Jacket — Always first on any Hammerburst build.
• Spreadshot Burst — Changes the burst pattern for a wider spread, turning the Hammerburst into a more aggressive, close-range burst weapon. Works well for Breacher players who fight at close range and want the Hammerburst to cover shorter distances that the Lancer Mk1 does not reach as comfortably.
• Precision Rifling — Still useful here for keeping shots on target when closing distance.
• Holo Sight — A lighter optic than the Combat Scope, better for faster aim speed in mobile aggressive play.

See the complete list of attachments in our Gears of War E-Day All Mods List and learn how to open extra mod slots in our How to Unlock More Weapon Mod Slots guide.

Hammerburst

Best Class Builds With the Hammerburst

The Hammerburst fits different roles depending on the class. Here are the two most important builds.

Marksman Class — Primary Hammerburst Build

• Tactical Gear: Pulse Drone
• Tactical Gear Mod: Focal Lens — increases Pulse Drone range
• Armor Mod 1: Muscle Memory — larger Active Reload window and longer Perfect Ammo duration
• Armor Mod 2: Mag Triage — Perfect Reloads restore health
• Primary: Longshot — Full Metal Jacket, Marksman Scope, Precision Long Barrel, Long Range Stabilizer
• Secondary: Hammerburst — Full Metal Jacket, Holo Sight, Composite Chassis, Springloaded Mag
• Sidearm: Snub — Concussion Ammo, Forged Barrel, Aim Stabilizer, Holo Sight

In this Marksman build, the Hammerburst fills the mid-range gap. The Longshot handles long-range precision. When enemies push into mid range and the Longshot becomes awkward, the Hammerburst takes over. Muscle Memory makes it easier to land Perfect Reloads consistently, which feeds both the fire rate bonus and the Full Metal Jacket damage upgrade at the same time.

Assault Class — Secondary Hammerburst Build

• Primary: Prototype Lancer — main sustained fire weapon
• Secondary: Hammerburst — Full Metal Jacket, Precision Rifling, Headhunter Burst, Combat Scope
• Sidearm: Snub — Concussion Ammo, Forged Barrel, Aim Stabilizer, Holo Sight
• Equipment: Concussion Grenade

As a secondary for Assault, the Hammerburst covers mid-to-long range when the Prototype Lancer falls short. Swap to the Hammerburst when enemies are at a distance and you want precise burst damage rather than sustained fire.

See our Gears of War E-Day All Tactical Gear List for full tactical gear options across all classes.

How to Use the Hammerburst Effectively

The Hammerburst punishes players who treat it like a full-auto rifle. Here is how to get the most out of it:

• Aim before you fire. Every burst is six rounds. If you are not aimed at the target before you pull the trigger, those six rounds are wasted. Take a breath, line up the shot, then fire. The burst handles the rest.
• Target heads and weak points. With the Headhunter Burst mod, shots that land on enemy heads deal significantly more damage. Make weak points your priority on tougher enemies. The Hammerburst’s consistent burst grouping makes this much easier than it sounds.
• Hit your Perfect Reloads every time. The Hammerburst’s Perfect Active Reload bonus is increased rate of fire. Stack Full Metal Jacket on top and a Perfect Reload gives you faster bursts with higher damage rounds. In a game where Active Reload matters on every weapon, it matters most here. Practice the timing until it is automatic.
• Stay at mid range. The Hammerburst is not a close-range weapon in its standard precision build. At close range, the Gnasher or Lancer Mk1 will outperform it every time. Hold angles and fight from cover at medium distances where burst accuracy is your advantage.
• Use the Combat Scope for distant targets. When enemies are far away and moving, bring up the Combat Scope. It gives you a cleaner picture and makes it easier to track a target through a burst without the rounds spreading.
• Use Spreadshot Burst if you fight close. If your playstyle is more aggressive and you find yourself fighting at closer ranges on Breacher or Assault, swap Headhunter Burst for Spreadshot Burst. It widens the pattern and turns the Hammerburst into a different beast entirely — a short-range burst weapon rather than a precision rifle.

For tips on handling harder enemy types like Jammers and Seeders that appear in later waves and chapters, see our How to Kill Jammer and Seeder Enemies guide.

Hammerburst in Campaign vs. Horde Siege vs. Versus

In the campaign, the Hammerburst appears naturally as a Locust drop weapon. It is one of the first enemy weapons available and is useful from the earliest encounters. It performs best in the campaign as a mid-range secondary alongside a close-range primary. When enemies appear at distance and you want controlled output rather than spray, this is the weapon to have in hand. Our Act 1 Collectibles guide and All Secondary Objective Locations will help you grab mod upgrades early so you can build the Hammerburst out properly before you hit harder encounters.

In Horde Siege, the Hammerburst is the starting weapon for Marksman and Medic — two classes built around mid-range and support respectively. Fully modded with Headhunter Burst and Full Metal Jacket, it becomes a high-value precision weapon that handles mid-wave enemy pressure effectively. In later waves where enemies get tougher, the weak-point damage from Headhunter Burst becomes even more valuable.

In Versus (PvP), the Hammerburst is strong for controlled burst play. No weapon mods are active in Versus, so raw stats apply. Players who can manage burst timing and aim deliberately will find it competitive at mid range. It favours methodical players over aggressive ones in PvP.

Hammerburst vs. Lancer Mk1 and Prototype Lancer

All three are rifles, but they play very differently:

• The Hammerburst fires in controlled six-round bursts. It is the most accurate of the three at mid range but requires deliberate aim and consistent Active Reloads to reach its ceiling. Best for players who want precision over volume.
• The Lancer Mk1 fires full-auto or semi-auto with high damage per shot. It hits harder individually but has more recoil to manage. Best for close-to-mid range aggressive play. Read the full breakdown in our Gears of War E-Day Lancer Mk1 Weapon Guide.
• The Prototype Lancer is the most forgiving — higher fire rate, larger magazine, and the chainsaw bayonet for close-range emergencies. Best for players who want a reliable all-rounder. See our Gears of War E-Day Prototype Lancer Weapon Guide for more.

If you like staying behind cover and picking targets off at distance — the Hammerburst is your rifle. If you want something more forgiving that handles anything — stick with the Prototype Lancer.

Where to Play Gears of War E-Day

Gears of War E-Day launched on October 6, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam. It is also included in Xbox Game Pass.

• Official Gears of War Website
• Xbox Store — Gears of War E-Day
• Steam — Gears of War E-Day

Related Guides on Gaming ProMax

• Gears of War E-Day All Weapons List
• Gears of War E-Day Lancer Mk1 Weapon Guide
• Gears of War E-Day Prototype Lancer Weapon Guide
• Gears of War E-Day All Mods List
• How to Unlock More Weapon Mod Slots
• All Secondary Objective Locations
• Act 1 Collectibles
• All Achievements List
• All Characters and NPCs
• Gears of War E-Day Review

Frequently Asked Questions