- TL;DR: The Ripper is a Locust-made Light Machine Gun with two barrels and two box magazines, holding 70 rounds total.
- Its fire rate increases the longer you hold the trigger — rewarding sustained fire over short bursts.
- It has brutal recoil and limited ammo for its weapon class, so positioning and trigger discipline matter.
- The best mod combo is Incendiary Rounds + Twinned Ammo — a Perfect Reload fires both barrels at once, stacking burn damage fast.
- Found in the campaign in Act 3, Chapter 3: Last Foothold. You can also loot it from fallen Locust enemies before that.
- In Horde Siege, the Assault class unlocks it earliest at Level 9.
- It is rated S-Tier in PvE — one of the highest damage-per-second weapons in the game during sustained engagements.
- In PvP, it ranks A-Tier and excels at applying constant pressure through sustained fire and burn effects.
What Is the Ripper in Gears of War E-Day?
The Ripper is a brand new weapon in E-Day and one of the most interesting additions to the Gears of War arsenal. It is a Locust-manufactured Light Machine Gun, cobbled together from scavenged COG and UIR parts. It has two top-mounted box magazines and two barrels — which is not just for show. The twin-barrel design connects directly to one of its best mechanics in the game.
Unlike most automatic weapons, the Ripper does not feel consistent from the first shot. It starts rough. The recoil is brutal and the first few rounds can go wide. But hold the trigger. The longer you fire, the faster the fire rate climbs and the more controllable the weapon becomes. It rewards aggression and pressure. Players who let off the trigger repeatedly to manage recoil will never get the best out of it.
This is not a weapon for everyone. If you prefer short controlled bursts and precision, pick up a Breechshot or a Longshot. But if you like holding down a chokepoint, suppressing waves, or just melting anything in front of you at close to mid range — the Ripper is exceptional.
For the full weapon roster, see our Gears of War E-Day all weapons list.
Ripper Weapon Type and Stats Overview
- Weapon Type: Light Machine Gun (LMG)
- Origin: Locust-manufactured (scavenged COG and UIR parts)
- Ammo Capacity: 70 rounds across two box magazines
- Fire Mode: Fully automatic
- Key Mechanic: Fire rate increases the longer you hold the trigger
- Special Feature: Twin barrels — both fire simultaneously on a Perfect Active Reload
- Recoil: Heavy, especially at the start of a burst
- PvE Tier Rating: S-Tier
- PvP Tier Rating: A-Tier
The Ripper has the highest damage output of any sustained-fire weapon in E-Day when used correctly. The trade-off is ammo — 70 rounds sounds reasonable, but the Ripper burns through them fast once the fire rate ramps up. Knowing when to reload and when to hold fire is the skill this weapon asks you to develop.
Where to Find the Ripper in Campaign
The Ripper first becomes available as a guaranteed pickup in Act 3, Chapter 3: Last Foothold. This is one of the later acts in the campaign, so you will not have it for the full game. However, you can pick up the Ripper earlier by looting it from fallen Locust enemies who carry it during the campaign. Keep an eye out from Act 2 onward — enemy Locust carrying LMGs are worth rushing to grab before the weapon despawns.
The Ripper arrives late, but it is well worth building around it once you have it. Make sure you have mod slots open and ready. Extra slots start appearing from Act 2 Chapter 2 onwards. See our guide on how to unlock more weapon mod slots so you are prepared when the Ripper drops.
For the full campaign chapter structure, check our Gears of War E-Day all chapters and acts explained guide.
How to Unlock the Ripper in Horde Siege
The Ripper has different unlock levels depending on your class. Here is the full breakdown:
- Assault: Level 9 (unlocks earliest)
- Marksman: Level 21
- Medic: Level 25
- Breacher: Level 28 (unlocks latest)
The Assault class unlocks the Ripper at Level 9, making it by far the fastest path to the weapon in Horde Siege. The Assault class is also a natural fit for the Ripper’s playstyle — sustained mid-range fire from cover, combined with the Sonic Disruptor to stun enemies before shredding them. More on that pairing below.
To equip the Ripper once unlocked, go to the Loadout tab in the Classes menu between Horde Siege missions. Weapon mod configurations are shared across all classes, so you only need to set up your Ripper mods once.
Best Mods for the Ripper
The Ripper has a powerful mod synergy that, once unlocked, turns it into one of the most damaging sustained-fire weapons in the game. Here is what to aim for:
Incendiary Rounds (Ammo Mod)
This is the core mod that elevates the Ripper from good to outstanding. Incendiary Rounds add burn damage to every shot. On a weapon that fires for sustained periods, those burn stacks build up fast. Enemies stay on fire even after you stop shooting, which means the Ripper keeps dealing damage even during a reload. Equip this first.
Twinned Ammo (Ammo Mod)
This is the Ripper’s most unique mod. It causes each round fired to count as two hits. Combined with a Perfect Active Reload — which temporarily fires both barrels simultaneously — this creates a short window of absolutely enormous damage output. This is the Ripper at its best. Both mods together on a Perfect Reload means fast stacking burn damage from twin barrels, all at once. Once you get used to landing that window, you will not want to use the Ripper without it.
Close Quarters Barrel
Increases damage at close range at the cost of accuracy and damage at longer distances. Given the Ripper’s strengths at close to mid range, this is a natural fit for aggressive pushes and chokepoint defence. If you are playing Breacher or holding tight corridors in the campaign, this barrel is ideal.
Forged Barrel
Increases accuracy and damage range. This is the alternative to Close Quarters Barrel if you prefer mid-range engagements over close-in fighting. The Ripper’s natural accuracy struggles at the start of a burst, so the Forged Barrel helps tighten things up at the range where you will spend most of your time in Horde Siege.
Full Metal Jacket (Perfect Reload Mod)
A Perfect Active Reload grants Perfect Ammo with increased damage on the next burst. This is one of the best general-purpose mods in the game and works especially well on the Ripper. It stacks with the Twin Ammo mechanic — a Perfect Reload activates both the Full Metal Jacket damage bonus and the twin-barrel firing window at the same time. When timed correctly, this is devastating.
For the complete mod list and how to equip them, see our Gears of War E-Day all mods list.
How to Use the Ripper Effectively
Hold the Trigger — Do Not Burst Fire
This is the most important rule for the Ripper. The weapon is designed for sustained fire. The fire rate and accuracy both improve the longer you hold down. Players who tap the trigger in short bursts will fight the recoil the whole time and never let the weapon hit its stride. Commit to the engagement. Get on target, hold the trigger, and let the Ripper ramp up to speed.
Master the Perfect Active Reload
The Ripper’s Perfect Reload triggers the twin-barrel firing mode. Both barrels fire simultaneously, and with Twinned Ammo and Incendiary Rounds equipped, that window does enormous damage in a very short time. Practice landing Perfect Reloads consistently. It is the single skill that separates average Ripper play from great Ripper play. The Muscle Memory armor mod widens the Active Reload window, which makes it significantly easier to hit.
Control Your Ammo
The Ripper burns through its 70-round capacity fast once the fire rate ramps up. Do not hold the trigger through entire waves without thinking. Pick your moment — a stunned group, a chokepoint, an opening created by your Sonic Disruptor. Burn them down hard, then reload while the coast is clear. Reloading at the wrong moment, surrounded by enemies, is how the Ripper gets you killed.
Hold Chokepoints
The Ripper thrives when enemies are forced to come to you through a narrow path. Set up behind cover at a chokepoint, aim into the corridor, and hold the trigger when the Locust funnels in. The sustained fire and stacking burn damage will clear most basic enemy waves completely. This is where the Ripper feels like an S-Tier weapon in every sense.
Use the Burn Damage Between Reloads
Incendiary Rounds mean enemies stay on fire after you stop shooting. When you need to reload, do not panic — your targets are still taking damage from the burn. Duck back into cover, land your Perfect Reload, and come back out swinging. This makes the Ripper far more forgiving during reload cycles than its ammo capacity would suggest.
Ripper in Horde Siege – Assault Class Build
The Ripper pairs best with the Assault class in Horde Siege. Here is why the combination works so well:
The Assault class Tactical Gear is the Sonic Disruptor. It stuns groups of enemies in an area. Stunned enemies cannot fight back. The Ripper into a stunned group, with Incendiary Rounds active, is one of the best damage windows in the game. Stun them with the Sonic Disruptor. Hold the trigger. Watch the burn stacks go up. With the Retention Battery and Radial Emitter mods on the Sonic Disruptor, it lasts longer and hits enemies in a circular radius — meaning even larger groups get caught.
The Assault class also gets a damage boost while in cover. The Ripper is a cover weapon by nature. You pop out, sustain fire, duck back. That cover damage bonus is applying every time you do it. It adds up significantly over a long Horde Siege run.
The recommended Assault mid-game build with the Ripper:
- Tactical Gear: Sonic Disruptor — with Retention Battery and Radial Emitter mods
- Primary: Lancer MK1 — for flexible mid-range cover fire
- Secondary: Ripper — with Close Quarters Barrel, Incendiary Rounds, Full Metal Jacket, Twinned Ammo
- Armor Mods: Hardened Cover, Muscle Memory, Cover Stability
The Incendiary Ammo mod on the Lancer MK1 can also pair here to keep enemies burning from multiple sources while you transition to the Ripper for burst damage windows.
Read more about how Tactical Gear works in our Gears of War E-Day all tactical gear list.
Ripper in PvP – Versus Mode Tips
In Versus, the Ripper is A-Tier and works best for players who like to apply relentless pressure. It maintains strong sustained fire across a fight and the burn effects stack up quickly, forcing opponents out of cover even when they are playing safely.
The key in PvP is getting to the Ripper’s ramp-up window. The first few shots are your most inaccurate. Close the gap slightly before you start firing so the early rounds still connect. Once the fire rate climbs and accuracy improves, most opponents will struggle to hold a position against the pressure.
In close quarters on Kalona street maps, the Ripper with a Close Quarters Barrel mod becomes a dominant choice. Its sustained damage output up close is genuinely hard for most opponents to outlast. Just watch your ammo — 70 rounds sounds like a lot until you are in a drawn-out duel.
Ripper vs Other Automatic Weapons
How does the Ripper compare to the other automatic weapons in E-Day?
- The Prototype Lancer is S-Tier like the Ripper, but it is a more flexible all-rounder. It handles any engagement type well. The Ripper wins in pure sustained close-to-mid range DPS but needs more careful positioning. See our Prototype Lancer weapon guide.
- The Lancer MK1 is also S-Tier and more accurate from cover. It is the more precise choice for mid-range sustained fire. The Ripper beats it on close-range damage output and burn stacking. See our Lancer MK1 weapon guide.
- The Hammerburst is burst-fire and more accurate at range. It rewards precision. The Ripper rewards aggression and sustained output. See our Hammerburst weapon guide.
Secondary Objectives and Mod Slots
The Ripper arrives in Act 3, so by that point in the campaign you should already have extra mod slots available from completing secondary objectives and finding Hard Cases. If you have not done those yet, you are limiting the weapon significantly. Check our full list of secondary objective locations to make sure you have not missed any before Act 3 begins.
For achievements tied to weapons and combat, see our Gears of War E-Day all achievements list.
Where to Play Gears of War E-Day
Gears of War E-Day launched on October 6, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Get it through official channels here:
It is also available on Xbox Game Pass at no extra cost to subscribers.
Frequently Asked Questions – Ripper in Gears of War E-Day
What type of weapon is the Ripper in Gears of War E-Day?
The Ripper is a Light Machine Gun (LMG). It is a Locust-manufactured weapon made from scavenged COG and UIR parts, with two top-mounted box magazines and two barrels. It holds 70 rounds total and is fully automatic.
Where do you find the Ripper in the campaign?
The Ripper is a confirmed pickup in Act 3, Chapter 3: Last Foothold. You can also pick it up earlier by looting it from Locust enemies who carry it during the campaign from Act 2 onward.
What makes the Ripper unique compared to other weapons?
Two things set it apart. First, its fire rate increases the longer you hold the trigger, meaning sustained fire is always better than short bursts. Second, a Perfect Active Reload causes both barrels to fire simultaneously, creating a short window of doubled fire rate. With Incendiary Rounds and Twinned Ammo equipped, this window produces some of the highest burst damage in the game.
What are the best mods for the Ripper?
The best combination is Incendiary Rounds for stacking burn damage, Twinned Ammo to count every shot as two hits, Full Metal Jacket for Perfect Reload damage bonuses, and either Close Quarters Barrel (for close range) or Forged Barrel (for mid-range accuracy). Incendiary Rounds and Twinned Ammo together on a Perfect Reload is the Ripper’s peak damage output.
What class should I play to unlock the Ripper fastest in Horde Siege?
Play Assault. The Ripper unlocks at Assault Level 9 — the earliest of any class. It is also the best class for the Ripper thanks to the Sonic Disruptor and the cover damage bonus.
Is the Ripper good in PvP?
Yes, it is A-Tier in Versus. It applies relentless pressure through sustained fire and burn stacking, and it is particularly strong in close-range maps. The main challenge is managing the initial recoil and ammo carefully enough to stay in the fight.
Does the Ripper have a lot of ammo?
Not by LMG standards. It holds 70 rounds across two box magazines, which the Ripper burns through quickly once the fire rate ramps up. Positioning and reload timing matter more on this weapon than almost anything else in the game.
Is the Ripper better than the Lancer?
Both are S-Tier but for different reasons. The Lancer (MK1 and Prototype) is more flexible and accurate across all ranges. The Ripper beats it in close-to-mid range sustained DPS and burn stacking, especially with the right mods. They work well together — run a Lancer as your primary and use the Ripper as your secondary close-range option.
