Lancer Assault Rifle
The game’s main weapon, the Lancer is everyone’s default weapon in multiplayer, and the gun you’ll wield the most in the single-player campaign too. You probably won’t want to be without the Lancer for too long in any scenario – the chainsaw bayonet makes it arguably the game’s strongest melee option, and the gun’s relatively high accuracy makes it good for even mid-to-long range combat.
Chainsaw kills usually feature pretty prominently in versus matches, with rarely a round going by without some unfortunate Gear or Locust being shredded by the Lancer’s saw. One trick that’s often used is to wait behind cover, and as someone’s passing let rip with the chainsaw, taking your unfortunate foe completely by surprise. If you’re in the receiving end of a chainsaw melee attack, the Lancer’s regular fire gives you the chance to stun them, lowering their chainsaw while you move in for the kill.
Don’t rev your chainsaw any more than you have to, however. Skilled Gears players are likely to leap out the way and blow you away with the Shotgun.
Use: Chainsaw up close against just about anything, regular fire close-to-mid range against just about any other ranged weapon.
Don’t Use: Up-close against a shotgun-wielding enemy.
Snub Pistol
This is the default crappy pistol that’s in your inventory at the start of the game. There’s rarely any reason to use this at all, ever, except when you’re out of ammo for your other weapons. In multiplayer, the Snub's rapid fire makes it useful for sharp-shooting players.
Use: In multiplayer, for a few quick shots to the head, or for executions.
Don’t Use: Against any half-decent player with a real weapon.
Gnasher Shotgun
The Gnasher is the Gears’ natural “up-close-and-personal” weapon, and just about the only weapon in the game that rivals the Lancer’s chainsaw bayonet up-close. Even without pressing your left trigger to aim, the Gnasher’s a formidable close-range weapon that’ll blow your opponent into chunky little pieces if you get the shot right.
Aiming with this weapon at the right range gives you the chance to take their head clean off and score an instant kill. Upper-body shots are almost as useful, inflicting a fair bit of damage and splattering your opponent’s screen with blood.
Blind-firing with the Gnasher from behind cover has also become a favorite way of eliminating advancing enemies, particularly in tight corridors like those found in the “Mausoleum” multiplayer map. In a similar way, popping out from behind cover just long enough to aim and unload a Gnasher round in an enemy’s face is a pretty decent way of scoring a takedown from behind any sort of cover.
Use: Close-range against just about anything. Beware of melee attacks if you get too close.
Don’t Use: Mid-to-long range. You’ll get pasted.
Longshot Sniper Rifle
The camper’s favorite, the Longshot is Gears of War’s ultimate ranged weapon. Two body-shots will result in a downing; one headshot and it’s over. The Longshot’s scope gives incredible zoom, allowing you to pick off targets from across the other side of maps like “Gridlock”. Practice your reloads with this weapon; a perfectly-timed active reload could just give you the chance to score an all-important second hit on an enemy while he’s running for cover.
Beware of staying scoped-in too much, however, as this leaves you extremely vulnerable to close-range attacks from enemies sneaking up on your position. This is especially likely after you’ve let off a shot or two, as the Longshot leaves clearly-visible tracers.
Use: To dominate open maps like from afar.
Don’t Use: In close-range combat, unless it involves beating someone in the face with it.
Grenades
The Torque Bow is one of Gears of War’s more inventive weapons. Hold down your firing trigger for longer for a more powerful shot – when the target indicator turns red, your shot will penetrate enemy armor and score an instant kill if you’re on target.
The Torque is great for mid-to-long range combat, and if you hit a cluster of enemies you could even score multiple kills with one shot. However, Torquers are extremely vulnerable to close-range attacks, due to the bow’s long charge-up and reload times. It’s useful to carry a shotgun or some sort of close-range backup weapon in case you end up getting caught off-guard.
There are a variety of ways to take out a Torque-wielding enemy. From a distance, the Longshot is your best bet – the rifle’s long-range instant death usually beats the bow’s slow-charging explosive rounds. Up-close, try using your chainsaw – this gives your foe no chance to escape or change weapons.
Use: At mid or long range to blow up an unsuspecting enemy.
Don’t Use: In close-range toe-to-toe combat.
Hammerburst
Also known as the “Locust Rifle”, this is the first main weapon you’ll use in the single-player campaign, firing four rounds in quick succession. It’s also the weapon most-used by Locust drones throughout the first half of the single-player game, meaning ammo is relatively plentiful.
The Hammerburst is pretty much just a nerfed version of the Lancer rifle, without a chainsaw attachment; this means it’s of little use in multiplayer mode. In single-player, it’s useful to hang onto one until you start coming across better weapons, since you’ll probably never run out of ammo. Dump it once you come across the likes of the Gnasher and the Longshot.
Use: To save on Lancer ammo at mid-range.
Don’t Use: In a tough fire-fight if you have other options.
Revolver
You’ll start coming across this powerful alternative to the snub pistol around the end of act 1 in the single-player campaign. In terms of damage and range, it comes somewhere in between the Gnasher and the Longshot. A headshot with the Revolver always means instant death, and a body shot is a great way to take down an injured enemy.
Pistol-whipping with the Revolver is a useful way of getting rid of Wretches at close-range. On Hardcore or above you’ll have trouble taking the little buggers down up-close using standard weaponry.
Use: To get unexpected kills if you’re a good shot.
Don’t Use: If you can’t aim.
Hammer of Dawn
The game’s orbital death cannon, the Hammer of Dawn is controlled via target painters found around the game world. Generally, you’ll want to be outside and high up in order to get the best out of this weapon. Remember, the hammer only works outside with a clear sky, so you can forget trying to have it blast through the roofs of buildings. The Hammer of Dawn also works surprisingly well as a cover-breaker, flushing enemies out into the open from tricky positions.
To take down a hammer-wielding enemy, you’ll want to take advantage of the weapon’s slow charge-up time and let rip with a medium or close range weapon like the Lancer or Gnasher.
Use: Out in the open to vaporize unsuspecting foes from afar.
Don’t Use: At close range, indoors, or without a decent overhead view.
Boomshot
Boom! The Boomshot is Gears of War’s rocket launcher, carried by Locust Boomers in the single-player campaign. On Casual or Hardcore difficulty, you can rely on the Boomer to have a fair bit of splash damage, and due to its firing arc its ideal for dropping shots behind enemy cover.
On Insane difficulty or Versus, however, you’ll need to be a lot more accurate, as the Boomshot carries very little splash damage. Still, landing a body shot still results in instant death. The Boomshot’s other caveat is its slow reload time. A skilled player can easily get off enough Lancer or Gnasher shots to take you down in the time it takes to do a full (non-active) reload.
To get the most out of the Boomshot, use it as a surprise weapon – you’ll almost always end up missing if you try to go toe-to-toe with a player with a decent mid-range gun.
Use: To surprise a slow or stationary opponent.
Don’t Use: If you’re not sure you’re going to hit.
