Best Weapons in Gears of War: E-Day — 2026 Tier List

Gears of War: E-Day ships with the series’ biggest arsenal reshuffle in years: two new Locust-side pistols, an incendiary shotgun, a twin-barrel LMG, and the first-ever Prototype Lancer with the chainsaw bolted on. This tier list ranks every weapon in the game for the campaign, based on launch-window consensus from hands-on reviews and the community meta. Pair it with our beginner tips if you’re still finding your footing in Kalona.

Which weapons are S-tier in Gears of War: E-Day?

Four guns sit at the top of the launch meta:

| Tier | Weapon | Why it earns the slot | |

—
S
S
S
S
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
C

What are the new weapons in E-Day?

E-Day adds five genuinely new guns plus one game-changing variant:

• Striga — a Locust burst pistol with scary headshot damage (95).
• Incinerator — a shotgun that sprays Imulsion and leaves targets burning.
• Gut-Puncher — a grenade launcher with hold-and-release manual detonation. Rounds bounce around corners, and a melee finisher with it earns the “Two Grubs, One Gut-Punch” achievement.
• Ripper — a twin-barrel, twin-magazine LMG whose fire rate ramps the longer you hold the trigger.
• Heavy Boomshot — an oversized Locust prototype dropped by big enemies in the field.
• Prototype Lancer — not just a skin: it’s the origin story of the chainsaw bayonet, with a faster fire rate and deeper mag than the Lancer Mk1.

The Gut-Puncher deserves a special note: it’s the key to the first Brumak fight. Stock up on its ammo before Act 1’s City Hall defense — our Brumak boss guide breaks down every encounter.

How does the reload rework change gunplay?

Shotguns and the Breechshot now load one shell at a time, and each reload can be interrupted the moment you need to fire. That single change makes the Gnasher feel dramatically more aggressive than in previous games — you’re never locked out of a shot. Every weapon also carries one Perfect Reload slot plus three general mod slots (see the Hard Cases section below), so a late-campaign Lancer is meaningfully different from the one you start with.

Do weapon mods change the tier list?

They can. E-Day’s new Weapon Mod system — a series first — lets you install mods into one Perfect Reload slot and three general slots per weapon. Yellow Hard Cases hidden across every act and some side-quest rewards are the mod sources, and mods are equipped at Supply Caches. A modded Striga or Gnasher can jump a full tier. Our walkthrough hub tracks where the campaign’s collectible routes run so you can sweep Hard Cases as you go.

What about executions?

E-Day’s finisher roster got its biggest expansion in years:

• Boomers are chainsaw-executable for the first time — the “Okay, Boomer.” achievement.
• The Gut-Puncher has its own melee finisher.
• The Breechshot carries an axe-blade execution.
• The chainsaw execution itself is new for E-Day and feeds the “Chainsaw Go Brrrrrrrrr” achievement.

See our achievements guide for the full list and the four side objectives you can miss on the way to 1000 Gamerscore.

Which weapons should Horde Siege players master?

Horde Siege gives each class a signature weapon: Fenix’s Prototype Lancer, Santiago’s Gnasher, Reyes’ Longshot, Carter’s Gut-Puncher, and Manu’s Boomshot. Note that Versus has no mods — fixed loadouts and map power weapons only — while Horde is where the mod system shines. Our Horde Siege guide covers class builds and the 12-player squad structure.

FAQ

Is the Retro Lancer or Prototype Lancer better?

The Prototype Lancer is the better gun: faster fire rate, deeper magazine, and the chainsaw. The Lancer Mk1 (Retro) hits harder per shot with more recoil and only has a blade bayonet — use it early, ditch it when the Prototype shows up.

Is the Ripper LMG worth using?

It’s the weakest weapon in launch reviews’ rankings. The ramping fire rate is fun, but 70 rounds of twin-barrel spray can’t compete with a Gnasher up close or a Breechshot at range. Grab it only when ammo is scarce.

What weapon kills bosses fastest?

The Gut-Puncher, Torque Bow, and Heavy Boomshot are your boss damage — and the Incinerator’s burn is the recommended tool for retreating from the final boss. Boss-specific routes are in our Vraahk guide and Corpser guide.