Gears of War 3 : Weapons

From the Lancer, with its chainsaw bayonet, to the devastating Oneshot there is nothing like seeing your opponent turn into nothing but bits and pieces of gory flesh. Checkout the following pages to learn more from the expertise of veteran COGs, and what they have to say about how to get the most gore for the least amount of hassle.


Starter Weapons are the weapons that you begin with in any of the missions in Gears of War. These weapons also have unlockable and purchaseable skins, as well as their own strengths and weaknesses. You can't however, change your pistol with a grenade loadout, and will always be outfitted with the starter weapons.

Each of the starter weapons has distincitive attributes. Try all of the guns and choose the guns which suit your own playing style.
Rifles

Lancer- The COG's primary assault rifle. Sports the iconic Chainsaw Attachment for close quarters pain. Large mags and fierce stopping power makes this a great medium range weapon.
Hammerburst Rifle- The Hammerburst is the locust 's own solution to combating the Lancer. It's a semi-auto rifle, that's not only accurate, but functional at even the longest of ranges.
Retro Lancer- A Pendulum Era rifle, the Retro Lancer was reintroduced to the battlefield following the sinking of Jacinto. With an angry recoil that hinders long range effectiveness and high power, the Retro packs a punch at closer ranges. Instead of the newer "Chainsaw" bayonet the Lancer has, the Retro Lancer has a classic, knife bayonet.

Shotguns

Gnasher Shotgun- A powerful shotgun with an 8 shell capacity, effective at medium range, but even deadlier up close. Accurate fire can cut down several foes quickly.
Sawed-Off Shotgun- A double-barrel shotgun that packs a punch at close range, and impossible to use at any other distance with a very long reload time. It has a total of four shells of ammo but can hold six total.

Pistols

Snub Pistol- The standard sidearm for the COG. Low damage with high accuracy and firing rate. Unique in that you can melee directly after firing the weapon.


Grenades

Smoke Grenade- The smoke grenade is very useful in some situations. Not only does it deploy smoke but it also stuns enemies that are caught in the blast as well as making an enemy drop a meatshield or a weapon

Apart from your starting weapons, there exist other tools of death scattered around each map. Be there first to ensure that your opponents do not gain an upper hand.

Pickup weapons include:

Gorgon Pistol (SMG) - A locust machine-pistol, the Gorgon's fast fire-rate makes it an excellent close range weapon, particularly behind a meat shield.

Longshot Sniper Rifle - Long ranged death, the Longshot can deliver melon-popping rounds at extreme ranges when in the hands of an experienced operator.

Scorcher Flamethrower - An enemy the size of a fridge is scary, but an enemy spewing intensely hot flames is terrifying as hell. Continuous flames can burn the opposition into submission from up close. The active reload for the Scorcher yields further range.

Hammer of Dawn - The most powerful weapon in the COG arsenal, the Hammer rains down death from above dealing massive damage on impact provided you have a line of sight and have access to open sky.

Digger Launcher - Firing small diggers that tunnel underground before springing into the air and exploding. The digger is the ultimate cover negator.

Boltok Revolver- A high powered six shooter and the Locust Horde's issued sidearm, the Boltok can kill in two shots provided the last meets the face. An excellent headshot weapon in the right hands. The active reload allows you to fire much faster.

Torque Bow - the Torque Bow fires explosive arrows with supreme accuracy. Those unfortunate enough to be hit die in moments. A skilled user can achieve headshots, possibly catching others in the ensuing explosion.

Boomshot - A grenade launcher capable of multiple kills. Aim for the feet from a medium distance for maximum effect. A wise operator will take care to not fire too close to avoid being killed.


Outside of the standard Gears of War armament, there are a few "heavy weapons" available. Heavy Weapons must be carried by two hands and in one instance requires the use of two players. These weapons limit your mobility, making you slower and preventing you from sprinting or sometimes from taking cover.

The Heavy Weapons are as follows:

Mulcher Chaingun- With high damage and an insane rate of fire, the Mulcher spews lead like no other. Those caught in the way are sure to fall to pieces under the Mulcher's withering fire. Can be hip-fired although it is strongly recommended that you aim while you use it. You can also aim the Mulcher by mounting it on cover.

Mortar- Basically a tube that propels high-explosive shells over long distances, the Mortar can massacre an entire team in the hands of an accurate gunner. Spot enemies to aid the Mortar gunner in his conquest for a body count.

Oneshot- The most powerful weapon in the conventional COG arsenal, the Oneshot as it name suggests can fell most targets with one hit and can even destroy a deployed Boomshield. A brief priming sequence and a targeting laser belies this weapons deadly intent.

Vulcan Cannon- If the Mulcher has an insane rate of fire, the Vulcan possesses an even crazier rate of fire. Mere seconds pass before the Vulcan eats through its ammo supply. Additionally, a second player must also retrieve the ammo box to supply the gunner with a steady steam of munitions.


Buildable Weapons can only be found in Horde Mode as they are actually Upgradable Fortifications that are built around the Command Points.

Buildable Weapons should not be under estimated, as they are more than capable of taking out heavy infantry and bosses.
Manned Turrets

Retro Lancer Turret- The level one turret gained in horde mode and the only turret found in online competitive multiplayer maps and is very in-accurate.
carries 600 rounds in horde, unlimited online.

Lancer Turret- the upgrade from the Retro Lancer Turret.
costing 2500 carries 600 rounds and is very accurate.

Boomshot Turret - Mounted onto the Flying Gas Barges, the Boomshot turret holds 6 round of explosive ammo.
Used only in Act 2 of the Campaign

Unarmored Troika- the upgrade from the Lancer Turret.
costing 4000 points, dealing very high damage carrying 400 rounds.

Armored Troika- the final turret upgrade in horde that sports unbelievable accuracy and range, and an increased ammo count of 500 rounds.

Chaingun- Found only in the Campaign missions, this turret boasts an unbelievable high rate of fire that is offset by the speed at which in can overheat

Auto Turrets

Buildable in Horde Mode only, these turrets are also encountered in Beast Mode and can quickly turn any of the lower tier Locust into bits and pieces
Mechs

Silverback- Costs 12500 to buy and comes with arm-mounted chainguns, a "Cover Stance", and deadly rockets. This heavy machine can be found in Campaign, Horde, and Beast Mode.


There are four different types of grenades, all of them a Bolo grenade meaning that the device must be swung before being thrown. You start out with a smoke grenade and must retrieve the other's scattered around the map. Taking a meatshield allows you to "inherit" your victim's grenades as well.


Smoke: Your starting grenade, the smoke grenade doesn't do any damage but enemies caught in it's radius will flinch briefly and drop heavy weapons (like the Oneshot) and meatshields.


Frag: An explosive device, the Fragmentation Grenade boasts a wide kill zone and an even wider blast radius. Even if a foe escapes death, grave injury can easily occur. Throw at the feet for maximum results.


Ink: A baby Nemacyst attached to a bolo, the Ink grenade releases a deadly cloud of poisonous gas when thrown. Those caught close to the detonation will flinch, often allowing of several seconds of deadly exposure


Incendiary Grenade: A flame grenade, the incendiary spews burning doom on those unlucky enough to be set ablaze. Instant death occurs on direct contact, slow death can also befall those standing in the flames.