9 Gears of War: E-Day Tips So You Stop Dying in the First 5 Hours

Gears of War: E-Day has a deceptive learning curve. It looks like a regular shooter, but the first 5 hours punish reckless players. Here are 9 tips so you stop feeding the Locust.

1. Cover isn't decoration — stick to it

The golden rule of Gears since 2006: never stand in the open. Sprint from cover to cover (sprint is on L3 in E-Day), and get used to roadie-running between positions. Enemies in E-Day flank aggressively; a stationary player is a dead player.

2. Master active reload from minute one

E-Day's reload uses the active reload system: press R, then press again as the bar hits the white zone for an instant reload + damage bonus. Miss it and your gun jams while you're exposed. Drill it until it's reflex — this separates Gears veterans from everyone else.

3. Don't ignore "HARD CASE NEARBY"

E-Day flags weapon mod locations with obnoxious all-caps alerts — but the contents matter. Mods like reduced recoil, better scopes, and faster chainsaw revs make a real difference on higher difficulties. Take the time to crack hard cases; the map marks them once you're close.

4. Pick your difficulty honestly

Normal feels too easy for veterans, but Hardcore turns elites into bullet sponges with thick boss health bars. For a first playthrough: Normal if you're new to Gears, Hardcore if you're a cover-shooter veteran. Insane? Save it for New Game+ — three achievements require it.

5. The sniper rifle is your best friend

One of the most praised weapons in E-Day. Elite weak points + sniper = satisfying damage that cuts through their "sponge." Always keep a slot for something precise.

6. Play co-op if you can

E-Day was built with co-op in its DNA. Flanking, revives, and crossfire feel far more natural with a human partner. There's also an achievement for completing every Act in co-op — two birds, one stone.

7. Remap your controls if needed

E-Day brings modern remaps (sprint on L3, dedicated jump, separate climb). If you're coming from older Gears, spend 10 minutes in the control menu. Comfortable hands mean calm aim.

8. Don't chase collectibles on your first run

There are 140 collectibles and 125 hard cases. Hunting them all on run one turns a 12-hour campaign into an exhausting 20. Enjoy the story first, clean up later.

9. Use Game Pass

E-Day is day-one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Not sure it's for you? Try it on subscription before paying $70. There's no reason to pay full price for a game you can sample first.