Gears Tactics

Alright, let’s dive into Part 3 of our Gears Tactics guide. This section is all about mastering the two most crucial elements for survival: taking cover and understanding your enemies. Nail these, and you'll be way ahead of the game.

Taking Cover, and Why It's Important

Look, in most shooters, you can just stand there and soak up bullets. Gears Tactics? Not so much. Marcus Fenix can't take a beating, and a grenade or a headshot will put you down fast. That’s why cover isn't just a suggestion, it's your lifeline. Seriously, you need to use it to beat this game.

Here’s the deal: your health regenerates when you're not taking damage. And where should you be when you're not taking damage? In cover! So, if you're hurt, get behind something solid and wait it out. Half the time, your only protection is a busted table or some rubble. You can shoot from cover, but your aim gets shaky. For precision, you’ll want to pop out, line up your shot with the Left Trigger (LT), and then get back to safety ASAP. Don't linger, or you might lose your head!

How to Cover:

• Get into Cover: Just walk up to an object or wall and press the [A] button. Marcus or Dom will automatically find a spot.
• Move in Cover: You can shuffle around behind cover. Pulling the Left Stick away from the cover will make you

Kryll: Kryll appear in Acts 2 and 5 of Gears Tactics. They are invincible to normal weapons and kill you instantly if they touch you. They resemble bats and will disintegrate you quickly if you are in the dark; always stay in the light and roll between light sources. In Act 5, they form a shield for the final boss. In the chapter "Burnt Rubber" at the end of Act 2, Kryll can be killed.

Reavers: Reavers fly swiftly, making them difficult targets, especially on Casual. The Torque Bow is an excellent weapon against them, and is often found near Reaver encounters. The Turret is the best weapon against Reavers, though it is only available once in Gears Tactics. Aim for the Locust riding the Reaver, as killing the Locust also kills the Reaver. Reavers primarily appear in Act 5. On Insane difficulty, using the Torque Bow is advised. The Turret section on the train is exceptionally difficult, and playing in Co-Op is recommended, though still exceedingly challenging.

Wretches and Luminous Wretches:

• Wretches: Wretches can be defeated with a few bullets from the Lancer or a blast from the Shotgun. They can sometimes be lured behind cover (press the cover button to crouch behind walls or objects) for an easy kill. On Insane difficulty, Wretches are a major threat due to their one-hit kills, speed, large numbers, and increased damage resistance.
• Luminous Wretches: These are luminous versions of Wretches. When killed by anything other than the chainsaw, they explode. On Insane difficulty, they pose more of a threat than normal Wretches. Their explosions can be deadly, making the shotgun less effective. It is best to engage them from a distance. The pistol becomes useful on Insane for shooting Luminous Wretches from afar, especially after acquiring the Longshot.

Bosses: Bosses are covered in the chapters where they are encountered. Specific bosses like the Berserker, Corpser, and General RAAM can be found using CTRL-F with their respective identifiers (BERS1, CRPSR, BERS2, BERS3, GRAAM).

Weapons (BAS4):

Personal Set-up for Hardcore and Lower Difficulties:

• Maxed out Bolo Grenades
• Shotgun
• Lancer
• Magnum

The Shotgun is useful for close-range encounters and is faster than the chainsaw. Bolo Grenades are effective against Locust Emergence Holes, sealing them when thrown inside, and should be conserved for groups of enemies. The Magnum is the most powerful pistol. The Lancer is powerful, reloads quickly (especially with Active Reloads), and is good for picking off enemies at a distance. The chainsaw is a backup for emergencies. The Longshot is a good alternative to the Lancer and is the primary weapon to use on Insane difficulty.