Gears of War: E-Day is rebuilding its weapon sandbox rather than simply copying the gun behavior from an older Gears game. The Coalition has confirmed returning weapons, prototype-era variants, new gunplay rules, simulated projectile travel, shoulder swapping while aiming, a Weapon Mod system for Campaign and Horde Siege, and a separate competitive ruleset where Weapon Mods are disabled.
That makes a useful weapons guide more than a list of gun names. The important question is how E-Day changes the way weapons behave, how progression works in PvE, and which systems do or do not carry into 4v4 Versus.
Which weapons are confirmed for Gears E-Day?
The official gameplay and multiplayer material confirms several named weapons or weapon families. This is not the complete launch roster, but it is enough to establish the current weapon direction.
| Weapon | What is confirmed |
|---|---|
| Prototype Boomshot | A Heavy Weapon version of the Locust Boomshot. The Coalition says the prototype treatment lets it have a heavier kick while keeping balance under control. |
| Prototype Lancer | Appears in the multiplayer progression example and can use shared Weapon Mods across Horde Siege classes. |
| Gnasher | Returns and can use Weapon Mods in the supported PvE systems; an official example shows that it can even take a bayonet mod. |
| Snub | Tuned closer to the early Gears games: fires as fast as the player can pull the trigger and is deliberately quick to draw and stow. |
| Breechshot | Named in official gameplay material as part of the weapon sandbox and Active Reload discussion. |
| Heavy Weapons | Can be carried with more movement freedom than before, and turret-mounted Heavy Weapons can be ripped off their bases. |
| Grenades | Frags and Incendiaries are available in Horde Siege; Smoke Grenades use volumetric smoke that blocks player and AI sightlines. |
The most important limitation is that The Coalition has not published a complete final weapon database with every gun, variant, damage value, pickup location, ammo count, and mode restriction. Any “full E-Day weapons list” that goes beyond the confirmed names should therefore be treated cautiously until launch or another official breakdown.
Simulated ballistics change how every gunfight works
One of E-Day's biggest weapon-system changes is that all projectiles now use simulated ballistics and travel time. According to the official Gameplay Updates post, tracer visuals and hit effects now match that simulation.
In practical terms, that means a projectile is not simply treated as an instant hit at every distance. When firing outside a weapon's ideal range, players may need to lead moving targets. That change can make longer-range combat more readable and also creates a stronger difference between weapon roles.
It is especially important not to overstate this system. The official material confirms projectile travel and leading targets, but it does not publish exact muzzle velocities, drop curves, penetration values, or a full physics table for every weapon. Those numbers should wait for the final game or official stat data.
Shoulder swap gives players more control in cover fights
E-Day also lets players shoulder swap while aiming. This is easy to overlook next to new weapons, but it directly affects how guns are used around cover.
A player can choose which side of the character the camera and aim position favor, which can make it easier to peek around different corners or reposition without giving up the current firing angle. Because Gears is built around reading cover lines, that small control change can matter as much as raw weapon damage.
The new system works alongside the rebuilt movement and cover mechanics rather than replacing them. For a broader explanation of those changes, see the Gears E-Day movement guide and wall-bouncing guide.
How is the Snub different in E-Day?
The Snub has been tuned to feel closer to the early Gears games. The Coalition says it fires as quickly as the player can pull the trigger and is very fast to draw and stow.
That design makes the sidearm more useful as a clean-up weapon. Instead of thinking of the Snub as something only used when a primary runs dry, it can be part of a quick weapon-swap sequence after weakening an enemy with another gun.
The official description gives us the design intention, but not final competitive damage values or time-to-kill numbers. Those are balance details that can still change or depend on mode.
What is the Prototype Boomshot?
The Prototype Boomshot is the Locust's early version of the familiar explosive weapon. In E-Day, it appears as a Heavy Weapon rather than simply behaving like a standard pickup in every context.
The Coalition specifically says this lets the weapon have a “hefty kick” while keeping it balanced. That wording suggests the prototype is meant to feel powerful and physically heavy, but it does not establish exact blast radius, damage, reload speed, or spawn rules.
Heavy Weapons as a category have also changed. Players are slowed down while carrying them, but most movement can still be performed. In Horde Siege, Heavy Weapons can even be ripped directly from turret bases, which creates an interesting choice between leaving a defensive emplacement in place or converting it into a mobile weapon.
What are Weapon Mods?
Weapon Mods are a major progression system in Campaign and Horde Siege. They allow players to change how iconic guns behave and can range from small tactical adjustments to more dramatic functionality changes.
The clearest official example is the Gnasher: the multiplayer deep dive says players can attach a bayonet to it. That tells us the system can go beyond simple percentage bonuses.
In Horde Siege, Weapon Mods are tied to progression and Weapon Parts:
- Class progression unlocks access to new mods.
- Weapon Parts are used to purchase those mods.
- Weapon Parts can be earned through progression and found during Horde Siege missions.
- To keep Weapon Parts collected during a mission, the squad must successfully extract.
Weapon customization is also shared across Horde classes. If a player modifies a Prototype Lancer on Assault, those same mods and cosmetics apply if that weapon is equipped on another class.
That shared weapon profile reduces duplicate progression and makes the weapon itself the persistent customization object rather than forcing players to rebuild the same gun separately for every class.
Are Weapon Mods available in Versus?
No. Versus does not use Weapon Mods. The official Multiplayer Deep Dive is explicit about this.
All Versus modes are 4v4, and every player begins with the same loadout weapons and equipment. Weapon Mods are disabled so players begin on equal footing. Competitive advantages come from execution, team decisions, movement, and controlling Power Weapons placed on the map.
This creates an intentional split:
- Campaign / Horde Siege: build and customize weapons around progression and personal playstyle.
- Versus: start equal and fight over map resources and Power Weapons.
That distinction matters for anyone watching a Horde build video and assuming the same bayonet, damage modifier, or custom weapon behavior will carry directly into ranked or social Versus.
How does Active Reload work with weapons?
Active Reload still matters in E-Day, but the system has been revised for the new sandbox. The official gameplay material confirms weapon-specific changes, including adjustments to guns such as the Gnasher and Breechshot.
That means players should not assume the timing, bonus behavior, or reload rhythm from an older Gears title will map one-to-one onto E-Day. The dedicated Gears E-Day Active Reload guide covers the mechanic in more detail.
The safest rule before launch is simple: Active Reload is returning, but exact timing windows and per-weapon effects need to be read from the final build rather than copied from a previous game.
What about Smoke Grenades?
Smoke Grenades now use volumetric smoke designed to saturate the environment and block both player and AI enemy sightlines. That gives them a stronger tactical identity than a purely cosmetic vision effect.
The obvious uses are repositioning, crossing a dangerous lane, breaking enemy sightlines, or creating a close-range push. But the exact density duration, throw timing, and competitive balance can still vary by mode or launch tuning.
In Horde Siege, grenades and defensive equipment share the same inventory slot. Players can choose between offensive grenade options such as Frags and Incendiaries or utility/defensive tools like sentries and decoys.
Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus use weapons differently
E-Day's weapon sandbox is unified at a mechanical foundation level, but the modes apply different rules.
Campaign
Campaign supports Weapon Mods and the broader rebuilt gunplay systems. This is where progression, experimentation, and the single-player or co-op combat sandbox can make weapon customization part of the experience.
Horde Siege
Horde Siege layers Weapon Mods, Weapon Parts, Energy, Supply Caches, class progression, modded weapon drops, and extract-to-keep progression on top of the gunplay foundation. It is the deepest pre-launch weapon-progression system currently described by The Coalition.
Versus
Versus strips that progression advantage away. Everyone starts equal, Weapon Mods are disabled, and teams compete for Power Weapons positioned on each map.
This design prevents a heavily progressed PvE player from entering PvP with a stronger customized weapon purely because they spent more time in Horde.
What weapon details are still unconfirmed?
Even with the July gameplay reveals, several things remain open:
- the full launch weapon roster;
- every new weapon name;
- exact damage and health-breakpoint tables;
- final recoil values;
- projectile speed for each weapon;
- every Weapon Mod and its unlock requirement;
- complete Campaign weapon locations;
- final Power Weapon placement on every Versus map;
- whether launch balance changes from beta values.
That is why this page focuses on systems and named weapons that The Coalition has actually discussed.
Gears E-Day weapons FAQ
Does Gears E-Day have the Gnasher?
Yes. The Gnasher is confirmed, and the Weapon Mod system can modify it in supported PvE modes. The official Multiplayer Deep Dive specifically gives the example of attaching a bayonet to the Gnasher.
Is the Boomshot in Gears E-Day?
Yes, but the version specifically discussed by The Coalition is the Locust Prototype Boomshot, which appears as a Heavy Weapon.
Is the Snub returning?
Yes. The Snub is tuned closer to early Gears titles, fires as fast as the player can pull the trigger, and is quick to draw and stow.
Does E-Day have bullet travel time?
Yes. The Coalition says all projectiles use simulated ballistics and travel time, and players may need to lead targets when shooting outside a weapon's ideal range.
Can you customize weapons?
Yes, in Campaign and Horde Siege through Weapon Mods. Horde Siege uses Weapon Parts and progression to unlock and purchase mods.
Are Weapon Mods allowed in PvP?
No. Versus disables Weapon Mods and gives all players the same starting loadouts and equipment. Teams gain an advantage by controlling Power Weapons on the map.
Bottom line
The Gears E-Day weapons system is not just a returning arsenal with new graphics. The Coalition is changing the underlying gunplay with simulated projectile travel, shoulder swapping, weapon-specific handling, more flexible Heavy Weapon movement, prototype-era gear, and a substantial Weapon Mod system for Campaign and Horde Siege. At the same time, competitive Versus deliberately removes those progression advantages and keeps equal starts.
The full launch weapon list is still incomplete, but the confirmed direction is already clear: E-Day wants familiar Gears weapons to feel recognizable while giving players more tactical control, more physical projectile behavior, and deeper PvE customization.
