Whether you’re a Gears expert or a multiplayer novice, the core fundamentals stay the same: Gears Of War 4 is all about your loadout, and the arsenal you bring out onto the battlefield. As with pretty much every other shooter on the market, Gears 4 dictates a commitment to style and patience, demanding that you play to your skills and styles: the more you try to play outside your own skillset, the more the world punishes you.
That’s why your loadout is so important, and why you need to understand the basics of every weapon: what they do, what they’re good for, and how they work. Balance is key, whether you’re playing in multiplayer or the campaign, so hopefully this guide can give you the insight necessary to hit the battlefield with confidence and win the war!
We’ve broken the guide up between “Multiplayer Weapons” and “Campaign Weapons” to make it easier for you to differentiate between the two on the site. Each weapon list contains basic damage and ammo capacity stats, including when and where to find each specific weapon.
Multiplayer Weapons | Campaign Weapons
Multiplayer Weapon Basics
There’s no shortage of devastating weapons in Gears Of War 4 multiplayer. As is standard in multiplayer shooters, you’ll choose a loadout, generally spread out across multiple weapon types, and enter the battlefield packing plenty of heat.
Loadout Weapons
- Lancer
- Gnasher
- Hamerburst
- Enforcer
- Snub
We’ll talk a little about these weapons later on in this guide. Loadout weapons are basically the primary weapons you select before you start a match. Aside from the Snub, which must occupy the one-handed weapon slot, all Loadout weapons can be carried in any combination.
Secondary Weapons
- Markza Mk1
- Retro Lancer
- Overkill
- Boltok
- Longshot
These weapons are dropped throughout the map during a match, generally when you die. You can use these weapons in your primary weapon slot, and they will replace whatever weapons you currently have activated in those slots from your general loadout.
Power Weapons
- Buzzkill
- EMBAR
- Torque Bow
- Dropshot
- Boomshot
- Frag Grenade
- Incendiary Grenade
- Shock Grenade
Power Weapons are extremely useful and powerful weapons (go figure) that have the potential to really give a team a leg-up during a match. They are dropped in the middle of a map, and as such generate a rush from both teams trying to take control. As with Secondary Weapons, Power Weapons replace weapons in your Primary Weapon slot. The three grenade types will replace the activated grenade in that slot.
Heavy Weapons
- Tri-Shot
- RL-4 Salvo
- Buzzkill
- Mulcher
Heavy Weapons are where things get interesting. These weapons pack the most powerful punch of any other weapons in the game, although due to their “heavy” nature, don’t occupy a specific slot. You can only use it once, and as such, once you switch weapons, you will drop whatever Heavy Weapon you were using.
Multiplayer Weapons
Pistols | Assault Rifles | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | Marksman Rifles | Explosive Weapons | Grenades | Heavy Weapons |
PISTOLS
BOLTOK (Semi-Auto)
Available in:
- Versus: Dam, Forge, Gridlock, Harbor, Lift, Reclaimed
- Horde: Heavy Class, Swarm Grenadier
Stats:
- Damage: High
- Accuracy: Medium
- Recoil: High
- RPM: 120
- MAG: 6
- AMMO Size: 42
- Cooldown: 10s
- Headshot Damage: High
SNUB (Semi-Auto)
Available in:
- Versus: All
- Horde: Scout Class, Sniper Class, Soldier Class
Stats:
- Damage: Medium
- Accuracy: High
- Recoil: Low
- RPM: 625
- MAG: 12
- AMMO Size: 132
- Cooldown: 11s
- Headshot Damage: Medium
ASSAULT RIFLES
HAMMERBURST (Three-Round Burst)
Available in:
- Versus: All
- Horde: Level 2 Fabricator, Swarm Drone
Stats:
- Damage: High
- Accuracy: High
- Recoil: Medium
- RPM: 650
- MAG: 21
- AMMO Size: 232
- Cooldown: 9s
- Headshot Damage: Medium
LANCER (Automatic)
Available in:
- Versus: All
- Horde: Soldier Class, Level 2 Fabricator, Swarm Drone Elite
Stats:
- Damage: Medium
- Accuracy: Medium
- Recoil: Low
- RPM: 550
- MAG: 50
- AMMO Size: 500
- Cooldown: 12s
- Headshot Damage: Medium
RETRO LANCER (Automatic)
Available in:
- Versus: Dam, Forge, Reclaimed
- Horde: Heavy Class, Scout Class, Level 2 Fabricator
Stats:
- Damage: High
- Accuracy: High
- Recoil: High
- RPM: 450
- MAG: 20
- AMMO Size: 220
- Cooldown: 15s
- Headshot Damage: Medium
SUBMACHINE GUNS
ENFORCER (Automatic)
Available in:
- Versus: All
- Horde: Engineer Class, Fabricator (LV 2), Peace Maker
Stats:
- Damage: Low
- Accuracy: Low
- Recoil: Medium
- RPM: 1000
- MAG: 30
- AMMO Size: 360
- Cooldown: 9s
- Headshot Damage: Low
SHOTGUNS
GNASHER (Automatic)
Available in:
- Versus: All
- Horde: Engineer Class, Scout Class, Soldier Class, Fabricator (LV 2), Swarm Drone Elite, Swarm Grenadier
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- Accuracy: Medium
- Recoil: High
- RPM: 60
- MAG: 8
- AMMO Size: 48
- Cooldown: 16s
- Headshot Damage: N/A
OVERKILL (SINGLE-SHOT)
Available in:
- Versus: Lift, Forge
- Horde: Fabricator (LV 2), DR-1 Protector
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- Accuracy: Medium
- Recoil: High
- RPM: 300
- MAG: 4
- AMMO Size: 32
- Cooldown: 20s
- Headshot Damage: Medium
MARKSMAN RIFLES
EMBAR (SEMI-AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: Dam, Fallout, Harbor, Reclaimed, Relic
- Horde: Fabricator (LV 2), Deadeye
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- Accuracy: Very High
- Recoil: Medium
- RPM: 60
- MAG: 3
- AMMO Size: 15
- Cooldown: 15s
- Headshot Damage: Very High
LONGSHOT (SEMI-AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: Dam, Gridlock, Harbor, Impact, Lift, Reclaimed
- Horde: Sniper Class, Fabricator (LV 2)
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- Accuracy: Very High
- Recoil: Low
- RPM: 60
- MAG: 1
- AMMO Size: 24
- Cooldown: 10s
- Headshot Damage: Very High
MARKZA MK1 (SEMI-AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: Fallout, Relic
- Horde: Sniper Class, Fabricator (LV 2)
Stats:
- Damage: High
- Accuracy: High
- Recoil: High
- RPM: 300
- MAG: 5
- AMMO Size: 50
- Cooldown: 13s
- Headshot Damage: High
EXPLOSIVE WEAPONS
DROPSHOT (SEMI-AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: Dam, Foundation, Gridlock, Lift
- Horde: Heavy Class, Fabricator (LV 2), Scion Boomshot
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- Accuracy: Medium
- Recoil: Medium
- RPM: 60
- MAG: 1
- AMMO Size: 6
- Cooldown: 20s
- Headshot Damage: Low
TORQUE BOW (SEMI-AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: Dam Fallout, Forge, Foundation, Impact, Relic
- Horde: Fabricator (LV 2), Swarm Hunter
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- Accuracy: High
- Recoil: Low
- RPM: 60
- MAG: 1
- AMMO Size: 12
- Cooldown: 10s
- Headshot Damage: Low
BOOMSHOT (SEMI-AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: Dam, Fallout, Forge, Foundation, Harbor, Lift
- Horde: Fabricator (LV 2), Air Drop, Scion Dropshot
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- Accuracy: Medium
- Recoil: Medium
- RPM: 60
- MAG: 1
- AMMO Size: 7
- Cooldown: 20s
- Headshot Damage: Low
GRENADES
FRAG
Available in:
- Versus: Dam, Fallout, Forge, Foundation, Gridlock, Harbor, Reclaimed, Relic
- Horde: Air Drop, Swarm Drone Elite, Swarm Grenadier
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- MAG: 1
- AMMO Size: 2
INCENDIARY GRENADE
Available in:
- Versus: Dam, Foundation, Harbor, Impact, Lift
- Horde: Air Drop
Stats:
- Damage: Medium
- MAG: 1
- AMMO Size: 2
SMOKE GRENADE
Available in:
- Versus: All
- Horde: N/A
Stats:
- Damage: None
- MAG: 1
- AMMO Size: 2
SHOCK GRENADE
Available in:
- Versus: Fallout, Forge, Gridlock, Harbor, Lift, Reclaimed, Relic
- Horde: Air Drop, Shock Tracker, Peace Maker
Stats:
- Damage: Medium
- MAG: 1
- AMMO Size: 2
HEAVY WEAPONS
BUZZKILL (AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: Impact, Reclaimed, Relic
- Horde: Fabricator (LV 3), Scion Buzzkill
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- Accuracy: Medium
- Recoil: Low
- RPM: 180
- MAG: 10
- AMMO Size: 50
- Cooldown: 7s
- Headshot Damage: Low
MULCHER (AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: Lift, Relic
- Horde: Fabricator (LV 3), Scion Mulcher
Stats:
- Damage: High
- Accuracy: Low
- Recoil: Medium
- RPM: 1200
- MAG: 250
- AMMO Size: N/A
- Cooldown: N/A
- Headshot Damage: Low
RL-4 SALVO (AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: N/A
- Horde: Fabricator (LV 3), Air Drop, Sentinel
Stats:
- Damage: High
- Accuracy: Low
- Recoil: Medium
- RPM: 180
- MAG: 20
- AMMO Size: N/A
- Cooldown: N/A
- Headshot Damage: Low
TRI-SHOT (AUTOMATIC)
Available in:
- Versus: Reclaimed
- Horde: Fabricator (LV 3), Guardian
Stats:
- Damage: Very High
- Accuracy: High
- Recoil: High
- RPM: 600
- MAG: 140
- AMMO Size: N/A
- Cooldown: N/A
- Headshot Damage: Low
Campaign Weapons
PRIMARY WEAPONS
SNUB PISTOL
Stats:
- MAG: 12
- AMMO: 108
- RPM: 625
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 65
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1.5X
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: 20%
BOLTOK PISTOL
Stats:
- MAG: 6
- AMMO: 36
- RPM: 120
- RECOIL: Medium
- DAMAGE: 340
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1.5X
- ACTIVE RELOAD BONUS: +400% RPM
ENFORCER
Stats:
- MAG: 40
- AMMO: 440
- RPM: 1000
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 42
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1.2X
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: 20%
EMBAR SNIPER
Stats:
- MAG: 3
- AMMO: 12
- RPM: 60
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 695
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 3X
- ACTIVE RELOAD BONUS: Increased Stun To Target
LANCER
Stats:
- MAG: 50
- AMMO: 550
- RPM: 550
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 55
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1.5X
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: 30%
RETRO LANCER
Stats:
- MAG: 20
- AMMO: 200
- RPM: 450
- RECOIL: Medium
- DAMAGE: 90
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1.75X
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: 30%
MARKZA MK1
Stats:
- MAG: 5
- AMMO: 30
- RPM: 300
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 215
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 2X
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: 30%
DROPSHOT
Stats:
- MAG: 1
- AMMO: 7
- RPM: 60
- RECOIL: Medium
- DAMAGE: 1750
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: Instant Kill
- ACTIVE RELOAD BONUS: +25% Damage + Damage Radius
LONGSHOT
Stats:
- MAG: 1
- AMMO: 24
- RPM: 60
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 375
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 5x
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: 10%
TORQUE BOW
Stats:
- MAG: 1
- AMMO: 12
- RPM: 60
- RECOIL: High
- DAMAGE: 1708
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: Instant Kill
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: +25% Damage + Damage Radius
HAMMERBURST
Stats:
- MAG: 21
- AMMO: 210
- RPM: 650
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 95
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1.5X
- ACTIVE RELOAD BONUS: +40% RPM
OVERKILL
Stats:
- MAG: 4
- AMMO: 32
- RPM: 300
- RECOIL: High
- DAMAGE: 300
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1.5X
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: 20%
GNASHER
Stats:
- MAG: 8
- AMMO: 48
- RPM: 60
- RECOIL: High
- DAMAGE: 500
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1.0X
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: 20%
BOOMSHOT
Stats:
- MAG: 1
- AMMO: 6
- RPM: 60
- RECOIL: Medium
- DAMAGE: 1300
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: Instant Kill
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: +25% Damage + Damage Radius
HEAVY WEAPONS
RL4-SALVO
Stats:
- MAG: 20
- AMMO: 20
- RPM: 180
- RECOIL: Medium
- DAMAGE: 900
TRI-SHOT
Stats:
- MAG: 140
- AMMO: 140
- RPM: 600
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 220
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1X
BUZZKILL
Stats:
- MAG: 15
- AMMO: 30
- RPM: 180
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 180
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1X
- ACTIVE RELOAD DAMAGE BONUS: +20% Damage
MULCHER
Stats:
- MAG: 250
- AMMO: 250
- RPM: 1200
- RECOIL: Low
- DAMAGE: 77
- HEADSHOT DAMAGE BONUS: 1X
GRENADES
FRAG
Stats:
- MAG: 1
- AMMO: 4
- DAMAGE: 1500
- RADIUS: 5 meters
INCENDIARY
Stats:
- MAG: 1
- AMMO: 2
- DAMAGE: 1500
- RADIUS: 5 meters
