PvE Co-op
Horde Siege Guide
12-player PvE evolution of Gears' iconic wave survival. Three squads, four classes, one city under siege.
12-player PvE evolution of Gears' iconic wave survival. Three squads, four classes, one city under siege.
Horde Siege is the most ambitious co-op mode in Gears of War history. Twelve players are divided into three squads of four, deployed onto large interconnected maps across Kalona. Each squad receives its own mission and joins the battle already in progress — and the Locust do not wait for anyone.
Squads deploy onto large, multi-block maps in Kalona. Each fireteam operates in a different sector but the maps are connected — squads crisscross and can reinforce each other when missions overlap.
Threats, objectives, and opportunities constantly shift throughout each mission. No two runs are identical. Invasion Events, modifier changes, and emergent Locust behavior keep even veteran squads on their toes.
Survive the Locust onslaught, support your squadmates, and extract successfully. Every decision — from when to push an objective to when to revive a fallen teammate — carries weight.
Equipment, fortifications, and supplies left behind by previously extracted squads persist on the map. Later squads can discover and use these caches, creating a living battlefield that rewards teamwork across the entire 12-player operation.
Four distinct classes, each with a unique ability and playstyle. A balanced squad composition is essential for surviving higher difficulties — coordinate with your fireteam before deploying.
Whether you have 15 minutes or an hour to spare, there is a Horde Siege mission type that fits your session. Each offers a distinct pace, objective density, and challenge curve.
Short, intense deployments with one or two objectives. Perfect for a quick session when you want the Horde Siege experience without the full time commitment. High enemy density compensates for the shorter runtime — every second counts.
The core Horde Siege experience. Multiple objectives spread across the map, requiring squads to coordinate rotations, manage resources, and adapt to shifting threats. This is the mode most players will spend the majority of their time in.
Hardcore wave survival for veteran squads. Ten escalating waves of Locust enemies with limited support, scarce resources, and brutal boss encounters. Surviving a full Horde mission on Allfather difficulty is the ultimate PvE achievement in E-Day.
The R.I.G. — Resonation Imaging Geographer — is COG scanning equipment deployed at the heart of every Horde Siege mission. Protecting it is your squad's top priority.
Defeat enemies to earn Energy — the shared resource currency in Horde Siege. Spend Energy to open Supply Caches for weapons and gear, or pool it with your squad to unlock global Squad Perks that benefit the entire 12-player operation.
When a teammate goes down and cannot be revived in time, they drop their COG Tags. Any surviving squad member can carry those tags to a Supply Cache to bring their fallen ally back into the fight. Lose the tags, and that player stays dead.
Each squad has a limited pool of shared lives. If the entire fireteam wipes simultaneously, one life is deducted. When all lives are gone, the mission fails for that squad. Protect your teammates — every life matters.
Optional objectives appear dynamically throughout missions: recover weapon parts, retrieve equipment caches, secure supply drops. Completing them rewards bonus Energy, rare mods, and sometimes unlocks alternate extraction routes.
Three difficulty tiers, each demanding more from your squad. The game recommends a difficulty based on your class level, but the final choice is always yours — just be ready for the consequences.
The entry-level difficulty. Enemies hit hard but give you room to learn. Perfect for new players, testing unfamiliar classes, or warming up before a Commander run.
The mid-range challenge where Horde Siege starts to show its teeth. Enemy counts increase, boss waves arrive earlier, and modifiers begin to stack. Squads without coordination will struggle.
The ultimate test. Max-level classes only. Every enemy is lethal, every resource is scarce, and every mistake is punished. Only the most coordinated 12-player teams will extract successfully. This is the run you brag about.
Horde Siege is never predictable. Modifiers mutate the rules of engagement, Poisons escalate Locust threats, and Invasion Events bring special boss encounters that can turn a smooth run into chaos.
Applied based on difficulty level. Modifiers change how you approach every engagement and force your squad to adapt on the fly.
After defeating boss waves, surviving Locust units grow deadlier. These escalating buffs are squad-specific — one fireteam might face armored enemies while another contends with faster, more aggressive Drones. Coordinate with other squad leaders to know what you are walking into.
Special random boss encounters that can trigger mid-mission. A Corpser might breach through the street, a Brumak could appear on the skyline, or a pack of Berserkers might flood your sector. These events are high-risk, high-reward — defeating the boss drops extra Energy, rare mods, and sometimes exclusive cosmetic rewards.
Horde Siege maps are larger than anything in previous Gears Horde modes — spanning multiple city blocks with interconnected sectors, vertical combat spaces, and destructible environments.
Kalona's historic district is the flagship Horde Siege map available during the Open Beta (August 13–17, 2026). Features iconic landmarks, classic Gears architecture, and a mix of wide plazas and tight interior spaces that test every class.
The full launch on October 6, 2026 ships with three total Horde Siege maps across different city districts. Post-launch seasonal content will add more maps, expanding the battlefields available for 12-player operations.
Every piece of equipment in Horde Siege can be enhanced through mods earned entirely through gameplay. There are no pay-to-win shortcuts — your power comes from the time you put in.
Enhance survivability with mods that increase maximum health, expand ammo reserves, improve weapon swap speed, and reduce explosive damage taken. Essential for Breachers and anyone planning to get up close.
Improve your class ability — shorter cooldowns, larger effect radius, longer duration. A fully modded Medic's Stim Beacon can cover an entire defensive position. A modded Marksman's Pulse Drone marks targets faster and from greater range.
Direct weapon improvements: increased damage, reduced recoil, faster reload speed, larger magazine capacity. These mods are weapon-specific, so you can fine-tune your favorite Lancer or Gnasher to fit your exact playstyle.
Want to learn about every weapon, damage stat, and optimal loadout? Check out our complete weapons database.
Browse Weapons Database →You know the classes, the missions, and the tactics. Now study every weapon, damage profile, and optimal loadout in our complete weapons database before you deploy.