Overview
- Estimated achievement difficulty: 8/10
- Offline: 31/50 (630)
- Online: 19/50 (360)
- Approximate amount of time to 1250: 400+ hours (legit) 150+ hours (boosted)
- Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 2 (Casual/Hardcore & Insane)
- Number of missable achievements: None
- Do cheat codes disable achievements?: No Cheats
- Does difficulty affect achievements?: Yes
- Glitchy achievements: All weapon achievements & "Seriously..." do not unlock exactly after "X" number of kills.
- Unobtainable achievements: None
- Extra equipment needed?: None

Introduction
Gears of War is probably best known for its multiplayer, and also known for its infamous "Seriously.." achievement. That achievement is known for not unlocking at 10,000 kills, as most people have it unlocked at 13,000+. The same problem applies to the weapon achievements such as "The Nuge" and "The Money Shot". For these I believe they should start unlocking around the 130+ range. Single Player-wise

Step 1: Playthrough on Casual
The campaign in Gears of War is very straightforward.  For this playthrough I recommend doing it in co-op, and on Casual. During this campaign I’d also go for all the Cog tags rather then doing them on Insane. Just use the Cog Tag Locations Guide to help you as it will come in handy. You will also want to focus on getting good for at reloading, not only for the achievements, but for making the game easier. 

Step 2: Playthrough on Insane
First of all, for this playthrough make sure you and your partner switch places as Dom to make sure you both get the Co-op achievements.  Now simply play through the campaign one more time on this harder difficulty setting.  As you unlock the achievements for insane, the ones for hardcore should unlock as well. 

Step 3: Multiplayer
This method will quickly become your best friend if you can get enough people to do this with. First of all, you are going to need 6 people (including yourself, 5). Next, tell them you are going to host a game (this will net you "A Series of Tubes" much quicker if you host) on any map you are missing for “Around the World” (excludes DLC maps) and set it to 18 rounds, and 1 minute round duration. What you should do next is go to a designated meeting spot in the map, preferably the middle. The next part is probably the most confusing concept to understand at first, but you will pick it up after a while. Now that everybody (COG and Locust) are facing each other, have a COG member go out and kill 2 Locust members, and let the third one live. The Locust that is alive will go and kill the two COGs that did nothing that round, and then the COG member will kill the Locust member. Next two rounds, repeat the same thing. To keep on track, the score should be 3-0 COG, with a COG member with 9 kills and a Locust with 6 kills. Round 4, you will repeat the same step again, but have the Locust with 6 kills get all 3 kills this time. At the end of Round 6, the score should be 3-3, and the COG member should have 15 kills, same with the Locust. Next 3 rounds, repeat again but have COG get the kills again. End of 9 rounds, 6-3 COG, COG guy has 26 kills and Locust guy has 21. Switch up again for the next 3 rounds, and now you have a tie game at 6-6 with two guys with 30 kills. Repeat this process except with a fresh batch of players getting kills this time. It should now be 12-12 once this is complete. Lastly, the most important 2 people are alive. Let them get there first set of 15 kills, and it’s now a 15-15 game. Next up, Have the COG win the next two rounds, (with each COG and Locust still getting there 3, and 2 kills respectively)

For this next round, have the COG only kill 2 Locusts this time, allowing the Locust killer to also get his kills, and tie up the round. Once it is tied, the COG should have 23 kills, and the Locust should have 21. The game should also be 17-15 for the COG. Once the Locust now gets the next 2 rounds, (and another 6 kills) The game should look like this: Game tied at 17-17; Every COG has 30 kills, except for one (27), same with the Locust. Now, the Locust and the COG player will both get two kills, and instead of tying it up, will kill each other. Have one player pick up the frags, or another thing that can kill yourself and the enemy (Torque bow, Boomshot, Hammer of Dawn) and kill each other. There you go. 30 kills, 30 deaths, 30 more kills for whatever weapon achievement you were going for.

[X360A would like to thank INFERNOII for this roadmap]

 

Gears of War Achievement Guide

Printable Guide
Show completed achievements
Show secret achievements

There are 50 achievements with a total of 1000 points

  • Complete tutorial level on any skill level

    (1)   

    Fire the game up and start a single player or co-op campaign on any difficulty. The game will walk you through this level. You'll escape from the prison and go into the helicopter to unlock this achievement.

     

  • Complete Act 1 on Casual Difficulty

       

    See "Mercenary"

  • Complete Act 2 on Casual Difficulty

       

    See "Mercenary"

  • Complete Act 3 on Casual Difficulty

       

    See "Mercenary"

  • Complete Act 4 on Casual Difficulty

       

    See "Mercenary"

  • Complete Act 5 on Casual Difficulty

       

    See "Mercenary"

  • Complete all acts on Casual Difficulty

       

    Casual, as well as Hardcore, is available from the start. You can play this in co-op, single player, or a mixture of both, as long as you have credit for completing each individual chapter. The gameplay of Gears of War is very linear, and Casual is really easy, so you should have no problem.

    See "Commando" for more information.

  • Complete Act 1 on Hardcore Difficulty

       

    See "Soldier"

  • Complete Act 2 on Hardcore Difficulty

       

    See "Soldier"

  • Complete Act 3 on Hardcore Difficulty

       

    See "Soldier"

  • Complete Act 4 on Hardcore Difficulty

    (1)   

    See "Soldier"

  • Complete Act 5 on Hardcore Difficulty

       

    See "Soldier"

  • Complete all acts on Hardcore Difficulty

       

    Hardcore, as well as Casual, is available from the start. You can play this in co-op, single player, or a mixture of both, as long as you have credit for completing each individual chapter on Hardcore. Beating the game on Hardcore will unlock the Insane difficulty. The difficulty achievements stack. (Meaning, for example, getting "Completed Act 1 on Hardcore" will also unlock "Completed Act 1 on Casual" if you do not already have it.)

    See "Commando" for more information.

  • Complete Act 1 on Insane Difficulty

        

    See "Commando"

  • Complete Act 2 on Insane Difficulty

        

    See "Commando"

  • Complete Act 3 on Insane Difficulty

        

    See "Commando"

  • Complete Act 4 on Insane Difficulty

        

    See "Commando"

  • Complete Act 5 on Insane Difficulty

        

    See "Commando"

  • Complete all acts on Insane Difficulty

    (5)    

    Insane is not available until you complete Hardcore. However, you can play Insane if you join a co-op match hosted by someone who has beaten Hardcore. The easiest way to get all the achievements besides the multiplayer ones is to join an Insane co-op game from the start. It'll take you maybe 6 hours to complete the game, and you'll get every non-multiplayer achievement except "Clusterluck", "Prison Breakout", and the three cog tag ones. (See "For the Fallen").

    You can play this in co-op, single player, or a mixture of both, as long as you have credit for completing each individual chapter on Insane.

    For tips on defeating General RAAM, see "A Dish Best Served Cold"

    For a complete walkthrough, check this guide.

  • Recover one-third of the COG tags (on any difficulty)

    (1)   

    See "For the Fallen"

  • Recover two-thirds of the COG tags (on any difficulty)

    (1)   

    See "For the Fallen"

  • Recover all of the COG tags (on any difficulty)

    (3)   

    COG tags are the future's equivalent of dogtags. They are hidden throughout the game and can be picked up in various chapters of every act. You will notice them by their illuminated blue glow. If you have picked up a COG tag in a certain area, and are playing through the game again, you will not be able to pick that COG tag up again. The number of COGs you have picked up can be seen in the pause menu.

    Notes:

    • For a list of all COG tags, click here.
    • If you are playing in Co-op, you will be able to see a COG tag you have already picked up provided your partner has not done so. However, you will not be able to pick it up.
    • The cog tags can be picked up in Co-op. However, only one player can pick up any given tag.

     

  • Defeat a Berserker on Hardcore Difficulty

      

    You will find the Berserker in 'China Town', the final chapter of Act 1. Lead her through the house by standing in the doorway you want her to go through, shooting her, then jumping out of the way right before she hits you. Repeat until you lead her outside, then use the Hammer of Dawn on her. Hit her with it twice to obtain the achievement.

     
    There is also another berserker near the beginning of Chapter 2 of Act 5. Just lead her off the end of the train in the same fashion as described above.

    Notes:
    • This achievement can be done on Co-Op. If done in Co-op, it will not matter who actually kills her. The achievement will unlock for both players, assuming neither one already has it.
    • The Berserker must be killed on Hardcore difficulty to count. Not Casual or Insane.
    • Berserkers are blind. They will not respond to your sight, but rather the noises you make or contact you make with her.
    • You can grenade the doors down, but the grenades must be very close

     

  • Defeat a Corpser on Hardcore Difficulty

      

    You will find the Corpser in 'Angry Titan', the final chapter of Act 3. To defeat it, stand near it. It will raise a leg to attempt to hit you. Once it does that, shoot it in the stomach. It will rear back, exposing its entire body. Hit it in the neck, and it will retreat. Do this three times in a row to make it go onto a platform. Then, pull out your Gnasher (shotgun) and hit the two clasps on either side. If you don't have a shotgun, you will need to use another gun or grenades, but the Gnasher is ideal.

     
    Notes:
    • After about 45 seconds, Wretches will start to appear, but you should be done or very close by then. If the Wretches start to give you problems, it'll be quicker to restart the whole thing.
    • This achievement can be done on Co-Op. If done in Co-op, it will not matter who actually kills it. The achievement will unlock for both players, assuming neither one already has it.
    • The Corpser must be killed on Hardcore difficulty to count. Not Casual or Insane.

     

  • Defeat General RAAM on Hardcore Difficulty

    (2)  

    General RAAM will attack you in 'Pale Horse', the last chapter of the game. It is recommended you do this with a partner, as it's very tough otherwise.

    I personally hid behind the first wall and unloaded my Longshot into his head until he got too close. When he did, I jumped over the wall and high-tailed it to the other side of the train for cover. Then I started unleashing some more headshots until he went down.

     
    This video was not done on Insane, although it says it was.
     
    For Co-op, your best method is:
     
    Notes:
    • This achievement can be done on Co-Op. If done in Co-op, it will not matter who actually kills RAAM. The achievement will unlock for both players, assuming neither one already has it.
    • RAAM is surrounded by Kryll that will harm you if you don't stay in the light.
    • General RAAM must be killed on Hardcore difficulty to count. Not Casual or Insane.
    • Directly before you battle RAAM, you are in a subway car filled with weapons. These respawn after a few minutes, so wait it out and make sure you have full ammo for everything you want to use.
    • Check out our discussion thread on defeating RAAM here.

     

  • Perform 25 perfect active reloads (on any difficulty)

    (1)  

    Mastering the perfect active reload is not a difficult task. You must press reload once to start the meter, and press it again once the needle hits the white area. Do this 25 times total in single-player, co-op, ranked multiplayer, or player multiplayer. Of course, this will be impossible if you have a full clip of ammo.

  • Perform 5 perfect active reloads in a row (on any difficulty)

      

    As said in "Zen and the Art of Reloading", mastering this isn't all too difficult, but doing it perfectly 5 times in a row can be tricky. Stand still in a clear area and shoot one bullet off, then try to do an Active Reload. Once you hit it 5 times in a row, you'll get this achievement.

  • Kill 3 enemies at once 10 different times (on any difficulty)

    (2)  

    Killing 3 enemies at one time will require a grenade, Boom Shot, Hammer of Dawn, or possibly a well-aimed sniper shot. The easiest way to do this is to do the following:

    Start the game's campaign on Casual. In the prison, when you reach the door that the locust start to cut down to get through, hide behind the barrier closest to the door. Right before they break through throw a grenade. Time it and position it so it kills all 3 of them. If it doesn't, let the ones who lived kill you. If it does, run outside and let those Locust kill you. If you try to reload the last checkpoint through the Pause Menu instead of getting killed, it won't count. Repeat this 9 times to get this achievement.

     
    Please note that you cannot reload the checkpoint as the video shows. If you do, the kills will not count. Instead, run outside and let the other locust kill you.
  • Kill 10,000 people in versus player match total

    This is possibly the most time-consuming achievement in any popular game to date. Averaging a kill a round, this will take you around 400 hours of gameplay to complete, not counting time spent waiting for matches to get started. What's more is, players have reported getting upwards of 13,000 kills and not having it unlock. It is possible that 'stealing' a kill (killing a downed player that you did not down) will not count towards this, or that the match must be at least 3v3 at the time of the kill, but no one knows for sure. What is known is that a lot of time and patience, and a little skill, is needed for the achievement.

    For help on weapons kills, maps, and general gameplay, check out our multiplayer guide here

  • Complete 1 co-op chapter as Dominic Santiago on any difficulty

    (2)  

    See "I Can't Quit You Dom"

  • Complete 10 different co-op chapters as Dominic Santiago on any difficulty

      

    See "I Can't Quit You Dom"

  • Complete all acts in co-op as Dominic Santiago on any difficulty

    (6)  

    In order to play as Dom in co-op you must join someone's game. If you host it you will play as Marcus. There is no way to see which ones you have done as Dom, so your best course of action would be to start from Chapter 1, Act 1 and play all the way through on Casual. It won't take more than 3-4 hours.

  • Revive a teammate in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    If a teammate goes down you will know by an indicator on the screen with a red arrow pointing in their general direction. If you can get there in time, stand next to the player and press X to revive them. Do this 100 times in ranked matches over your career.

  • Kill an enemy with the Boomshot in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    Just as the description says, kill 100 enemies total in your career in ranked matches with the Boomshot to get the achievement. The Boomshot is available on: Clocktower, Gridlock, Mansion, Mausoleum, Old Bones, Process, Subway, Bullet Marsh, and Garden.

    For more information, see "Seriously ... "

  • Kill an enemy with a pistol in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    Just as the description says, kill 100 enemies total in ranked matches with either the Snub Pistol or the Magnum to get the achievement. The Snub is a starting weapon, you will spawn with.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Kill an enemy with the Torque Bow in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    Just as the description says, kill 100 enemies total in ranked matches with the Torque Bow to get the achievement. The Torque Bow is available on: Canals, Rooftops, Mausoleum, Tyro Station, War Machine, Process, Bullet Marsh, and Subway.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Kill an enemy with the Longshot in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    Just as the description says, kill 100 enemies total in ranked matches with the Longshot to get the achievement. The Longshot is available on: Canals, Clocktower, Escalation, Gridlock, Fuel Depot, Mansion, War Machine, Mausoleum, Rooftops, Old Bones, Process, Bullet Marsh, Garden, and Subway.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Kill an enemy with the Hammer of Dawn in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    Just as the description says, kill 100 enemies total in ranked matches with the Hammer of Dawn to get the achievement. The Hammer is available on: Fuel Depot, Rooftops, Tyro Station, and Garden.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Kill an enemy with the Chainsaw in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    You start every match with a Lancer, which has a chainsaw bayonet. Hitting the melee button will rev the chainsaw. If you can get up to an enemy with a fully-revved chainsaw, you will saw him in half. Do no chainsaw downed enemies or they will count as an execution kill. Kill 100 enemies total in ranked matches with this method to get the achievement.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Kill an enemy with a curb stomp in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    To curb stomp an enemy, shoot them until they're downed but still alive, then walk up to them and press X. Kill 100 enemies total in ranked matches with this method to get the achievement.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Kill an enemy with an execution in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    To perform an execution, you must first down an enemy. Once that has been done, you either melee, shoot, or chainsaw the enemy. You DO NOT have to shoot them in the head. Chainsaw kills on downed enemies do not go towards your chainsaw achievement. You must perform this 100 times over ranked matches for the achievement.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Kill an enemy with a grenade tag in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    Grenade tags happen when you melee an enemy with grenades equipped. You spawn with a smoke grenade, but you need a frag grenade for this. Frags can be picked up on any map. Kill 100 enemies total in ranked matches with this technique to get the achievement.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Kill an enemy with a headshot in 100 multiplayer (Player or Ranked) matches of 3+ rounds

    Headshots are when the head of the enemy blows up and the rest of the body remains attack. You can do this with any weapon that isn't automatic or explosive, that is, the Snub Pistol, Magnum, Longshot, or Gnasher (shotgun). Blow the head off a foe that isn't already downed 100 times total in ranked matches for this achievement.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Finish playing a versus ranked match

    Join or host a ranked match and finish it. You must play to a decisive victory, if the entire opposing team quits, it won't count.

  • Finish with the highest points in a ranked match

    The easiest way to get this would be to get into a 1-round match and get the most kills. You should do it in 3-4 tries, less if you're a good player. Points are awarded for kills in all gametypes and caps in Annex.

  • Win a ranked match in every versus game type

    You must be on the winning team in each of the three original gametypes: Execution, Warzone, and Assassination. Annex does not count.

  • Win a ranked match on every versus map

    To get this achievement, you must be on the winning team in each of the original maps: Canals, Clocktower, Escalation, Fuel Depot, Gridlock, Tyro Station, War Machine, Mansion, Mausoleum, and Rooftops.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Win 10 ranked matches without losing a round

    This description is worded in a slightly confusing manner. What it means is that you must shut out the opposing team in 10 matches total (Example: Win a 5-round game 5-0). As draws are not scored, they do not matter. As long as you do not lose a round, it'll count. These do not have to be done in a row. The easiest way to get this is simply win 10 1-round games.

    For more information, see "Seriously ..."

  • Kill 10,000 people in versus ranked match total

    This is possibly the most time-consuming achievement in any popular game to date. Averaging a kill a round, this will take you around 400 hours of gameplay to complete, not counting time spent waiting for matches to get started. What's more is, players have reported getting upwards of 13,000 kills and not having it unlock. It is possible that 'stealing' a kill (killing a downed player that you did not down) will not count towards this, or that the match must be at least 3v3 at the time of the kill, but no one knows for sure. What is known is that a lot of time and patience, and a little skill, is needed for the achievement.

    For help on weapons kills, maps, and general gameplay, check out our multiplayer guide here

 

Secret achievements

  • Defeat a Brumak on Hardcore Difficulty

    (2)  

    In the PC version of the game you will be able to fight the Brumak as a boss. The Brumak is the giant creature with a large gun mounted on his(her?) back

    If you're still with me, just shoot the arm guns until they blow up, then shoot the Brumak's feet so he falls down, exposing the driver. Shoot the driver for a bit and the Brumak will get back up. Rinse and repeat until the driver is dead. Then you get a cutscene and the achievement.

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