The Coalition has gone all-out in Gears of War: E-Day when it comes to hiding various objects across the shooter’s five acts. With 130 collectibles to gather — the most of any Gears instalment to date — there’s a lot to keep an eye out for.
As you close in on each of the Gears of War: E-Day collectibles, the ever-familiar Crimson Omen chime will ring out. However, that’s not to say your work’s done. Some of the objects are sneakily stashed away, which could leave you hunting for a hot minute. As lovers of all things shiny (and in this case, bloody), we’ve already done all the legwork so you can spend less time snooping, and more time shooting. We’ll keep the spoilers to the absolute minimum, but do be mindful that certain items are tied to key story beats. This guide is a work-in-progress, but we’ll have the final two acts up in a flash.
Prologue
There aren’t any collectibles in the Prologue.
Act 1
There are 13 collectibles to find in Act 1.
Chapter 1 — Emergence
Monster Jaw
As soon as you’ve finished battering the first batch of Wretches E-Day throws at you, a cutscene will play. Once it finishes, you’ll immediately find the Monster Jaw between an open Emergence Hole and a newsstand.
Bloody Transit Worker’s Helmet
While heading through the lower level of the maintenance tunnels, you’ll come across an adjoining area on the left hand side. Here, you’ll find a torch, a corpse, and most importantly, the Bloody Transit Worker’s Helmet.
Front Page of the Kalona Times
The Front Page of the Kalona Times can be found in the kitchen inside the ‘Cafe & Bakery.’ You’ll reach the bloodied up eatery immediately after Marcus displays his burly might through lifting a concrete pillar off a pinned down civvie, and you make swift work of some more Wretches.
Chapter 2 — Survival of the Fittest
KPD Police Bulletin
Pretty much as soon as Chapter 2 starts, you’ll find yourself in the police station’s main office area. Stick to the left-hand side and make your way towards the back of the room. You can grab the KPD Police Bulletin off of one of the desks.
Bloodied Police Chief’s Badge
Once you’ve made it to the Tactical Operations area, open up the double doors leading into the conference room. You’ll be greeted by the impaled corpse of the police chief, whose badge rests on the shelftop below him. Sorry, chief, but we’ll be taking that.
Army Recruitment Pamphlet
E-Day is the perfect time to be a COG recruiter, and the Army Recruitment Pamphlet can be yours as soon as you’ve battled your way to the Recruiting Center. Head to the back of the main foyer, and you’ll see it behind the reception desk.
Try On Pilot Helmet
If one collectible in the Recruiting Center wasn’t enough to satiate your magpie needs, how about a second? Directly to the right of where you picked up the pamphlet, a row of helmets sit proudly on display. We’re sure the COG won’t mind if a Try On Pilot Helmet goes missing from its collection.
Chapter 3 — A Gear in Need
Tomatoes, Canned
Getting into the fortified Pay-N-Save requires some slightly scenic routing — how about the stock area? As you make your way through it, stick to your left and you’ll come across some canned tomatoes. That’s not blood on the floor next to that body, it’s tomato juice… Hopefully.
Broken Lancer Bayonet
During the cutscene in the Pay-N-Save, Marcus gets into a slight spot of bother. As it turns out, bayonets are pretty useless when it comes to dispatching drones. After the scrap, you can retrieve the Broken Lancer Bayonet from his assailant as a souvenir.
Chapter 4 — Back in the Fold
Frontpage of the Tyran Chronicle
As soon as the chapter starts, you’ll begin escorting Mayor Shaw. As you make your way down the street, dip to the right of the ‘Bar & Lounge.’ You’ll find the Frontpage of the Tyran Chronicle on the steps next to the sad-looking mattress.
Anti-UIR Propaganda Poster
Once you’ve cleared out the back alleys, you’ll find yourself outside of Landa Medical. Dom will crack open the chainlink gates, but before you zoom across the street, head to the bottom of the stairs and hook a right, following the sidewalk until you come across the Anti-UIR Propaganda Poster.
Landa Medical Supplies Memo
Now inside Landa Medical, Shin’s services will be called upon. Head into the reception area, where you’ll find the Landa Medical Supplies Memo on the main desk.
COG Tags of Private Brick Rosso
After fragging out some E-Holes, you’ll be able to get out of the Landa Medical parking lot. Around the other side of the police car across the street, you’ll find the chopped-up body of Private Brick Rosso, as well as the poor fella’s COG Tags.
Act 2
There are 38 collectibles to find in Act 2.
Chapter 1 — Bravo Squad
COG Helmet With Bullet Hole
Right at the start of the chapter, head behind the burnt-out bus at the end of the street. You’ll come across a headless COG soldier, as well as their helmet. We’re no Sherlock Holmes, but the rather large bullet hole in it may indicate how they met their end.
Sniper Goggles
The Sniper Goggles can be found at the far end of the first control room you enter. Their distinct orange glow is hard to miss. *Patrick Star voice*: They’re just sitting there, menacingly.
Bridge Worker’s Lunch Kit
With Charlie Squad safely seen across the bridge to the second control room, it’s now time to rendezvous with the gang. Upon descending the ladder, taking you below the bridge, hook a left and follow the section around to gobble up the Bridge Worker’s Lunch Kit. Who lets good food go to waste in this economy? Shocking.
Thrashball Rush Magazine
While the Cole Train may not have left the station just yet, we can see the defensive lineman in his prime on the cover of the Thrashball Rush Magazine. Similarly to the Sniper Goggles, the collectible can be yours by heading to the end of the second control room.
Medic’s First Aid Kit
The end of Chapter 1 reintroduces an OG enemy in explosive fashion. Once the first couple of them have been dispatched, you’ll find your path across the bridge blocked off by a wall of fire. Follow the quest objective down the winding staircase, then sharply shift to the left. Let Bravo squad cover you while you collect the Medic’s First Aid Kit, found on the floor between a station wagon and a burning COG truck.
Chapter 2 — Hold the Line
Hold the Line is a multi-part mission with a whopping 27 collectibles to snap up. Three collectibles can be yours in part one, all of which are in the vicinity of the subquests you’ll run into. 18 are available in part two, while the final six are in part three.
The transition between each part is a point of no return, so make sure you get everything before moving on. While some collectibles can be gathered from this open section earlier than they feature on the list, the narrative does have you double-back, so everything can be retrieved based on the in-game order below.
Cinema Filmatica Magazine
Once you’ve picked up the map, Captain Grey will let you out into the open area. As soon as you’re free to roam, head across to the used car dealership. Not only will you be able to take on The Vanguard side mission for a couple of Gears of War E-Day weapon mods, but if you head into the back room, you’ll also find the Cinema Filmatica Magazine.
A Letter Home
As you head by the Last Dollar store, you’ll hear a family cry out for help, kicking off the Trapped Family sidequest. First, you’ll need to kill off some Wretches, before heading into the store’s garage. As you head into the hallway, look to your right. A Letter Home will be on the wall of a small room.
Thrashies Cereal Box
Only two acts in and we’re already onto our next bit of Cole Train paraphernalia, WOO. As you reach the Timgad Prime store, you’ll spot some squaddies in need. Give them a helping hand (or chainsaw), then head into the store itself. The Thrashies Cereal Box is sitting pretty on the counter.
Kalona Postcard
You may have triggered a collectible marker while making your way through the trainyard. Don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything by forging ahead. Once you’ve geared up and headed out from Octus Way Station, throw a hard right along the path, through the gates, and into the back alley area. The Kalona Postcard is on the floor behind the stone benches.
Vandalized Salvaging Poster
Fending off a global invasion is hungry work, so why not head into the Major Burger for some delicious processed calories? While you’re at it, head into the restroom and procure the Vandalized Salvaging Poster.
COG Tags of Private Liz Waxman
To the east of the station, you’ll come across an apartment complex with a lone Drone standing sentry. As you make your way up, smash the window pane and hop out onto the scaffolding where you’ll find poor ol’ Private Liz Waxman and her COG tags.
Emgazi Blitz Display Case
Getting your steps in while scaling the apartment building deserves a reward, and what can be better than Locust guts and a shiny collectible? Kill the Drone, head into the bedroom, and pick up the Emgazi Blitz Display Case on the desk.
Birthday Card With Toy Lancer
E-Day loves to pull on your heartstrings, epitomized by this next collectible. On the bank below the Bank of Tyrus, you’ll finally locate the truck which is blaring out an alarm. Here, on the pavement by the water, you’ll find little Timmy’s 10th birthday card, replete with a toy Lancer his old man had planned to give him shortly before his demise.
COG Tags of Master Sergeant Mark Avamor
To find what’s left of Master Sergeant Mark Avamor and his COG tags, head down the marked backstreet, and into the loading bay with a Timgad Prime van parked out front.
Major Burger Box
The people of Kalona are certainly lovin’ it, and by ‘it’ we mean Major Burger. In the second joint you’ll happen across, you’ll not only find a handy Supply Cache, but a Major Burger Box on the sink out back.
COG Tags of Specialist Brenden O’Connell
Exit out of the Major Burger from the right side, then hug the pavement right down into a nearby alleyway. You’ll happen upon a rather delicious bit of ordnance in the Vulcan, as well as poor ol’ Specialist Brenden O’Connell. Pick up his tags and move on.
COG Tags of Specialist Arnold Imhatip
Heading down the street towards the massive east bridge, enter the underpass. The remains of Specialist Arnold Imhatip and his COG tags are located by the crumpled up vehicles which are lit by glowing red lights.
Caricature of Colonel Elias Trench
Nothing beats a good caricature, and it’s especially enriching to see one of Colonel Trench considering he’s a bit of a… yeah. Anyway, head up the stairs from the street near where you found Specialist Imhatip, and continue south until you reach the wooden post outside the Timgad Prime. The beautiful piece of art is on the side closest to the store.
RE: Vibration Complaints
In the Warehouse District, there’s a Live Music store across the street from the large Amberstone Storage Company sign. It turns out that the man has a problem with the noise — the written complaint of which can be found on a door just inside.
Timgad Refinery Recruitment Poster
After making a bit of a ruckus in the Amberstone Storage building for a campaign beat, head out and make for the hotel situated across the street to your right. The Timgad Refinery Recruitment Poster is on the wall to the right of the elevator.
Photograph and Harmonica from Mags’ Apartment
To get the Photograph and Harmonica from Mags’ Apartment, simply progress the story until you visit her digs. This collectible is automatically obtained.
Kalona Metro Fare Notice
In the main square by the bank you’ll spot the two entrances to Hance Station. Run on down and grab the Kalona Metro Fare Notice.
War Savings Bond
The War Savings Bond is found within the vault of the Bank of Tyrus. It should be noted that you won’t be able to actually get into the bank until the story bids it. So, don’t sweat it if the collectible pings up on your map beforehand and you don’t know how to get in — your time will come.
COG Tags of Specialist Jada Clemmons
Opposite the Bank of Tyrus, you’ll come across a Grind Coffee shop. Behind the counter you’ll find the corpse of Specialist Jada Clemmons and her COG tags.
Tales from the Tyran Night Story Book
As you make your way through the west of the district, you’ll come across an apartment building with ‘HELP’ signs hanging from the windows. Make your way down the complex’s alleyway, and parkour your way up it (don’t forget to kick down the zipwires for easy access). This will reveal the Apartment SOS sidequest. Before you start the quest, grab the Tales from the Tyran Night Story Book off of the small shelving unit outside the bathroom.
Foreman’s Datapad
Eventually, you’ll be tasked to secure the construction site, which is the perfect time to procure the Foreman’s Datapad. Head to the north-west side of the quest building’s first floor (or ground floor if you’re across the pond). You’ll come across the illuminated remnants of the foreman and his loot.
Pendulum Wars Victory Flag
Upon successfully exfilling the VIP, we now head into the final part of Act 2 Chapter 2 (phew). As you make your way down the street, a flurry of civvies will come sprinting down a long set of stone stairs. Fight your way up to where you see Shelter 04 and hook a right. The Pendulum Wars Victory Flag is sitting pretty on a newsstand opposite a broken-down ambulance.
Child’s Monster Drawings
From the flag, head across the street and follow it until you reach the Last Dollar store. Dip inside and grab the Child’s Monster Drawings from the small office room in the back. Horrifying stuff.
COG Tags of Sergeant Elijah Adams
Following the east side of this segment’s area, you’ll eventually hear the battlecries of a lone soldier from an apartment block. Head up and help him out to complete the Lone Wolf sub-mission. Unfortunately, our howling hombre ends up with his packmates in COG heaven. All that’s left to do here is grab the tags from his body, and think of him when the moon is full.
Muster Point Instructions
During your hunt for Whiskey Squad, you’ll enter a courtyard with a fountain of blood in the middle — delightful. After clearing out the Locust in the area, head to the back right corner from where you came in. The Muster Point Instructions are tucked away on the wall.
Holiday Photos
At the very end of the street you were searching for Whiskey Squad on, you’ll come across yet another Major Burger. The COG outside clearly has an appetite (for destruction), judging from the Vulcan that they’re grinding up grubs with. This prompts the Black Raven Down subquest, which you should do for some delectable weapon mods. If you continue down past the Major Burger on the right-hand side, you’ll see a newsstand at the bottom of a ramp. The Holiday Photos can be snapped up from between the benches next to it.
Portrait of Chairman Tomas Dalyell
Finally, we’ve reached the end of Chapter 2’s collectibles. It’s been a long old slog, but we did it together. Once you get inside Kolona Hotel for the chapter’s last story beat, immediately head up the stairs to your right, and yoink the Portrait of Chairman Tomas Dalyell next to the elevators. Yes, there will be lots of gunfire flying about, but Bravo Squad will understand that looting cool stuff takes precedent.
Chapter 3 — No Gear Left Behind
COG Tags of Private Sal Harkniss
Shortly after Chapter 3 kicks off, you’ll trigger a major cutscene. As soon as it ends, head down and grab Harkniss’ tags off his body.
COG Tags of Private Siv Strickland
Strickland’s tags are pretty much directly next to Harkniss’, on the ground next to her impaled corpse. Ouch.
Bloodied Spike
As you make your way up the hill, you’ll come under enemy mortar fire. Don’t worry about rushing forward just yet. Instead, when you reach the apex, make a sharp right and follow the pavement along. The Bloodied Spike is sticking out of a body just past the ‘Beer & Wine’ store sign.
Ink-Covered Wrench
After deploying the five D’s of dodgeball to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge your way through the oncoming Nemacyst, you’ll enter a scaffolded area hallmarked by two golden COG statues. Ignore all of the death going on around you and book it left. You’ll find the Ink-Covered Wrench next to a blackened corpse by a stone bench.
COG Tags of Lieutenant Jane Hawkins
Once you’ve had a leisurely catch-up with Grey in the Courthouse, follow her out front and down the stairs to your right. At the bottom, you’ll spot a COG surrounded by bodybags, including one containing Lieutenant Jane Hawkins. Grab the tags and you’re good to go.
Chapter 4 — Flyboys
There aren’t any collectibles in Act 2 Chapter 4.
Chapter 5 — Overrun
Point Fairlight Hangar Data Pad
Act 2 Chapter 5 only has a single collectible — not that we’re complaining after Chapter 2’s marathon. Once you reach the rally point in the main hangar, dip to the left where you’ll find a Supply Cache, a Hard Case, and most importantly for this guide, the Point Farlight Hangar Data Pad. Bag it, tag it, and we’re onto Act 3.
Act 3
Act 3 has 36 collectibles for you to, well, collect.
Chapter 1 — Stranded
COG Army Knife
En route to Fairlight Base, you’ll encounter an abandoned campsite. Keep following the path, and descend down the rope left by the campers. You’ll quickly encounter one of their corpses. If you follow the path down from their feet, you’ll find the COG Army Knife among the trees. (Use your Tac-Com to make finding its outline easier.)
Fairlight Rifle Range Sign
As soon as you hop the fence over into Fairlight Base, bank right and follow the tanks around the corner. The Fairlight Rifle Range Sign will be posted up on the gate support. We’re looking in the exact direction of the poster in our context screenshot from where you drop down, for reference.
Gut-Puncher Grenade Rounds
As you follow the base around to the left, you’ll proc the next objective, which is to restore the base’s power. You’ll also happen upon a Supply Cache, with the Gut-Puncher Grenade Rounds sitting pretty on a crate next to it.
Prepper’s Scavenging Map
As soon as you hop the short wall and enter the Power Station’s courtyard, look to your right. You’ll see the Prepper’s Scavenging Map between a couple of transformers.
UIR Soldier Shooting Target
From the Prepper’s Scavenging Map, book it to the opposite side of the courtyard. The mangled UIR Soldier Shooting Target is propped up against a tank. That’s all five collectibles out of the way, so enjoy the rest of the chapter.
Chapter 2 — Enemy Lines
Damaged Gnasher Shotgun
The first collectible of Act 3 Chapter 2 is super easy to miss if, like us, you get drawn in by the lure of ominous red lighting. After dipping under the rubble right at the beginning, Mags will make a remark about the recent tremors leading up to E-Day. As you hop over the fallen tunnel support brace, you can either head around to the left, following the objective marker, or dip right where you’ll see a faint white glow. The Damaged Gnasher Shotgun is on top of the blue boxes.
Parchment and Powder Pouch
As soon as you reach the torchlit area that’s filled with ammo, hop up to the left and grab the Parchment and Powder Pouch on top of the supply box.
Parchment with Indecipherable Writing
When you and Mags finally reach the subway station, grouping back up with Dom and Lucas, shift across the tracks to the Kalona Auto Rentals sign. You’ll find a scrap of parchment with Locust runes on it on the boxes beneath it.
COG Tags of Private Beth Avila
While looking for a way out of the subway tunnels, you’ll get jumped by a bunch of Wretches. After defeating them, begin making your way over the burning bridging carriage, before dropping down the back of it. What was Private Beth Avila as well as her COG tags are just down the dark tunnel, around the corner from the three lit flares.
Maintenance Worker’s Bloodied Flashlight
Continue down the tunnel from where you found Private Avila. This will eventually lead up onto platform K. As you emerge from the doorway, head right, delving headfirst into the darkness (you should be heading in the complete opposite direction from the quest marker). You’ll eventually end up at a dead end, as Marcus notes. There, by the smashed up train cart, you’ll find the Maintenance Worker’s Bloodied Flashlight.
COG Tags of Private First Class Erick Davis
While searching for a way topside, you’ll have to get down and dirty in the sewers. No sooner than you enter the area, you’ll be greeted by a Supply Cache, a Hard Case, and, you guessed it, another COG corpse. This time, Private First Class Erick Davis is the unlucky soul, and his tags are there for the taking.
Chapter 3 — Last Foothold
Now back on the surface, the district has gone to rack and ruin. The good news is we can use the map to make your life easier again, so yay to that. As with Act 2 Chapter 2, there’s ample opportunity to grab everything as the chapter progresses.
COG Tags of Sergeant First Class Robin Hamill
Our first of 14 collectibles in Act 3 Chapter 3 can be found right outside of Kalona Theater. ‘They Came From B Low’ is currently airing, which is grossly on the nose. Sergeant First Class Robin Hamill certainly got a lot more than a bucket of popcorn for the showing, and unfortunately her COG tags are all that’s left to remember her by.
COG Tags of Corporal Tracy Moore
Once you’ve made it out of the alley, and crossed over the trams, you’ll find yourself on the other side of the theater. In the first room to the right inside the burning building across the street from it, you’ll find Corporal Tracy Moore and her COG tags.
Colonel Trench’s VIP List
As soon as you enter the camp and rendezvous with Theta Squad, dart all the way to the right where the medical tents are. Colonel Trench’s VIP List is situated on top of a table.
