Team Strategies

Warzone & Execution

With seven weapon drop locations, Jacinto features more than enough firepower to go around. The perfect symmetry of this mostly open-air level makes obtaining these weapons a dangerous undertaking. Both teams arrive at the party at the same time. Have teammates provide suppressing fire while you rush the exposed power weapons along the map’s dividing line.

You can find a Mortar at the map’s far southern end, near the helicopter. Use Smoke Grenades to cover your approach, and take cover behind the metal crates between the weapon and the helicopter. You can also use Smoke Grenades as proximity mines to protect you while you fire the Mortar. Have teammates call out enemy positions on the main level near the Longshot/Torque Bow pickup. Rain terror on them with the Mortar from below. The Mortar is also an important way to provide cover for teammates obtaining the weapon from the highly-exposed pickup there.

The Longshot/Torque Bow drop might be the hardest weapon pickup in any Gears of War game to date. There no nearby cover and it’s positioned atop a small ramp accessible from either side. This map’s long sightlines make either weapon a great asset, but you mustn’t rush it without care. Use Smoke Grenades and suppressing fire from the walls nearest its location to cover a teammate attempting to grab the weapon. Consider downing one or two enemy players before making a dash for the drop. Immediately fall back to fire from the friendly side of the map.

Grabbing either the Hammer of Dawn or Boomshot requires a lengthy dash through the upper area and down to the map’s northern end. The position provides some cover but puts you in a dead end if the opposition quickly closes in on you. Teammates can provide covering fire from the small, enclosed area opposite the Longshot/Torque Bow location overlooking the pickup.

Submission

This is a complex map on which to play any of the goal-based games. Attempt this only after you learn the map. The Mortar position near the helicopter is often the capture point, but you must remember to take the central approach and not the sides. Typically, you approach that area from one of the sides when you try to get to the Mortar. But that’s not possible with the Stranded in tow. Don’t cost yourself valuable seconds going the wrong way!

Because the Mortar location is visible from the two spawn points, consider sniping or using the Torque Bow from afar to break up an opponent’s capture attempt. This can give your teammates a chance to secure the Stranded without engaging in direct combat. Continue using this elevated perch to provide covering fire for your team.

Exploit the power weapons on this map, even if they’re not located at an active capture position. Don’t underestimate the benefit of downing or killing multiple enemies in one shot with the Hammer of Dawn or Boomshot.

The Stranded often spawns near the capture point to which he’s meant to be brought, more so than on other maps. Keep this in mind and make an early effort each round to claim him first, just in case.

Wingman

Playing Wingman on such a large, complex map requires a delicate approach. The central area near the Longshot/Torque Bow pickup crawls with enemies and is a hard place to survive. Avoid rushing into the main confrontation area at the start of each round. Instead, linger near the perimeter and rush in to cherry-pick kills as other combatants down one other. Once the Longshot/Torque Bow area is clear, have one teammate run in to grab the weapon. The team that spawns nearest the Hammer of Dawn pickup is in an excellent position to rack up the kills by unleashing the powerful blast on unsuspecting combatants across the map.

Guardian

This map offers no foolproof camping areas in which to protect the Team Leader. Nevertheless, some areas are better than others. The clear favorite is the area between the grenade spawn and the Hammer of Dawn/Torque Bow drop. The grenade room offers overhead cover from Mortar fire and a steady supply of proximity grenades to plant on objects leading to your camping area. Drop back to the corner so you can see the Hammer of Dawn/Boomshot drop. Take comfort knowing that the wall between that location and yours is a one-way mantle and can be crossed only from your side. This forces enemies to approach your position from the grenade drop and funnels them through an adequate chokepoint. Cover that area with your Lancer and replenish the proximity mines as necessary. Retreat toward the Hammer of Dawn/Boomshot location if necessary.

To break the preceding defense, consider rushing three of your players up to the grenade area while one teammate waits near the low wall between that area and the Hammer of Dawn/Boomshot drop. The idea is to flush out or kill the enemy leader in one fell swoop. Communication is key, as your Team Leader must be aware of his precarious position and be poised to retreat if necessary.

Annex & King of the Hill

This map’s large number of capture points makes it imperative that your team be familiar with the various ways to get around, specifically the stairs and one-way mantles. You can monitor several of the weapon locations from a concealed location, perhaps allowing you to clear an area of enemies before your team advances to secure the point.

For example, when you try to capture the pistol location, take control of the grenade pickup overlooking it. This is the perfect place to stand and lob grenades at would-be position-breakers. Use the re-spawning grenades as proximity mines to protect against flankers.

Make every effort to get to the Mortar capture point before the enemy. Grab the Mortar and take cover behind the low walls near the helicopter. Continually fire rounds at the shortest distance possible to canvas the capture point and its approach. This suppresses the enemy long enough to capture the point and to extend your defenses.

The Boomshot and Hammer of Dawn allow you to flank the Longshot capture point and get in attacks from visual cover. The Longshot/Torque Bow capture point is one of the most difficult to secure in the entire game. Keep throwing bodies at the enemy, and rely on the Boomshot and Mortar to weaken their grip on the capture point if they get to it first. This is an excellent time to load up on meat shields too, as there is no other cover at this capture point.

Whether you’re defending or attempting to break the Boomshot/Hammer of Dawn position, grab the Longshot or Torque Bow and occupy the room between that pickup spot and the Boomshot capture point. This room provides a perfect view of the Boomshot/Hammer of Dawn spot, albeit without cover. This puts you in an excellent position to move to the next capture point in Annex matches.

Horde

The abundance of high-powered weaponry, one-way mantles, and the map’s massive size make playing Horde on Jacinto one of the most enjoyable and challenging experiences in Gears of War 2. There are a number of exciting strategies to employ on this map, including roving hunting parties. But we recommend sticking together and using the one-way mantle near the Ink Grenades and Hammer of Dawn to your advantage. Stay safely behind the one-way mantle to force the Horde to loop around and come up the stairs…that is, if they can make it.

By climbing the stairs near the spawn point to the room with the Ink Grenades, you can set up near the stairs and the statue to protect any teammates up top. Others can make a quick dash for the power weapons and retreat to this area to prepare for the onslaught. The upper walkway offers excellent sightlines, and the one-way mantle eliminates any risk of getting surrounded. Spreading out a bit down toward the main battle area keeps teammates from getting in each another’s way. It also allows you to distract some Locust long enough for teammates to attack with the Hammer of Dawn or Longshot.

One of this spot’s main benefits is that it forces the Locust to cross the main area’s wide-open expanse. This prevents them from spawning behind you. Look for opportunities to dash out for the Longshot/Torque Bow and Boomshot/Hammer of Dawn. If you get the chance to claim them, quickly retreat to the safety of the stairs. Use the statues and blocks for cover. Focus your firepower on enemies nearest the hallway leading to the stairs—don’t let any slip past. Your entire team should make a point of placing as many proximity mines as possible in the area leading to the stairs.

Know Your Role

The following tactics correspond to the numbered positions marked on the accompanying map. Follow these tips carefully for maximum survivability. These tips assume a five-person team.

This player’s primary role is to use the Ink and Frag Grenades in the upper room to maintain a set of proximity mines on the stairs. One person can have only two active proximity mines at once, so enlist player #2 to plant extras. When you can’t place more proximity mines, stand near the windows and use your standard weaponry to soften up the approaching Horde. Call out enemy locations to the others and rain down grenades on those who get close.

This role is not for the faint of heart! Player #2’s job is to help maintain the network of proximity mines at the base of the stairs. He or she must also finish off any enemy that makes it past the front-line defense. Exploit every piece of ammo and dropped weaponry you can get your hands on, but don’t venture far from your post. Use the statue at the base of the stairs for cover and lend fire support wherever necessary. Player #2 should be skilled with the Gnasher and, once it’s dropped, the Boomshield and Boltok Pistol.

The person filling this role enjoys a relatively stress-free bit of freelancing, provided he or she sticks to the upper walkway area near player #1 and helps eliminate enemies near the Hammer of Dawn pickup. Near the end of a wave, hurdle the one-way mantle to get a fresh Hammer of Dawn or Boomshot. Then sprint back around the front and up the stairs to return to your station. This player doesn’t face direct danger as much as his or her teammates. But he or she can score a lot of kills by using the high-powered weaponry from an elevated position. In case the team gets overrun, it’s player #3’s responsibility to flee the area to be the sole survivor that carries the team to the next round.

Player #4’s role is similar to that of player #2. But this person works further “upstream,” toward the enemy spawns. Use the cover between the statue at the base of the stairs and map’s center area to place proximity mines and to distract Locust advances. This is a tricky job, so this person has to be very skilled and not too stubborn to retreat when necessary. Player #4 should keep an eye on the Hammer of Dawn pickup to cut down foes coming from that direction before they get too close.

Player #5 parallels player #4’s role. However, this person should focus more on the Torque Bow pickup. This is where most of the action comes from, so it’s important to avoid straying too far from the stairs and one-way chokepoint on which the team relies. Stay on the move, advancing and retreating as necessary, and coordinate attacks with players #4 and #2 when you can. Although it can prove too risky, try letting the final Horde unit survive long enough to retrieve the Mortar before you start the next wave.