The basic controls are simple to learn and very intuitive. Gears of War 3 is a third-person shooter that utilizes many of the same controls you’re likely familiar with from other games. Use the Left and Right Trigger buttons and Thumbsticks to control movement, aim, and fire your weapon. The A Button controls the game’s trademark cover and movement system (see the following section), while the X Button serves as your all-purpose interaction button.
default Controls
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| Left Thumbstick | Movement |
| Right Thumbstick | Look; Click to Zoom |
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Roadie Run (hold); Roll (press while pointing with the Left Thumbstick); Enter Cover (press near cover); Pick Up Meatshield (press near a downed enemy) |
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Interact; Use; Curb Stomp |
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Melee; Grenade Tag; Chainsaw (hold while the Lancer is equipped); Retro Charge (hold while the Retro Lancer is equipped) |
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Look at Point of Interest; Special Execution |
| L Trigger | Aim Weapon |
| R Trigger | Fire Weapon |
| Left Bumper | TAC-COM Display |
| Right Bumper | Reload/Active Reload |
| D-Pad | Weapon Select |
Cover & Movement Commands
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| Roadie Run | Hold  |
| Right-Angle Turn | While Roadie Running, tap and hold  while pointing the Left Thumbstick left or right |
| 180-Degree Turn | While Roadie Running, tap and hold  while pointing the Left Thumbstick down |
| Enter Cover | Approach cover and press  |
| Exit Cover | Point the Left Thumbstick away from cover |
| Cover Slip | Press forward with Left Thumbstick while at the edge of cover and press  |
| Cover Swap | While in cover, point the Left Thumbstick toward another nearby piece of cover and press  |
| Mantle | Point the Left Thumbstick toward low cover and press  |
| Mantle Kick | Point the Left Thumbstick toward low cover with an enemy on the other side, and press  to mantle and kick the enemy |
The way the characters move and use the surrounding terrain and architecture for cover is a hallmark of the Gear of War experience. You employ this sophisticated system of maneuvering across the battlefield with the A Button and Left Thumbstick. Gears of War 3 introduces two subtle enhancements to the system: the ability to turn 90 degrees (and even 180 degrees) during a Roadie Run without breaking stride, and the ability to perform a mantle kick against enemies behind cover.
