The battlefields of Gears of War 3 online share certain common attributes that you have to know how to manage, fight around, and exploit.
Hotspots
Hotspots are simply areas where a greater percentage of combat tends to occur. These areas are almost always centered around two common features: chokepoints and power weapons. King of the Hill and Capture the Leader violate these basic rules slightly, as king circles and leaders are natural focal points for conflict.
However, in other modes you can almost always expect to run into combat around key power weapons. On any map that has chokepoint areas where multiple routes intersect, you can expect to see large-scale firefights. Be aware of the hot zone locations on any given map. They are both the most dangerous places to traverse and the best places to find targets if you’ve flanked the other team or acquired a power weapon.
Power Weapons
You need to know both the location and the spawn cycle of every power weapon on a map. Some power weapons are more or less dangerous than others, depending on the map and the mode you are playing. Knowing which weapons you need to control is a crucial part of controlling the battle.
Fortunately, learning the locations and spawn cycles is a snap. You can reference the maps in this guide for all the weapons and their cycles. Or simply pull up the in-game map or Tac/Com to see where the weapons are located. In time, weapon positions will become second nature to you. At that point, you can make more informed decisions about where to focus your efforts.
While you’re still learning the maps’ hotspots and flow, occasionally make an effort to go for the ‘less useful’ power weapon spawns. Don’t dismiss a weapon until you actually spend some time using it on a given map!
Speed Routes
Speed routes are simply the quickest path from one point to any other point on a map. These routes are vitally important. We’ve already stressed the importance of movement—map knowledge goes hand in hand with that skill. By knowing the fastest possible routes from any point (not just the spawns to power weapons), you can make quick decisions about how to reach a teammate, flank an enemy, or make a retreat when you’re outnumbered.
These routes are obviously different from map to map and area to area. But because there are normally only a few major ‘arteries’ through each map, you can usually get a rough feel for the basic fast routes and refine them as you practice. The refinements come in the form of small tweaks, the pieces of cover you slide into based on enemy position and your chosen destination.
Spawn Points
Each map has two ‘normal’ spawn points used for Warzone, Execution, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Leader. Each map also has at least four sets of spawn points used for Wingman and King of the Hill. Spawn points are initially static—that is to say, you spawn at the same place. But as enemy forces move close to your spawn point, it may move, sometimes repeatedly throughout a match.
Spawn Protection
For a few seconds after you spawn, you are immune to damage. This protects you from enemies trying to hide out in your spawn point when the spawn flips. It also keeps enemies from pushing up too close to your spawn on a fresh wave. Take advantage of this momentary invincibility to mow down anyone in range. Or go for an instant melee or shotgun kill while you’re protected.
