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Gears of War: E-Day launched with more than 60 character skins, but The Coalition has not published a complete official name-by-name catalog. Here’s what is confirmed, how the main unlock routes work, and a dated list of additional reported skins and requirements to check against the live game.

What is confirmed about E-Day skins?

The Coalition says Gears of War: E-Day has more than 60 character skins at launch, spanning COG and Locust characters. It also says every major character and skin appearing in Campaign can be unlocked on day one, with new characters and skins planned for each season. That launch count is not a published inventory of every skin name. The Coalition’s multiplayer overview describes the official systems; the detailed roster below comes from a third-party guide last updated October 3, 2026, before the game’s October 6 general release, so treat its names and conditions as a working list rather than official confirmation.

How can you unlock character and weapon cosmetics?

The official overview describes several routes. A base character unlock is not necessarily a separate skin: check the item’s type in the Barracks before assuming a character unlock grants an alternate appearance. Weapon cosmetics are sold or unlocked as complete sets, not as separate purchases for each eligible weapon.

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  • Campaign: Campaign progression and achievements unlock some base characters. The Coalition says every major character and skin that appears in Campaign is available to unlock from launch.
  • Seasonal challenges: The announced plan is 20 challenges per season across Versus and Horde Siege. Rewards can include poses, weapon skin sets, banners, emblems, icons, and base characters. Challenges expire at season end; the Coalition says their rewards are expected to return to the Barracks for Coins or Iron.
  • Event challenges: Limited-time events offer five challenges with themed customization items. Check the in-game event tab for current dates and eligibility.
  • Foundations challenges: These non-expiring tutorial challenges mainly award base characters.
  • Achievements: All achievements award multiplayer Player Titles, and some also award customization. Each of the four Mastery achievements awards a Legendary Character Skin. The Coalition names its Gears-legacy challenge Dead Serious.
  • Store and edition entitlements: Some cosmetics are sold in the store or included in edition-specific packs. Availability and prices can change; check the live store and your account’s entitlements.

Officially named launch and edition rewards

Pre-order rewards

The Coalition’s editions page lists the Legendary Exfil Dom Character Skin and Exfil Weapon Skin Set as pre-order rewards for any edition. The Dom skin applies to Dominic Santiago in Horde Siege and Versus; the weapon set applies to eligible weapons in those modes. This describes the entitlement for people who pre-ordered, not a promise that the offer remains available to new buyers. See the official editions page.

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Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X
  • AN ORIGIN STORY BEGINS — Fight alongside Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in the gripping origin story of Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde erupts from below.
  • A DARKER, GRITTIER THREAT — Face reimagined enemies and a terrifying underground invasion that restores the fear, dread, and intensity at the heart of the Gears of War series.
  • MULTIPLAYER EVOLVED — Battle in Horde Siege for large‑scale PvE action or prove your skill in refined Versus PvP with greater precision and competitive depth.
  • CLASSIC COMBAT, MODERNIZED — Experience signature cover‑based gameplay enhanced with updated movement, traversal, and controls that feel like Gears while playing like something new.
  • CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play online with up to four players across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus, or team up locally with 2‑player split‑screen co‑op on console.

Premium Edition’s Emergence pack

The Premium Emergence pack lists these cosmetics and profile items:

  • Character skins: Death’s Rendezvous Marcus Fenix (Legendary) and Bloodied Hunter Tai Kaliso (Epic).
  • Character poses: Death’s Rendezvous (Legendary) and We must improvise (Legendary).
  • Weapon skin sets: Death’s Rendezvous (Legendary) and Emergence Omen (Rare).
  • Other items: Emergence Omen banner and emblem, plus the Death’s Rendezvous icon.

The same page says Premium Edition includes four further seasonal customization packs and 1,000 Iron. Each seasonal pack contains two character skins, two weapon skin sets, two poses, one banner, one emblem, and one icon. The Xbox Store listing for the Emergence Customization Pack identifies it as requiring the game and being included with Premium Edition; the listing showed $19.99 when the cited information was recorded, but store price and availability are volatile.

Beta rewards: only for players who earned them during the beta

The beta has ended. Its official FAQ said earned rewards would appear in a player’s launch inventory. It listed:

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Rank #2
Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed)
  • Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
  • This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
  • Blast Damage Mags (Epic Character Skin): reach Player Level 20.
  • Crush the Bug Weapon Skin Set (Rare): extract from Horde Siege eight times on Infantry difficulty or higher.
  • Crush the Bug Banner: get 25 headshots.
  • Crush the Bug Emblem: perform 10 revives.
  • Crush the Bug Icon: perform five Prototype Lancer Chainsaw Executions.
  • Open Beta Medal and First in the Fight Player Title: launch the multiplayer beta.

These requirements refer to the beta challenges, not challenges that can be completed now. The FAQ listed beta windows of August 6–10, 2026, for early access and August 13–17, 2026, for the open weekend. Read the official beta FAQ.

Reported character skins and unlocks

The names and conditions in this section are reported by AllThingsHow’s October 3, 2026 guide. They had not been individually confirmed in the official pages cited here, and the guide predates general release. Verify each item and requirement in the live Barracks, achievement descriptions, or store.

Rank #3
Steamforged Games Gears of War The Card Game: Core Game - 2 Players, 30-60 Minutes of Gameplay (English Version)
  • Listen up, soldier. The world is in ruin. The Locust Horde has risen. It’s Human vs Horde, and here’s your mission: Pick a side, build a powerful deck, and win the war. The fate of the world is in your hands!
  • Experience the gritty gunplay of the video game in this official two-player card game. Take command of the COG forces or the Locust horde and seize control of the battlefield, one chapter at a time.
  • Strategise your way through each chapter, bolstering your forces with classic characters like Marcus Fenix, General Raam, August “Cole Train” Cole, Dominic Santiago, and Damon Baird.
  • Every battle counts. Whatever happens in each chapter will change what comes next, so you’d better be ready to dominate. The deck you build and decisions you make will change the way you play each campaign, making this a game you can reload time and time again.
  • Whether you're a hardened vet or a grass-green rookie, get ready to take cover and lay down suppressive fire. Your enemies are trying to take the line, soldier. You’d better shove back hard.

Starting looks and campaign progression

  • Starting/default looks reported: Bravo Squad Marcus, Bravo Squad Dom, Bravo Squad Mags, Bravo Squad Lucas, Bloodied Hunter Tai, Captain Grey, Female Infantry Gear, and Male Infantry Gear.
  • Campaign unlocks reported: Theta Squad Tai (Act 1); Charlie Leader Valen (Act 2); Captain Michaelson (Act 4); Quartermaster Rustin (Act 4); Commander Zee (complete all acts on any difficulty).

There is a notable discrepancy: this guide lists Bloodied Hunter Tai as a starting look, while the official Premium page identifies Bloodied Hunter Tai Kaliso as an Epic skin included in the Emergence pack. Rely on the official listing for the Premium entitlement, and check the game’s entitlement state for whether the same skin is available another way.

Horde Siege

  • Butcher Bird Gill: complete the onboarding mission.
  • Siege Ops Dom: max all four classes.
  • Colonel Trench: extract on Commander difficulty or higher.
  • Theta Squad Manu: use each class’s Tactical Gear ten times.
  • Theta Squad Mako: unlock and equip Weapon, Armor, and Tactical Gear mods.
  • Butcher Bird Daan: get Heavy Weapon kills.
  • Female and Male Sniper Gear: spend Energy at a Supply Cache.

Versus, Re-up, and other reported unlocks

  • Emergence Marcus: earn the first Re-up.
  • Wings of Valor Marcus: reach the highest Re-up level.
  • Emergence Mags: play explosive cornhole with a Bilefrog.
  • Emergence Lucas: complete Boot Camp.
  • Emergence Dom: save a player from a Locust struggle; also reported as a pre-order bonus.
  • Combat Medic Morida: revive players in Versus or Horde Siege.
  • Female and Male Heavy Gear: get kills or downs from cover in Versus.

Character skins reported in the store

The guide reports the following Coin or Iron prices. These are not guaranteed current prices or current stock; check the in-game store.

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Rank #4
Gears of War 3 (Renewed)
  • Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
  • This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
Reported skins Reported price per skin
Ceremonial Marcus, Ceremonial Dom, Ceremonial Lucas, Infantry Armor Mags, Airbase Daan 9,000 Coins or 500 Iron
Repair Bay Gill, Armistice Officer Grey, Bloody Star Trench, Female Ncog D-Flotilla Marine, Male Ncog D-Flotilla Marine 12,000 Coins or 700 Iron
Never Fight Alone Morida Reported as part of a real-money bundle; price not stated in the guide

See the dated AllThingsHow catalog for its full reported list and conditions.

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Reported weapon skins and sets

Weapon skins reported as gameplay unlocks

  • Backbone: get 20 kills each with the Lancer Mk1, Proto Lancer, and Hammerburst.
  • Kalona Eagles: get Perfect Active Reloads.
  • Aurora Borealis: close E-Holes.
  • Acidic: down Versus players.
  • Team Faction Bound: earn the second Re-up.
  • Team Draconic: earn the fourth Re-up.
  • Team Wooden Resin: deal critical damage in Versus or Horde Siege.

Weapon skin sets reported in the store

The October 3 guide lists Kalona Survivor, Kalona Skyline, Ncog D-Flotilla, Tusk, Clear Coat, Inscribed, E-Hole, High Yield, Ravens Inbound, Serano, Supernova, Team Laser, X-Ray Scan, Impaler’s Visage, Scorched Chosen, and Team Machine as store sets. It also reports three real-money sets: Luke Preece, Ride the Lightning, and Never Fight Alone. Prices and live availability can change; the official overview’s relevant distinction is that a set unlock or purchase includes the full set rather than separate purchases for each eligible weapon.

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  • 25 Years after Gears of War 3, spurred by a series of strange disappearances, JD Fenix must embrace his father’s legacy and battle a terrifying new enemy
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  • Redefined Cover Gameplay: New close-cover combat moves and combat-knife executions turn each piece of cover into an offensive opportunity
  • Brutal New Weapons: An incredible arsenal of new weapons includes the Buzzkill and Dropshot, which can shoot around and over cover, raining destruction from all angles

How to check what you can equip

The dated guide suggests opening Versus, then Barracks, and selecting a character or weapon. Use the live game’s current menu labels: look for whether the cosmetic is selectable or still shows a lock or progress indicator, and check the store or challenge description for the active acquisition route. Menu wording may differ from the guide.

What to expect from seasons

The Coalition announced five themed post-launch multiplayer seasons, starting with Season 1: Emergence. Its overview promises new maps, modes, characters, skins, Horde Siege classes, and events. Seasonal rewards and event eligibility are time-sensitive, so use the in-game challenge and event tabs for what is active now.

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