Horde has been a part of the Gears of War franchise since the release of the first Gears.
Gears 5 Horde is substantially different from its predecessor. The most significant (and controversial) change is that Horde classes are now locked to a specific character.
While Gears of 5 Horde brings a lot to the table, it’s far from perfect. There are over a dozen characters to choose from in Horde, but the power structure between characters is shockingly unbalanced. While some of the newer, purchasable characters offer some exciting abilities, these characters are easily outdone by Del, Jack, Kait, JD, and Fahz.
The power imbalance is so prevalent in Gears 5 Horde that you’re unlikely to find a competent group at greater difficulties if you haven’t leveled one of these characters.
Today, I’m going to teach you about the current best Gears 5 Horde characters.
1. Del, The Engineer
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The engineer class was a part of Gears 4 Horde. However, Gears 5 skill cards are different from those of its predecessor. While Del is not the only engineer in Gears 5, he is the best by a landslide. In fact, greater Horde difficulties practically require a Del.
As Del, your role is to build, repair, and manage fortifications. That includes barriers, weapon lockers, and sentries. It is a hectic role and at higher levels, you’re likely not going to be doing much else.
Del’s Strengths
Faster fabricator and fortification carrying speed.
Can purchase and upgrade fortifications cheaper than any other engineer character with the right skill cards.
Offers a variety of skill cards that can make a particular type of fortification better.
Fast repair speed.
Begins Horde with a repair tool.
Del’s Weaknesses
Lacks any type of bonus to the various weapons in the game.
Weak, limited use Ultimate.
2. Jack, The Secret Weapon
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Jack is the ultimate Gears 5 Horde support class. With Jack, you can build your base anywhere on the map and forgo power taps entirely.
Jack shines when using the optimizer card to salvage power from guns. The amount you receive is based upon your optimizer card’s level. With Jack’s help, Del is well beyond capable of building any fortifications that the group may need.
In addition to forging weapons, Jack is excellent for healing and reviving down allies. Jack’s maneuverability and long healing reach make him an ideal healer for any group.
Jack’s Strengths
Can gain more power than any other character using the forge with an optimizer card equipped.
Can heal through walls.
Greater maneuverability.
Is invisible when not carrying a weapon, using a ray, or bumping into enemies.
Jack’s Weaknesses
Unresolved glitches that occasionally render Jack literally stuck in walls, ceilings, and floors.
Very minor damage output capabilities.
3. Kait, The Scout
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Kait is one of two of the strongest DPS characters in Gears 5 Horde. With the right skill cards, Kait can deal out an excessive amount of bleed damage that can topple bosses quickly.
This OP character is best used with a Gnasher and Overkill combo. Most of her skill cards, including bleed damage, can be applied to either of these weapons.
At greater difficulties, enemies cannot be killed unless they are executed or receive a headshot. However, kills that occur from bleed damage count. That means Kait can kill Horde enemies, even if you shoot them in the foot.
Kait’s Strengths
Massive amounts of bleed damage when using Gnasher and/or Overkill.
Enemies that die within proximity to Kait drop extra power.
Her ultimate provides temporary invisibility, which can be used to revive downed allies behind enemy lines or to line up executions.
Kait’s Weaknesses
Should bleed damage ever be nerfed in Gears 5, Kait may no longer be a viable option.
Does not receive damage bonuses for other weapons outside of Gnasher and Overkill.
4. JD, The Commander
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JD is another heavy hitter that boosts the survivability of any Gears 5 Horde group. JD loads in with a GL Lancer, allowing him to fire grenade rounds in combat. Additionally, his ultimate is one of the most powerful, allowing him to call in artillery strikes.
JD can be equipped with skill cards that increase the number of targets included in these strikes. While JD does not cause as much bleed damage as Kait, he can be equipped with the Razor Hail, inflicting some bleed damage on any hit with an explosive. This includes grenade launcher rounds, grenades, Boomshots, Dropshots, and artillery strikes.
JD’s Strengths
Possesses one of the most powerful Ultimates.
Able to inflict some bleed damage onto enemies.
Can be equipped with cards that allow some of his fallen enemies to drop ammo.
Versatile weaponry.
JD’s Weaknesses
Kait can usually still deal out more damage due to her higher bleed effects.
JD’s ultimate can take some practice to master.
5. Fahz, The Sniper
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While Fahz is not nearly as powerful as Kait or JD, he is still a viable addition to the team. While it is usually better to have an extra JD or Kait for that 5th slot, a Fahz is acceptable.
Fahz is the sniper class of Gears 5 Horde. Fahz can outshine other character choices when a player can consistently get headshots. These headshots are crucial, particularly against Scions, when playing greater difficulties that require headshots or executions.
Without enough enemies consistently going down, it can be easy for players to be overwhelmed by the enemy.
Fahz’s Strengths
Ultimate allows the player to shoot through walls for a short time.
Fahz passively receives ammo drops from fallen enemies that were killed with a headshot.
Fahz’s Weaknesses
Fahz’s skill cards are not as good as the traditional sniper class in Gears 4 Horde.
Players that prefer Embar do not have as many skill card options as those who favor a Longshot.
6. Marcus, The Living Legend
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Marcus is the original hero of the Gears of War franchise, so it only fits that he be dubbed “The Living Legend.” However, as loved as Marcus is as a character, he’s not a fantastic character to play in Horde. Marcus is one of the most commonly seen characters outside of the Gears 5 Horde dream team.
Marcus’s Strengths
Starts Horde with a Lancer.
Ultimate makes it easier to get headshots for a short duration.
Marcus’s Weaknesses
Marcus is just not on the same power level as characters like Kait and JD, nor is he invaluably useful like Del and Jack.
Skill cards are not as versatile as some other characters.
7. Sarah Connor, The Terminator
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Like Marcus, Sarah Connor is another character that is popular among players on lower difficulties. An Iconic Terminator character, Sarah debuted in Gears 5 with the game's release.
The character is considered a DLC. You can only play as Sarah Connor if you are subscribed to Game Pass or you preordered a physical or digital copy of Gears 5.
Yet for all the trouble of having her, Sarah Connor doesn’t really offer Horde teams anything that they couldn’t get through another character. This character doesn’t really have strengths or weaknesses. She’s just okay across the board.
