Gears 5 Horde offers a fresh look at the classic mode. With a new blend of features, classes, characters, and skill cards, Gears 5 Horde provides players with a challenging experience that requires players to know their role and work together.
Gears 5 Horde consists of 50 waves of enemies. Between rounds, players may build fortifications, purchase weapons, and gather ammo in preparation for the next wave. Every ten waves feature a random boss.
There are six different bosses in Gears 5. Kill the boss two quickly, and you may obtain a second. Killing the boss too slowly could mean havoc for your base. That’s why it’s important to know your enemy to better prepare yourself for any boss.
Today, we’ll be discussing the six bosses you’ll face in Gears 5 Horde. This guide will teach you what to expect from each boss and how to best take them down.
Snatcher
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First introduced in Gears 4, the Snatcher was first introduced in Gears 4. While lacking an origin story, Snatchers are an interesting boss as they are capable of capturing downed players. Once a player is pulled into the creature, it’s certain death, unless the player’s teammates can inflict enough damage to the Snatcher to violently bargain for the player’s release.
Boss Difficulty: 20/100
Snatcher Moveset
Captures downed players.
Automatically kills captured players if the Snatcher does not sustain enough damage within the set period of time.
Leaps across large distances to attack targeted players, particularly downed players.
Shoots a pointed quill from its tail that will down any struck player.
Slam attack that causes large frontal damage to players and fortifications in range.
Snatcher Weaknesses
Snatchers are momentarily stunned after a captured player is released.
Snatchers take an increased amount of damage when their underbellies are shot.
Snatchers can become stuck in entryways and on wire fortifications.
How to Defeat the Snatcher
Flock
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Flocks are new to the Gears of War franchise. This group of Swam Leeches is capable of quick and erratic movements, striking players and fortifications that are unfortunate enough to lay within its path. As an air-born boss, Flocks do not succumb to ground-based fortifications, such as wires.
Boss Difficulty: 25/100
Flock Moveset
Flocks begin to glow when “powering up” for a charge in front of them.
Ability to bypass ground defense systems.
May drop Swarm Leeches onto players when attacking.
Flock Weaknesses
Large, easy target.
May over in the same spot after attacking, making it an easy boss to hit.
Less defense compared to some of the more difficult Gears 5 Horde bosses.
How to Defeat the Flock
Kestrel
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Kestrels are fully-automated drone helicopters that were first intruded in Gears of War 4. While not new to Horde, these bosses can cause quite a bit of damage to players who are not paying attention. Kestrels are armed with both a missile launcher and frontal machine guns capable of dealing quick, devastating amounts of damage.
Boss Difficulty: 35/100
Kestrel Moveset
The Kestrel is capable of firing two frontal machine guns through a linear path.
Missile launcher damage can inflict blast damage to players in cover.
Kestrel Weaknesses
Kestrels will only target one player at a time.
Kestrels announce targeted players before firing machine guns via a targeting beam, giving players plenty of time to find cover.
Players can inflict greater amounts of damage when shooting the engines on either side of the Kestrel.
How to Defeat the Kestrel
Swarmak
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Swarmak’s are large and disfigured creatures that were initially introduced in Gears 4. Formerly Brumaks, Swarmaks were corrupted by the Imulsion that was center to plot in previous Gears games. These massive creatures make terrifying bosses — not so much to players, but their fortifications and defenses.
Boss Difficulty: 50/100
Swarmak Moveset
Swamaks fire two chain guns that are attached to their wrists.
Explosive damage via the rocket launcher mounted on the Swarmak’s back, which can quickly take out base defenses.
Swarmak Weaknesses
Swarmak’s are covered in large, red bulbs that can be destroyed for significant damage.
Due to their large and bulky size, Swarmak’s commonly get stuck in small or narrow openings.
How to Defeat the Swarmak
Carrier
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Slow, but heavily armored — Carriers have been around since Gears 4. These brutes were the MVP of Gears 4 Horde, so it’s only natural that they should be the second most challenging boss in Gears 5 Horde. Carriers are a type of Swarm that fire small Cankers from their chest. Cankers are launched at players and explode on contact.
Boss Difficulty: 70/100
Carrier Moveset
Capable of shooting a burst of Cankers in a straight line.
Launches multiple Cankers in air, which home in on targets and explode on contact.
Frontal smash that inflicts a substantial amount of damage to players and fortifications.
Can grab and rip apart (instant kill) players who are unfortunate enough to come in range.
Carrier Weaknesses
Carrier’s only ‘weak spot’ is its unarmored chest, which is only visible when launching Cankers.
Bleed damage, such as bleed effects caused by Kait or JD, is extremely effective.
How to Defeat the Carrier
Matriarch
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If you’ve been a long-time Gears of War player, you likely remember Berserkers from the earlier games. Meet the Matriarch — aka the Berserker 2.0. These heavily armored, rampaging brutes are the absolute worst boss to face off against in Gears 5 Horde. Matriarchs take almost no damage when their weak spot is not struck and are immune to bleed effects that do not damage their weak spot.
Matriarch this round? Start picking up your fortifications to prevent their destruction.
Boss Difficulty: 100/100
Matriarch Moveset
Matriarchs throw themselves at players in a rampaging charge– destroying any fortification in their path.
Matriarchs can leap great distances.
Matriarchs frequently throw spikes at players. When impaled, players must quickly tap B to dislodge the spike. Players are immobilized while removing the spike and, if not fast enough, spikes detonate and automatically kill the player.
Matriarchs will scream before flinging multiple spikes in every direction.
Matriarchs will grab and rip apart (instant kill) any player that reaches its threat range.
Matriarch Weaknesses
Matriarchs are blind. Remain silent to slip past the Matriarch when undetected and cornered.
Matriarchs have a bright red weak spot on their backs.
Bleed damage is effective, if inflicted on its weak spot.
