Though the standard three action points each character has available can feel quite limiting, it is helpful to remember that there are several ways to get more out of each point. One way to do this is to take full advantage of cover. In Gears Tactics , ending a movement action in cover will reduce the point cost, meaning that it is wise to plan moves from defensive point to defensive point to make the most of movement. Additionally, take full advantage of the execution mechanic: finishing off a downed enemy will award the executioner’s squad an action point, adding some much-needed versatility. Take full advantage of this, clearing the field of executable enemies if it is possible without throwing a soldier into the o
Similarly, the way the game handles downtime time is a bit uninspiring when compared to more established tactics series like XCOM . Though your team spends a lot of time in motion traveling in convoys, there is no time to evolve or grow. Instead, a player will spend time aligning units and personalizing favorite charact
Gears Tactics is a great way for many fans of the Gears of War series to get into the turn-based strategy genre if they haven’t already. Even if gamers aren’t interested in the genre as a whole or are already into it, there’s a lot of extra things to do in the game after beating the story of the g
Similarly, significant hits cannot be scored in Overwatch fields ( The only exception to this is the unlock-able ability on snipers). Also, it is very easy to kill allies if the Overwatch is pointed towards them. So try to stagger the cones in such a way that shots do not over
Few modern turn-based strategy games can compete with the engaging and enjoyable COG Vs Locust Gameplay the XCOM series has. While the original XCOM games are classics, they might be difficult to get into if someone a newcomer to the ge
There are some situations where a player may be unable to use any weapon. Unfortunately, guns are vital in the game, and missing them could mean a failed mission. A simple reset or restart should solve this, though no one wants to resort to t
The player can spend tokens to reset those skill points if they don’t like how a soldier is specced. Or, they can just dismiss the soldier outright to save the reset tokens and open up a recruitment s
Sometimes someone is just going to have bad luck, but always make sure the units are spread out. When flanking enemy units, make sure there aren’t any other soldiers in a position who can hit the player just as easily as the en
The first thing to be prepared for, in any turn-based tactics game and in Gears Tactics specifically, is a lot of repositioning. At the heart of the game is the back and forth of risk and reward that is the flanking system. Getting around enemy cover allows for some juicy opportunity for clean hits and solid damage, so don’t be afraid to burn a point or two rounding the field to get an angle on opponents. With that being said, it is equally important to have an exit strategy in mind. Flanking will often come at the cost of wading deeper into the enemy’s front lines, meaning an elevated danger of getting swamped and flanked. Be prepared to get in and out in the same breath, or at least be braced to take some damage in exchange for dishing some out. Consider whether the cost is worth it: can you eliminate an enemy with a flank move? What kind of cover can you get behind to mitigate any coming swarming? The key takeaway here is be prepared to burn a point on manoeuvering. Do not get stubborn about planting and shooting – damage and suppression is appealing, but if the cost is losing strategic ground or getting surrounded, it will just not be worth the couple of extra shots staying in place affo
Another staple in the turn-based strategy genre, the Fire Emblem series is another great way to get into the genre. Fire Emblem is much different from Gears Tactics because it is a fantasy game rather than a science fiction game, so it’s less about taking cover plus shooting and more about buffs and debuffs to take down enem
While getting around is important, it is vital that the player considers not just that they are moving, but where they are moving. Having soldiers sprint around the field at random is more of a risk than anything; chaotic movement just means more opportunities to get caught alone. A solid first use of points is getting some elevated overwatch. Try shifting a soldier into a position that will allow them to watch over the battlefield and throw them into overwatch. Doing so will lower the risk of more mobile soldiers getting surrounded – making the center of the field a danger to cross can make the opponent think twice about getting into a flanking position. For the remaining soldiers, it is worth spending points to form some triangular traps. Use some points to move and create overlapping fields of fire that cover up the enemy deployments before blasting away. This will pay out in forcing enemy movement away from your troops – by threatening multiple sides of a piece of cover, players can force a well defended enemy to displace, often scoring some hits for that well-positioned overwatch soldier. Importantly, save some points to avoid bunching up. While it is entirely possible to take advantage of a good flank with multiple units, be sure to reserve an action point to put some space between the soldiers you have making the hit. More than one solider side by side is a golden opportunity for a grenade, which can be even more catastrophic if the cover itself gets taken out. By using action points to get some overwatch, triangulate on enemy positions, and keep spacey, players can keep a battlefield handily under cont
