But what Gears Tactics doesn't tell you is that you can pop a Proximity Mine (an unlockable Scout ability) on top of an unopened emergence hole to not only close it when it tries to open, but kill every enemy who was about to emerge. Normally you have to wait until after a wave of Locusts pops out one of these evil potholes before sealing it closed with a grenade.

Uh-oh, the map has sprung a leak: an emergence hole-a subterranean pit from which enemies pour out continuously until closed. There are different, valid ways to build a Heavy, but for me, maintaining these stacks as you reposition was crucial: Hit Redeploy at the end of a round to move a Heavy 3 AP without losing Anchored. With each shot, Heavies build a stack of Anchored (accuracy +10% and damage +15%), turning them into shredding machines after the second or third shot. Heavies can move and shoot, but they're at their best when firing from a fixed position as long as possible. Later equipment upgrades let them carry tons of ammo, and the late-game Ultra Shot ability lets them empty an entire mag until an enemy dies. They're made for hosing down advancing enemies with their wide field of overwatch fire. (Image credit: Microsoft) Use Redeploy to keep your Heavy mobile Also keep in mind that critical hits can't be scored in overwatch (an unlockable ability on Snipers is an exception to this). Note that some of Gears' AI, particularly the explosive Ticker enemies, do a good job of avoiding overwatch fields-of-fire.

Instead of taking a low-percentage shot at an enemy in cover, discourage them from moving or acting by covering them or a key chokepoint with overlapping overwatch fields from multiple units. Overwatch also triggers if an enemy takes an offensive action without moving. Unlike XCOM, you can take as many shots in overwatch as action points your character has remaining at the end of a turn. Look carefully before you move and see where you might be able to eke out just a bit more distance-sometimes even a small change can make a big difference to the enemies you're able to hit, or afford you a spare action point to spend on overwatch.

If you pay attention to your movement range in Tactics, you'll notice that the cover magnetism 'cheats' a little bit by letting you reach spots that would otherwise be just out of range. Just like in the Gears shooters, your soldiers in Gears Tactics can body-slam into cover from a few feet away, like they're being pulled into place by a giant magnet. Sliding into cover extends your movement range

Gears tactics tips