Gears of War/Tips

Reload Audio Cues
When you're firing (Lancer & Hammerburst at least)and your clip starts to run low, your gun will start to make a clicking noise with every shot, that way you know to keep your eye on the ammo and start planning for a reload

Auto-Reload Melee Trick
Sometimes during a firefight, you will inevitably stop watching your ammo level and an unexpected auto-reload will occur. If you're looking to keep your damage boost high using the active reload, this can be a real problem. The solution is to press the melee button if your active reload meter has already passed the small white zone. The reload will be canceled and as soon as you release the melee button, it will start over. This will allow you to pay more attention to the active reload meter. If your weapon isn't empty, it will just cancel the reload. However, there are 2 issues with this trick. First, it doesn't seem to work while you're taking damage and second, it will cause you to leave any cover you are behind. This isn't an issue if you are standing behind a wall, but it can be disastrous if you are crouched and it causes you to stand up.

Shotgun Roll
When faced with an enemy about 5 to 6 feet away who is about to kill you, pull out your shotgun and hold forward while pressing A to barrel roll into the enemy. As soon as you come out of the roll start shooting the shotgun. If your roll was straight you will be aligned perfectly for a one shot kill.

Grenade Tag
With fragmentation grenades equipped, sneak up behind an enemy and melee. The grenade will become imbedded into their flesh and will explode approximately two seconds after sticking them. Make sure you run a safe distance away to avoid killing yourself. But of course, don't forget that you can throw grenades normally in multiplayer, too. Sometimes it's more tactical and useful to throw a grenade into a crowd than sticking one guy.

Defending a Grenade Tag
When you see someone running up with grenades equipped, there is a way to take them out without them tagging you. Have your Lancer Rifle equipped, and as the grenadier approaches hold B to keep the chainsaw revved. If they get too close, you will chainsaw them automatically before you are tagged. A very good tactic, but can be dangerous, as sometimes they will be able to tag you out of chainsawing distance. Usually a grenadier will try to roll into you to tag you, so take out your shotgun and before they come completely out of a roll to tag you, try to get in a one-shot kill.

NOTE: When tagged, try to run into the tagger to kill him too, although you can only kill the one that tagged you, not any of the tagger's friends (if friendly fire is off). Also, if near teammates, run away from them, as an enemy grenade stuck on you can kill your allies, too.

Skipping a cutscene
Press X in order to skip a cutscene. Scenes in-game cannot be skipped. e.g. the "we can take the safe route or go directly into action"-speech at the beginning.

Reloading differences
Each weapon has its own unique reloading time and active reloading point, so it's important to remember them to be ready with an active reload, even in an intense combat situation.

The torque bow has a very long reload, and the active reload is near the end, so be prepared when using it.

The boomshot and longshot have long reloads, with the longshot having a very small active reloading point.

Lancer, gnasher, and hammerburst are about average.

The snub and boltok have very fast reloads.