Weapon Skins are interchangeable textures for weapons in Gears of War 3. Different skins affect the appearance of each of the five starting weapons in the multiplayer mode, but are purely cosmetic. Skins do not alter the gameplay characteristics of the weapons in any way.
Unlockable Skins
These weapon skins are included in Gears of War 3 and can be obtained by reaching certain milestones during gameplay.
Golden Skins
- Golden Lancer - Unlocked from having it in Gears of War 2, or by playing Gears of War 3 online at least once between September 20 and September 26, 2011, or by obtaining the "Veteran Gear" achievement in Gears of War 2.
- Golden Hammerburst - Unlocked from having it in Gears of War 2, or by playing Gears of War 3 online at least once between September 20 and September 26, 2011, or by obtaining the "Veteran Gear" achievement in Gears of War 2.
- Golden Retro Lancer - Unlocked by playing 90 matches and then reaching 100 kills with the Retro Lancer in the Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta, or by obtaining the "Veteran Gear" achievement in Gears of War 2..
- Golden Gnasher Shotgun - Unlocked by obtaining the "Veteran Gear" achievement in Gears of War 2.
- Golden Sawed-Off Shotgun - Unlocked by obtaining the "Commando" achievement in Gears of War, or by obtaining the "Veteran Gear" achievement in Gears of War 2.
Golden Omen Skins
The Golden Omen Weapon Set, containing Golden Omen skins for all five starting weapons, is unlocked by reaching level 100 in Gears of War 3.
Chrome Skins
- Chrome Lancer - Unlocked by obtaining the "Don't Hate the Player" achievement in Gears of War.
- Chrome Hammerburst - Unlocked by obtaining the "Dirty, Dirty Horde" achievement in Gears of War 2.
- Chrome Retro Lancer - Unlocked by obtaining the "Domination" achievement in Gears of War.
- Chrome Gnasher Shotgun - Unlocked by completing the single-player campaign mode in Gears of War, Gears of War 2, and Gears of War 3 (can be done on any difficulty).
- Chrome Sawed-Off Shotgun - Unlocked by obtaining any one achievement in the PC version of Gears of War.
Flaming Skins
- Flaming Lancer - Unlocked by playing during week two of the Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta.
- Flaming Hammerburst - Unlocked by playing during week one of the Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta.
- Flaming Gnasher Shotgun - Unlocked by playing during week four of the Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta.
- Flaming Sawed-Off Shotgun - Unlocked by playing during week three of the Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta.
- Flaming Retro Lancer - Unlock requirements are currently unknown.
Crimson Omen Skins
- Crimson Omen Hammerburst - Unlocked by obtaining the "Welcome to Beast Mode" achievement in Gears of War 3.
- Crimson Omen Retro Lancer - Unlocked by obtaining the "Welcome to Horde Mode" achievement in Gears of War 3.
- Crimson Omen Gnasher Shotgun - Unlocked by obtaining the "Welcome to Versus" achievement in Gears of War 3.
- Crimson Omen Sawed-Off Shotgun - Unlocked by obtaining the "Welcome to Arcade Mode" achievement in Gears of War 3.
Team Insignia Skins
- Team Insignia Lancer - Unlocked by obtaining the silver Veteran medal in Gears of War 3.
- Team Insignia Hammerburst - Unlocked by obtaining the gold Veteran medal in Gears of War 3.
- Team Insignia Retro Lancer - Unlocked by obtaining the bronze Veteran medal in Gears of War 3.
- Team Insignia Gnasher Shotgun - Unlocked by obtaining the onyx Veteran medal in Gears of War 3.
- Team Insignia Sawed-Off Shotgun - Unlocked by obtaining the onyx Veteran medal in Gears of War 3.
Onyx Skins
- Onyx Lancer - Unlocked by obtaining the onyx Lancer medal in Gears of War 3.
- Onyx Hammerburst - Unlocked by obtaining the onyx Hammerburst medal in Gears of War 3.
- Onyx Retro Lancer - Unlocked by obtaining the onyx Retro Lancer medal in Gears of War 3.
- Onyx Gnasher Shotgun - Unlocked by obtaining the onyx Gnasher Shotgun medal in Gears of War 3.
- Onyx Sawed-Off Shotgun - Unlocked by obtaining the onyx Sawed-Off Shotgun medal in Gears of War 3.
goastprotocol set
- unlocked by complearing the campain on insane difficulty
Downloadable Content Skins
These weapon skins can only be obtained by purchasing and/or downloading them through Xbox Live.
Theme Packs
Launch Collection Skins
- Arctic Camo Set - 240 MS Points
- Bloody Set - 240 MS Points
- Crimson Omen Lancer/Lancer Omen - 80 Microsoft Points, or by redeeming marked 12-Month Xbox Live Gold subscription cards.
- Deadly Cute Set - 240 MS Points
- Desert Camo Set - 240 MS Points
- Desert Digital Camo Set - 240 MS Points
- Electrical Animated Set - 320 MS Points
- Flower Set - 240 MS Points
- Garish Set - 240 MS Points
- Haze Animated Set - 240 MS Points
- Imulsion Animated Set - 320 MS Points
- Jungle Digital Camo Set - 240 MS Points
- Ocean Animated Set - 320 MS Points
- Oil Slick Animated Set - 320 MS Points
- Rainbow Animated Set - 320 MS Points
- Team Distressed Set - 240 MS Points
- Team Metal Set - 320 MS Points
- Team Pulse Animated Set - 320 MS Points
- Thunderstorm Animated Set - 320 MS Points
- Tiger Set - 240 MS Points
- Tribal Set - 240 MS Points
- Urban Digital Camo Set - 240 MS Points
Exclusive Skins
- Chocolate Weapon Set - Only available by purchasing RAAM's Shadow.
- Infected Omen Weapon Pack - Only available by purchasing the Gears of War 3 Epic Edition or by redeeming a code that is packaged with a Gears of War 3 controller.
- Jungle Camo Set - Only available by purchasing the Horde Command Pack.
- Liquid Green Set - Currently only available through the "Jack's Got Game" promotion for Jack in the Box. Epic has announced that on January 3, 2012, this set will be released for purchase for 320 MS Points.
- Liquid Metal Animated Set - Only available by purchasing the Gears of War 3 Season Pass.
- Team Plasma Set - Only available by purchasing the Horde Command Pack.
Collections
- Lancer Complete Launch Collection - 1200 MS Points (contains all Launch Collection DLC Lancer skins)
- Retro Lancer Launch Collection Weapon Skin Set - 1200 MS Points (contains all Launch Collection DLC Retro Lancer skins)
- Shotguns Launch Collection Weapon Skins - 1200 MS Points (contains all Launch Collection DLC Gnasher Shotgun and Sawed-Off Shotgun skins)
- Weapon Skin Collection: Launch Collection - 3600 MS Points (contains all Launch Collection DLC weapon skins)
- Weapon Skin Gun Pack: Hammerburst - 1200 MS Points (contains all Launch Collection DLC Hammerburst skins)
- Ghost Protocol Skin Pack - Attained by completing the Impossible Mission event; completing the Campaign on Insane difficulty.