Gears of War tells the story of Marcus Fenix and his fight for humanity’s survival against the relentless Locust. The game is full to the brim of heroism, tragedy, shotguns to the face, and chainsaws to the neck. Humanity’s death toll is high, but you can pay your respects to those they’ve lost by picking up mementos from fallen comrades, in the form of COG tags.
The tags can usually be found near a Crimson Omen, the Gears of War logo. Three achievements are available for collecting the tags, awarded after finding 11, 22, and 33 tags. They do not have to be collected in one playthrough, and the achievements are available on any difficulty. Note that only 30 of the COG tags are numbered. The PC version added additional levels in Act 5 with three extra tags. If you’re playing the original version of the game on Xbox 360 then there will only be 30, and the requirements for the achievement are lowered accordingly. The Ultimate Edition has all 33 tags.
5 Act 1: Ashes
14 Years After E-Day - Tag 1
The first tags are found almost as soon as you start the game. Leave the prison cell and go straight forward to the destroyed wall at the back of the area immediately opposite. The tags are directly under the Omen.
14 Years After E-Day - Tag 2
The second is in the large room where the Locust cut through the door. You’ll see the Oath high up on a pillar, the tags are behind the pillar on the ground floor.
14 Years After E-Day - Tag 3
These tags are in the courtyard. As you enter go up a small set of stairs on the left. The Oath will be directly in front of you, but turn left at the top to find the tags right in the corner.
Trial By Fire - Tag 4
At the start of this level you’ll go up some stairs and turn left into a small courtyard. The tags are just the other side of the square central walls, to the right of the Oath (oriented from where you enter).
Trial By Fire - Tag 5
These tags can be found near the second emergence hole, just to the left of the door that takes you outside.
Fish in a Barrel - Tag 6
Following the first fight of this level these tags can be found in the far left corner of the area (looking from the entrance). You can spot the corner because it will be the only one an emergence hole didn’t open up in.
Knock Knock - Tag 7
At the start of this level you’ll see a white van with the Oath on it. The tags are to the left of the van, in the corner.
Hammer - Tag 8
You’ll find these tags in the hallway where you fight the Wretches and Jack is asked to open a door. The tags are to the far left of where Jack is working, just past what looks like a coffin.
It’s easiest to wait until you’ve defeated the Wretches, but you’ll need to be quick before the cutscene triggers.
Hammer - Tag 9
These ones are in the room where you find Rojas’ body. They’re to the right of his body, behind a pillar at the bottom of the stairs.
China Shop - Tag 10
These tags belong to Gyules, who you witness being killed by a Berserker. Just go straight to his body to find them.
China Shop - Tag 11
There is a section of this level where the Berserker will smash open three doors. To the left of the third door is an alcove with the tags.
China Shop - Tag 12
This can be found once you exit the building. Go left after the exit and follow the curved wall. You’ll find the tags to the right of the Oath, just the other side of a brick plinth against the wall.
4 Act 2: Nightfall
Tick Tick Boom - Tag 13
After you meet back up with Dom and Cole you’ll make your way through the building until you reach a door that needs breaking down. Before going through the door follow some stairs in this room to the bottom, where you’ll find an old couch. Depending on the version the tags will either be next to or under the couch. If they’re under then shoot the couch to get to them.
Grist - Tag 14
As you exit the building on the catwalk and go down the stairs, turn around and go behind them. The tags are just past the dumpsters on the right.
Grist - Tag 15
After you meet the gatekeeper, look on the left of the road for the tags. They’re behind some newspaper vending machines.
Lethal Dusk - Tag 16
Between checkpoints one and two you’ll start shooting propane tanks to light up the darkness.
On the left will be a small shack with a propane tank inside. Shoot this to be able to enter the shed and find the tags.
Lethal Dusk - Tag 17
In the section where you guide Dom with the spotlight. You’ll need to move Dom down the road, then use the spotlight to light up where the tags are on the left. They’ll be to the right of the entrance with the Oath on it, in front of a burned-out car. You can then collect them after leaving the building and before reuniting with Dom.
Dark Labyrinth - Tag 18
You’ll find these tags in the area where you shoot the propane tank in the car. Before you do this, look to the right as you exit the building. The tags are down at the edge of the building.
3 Act 3: Belly Of The Beast
Downpour - Tag 19
These tags are outside the building with the elevator. You’ll pass a building with a three and the Oath on it, turn right before this structure and follow the jetty out to sea.
Evolution - Tag 20
These are in the room where you have to follow the correct path or fall through the floorboards, in the far right corner. If you fall through you can climb the ladder to start the path again and get the tags.
Evolution - Tag 21
After you enter the cart control room, go down the stairs and turn around to the right. The tags are right there next to the stairs.
Darkest Before Dawn - Tag 22
After taking the drilling platforms down, keep right when the path branches. You’ll find the tags next to some grenades.
Darkest Before Dawn - Tag 23
You’ll fight some Locust in an area with a small stream and a building with the Oath on it. The tags are to the right of the stairs leading up to the building.
Darkest Before Dawn - Tag 24
Once you meet up with the other members of your squad you’ll fight some Locust in a narrow area and see the Corpser in the distance.
The tags can be found on the right side of this area, on the edge overlooking a pool.
2 Act 4: The Long Road Home
Campus Grinder - Tag 25
You’ll find these tags in the first area where you have the big firefight. They’re by the wall to the right of where you entered, behind the stairs.
Bad to Worse - Tag 26
After watching the delightful scene of the Gear vomiting blood, you’ll come across some burned-out cars. The tags are behind the second car.
Imaginary Place - Tag 27
Go to the library on the Fenix Estate (where you are ambushed by Wretches). There is a desk in the middle that can be destroyed to find the tags.
1 Act 5: Desperation
Comedy of Errors - Unnumbered Tag
You’ll exit the building into a garden. Opposite where you enter from is an ornate gate half-open. The tags are behind this.
Window Shopping - Unnumbered Tag
At the start of this level, you’ll exit the underground carpark and come to the some stairs. Go down the stairs to the left to find the tags.
Jurassic Proportions - Unnumbered Tag
In the area where you fight the Brumak, the tags are directly on the far side, behind some concrete walls.
Train Wreck - Tag 28
After the Berserker fight, Jack rips open the door to a train carriage. The tags will be just inside the carriage on the left.
Train Wreck - Tag 29
Before climbing the ladder in the third carriage, the tags can be found on the right.
Train Wreck - Tag 30
After the countdown section you’ll press a switch to drop some cylinders off the train and out of your way. Follow the path down the right side of the train, but before entering the next carriage turn around to go back into the one you’ve just gone round the outside of. The tags will be right at the back of this carriage, through a door.
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