Discover all 17 Campaign Side Missions in Gears of War: E-Day with this complete Secondary Objectives guide. Learn where to find every mission, how to start and finish each objective, and which Weapon Mods, Armor Mods, and equipment upgrades you can earn.
Gears of War: E-Day contains 17 Campaign Secondary Objectives.
These optional missions appear in four chapters across Acts 2, 3, and 4.
Here's where you'll find them:
Act 1 – No Secondary Objectives
The opening Act doesn't contain any of the 17 optional Campaign missions. You can concentrate on progressing through the story.
Act 2 – 7 Secondary Objectives
All seven appear in Chapter 2, Hold the Line. This chapter contains several large districts and story-dependent mission triggers.
Act 3 – 3 Secondary Objectives
All three are located in Chapter 3, Last Foothold. Several involve rescue situations near important city landmarks.
Act 4 – 7 Secondary Objectives
Three appear in Chapter 1, Hope and Ruin, while four are found in Chapter 3, Tough as Nails.
Act 5 – No Secondary Objectives
There are no additional Campaign side missions in the final Act.
Completing all 17 unlocks the Side Piece achievement, worth 15 Gamerscore.
You can earn this achievement on any Campaign difficulty.
However, these missions also contribute to full Campaign completion, making them important for players working toward For Whom the Bell Tolls and Dead Serious.
Secondary Objectives are optional encounters found away from the main Campaign route.
They usually involve helping another squad, protecting civilians, defending a location, or interacting with equipment while enemies attack.
Unlike a completely separate quest mode, these missions take place within the Campaign's existing exploration areas.
When you approach an available side mission, the game can display a discovery notification.
You'll usually find an interaction point associated with a soldier, civilian, gate, or machine.
On an Xbox controller, hold X at the interaction point to accept the mission.
Once activated, the game displays the Secondary Objective's name and its current requirements.
You might need to eliminate attacking enemies, rescue a civilian, or defend a particular position.
Discovering a side mission isn't the same as completing it. You must accept the objective and finish its requirements.
A completed Secondary Objective displays a completion notification.
You should also receive the associated reward notification and checkpoint.
Don't leave immediately after killing the final large enemy.
Some missions require an additional interaction, such as opening a gate, speaking to a survivor, or collecting an object.
If the objective hasn't registered, inspect the remaining task description.
Yes.
The game's mission interface includes a failed Secondary Objective state.
For example, leaving an active mission area can trigger a warning explaining that continuing away from the encounter will cause failure.
If you see this warning, return to the active objective rather than continuing toward the main story.
You should also avoid abandoning civilians or defense positions before the mission registers as complete.
Absolutely, especially if you enjoy customizing your Campaign loadout.
Official developer information confirms that optional missions often reward Weapon Mods.
Community-documented gameplay also shows Armor Mods, tactical gear modifications, and additional mod slots.
These give you more equipment options for later encounters.
The named rewards throughout this guide come from recorded gameplay and independent achievement walkthroughs rather than a complete official developer reward chart.
They are useful reference points, but you should verify the actual unlock notification in your current game version.
Act 2, Chapter 2 contains the largest concentration of Campaign side missions.
Hold the Line features multiple exploration sections, including streets, commercial buildings, shelters, apartments, and military positions.
Some missions are available immediately, while others unlock after important story events.
Don't assume you can complete every objective during your first visit to an area.
Location: Act 2, Chapter 2 – Hold the Line, opening exploration area.
Starting landmark: Car dealership near the opening route from the stadium.
The Vanguard is one of the earliest Secondary Objectives you can complete.
After collecting the map and allowing the blocking truck to move, continue into the commercial district.
Look for the car dealership near the main route.
Inside, you'll find a COG soldier who needs assistance defending the position.
Approach the soldier and accept the mission.
An Emergence Hole opens nearby, allowing Locust enemies to attack.
Your job is to eliminate the attackers and destroy the Emergence Hole.
Pay attention to the opening because leaving it active can allow additional enemies to threaten the defenders.
Use the dealership and surrounding cover to control the fight.
Once every required enemy is defeated, wait for the completion notification.
Reported rewards:
Bayonet – Hammerburst modification.
Cover Brace – Lancer Mk1 modification.
These are valuable early modification unlocks because they become available before many of the Campaign's more demanding encounters.
Important tip: Complete The Vanguard before leaving the opening district. You don't need to wait for a later story event to start it.
Location: Act 2, Chapter 2 – Hold the Line, opening exploration area.
Starting landmark: Last Dollar store and parking lot.
Continue along the main street beyond the dealership.
You'll eventually reach the Last Dollar store.
As you approach its parking area, listen for civilians calling for help.
A family is trapped inside the building while dangerous enemies move around the entrance.
Approach the storefront to discover the mission.
You'll need to eliminate the attackers before finding another way inside.
Look toward the right side of the building for an accessible shutter.
Raise the shutter and enter the store.
Move through the interior until you reach the counter area.
Behind the counter, find the button beside the cash register.
Pressing it allows you to release the trapped family.
Don't leave just because you've entered the building. The rescue isn't complete until you've performed the final interaction.
Reported rewards:
Precision Long Barrel – Breechshot modification.
Bayonet – Gnasher modification.
Important tip: The family is freed through the button interaction, not simply by defeating the enemies outside.
This is an easy mission to complete when you follow the full route through the store.
Location: Act 2, Chapter 2 – Hold the Line, central district.
Starting landmark: Apartment building displaying a large HELP banner.
Apartment SOS becomes available after you reach the larger central district.
Search for the apartment building with the HELP banner hanging from an upper section.
The entrance isn't simply located at street level.
You need to climb the exterior scaffolding and reach the upper apartment.
Inside, you'll find survivors who need help escaping.
Speak with them to begin the objective.
You'll need to open the blocked route and clear the stairway of enemies.
Expect Juvies and Locust soldiers along the path.
Heavier enemies may also appear during the encounter.
The best approach is to keep a safe distance while clearing the route downward.
Avoid rushing so far ahead that you lose track of the survivors.
Once the stairway is secure, the civilians can move toward safety.
Wait for the objective to finish before leaving the apartment area.
Reported rewards:
Grounded Capacitor – Sonic Disruptor modification.
Cover Brace – Breechshot modification.
Important tip: Clearing the stairway is the main challenge. Make sure the survivors can complete their escape rather than leaving immediately after the first fight.
Location: Act 2, Chapter 2 – Hold the Line, central district.
Starting landmark: Major Burger near the police station.
Availability: After the Amberstone Storage Facility story section, while the main objective is to find Mags' medicine.
Lost in Translation is one of the easiest Secondary Objectives to overlook.
The mission doesn't necessarily appear during your first visit to the area.
You must advance the main story far enough for the restaurant encounter to become available.
Once the appropriate story objective is active, return to the Major Burger near the police station.
Inside, you'll find two civilians who need help reaching a shelter.
Talk to them to accept the mission.
You'll then need to escort both civilians through streets containing Locust ambushes.
Don't run too far ahead.
If the civilians stop following, check the nearby area for enemies that haven't been defeated.
The mission requires both civilians to reach safety.
Simply reaching the shelter yourself isn't enough.
Reported rewards:
Melee Stunner – Armor modification.
Laser – Lancer Mk1 modification.
Important tip: If the restaurant has no mission prompt, check your current story objective. The mission is tied to later progress through Hold the Line.
Complete it before leaving the Mags' medicine section of the district.
Location: Act 2, Chapter 2 – Hold the Line, central district.
Starting landmark: Shelter 13 near the edge of the map.
Availability: After leaving Mags' apartment and before linking up with Charlie Squad.
Family Reunion is another mission with important story timing.
After completing the relevant Mags' apartment section, travel toward the Bank of Tyrus crossroads.
Follow the route toward Shelter 13 near the outer edge of the district.
You'll find civilians who need protection from an incoming attack.
Accept the defense mission and prepare for the Locust assault.
Use the available cover to prevent enemies from overwhelming the shelter.
Focus on eliminating attackers who are pressuring the civilian position.
When the main fighting ends, remain in the area.
The mission may require its closing dialogue before the completion notification appears.
Reported rewards:
Adrenal Cascade – Adrenaline Injector modification.
Overpacked Mag – Prototype Lancer modification.
Some guides also associate additional Injector modification capacity with this reward sequence, but the exact unlock display should be checked in-game.
Important tip: Finish Family Reunion before linking up with Charlie Squad.
This story transition can prevent you from returning immediately to the earlier district.
Location: Act 2, Chapter 2 – Hold the Line, final exploration section.
Starting landmark: Major Burger beneath the elevated rail near Kalona Hotel.
Later in Hold the Line, the Campaign takes you toward the hotel district.
Look for another Major Burger restaurant beneath the overhead railway.
This isn't the same encounter as Lost in Translation.
Inside the restaurant, you'll find a wounded COG soldier who needs protection.
Talk to him to activate Black Raven Down.
Your objective is to defend the location against incoming Locust.
The enemies attack from outside the restaurant and surrounding street.
Use the building for cover and help the nearby friendly soldiers hold their position.
A larger enemy also appears during the encounter.
Avoid leaving the restaurant area before the entire attack is defeated.
Reported rewards:
Proximity Reload – Armor modification.
Overcharged Ammo – Gut-Puncher modification.
Important tip: Don't confuse the two Major Burger Secondary Objectives.
Lost in Translation involves escorting civilians near the police station.
Black Raven Down is a separate defense mission beneath the elevated railway near the hotel district.
Location: Act 2, Chapter 2 – Hold the Line, final exploration section.
Starting landmark: Apartment building beside Monroe Library.
Availability: After completing the relevant courtyard main-story objective.
Lone Wolf is another mission that requires you to return to an earlier location.
Once the story has advanced through the courtyard encounter, head back toward Monroe Library.
Look for the apartment building beside the library steps.
The Secondary Objective becomes available at an elevator.
Accept the mission and use the elevator to reach the upper section.
You'll find a stranded COG sniper fighting against Locust forces.
Help him defeat the enemies and secure the upper-floor position.
Because this encounter takes place above street level, pay attention to enemies positioned across the surrounding structures.
Use cover and work with the sniper rather than charging directly toward the attackers.
Reported rewards:
Deep Pockets – Armor modification.
Full Metal Jacket – Hammerburst modification.
Important tip: The elevator may not be active when you first explore the library area.
Return after the appropriate courtyard objective, then finish Lone Wolf before committing to the final hotel transition.
Act 2 completion target: 7 of 7 Secondary Objectives.
Act 3 contains three Campaign side missions.
All three appear in Chapter 3, Last Foothold.
The missions involve helping stranded civilians and defending important positions while the situation across Kalona becomes increasingly dangerous.
Several objectives become available only after you advance the main story.
Location: Act 3, Chapter 3 – Last Foothold.
Starting landmark: Loading bay near Kalona Police Station.
As you explore the district around the police station, you'll receive an opportunity to help civilians trapped in a nearby loading area.
Look across the road from the police station and find the loading bay.
Move toward its rear-right section to locate the mission's interaction point.
After accepting Weak Signal, you'll need to defend the area against attacking Locust.
Stay close enough to the objective to respond to enemies entering the loading area.
Watch for attackers approaching from outside your immediate view.
Eliminate the full group of enemies and wait for the completion notification.
Reported rewards:
Salt Dog – Armor modification.
Incendiary Ammo – Lancer Mk1 modification.
Important tip: Search the back of the loading area rather than only checking the main street.
The objective is easy to miss if you remain focused on reaching the hospital.
Location: Act 3, Chapter 3 – Last Foothold.
Starting landmark: Park beside Kalona Hotel.
Availability: After helping load the convoy and completing the relevant Spore Matron encounter.
Lost in the Park involves locating a missing civilian in a dangerous area near the hotel.
Once the story has progressed far enough, return toward Kalona Hotel.
Find the park nearby and look for the person requesting assistance.
Accept the objective, then enter the park through the available access route.
Locust enemies occupy the area.
You'll need to clear the immediate threat before safely searching for the missing person.
The civilian can be found underneath the stairs near the park entrance.
Approach and interact with the survivor after the enemies are defeated.
The objective completes when the rescue interaction has registered.
Reported rewards:
Holo Sight – Snub modification.
Laser – Striga modification.
Important tip: Killing every enemy doesn't automatically finish the mission.
You must locate and help the civilian hiding underneath the stairs.
If your objective remains active after the fight, check that location.
Location: Act 3, Chapter 3 – Last Foothold.
Starting landmark: Gate covered with red tarpaulin near Landa Memorial Hospital.
Availability: Later in the chapter, when the main objective directs you to provide support at the hospital.
Rooftop Mayday is one of the most easily missed Act 3 side missions.
The encounter isn't necessarily available when you first explore the surrounding streets.
After advancing the story toward the hospital support objective, return to the relevant district.
Look for a gate covered with red tarpaulin.
You may also notice a distress flare above the rooftop.
Approach the gate and accept the mission.
Follow the stairs upward until you reach the stranded survivor.
You'll need to help the civilian while defending the rooftop against Locust forces.
A dangerous flying enemy can also appear during the encounter.
Use rooftop structures and available cover to protect yourself while dealing with the attackers.
Once the enemies are defeated, find the exit gate associated with the rescue.
Open it to let the survivor escape.
Reported rewards:
Stabilized Ammo – Striga modification.
One Shot – Armor modification.
Important tip: Don't leave immediately after defeating the rooftop enemies.
The rescue involves opening the exit so the survivor can leave.
Finish the interaction and wait for the mission completion notification.
Act 3 completion target: 3 of 3 Secondary Objectives.
Your overall collection should now include 10 completed Campaign side missions.
Act 4 contains seven Secondary Objectives spread across two chapters.
Hope and Ruin features three missions in the Golden Quarter and nearby streets.
Tough as Nails contains four missions around the dockyard, industrial areas, and factory.
These missions offer some particularly useful weapon customization rewards.
Location: Act 4, Chapter 1 – Hope and Ruin.
Starting landmark: Cooper Commons, near the arched building and park plaza.
Missing Convoy takes place in an open area where civilians need help surviving another Locust attack.
Search Cooper Commons for the plaza near the building with ground-floor arches.
Approach the civilian requesting assistance and accept the mission.
You'll be asked to investigate the situation and defeat the attacking enemies.
Spore Matrons are among the main threats.
These floating enemies can create dangerous pressure during the encounter, especially when you're exposed in the open.
Use the nearby covered arcade to break enemy sightlines and protect yourself from incoming attacks.
Watch for smaller enemies approaching while you're concentrating on the larger threat.
Once the required enemies are defeated, remain in the mission area until completion registers.
Reported rewards:
Braced Capacitor – Stim Vaporizer modification.
Mobile Targeting Laser – Torque Bow modification.
Important tip: Don't spend the entire fight standing in the middle of the open plaza.
Use the building's covered areas to create safer firing positions against the floating enemies.
Location: Act 4, Chapter 1 – Hope and Ruin.
Starting landmark: University-side building near Kalona Square.
R.I.G. Experiment is a defensive mission involving an experimental machine.
Find the accessible building near the university and locate the equipment associated with the objective.
The machine is identifiable by its tall structure and illuminated components.
Approach the console and activate the mission.
Once the experiment begins, Locust enemies attack the position.
Your job is to defend the machine until the encounter ends.
Use the elevated position near the equipment to fight enemies approaching from the courtyard.
This is particularly important because moving too far away from the active objective can cause the mission to fail.
Don't drop into the courtyard just to chase an enemy unless the objective specifically requires it.
Hold your position and eliminate attackers from the permitted area.
Reported rewards:
Overpacked Mag – Hammerburst modification.
Blood Mag – Armor modification.
Important tip: Stay close to the machine during the defense.
Players have documented a leaving-mission-area warning when moving into the nearby courtyard.
Keeping your position near the experiment is safer than abandoning the objective.
Location: Act 4, Chapter 1 – Hope and Ruin.
Starting landmark: Clocktower near the Opera House.
Clocktower Defense is one of the last optional activities worth checking before leaving this part of the district.
Travel toward the Opera House.
From the Opera House area, follow the nearby road toward the clocktower.
You'll find soldiers and civilians who need assistance defending the position.
Accept the Secondary Objective and prepare for the incoming Locust attack.
The mission requires you to hold the position against attacking waves.
Use available cover and defensive equipment to keep enemies from overwhelming the area.
Focus on the threats actively approaching the defended position rather than pursuing enemies too far away.
Once the required attackers are defeated, wait for the objective to register.
Reported rewards:
General Mod Slot – Breechshot.
Slick Breech – Breechshot modification.
Some community reward checklists also associate additional Snub customization with this encounter, but the two Breechshot rewards are consistently documented.
Important tip: Complete Clocktower Defense before committing to the Opera House story transition.
Leaving the district too early can force you to use Chapter Replay.
Hope and Ruin completion target: 3 of 3 Secondary Objectives.
Tough as Nails contains the final four Campaign Secondary Objectives.
These missions involve industrial equipment, cargo operations, trapped enemies, and factory defenses.
Several provide notable weapon modification unlocks.
Location: Act 4, Chapter 3 – Tough as Nails.
Starting landmark: Gavel Dockyard, near the dock workers and container yard.
Special Cargo is one of the more interesting side missions because it involves searching for a particular cargo container.
Find the workers near the dockyard, including the worker wearing a yellow hard hat.
Approach the appropriate civilian and accept the mission.
You'll be asked to locate a special container within the surrounding cargo area.
However, Locust enemies are blocking access.
Defeat the attackers and follow the objective marker toward the correct container.
The mission involves a keypad interaction.
In recorded walkthrough footage, the worker provides the code 1548 for a pale-green container marked ISG 24495.
Use the code communicated during your own mission if the displayed instructions differ.
Open the container to complete the cargo objective.
Inside, you can also find items associated with the area, including the Imulsion Blast Charge collectible.
Make sure you inspect the container after opening it if you're working toward full Campaign completion.
Reported rewards:
General Mod Slot – Longshot.
Magazine capacity modification – Longshot, listed as Expanded Magazine or Extended Mag in different walkthroughs.
Important tip: Don't assume clearing the enemies completes Special Cargo.
You must locate and open the correct cargo container.
Location: Act 4, Chapter 3 – Tough as Nails.
Starting landmark: Raised platform near the helipad and Control Tower.
Fire in the Hole begins near an elevated loading area overlooking the surrounding yard.
Find the helipad, then look toward the nearby raised building.
You can reach the upper position using the available stairs or climbable objects.
At the top, you'll find a badly injured civilian.
Approach him and accept the mission.
Locust enemies begin attacking from the lower yard.
Your objective is to eliminate the attackers while remaining near the civilian's position.
The elevated platform provides a useful firing position.
Clear the enemies below before returning to the injured civilian.
This mission has an important final interaction.
In recorded gameplay, the civilian doesn't survive the encounter, but the objective can still be completed.
After clearing the enemies, interact with the map beside the civilian to finish the task.
Reported rewards:
Incendiary Rounds – Gut-Puncher modification.
Incendiary Rounds – Ripper LMG modification.
Important tip: If the objective still says to help the civilian after the fight, check for the map interaction.
Don't assume the mission has failed simply because the civilian cannot be revived.
Location: Act 4, Chapter 3 – Tough as Nails.
Starting landmark: Central rail yard control room.
Trapped Locust is a memorable Secondary Objective involving a train carriage filled with enemies.
Travel into the central rail yard and find the building containing the train controls.
Use the wooden walkway to reach the upper control area.
Approach the console and accept the mission.
You'll be asked to move a carriage into position.
After activating the machinery, you'll have the opportunity to prepare before opening the carriage.
This preparation matters because several Locust enemies are trapped inside.
Choose a position where you can see the carriage opening without exposing yourself unnecessarily.
Once you're ready, release the enemies.
Defeat every Locust that emerges to clear the encounter.
Reported rewards:
General Mod Slot – Incinerator.
Springloaded Mag – Incinerator modification.
Important tip: Don't leave the control room area while the encounter is active.
Moving through the far exit can trigger a warning that you're leaving the mission area.
Once the mission is complete, inspect the opened carriage for additional exploration rewards.
Location: Act 4, Chapter 3 – Tough as Nails.
Starting landmark: Seradyne Armadillo factory rooftop.
Availability: After restoring power during the main-story objective.
Death from Above is the final Campaign Secondary Objective in the documented collection.
It's also one of the most important missions to remember because it becomes available later than several other activities in the same district.
You must first complete the relevant power-restoration objective.
Afterward, return to the Seradyne factory.
Enter the building and climb toward the rooftop.
Find the machinery controls and activate the Secondary Objective.
The mission involves restarting the equipment and fighting Locust enemies attacking the factory.
Expect a demanding encounter with several enemy types.
You'll need to clear enemies on the rooftop before returning to help the civilians inside.
Don't assume the rooftop fight is the entire mission.
Follow the remaining objective instructions and defeat the enemies threatening the interior.
Reported rewards:
Torque Regulator – Torque Bow modification.
Combat Scope – Hammerburst modification.
Important tip: Death from Above won't necessarily appear during your first visit to the factory.
Return after restoring power and finish the objective before leaving the district for the final story transition.
Act 4 completion target: 7 of 7 Secondary Objectives.
You should now have all 17 Campaign side missions completed.
The biggest reason to complete side missions beyond achievements is the equipment they unlock.
Campaign Secondary Objectives can reward different types of modifications.
These expand your customization options and can help you adapt to difficult encounters.
Weapon Mods change specific properties or functions of eligible Campaign weapons.
For example, side mission rewards include modifications for the Hammerburst, Gnasher, Lancer Mk1, Breechshot, Longshot, and Torque Bow.
The exact benefit depends on the selected mod.
Some provide additional equipment options, while others change how a particular weapon handles or performs.
Rather than assuming every mod is automatically better, inspect its description in your Supply Cache.
Choose modifications that fit your preferred weapon and combat situation.
Several Secondary Objectives reward Armor Mods.
Examples documented in the Campaign include:
Melee Stunner.
Proximity Reload.
Deep Pockets.
Salt Dog.
One Shot.
Blood Mag.
These provide additional character equipment customization options.
Their exact behavior should be checked through the current in-game descriptions.
Don't equip an unfamiliar mod merely because you've unlocked it.
Read its benefits and consider whether it supports your preferred way of fighting.
Some side missions provide upgrades for tactical equipment.
The Adrenaline Injector, Stim Vaporizer, and Sonic Disruptor are among the equipment types associated with documented rewards.
These can expand your tactical options beyond ordinary weapon combat.
If you rely on tactical equipment during demanding encounters, pay attention to missions that provide additional customization for it.
Extra modification slots can be especially valuable because they expand the number of compatible options available for a weapon.
Certain objectives award General Mod Slots for specific weapons, including the Breechshot, Longshot, and Incinerator.
However, unlocking an additional slot doesn't automatically equip a modification.
Visit a Supply Cache and review your equipment after completing these missions.
The main value of Secondary Objectives is flexibility. They give you more options for preparing your Campaign loadout.
Side Piece is the achievement directly connected to Campaign Secondary Objectives.
It requires you to complete all 17 optional Campaign missions.
The achievement is worth 15 Gamerscore.
To unlock the achievement, you must complete:
All 7 Secondary Objectives in Act 2.
All 3 Secondary Objectives in Act 3.
All 7 Secondary Objectives in Act 4.
No side missions are required from Acts 1 or 5.
The achievement can be earned on any difficulty.
You don't need to finish the entire Campaign on Insane simply to unlock Side Piece.
However, completing every Secondary Objective is also part of the wider Campaign completion requirements.
Yes.
Dead Serious includes 100% Campaign completion alongside Insane difficulty and additional multiplayer mastery requirements.
Finishing every Campaign side mission contributes to that completion goal.
However, Side Piece alone doesn't complete Dead Serious.
You must still satisfy the other requirements, including the necessary Campaign, Versus, and Horde Siege progression.
No.
Campaign Secondary Objectives and Horde Siege Secondary Objectives are different systems.
Side Piece specifically requires the 17 Campaign missions.
Completing optional tasks during Horde Siege doesn't replace missing Campaign objectives.
Not every side mission is available the first time you visit its location.
This is one of the main reasons players finish the Campaign with incomplete objective counts.
Several deserve special attention.
This mission becomes available after progressing through the Amberstone Storage Facility section.
If you visit the restaurant too early, you may not find the objective.
Return when your main objective involves finding Mags' medicine.
Family Reunion becomes available after the Mags' apartment story section.
You must complete it before linking up with Charlie Squad.
Advancing through that transition can remove immediate access to the shelter.
The objective becomes available later in Hold the Line.
You need to return to the apartments near Monroe Library after completing the relevant courtyard objective.
Don't assume an inactive elevator means the area has nothing else to offer.
This mission appears after later story progress involving the convoy and Spore Matron encounter.
Return toward the Kalona Hotel park and check for the rescue objective.
Rooftop Mayday becomes available near the hospital-side portion of Last Foothold.
The distress flare and red-tarpaulin gate are important landmarks.
Don't leave the district before checking the rooftop rescue.
This is one of the most important return-later missions.
It appears after the power-restoration objective.
Return to the Seradyne factory rooftop before continuing through the final story route.
The most common mistake is assuming an empty mission location means you've already missed it. Sometimes the objective simply hasn't become available yet.
If you've completed the Campaign but haven't unlocked Side Piece, start by checking your War Journal.
The War Journal records your Secondary Objective progress by Act.
Compare your progress with the expected totals:
Act 2: 7
Act 3: 3
Act 4: 7
For example, if your War Journal shows all seven objectives complete in Act 2 and all seven in Act 4, but only two in Act 3, you know the missing mission belongs to Last Foothold.
That means you can focus your search on Weak Signal, Lost in the Park, and Rooftop Mayday.
You don't need to search every Campaign chapter again.
Yes.
Chapter Replay allows you to return to earlier Campaign sections.
This is useful for recovering missions you skipped or couldn't access during your original playthrough.
However, remember that some Secondary Objectives depend on reaching a specific story state within the chapter.
Simply loading the chapter may not make every mission immediately available.
You might need to advance the relevant main objective before returning to the Secondary Objective's location.
Community walkthroughs report that replaying a chapter can make some local activities appear available again even when your overall progress has been saved.
Use the War Journal's overall completion totals rather than relying only on whether a mission prompt appears during replay.
If you're uncertain, complete the objective and check whether the recorded total changes.
The Coalition addressed several Campaign tracking issues in its October 14, 2026 patch.
The update included fixes for War Journal and achievement progress.
However, the developers also acknowledged that some achievement rewards might still fail to appear correctly.
If Side Piece doesn't unlock:
Check your current game version.
Make sure you've installed the available updates containing Campaign tracking fixes.
Verify your War Journal totals.
Confirm that all 17 Secondary Objectives are recorded.
Identify the missing Act.
Compare your counters against the required totals instead of replaying everything immediately.
Replay the relevant chapter if necessary.
Return to the missing mission and finish its full requirements.
Contact official support if the problem remains.
If the achievement still fails despite completed progress, it may require developer investigation.
Don't delete your save or restart your entire Campaign without first checking the recorded completion information.
Secondary Objectives are usually easier when you understand their starting conditions and prepare for the encounter.
A few useful habits can prevent unnecessary failures.
Several Campaign areas give you more freedom to move around Kalona.
Use the map to identify nearby optional objectives.
Pay attention to unexplored buildings and locations associated with civilian distress calls.
Not every side mission appears directly along the main story path.
Some missions begin through conversations.
Approach soldiers or civilians who appear to need assistance and check whether they have a Secondary Objective prompt.
Don't assume every helpful interaction begins automatically.
The final enemy death isn't always the end.
Trapped Family requires pressing a button.
Lost in the Park requires finding the civilian.
Rooftop Mayday includes opening an exit.
Special Cargo requires opening the correct container.
Fire in the Hole has a final map interaction.
Always make sure the actual mission has registered as complete.
Several Secondary Objectives involve fighting groups of Locust.
Before starting a defense mission, check your available weapons and ammunition.
If a Supply Cache is nearby, review your loadout before activating the encounter.
You'll have a better chance of surviving when you don't enter a defensive battle with nearly empty weapons.
Missions such as Missing Convoy and R.I.G. Experiment reward careful positioning.
Running out into an exposed area can make the encounter more dangerous.
In some missions, leaving the required position can also trigger a failure warning.
Remain close to the objective and use available cover.
Completing a Secondary Objective unlocks its associated rewards.
However, new modifications aren't necessarily equipped automatically.
Visit a Supply Cache and inspect the available options.
This helps you benefit from the upgrades you've worked to unlock.
Even experienced players can overlook simple details during side missions.
Here are the mistakes worth remembering.
Both modes use the term Secondary Objectives, but their progression and achievement requirements are separate.
Side Piece requires Campaign missions.
Horde Siege tasks don't count toward the 17-mission Campaign total.
Some active Secondary Objectives can fail if you leave the designated area.
Pay attention to warnings and return to the objective immediately.
This is particularly important during defensive encounters.
An inactive mission location doesn't necessarily mean the objective isn't available in the chapter.
You may need to complete another story task first.
Lost in Translation, Lone Wolf, Rooftop Mayday, and Death from Above are important examples.
Not every mission ends when the fighting stops.
Sometimes you still need to help a survivor, open a gate, activate equipment, or collect an object.
Read the remaining objective text before leaving.
Secondary Objectives can provide Weapon Mods, Armor Mods, tactical equipment modifications, and extra mod slots.
Check the actual reward instead of assuming every optional mission upgrades your currently equipped weapon.
The War Journal is useful for identifying which Act still contains incomplete Secondary Objectives.
Without checking it, you may waste time replaying chapters that are already finished.
There are 17 Campaign Secondary Objectives.
Seven are located in Act 2, three in Act 3, and seven in Act 4.
No.
Secondary Objectives are optional and aren't required to reach the normal story ending.
However, completing them is necessary for Side Piece and full Campaign completion.
You unlock Side Piece, worth 15 Gamerscore.
The achievement requires all 17 Campaign Secondary Objectives.
Yes.
Side Piece can be earned on any Campaign difficulty.
You don't need Insane difficulty for this particular achievement.
You can temporarily lose access to them after certain story transitions.
However, Chapter Replay allows you to revisit earlier Campaign sections and recover missed objectives.
Acts 2 and 4 each contain seven Secondary Objectives.
Act 3 contains three.
It's located at Major Burger near the police station during Hold the Line.
The mission becomes available after the Amberstone Storage Facility section while you're searching for Mags' medicine.
Family Reunion begins at Shelter 13 in Act 2, Chapter 2.
It becomes available after the Mags' apartment story sequence.
Return to the apartment building near Monroe Library after completing the relevant courtyard main objective.
The elevator interaction becomes available later in Hold the Line.
It's located near Landa Memorial Hospital in Act 3, Chapter 3.
Look for the gate covered with red tarpaulin and the rooftop distress flare.
Speak with the dock worker, clear the attacking Locust, follow the mission marker, and open the correct shipping container.
Recorded gameplay documents a keypad interaction using a code provided by the worker.
Use the rail-yard control room to bring the train carriage into position.
Open the carriage, defeat the trapped Locust, and wait for the objective completion notification.
It becomes available after the relevant power-restoration story objective.
Return to the Seradyne factory rooftop once you've restored power.
Yes.
Official developer information confirms that optional Campaign missions often reward Weapon Mods.
Recorded gameplay also documents Armor Mods, tactical modifications, and additional mod slots.
Yes.
They're part of the 100% Campaign completion requirements connected to Dead Serious.
However, Dead Serious also requires additional Campaign difficulty and multiplayer progression.
Yes.
The Campaign supports cooperative play.
However, if you're hunting achievements in co-op, make sure your progress is registering correctly because the developers have previously addressed Campaign tracking issues.
Check your War Journal and confirm the totals for Acts 2, 3, and 4.
Replay any missing missions and verify that the completion notification appears.
If your journal is complete but the achievement remains locked, contact official game support.
Completing every Campaign Side Mission in Gears of War: E-Day is worth the extra exploration.
These optional encounters provide more than additional combat.
They show how the Locust invasion affects the civilians and soldiers struggling to survive across Kalona, while also giving you valuable equipment customization rewards.
There are 17 Secondary Objectives in total, and every one appears in Acts 2, 3, or 4.
Some are easy to find along the main route. Others require you to return after a story event, explore an unfamiliar building, or carefully finish a rescue before leaving.
The most important thing is to verify that every mission is actually complete before moving into the next area.
Pay special attention to Lost in Translation, Family Reunion, Lone Wolf, Rooftop Mayday, and Death from Above. These missions have availability conditions that make them particularly easy to overlook.
Use your War Journal to track your progress and Chapter Replay to recover anything you missed.
Remember to check your Supply Caches after completing missions so you can equip the modifications you've earned.
Once you've finished all 17, you'll unlock Side Piece and move closer to full Campaign completion.
For more gaming guides, services, and player-focused content, visit BoostRoom.
Explore every corner worth exploring, help the survivors, and make sure no Secondary Objective is left unfinished.
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