The Halloween event in Gears of War: E-Day runs from October 20 to October 27, and there are 5 free cosmetics on the table for anyone willing to put in the time. Two limited-time modes power the whole thing: Battling the Boogeyman in Horde Siege and Trick-or-Treat in Versus. The challenges expire at 3:00 PM UTC on October 27, so the clock is already ticking.
Trick-or-Treat Versus playlist
What are the two Halloween event modes?
Battling the Boogeyman drops you into Horde Siege with a new objective: take down the Boogeyman and his crew of glowing gourd enemies across the wave structure you already know. The mode plays within the existing Horde Siege framework, so your class loadout and mods still apply.
Trick-or-Treat is the Versus variant. Teams compete to grab the Jack O'Cannon, a special weapon hidden inside pumpkins scattered across the map. The catch is that pumpkins can contain tricks instead of treats, which keeps the mode unpredictable. Pumpkin pickups in either mode count toward one of the event challenges, so you want to be grabbing them actively regardless of which playlist you prefer.
All Halloween event challenges and rewards
Here is every challenge and what it unlocks. The event deadline is October 27 at 3:00 PM UTC.
| Challenge | Reward | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Play one match of Battling the Boogeyman in Horde Siege OR one match of Trick-or-Treat in Versus | Jack O' Lantern (Icon) | Either mode |
| Collect 50 Pumpkins in Horde Siege or Versus | Trick or Treat (Banner) | Either mode |
| Get 10 kills with the Jack O'Cannon in Trick-or-Treat in Versus | Jack O' Lantern (Emblem) | Versus only |
| Play 15 matches of Trick-or-Treat in Versus | The Boogeyman (Character Skin) | Versus only |
| Kill the Boogeyman 10 times in Horde Siege | Pumpkin's Grin (Weapon Skin Set) | Horde Siege only |
Which challenges should you prioritize?
The Jack O' Lantern Icon is the easiest unlock in the game right now. One match in either mode clears it. Do this first.
The Pumpkin collection challenge (50 pumpkins) stacks across both modes, so you make progress toward it no matter which playlist you queue. You will likely complete it naturally while working on the other challenges.
The Boogeyman Character Skin requires 15 Versus matches, which is the biggest time investment of the five. If you are short on time and have to pick one reward to chase, that skin is the one to commit to early since the match count takes the longest to accumulate.
The Pumpkin's Grin Weapon Skin Set requires 10 Boogeyman kills in Horde Siege. The Boogeyman spawns as a special enemy during the mode, so queue with a coordinated group if possible to make sure he goes down consistently each run.
Both Halloween shop bundles explained
Beyond the free challenge rewards, two paid bundles are available in the store for the same October 20 to 27 window.
| Bundle | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hero's End Bundle | 2,000 Iron | Individual items purchasable separately |
| Día de Muertos Bundle | 1,600 Iron | Individual items purchasable separately |
Both bundles let you buy individual cosmetic items rather than committing to the full package, which is worth knowing if you only want one or two pieces from each set. Iron is the premium currency, so factor that in before spending.
How do event challenges fit into the broader challenge system?
Event challenges are a separate category from Weekly, Seasonal, Foundations, and Seasonal Ranked challenges. They run only during the event window and offer uniquely themed cosmetics you cannot earn anywhere else. Weekly challenges reset on a regular cadence and reward XP. Seasonal challenges run the length of a season and unlock weapon skins, character skins, banners, and emblems. Foundations challenges function more like one-time tutorials that reward you for learning core mechanics.
The Halloween event sits outside all of those systems. Completing it does not interfere with your Weekly or Seasonal challenge progress, so there is no reason to skip it if you are already playing.
If you want to track down every other earnable cosmetic in the game, the all achievements guide covers every unlock condition and Gamerscore value for the full 1,000G.
Common mistakes players make with the event
The mistake most players make is queuing exclusively into one mode and missing the challenges locked to the other. Battling the Boogeyman and Trick-or-Treat each have mode-specific challenges, and you need both to complete the full set.
A second common error is ignoring pumpkin pickups during Versus matches while focused on the Jack O'Cannon kills challenge. Both count toward the 50 pumpkin collection challenge, so always grab them when they are nearby even if you are not actively farming that challenge.
The Boogeyman in Horde Siege
FAQ
Can I earn the Halloween rewards after October 27? No. All 5 event challenges expire at 3:00 PM UTC on October 27. There is no confirmed way to earn these cosmetics after the deadline.
Do pumpkin pickups in Horde Siege and Versus both count toward the 50 pumpkin challenge? Yes. The challenge tracks pumpkin collections across either mode, so progress carries over regardless of which playlist you are in.
Do I need to buy the Hero's End or Día de Muertos bundles to complete the challenges? No. All 5 challenge rewards are free and tied only to gameplay actions in the limited-time modes.
Does the event affect my Seasonal or Weekly challenge progress? No. Event challenges are a separate category and completing them does not interfere with your existing Seasonal or Weekly challenge tracking.
For everything else in the game, the full Gears of War: E-Day strategy guides collection covers collectibles, builds, achievements, and more.
