Locust
The Locust Horde from Gears of War is a monstrous, militaristic species native to the planet Sera and the primary antagonists of the series. They are humanoid but significantly larger and more muscular than humans, with thick, reptilian or leathery skin that ranges from pale to grayish hues. Their grotesque faces feature prominent brow ridges, sunken eyes, and jagged teeth, making them an imposing sight. The Locust come in various shapes and sizes, from standard soldiers to hulking behemoths, each serving a purpose within their society. Originating from the underground world of Sera known as the Hollow, they are adapted to life in darkness and harsh conditions.
The Locust are a highly organized, militaristic force with a strict hierarchy, operating with insect-like efficiency under the leadership of their Queen, Myrrah. They are brutal combatants, combining raw strength with advanced tactics and wielding devastating weapons like the Hammerburst rifle and Gnasher shotgun. In battle, they often deploy massive, terrifying creatures such as Brumaks and Corpsers to crush their enemies. Their emergence on the surface was driven by desperation, as they sought to escape extinction in the Hollow and conquer the surface for their survival. This relentless pursuit of dominance and their terrifying presence make the Locust Horde an iconic and formidable force in the Gears of War universe.
Queen Myrrah
Queen Myrrah, also known as Subject EV-184-9, was the co-creator and Queen of the Locust Horde. The child of an Imulsion miner, Myrrah was born with a unique genetic reaction to Imulsion exposure. She was brought to the New Hope Research Facility as a subject to treat children afflicted with Rustlung and other birth defects caused by Imulsion exposure. After New Hope was shutdown by the COG, key subjects and staff were relocated to an underground laboratory in Mount Kadar by a fringe political group. Through genetic experiments led by Dr. Niles Samson, Myrrah's embryonic stem cells and Sire DNA were responsible for the creation of the Locust. In adolescence, she began a relationship with Dr. Torres and had their daughter Reyna. Myrrah was led to believe by Niles that her infant daughter was killed when Torres escaped with her. Distraught, Myrrah led the Locust to slaughter all the scientists, including Niles, and established themselves as an independent race.
As Queen, Myrrah led her people underground in the Hollow to create Nexus. In the following years, the effects of Imulsion began infecting the Locust, known as Lambency, and caused an epidemic in the Hollow. Myrrah enlisted the aid of COG scientist Professor Adam Fenix to cure the Lambent without harming the Locust. Years later, Adam was unable to find a safe solution for the Locust, causing Myrrah to demand the genocide of the human race by emerging on the surface and waging war in order for her people to colonize the surface. The conflict was nearly successful in the extinction of the humans. Seventeen years after Emergence Day, Myrrah was killed by Sgt. Marcus Fenix following the eradication of the Lambent and crystallization of the Locust by Professor Fenix's Imulsion countermeasure. Despite her death, Myrrah's consciousness survived by retreating into the mind of the Matriarch. Unknown to the humans, the Locust that were defeated by the Imulsion countermeasure survived.
In 42 A.E., the Locust emerged from their Imulsion shells and evolved into the Scions. Unable to properly lead them without her body, Myrrah guided the Scions through the Matriarch and the Speaker to create the Swarm, an organism capable of transforming various species into soldiers for their army. Myrrah discovered Reyna was alive and had a daughter, Kait. The Speaker captured Reyna and connected her to the Hive in order for Myrrah to possess her, but Kait disconnected Reyna at her mother's request. The Swarm managed to reanimate Reyna's body, but Myrrah directed the Hivemind towards Kait to possess her healthy, living body. Kait traced her family's origins back to the Mount Kadar lab and killed the Matriarch, severing her link to the Hivemind and forcing Myrrah to possess Reyna's body. Becoming the Swarm's Queen, Myrrah nurtured the Swarm's intelligence and strength. Through Reyna, Myrrah continues the work she started on Emergence Day: to destroy humanity and claim Sera for her people.
General RAAM
Uzil RAAM was the High General of the Locust Army. RAAM was once a Drone soldier, then a member of the Theron Guard. His skill, intellect, strength, and his loyalty to the Horde and Queen Myrrah earned him the title of head of the military leadership of the Locust Horde. RAAM led the Bloodied Vanguard with Skorge against the Lambent during the Lambent War. He was also a member of the Locust Council during the Lambent War. RAAM had a passion to wipe out all of the Lambent and Humanity, and with his intelligence and willpower, he almost succeeded.
Kantus
Kantus were one of the four primary races of the Locust Horde. Taller and leaner than Drones, the Kantus fulfilled a support capacity on the battlefield with the ability to revive injured Locust with their characteristic chanting. Other than field medics, Kantus were also priests of the Trinity of Worms and used their chanting to lure Rockworms out for hunting parties to slaughter.
Skorge
Ketor Skorge was the High Priest of the Trinity of Worms and later High General of Locust Army. Skorge led the Bloodied Vanguard with Vold RAAM during the Lambent War and assisted him leading the Locust Horde to the surface of Sera to start the Locust War. He was also a member of the Locust Council. After the death of Uzil RAAM during the Lightmass Offensive, Skorge became the High General of the Locust per the request of Uzil RAAM. Due to the Lightmass Bomb awakening their deity, the Riftworm, Skorge led an offensive to sink cities on the Jacinto Plateau in order to weaken the base and allow the Locust to sink Jacinto City - causing the surrounding seawater to flood the Hollow and drown the Lambent. However, the human launched a counterattack, Operation: Hollow Storm. The humans were able to destroy the Riftworm, invade Nexus, and kill Skorge in battle.
Leviathan
The Leviathan was a species of aquatic animal that lived in bodies of water in the Hollows and later on the surface. These massive beasts were feared by the Locust, who wouldn't go near their territory. Several of these creatures were turned Lambent during the early stages of the Lambent Pandemic, though some remained normal.
Riftworm
The Riftworm is a creature from the Hollow. Reaching a maximum confirmed length of over ten miles, it is the largest animal known to have ever existed on Sera. There are two other known subspecies of varying appearance and size, and is possibly related to the Rockworms and Krakens.
Theoron Gaurd
The Theron Guard was an organization of the Locust Hordes' military which represents the elite of the Locust, the head-and-shoulders above the lowly Drones in terms of equipment, intelligence, and training. They are elite Locust troops, assigned to commando-style raids against high-profile targets and high-level defensive missions that require the sort of precision the Therons possess and can handle. Some members of the Theron also act as field officers, leading the lesser Locust troops into battle.
Brumark
The Brumak was one of the largest species of Hollow creature, believed by COG scientists to be the apex predator of the Hollow. COG research indicated that they were bred from apes by the Locust, often growing to about 12+ meters in height (39 feet) and weighing around 10,000 kilograms (22,046 lbs).[1] Along with Corpsers, they were created by the Locust scientist Ukkon.[2] These huge monsters had extraordinarily thick hides, even without their heavy armor. Unlike the Corpser, Brumaks only had two eyes, but their helmets are covered in luminescent lenses, giving the illusion that they have more. They were equipped with wrist-mounted chainguns and a back-mounted rocket launcher, and possessed incredible strength.
Siege Beasts
The Siegebeast was a large creature that has been enslaved by the Locust Horde, and turned into a catapult-like machine. They were known to be used by the Locust during their pre-industrial era and were reintroduced into their armed forces after the flooding of the Inner Hollow. To operate as a catapult, the creature is forcibly strapped into a war machine, with its limbs continually bent back so projectiles can be launched at enemy positions.
Corpsers
Corpsers were huge spider-like creatures that lived in the Hollow. Like many of the Hollow's creatures, Corpsers were harnessed by the Locust as beasts of war; they were often used to dig tunnels so that Locust forces could emerge to the surface.
Lambent
The Lambent from Gears of War are a horrifying and unpredictable enemy, distinct from the Locust and humans. They are creatures and beings infected by Imulsion, a volatile and parasitic substance that transforms its hosts into grotesque, glowing monstrosities. This infection drastically alters their physiology, giving them bioluminescent features and making them unstable, with some creatures even exploding upon death. The Lambent can affect both Locust and human hosts, creating twisted hybrids that are more aggressive and unpredictable than their original forms.
Unlike the organized Locust Horde, the Lambent lack a centralized hierarchy or leadership, instead acting as a chaotic force driven by the spread of Imulsion. Their infection mutates creatures into more dangerous forms, from twisted versions of standard Locust drones to massive abominations like the Lambent Leviathan. The Lambent's presence represents an existential threat, as their spread is uncontrollable and destructive to all life.
Emerging from the underground as a result of the increasing proliferation of Imulsion, the Lambent became a mutual enemy for both the Locust and humanity. Their unpredictable nature, grotesque appearance, and explosive tendencies make them a unique and terrifying force in the Gears of War series, symbolizing the devastating consequences of unchecked Imulsion exposure.