Lancer

A guide that calls both weapons simply ‘the Lancer’ can leave you looking for the wrong melee attack. Identify the model first. The prototype’s chainsaw is a defining part of this story, while the MK1 is the earlier rifle design.[2][5]

The August hands-on report introduces the prototype at Oria Stadium in Act 2, Chapter 2, when Bravo meets Tai and Theta Squad. Its construction combines a standard rifle with an old chainsaw. That is the previewed introduction, rather than a confirmed unlock schedule for every mode.[1]

The first reveal showed Marcus with a conventional bayonet because the familiar chainsaw rifle was not yet established at the start of this period. The Coalition subsequently confirmed that E-Day tells the chainsaw Lancer’s origin. The reveal’s absence of a chainsaw was not a promise that the entire game would exclude it.[5][6]

In the June developer podcast, the team discusses adapting the grocery-store incident involving Tai and a broken bayonet from the books. That incident is moved earlier for E-Day. This is an acknowledged adaptation of the chronology, so the broad claim that E-Day makes no changes to earlier lore would be misleading. It also does not establish Marcus as the weapon’s sole inventor.[7]

Use the Prototype Chainsaw Lancer when looking for the chainsaw attack; the MK1’s blade is a different attachment. Enemy eligibility matters as well: a Boomer must be weakened first. The official gameplay notes do not give a numerical health threshold for that execution.[2]

A universal keyboard key or controller button would be unreliable without a named control preset and build. This entry does not supply an unverified input sequence. Check the equipped weapon and your in-game control bindings; Boot Camp and Combat Training are the announced places to learn the controls.[3]

Campaign mods are also shown in the August preview: Supply Caches let the squad change weapons and equip upgrades, including a chainsaw-kill reload effect. Campaign access through these caches and Horde’s class-and-parts progression are distinct systems.[1][3]

Weapon modifications belong to PvE. In Horde Siege, a mod first needs to be unlocked through class progression and then purchased with Weapon Parts. Versus uses equal starting equipment and excludes weapon mods.[2][3]

The August 12 beta update increased the prototype’s base damage and reduced its Perfect Active Reload damage. No percentage was supplied. This records a beta adjustment, not a final damage chart or evidence that the gun will keep exactly that tuning at release.[4]