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Gears 5 - Can we Discuss Horde Character Exp

Author

Rachel Ellis

Updated on April 08, 2026

I'd say 46-50 is better, the early waves seem to take longer (mainly leech waves) and don't seem to give as much xp, you also don't risk getting sentinels on 45 which are imo the hardest bosses in the game lol.

Exhibit is also the best map for it since you can't get Swarmaks or Kestrels as bosses. Set up in the spawn with a locker for JD, 3-4 barriers and the rest sentries, save some power for repairs too or maybe a forge. A good JD with GL bleed damage will be able to take down any boss, for the bastions JD can fire a boomshot at the shield and it will hit the bastion usually killing it if bleed is high enough, the only problem is guardians which you just gotta hope they don't instantly mow you all down before JD can take it down.

Personally I've levelled all my characters to level 15+ just from playing normally on master and I just do wave 50 (same method as above but no forge) when I feel like grinding Re-Up XP.