Edit 3/3/2018: All images have been migrated from Photobucket to Flickr and URLs have been updated. Images should now be working properly once more.10/8/2011 - There are already a few GoW3 Collectibles guides out there, but I have found them to be unclear at times and sometimes even misleading, so here is my guide to help clear things up. This guide will explain as simply and accurately as possible how to get all of the Collectibles and COG Tags with pictures to help point you in the right direction.
See the other solutions for great video guides. If like me, however, you prefer a written guide then this may help you out. -Z3RO 37PROLOGUE: TROUBLED PAST•COG Tags #1: Pic As soon as you have control of Marcus exit your cell, turn right, and kick in the door of the adjacent cell. They're on the floor.
CHAPTER 1: ANCHORED•Twenty Dollar Bill: Pic As soon as you have control of Marcus turn around. They're on the table.
•Dom's Psych Report: Pic Exit the room with the last collectible, turn right down the hall and enter the first room on your left called "Sick Bay". They're on a table in the corner.
•Requisition Form: Pic Go back into the hall from the last collectible and turn left. Enter Baird's room, the last room on the left. It is on a table to the right inside the room.
•COG Tags #2: Pic After you reach the deck of the ship, raise the lift, and watch the cutscene where Prescott returns, you will be thrown into a fight. Follow the left wall as you fight until you come to a shipping container with the Crimson Omen symbol. There is a dead COG on the other side of the catwalk above you. Shoot him to make the Tags fall.
CHAPTER 2: ABANDON SHIP•Silverback Manual: Pic As soon as you enter the Silverback Maintenance Bay it is on your immediate left.
CHAPTER 3: HOMECOMING•Journal: Pic Shortly after the level starts as you're walking pay attention to the left side of the street until you see a white sign on the wall that reads "Best Breakfast In Town". Kick in the doors and it is right in front of you.
•Child's Diary: Pic During the fight at the playground check inside the structure with the slide.
•Grocery List: Pic Inside the Grocery Store when the very first stalk comes up look to your right to see checkout counters. It is on counter 1.
•COG Tags #3: Pic Still inside the grocery store when you get access to the Loader kick down the cabinet blocking your way and then walk around to the right where you will find an office. They are on the desk.
CHAPTER 4: HELPING HAND•Clipping, Times-Tribune: Pic While walking through the camp where everyone knows Cole Train you will eventually pass through two green metal doors. After walking through them keep walking around to your right until you find it on the ground behind a shipping crate.
•COG Tags #4: Pic When you get outside and restock your ammo someone will open a brown metal gate for you. Turn left immediately after the gate and these will be at the end of the pier.
CHAPTER 5: MVP•Cougars Season Program: Pic When given a choice choose "Upper Path". Walk to the end of the hall and turn right. It is behind the counter.
•Cougars Player Handbook: Pic Once downstairs make an immediate right just after the "South Gate". It is on the ground by a blue soda machine.
•Cole's Championship Ring: Pic After Cole's fantasy football moment walk toward where your fellow Gears are waiting for you and look slightly to the left where you will see a shack with "UXO" written on it. It is on the ground in front of the shack.
CHAPTER 6: HANGING BY A THREAD•Tollbooth Tokens: Pic Once on the bridge you will shortly enter a fight with two enemy turret emplacements. When the coast is clear, look on the right side of the turret closest to you (in front of you when you started) to find these on the ground.
•Bayonet: Pic Just after the last one, go through the big metal gate the Boomers opened up and walk along the right side of the street a short distance until you see a shipping container with a destructible wooden crate inside. It is on the other side of the crate.
•COG Tags #5: Pic Just after the last one walk forward until a new battle begins. Stay to the left and you will shortly come across a ladder that will lead you to some catwalks underneath the fight. It is on the ground in the first oval-shaped area of the catwalks.
•Sight Seeing Guide: Pic After killing the Gas Barge with mortars you will eventually climb up a ladder. When you walk outside, walk around to the right. It is on the ground next to some stairs.
CHAPTER 1: SHIPWRECK•Tomatoes: A Beginners Guide: Pic Immediately when you start there will be a brown container in front of you to the left a little. It is inside.
•Octus Medal Diploma: Pic After the first battle walk forward until a second battle starts with Savage Drones popping up out of the ground in front of you. Look to your right to see a downed helicopter. It is on the ground in front of it.
•Captain's Log: Pic After killing the Brumak with the Siege Beast continue on and hug the right wall until 3 enemies come popping up out of the ground. There is a crate stuck in the cliffside above where they appeared. Shoot it to drop the collectible.
•COG Tags #6: Pic After the cutscene with Prescott you will see the Crimson Omen on the yellow container. Walk around to the other side of the container and they will be on the ground.
CHAPTER 2: HOUSE OF SAND*No Collectibles*CHAPTER 3: FORCED ENTRY•COG Tags #7: Pic These Tags aren't as tricky to obtain as they seem. You will need to kill all 5 of the guards before they sound their horns in order to get access to the room it is in. When you start the level walk forward and you will see a guard in front of you. Kill him. Next walk forward again and look up to the walkway in front of you to see 2 guards. Kill them both. There are sniper rifles and a One Shot in this area if it helps, but if you are playing on Casual it only takes a couple bullets from your Lancer so that is probably your best bet. Next walk forward and to the right to see another walkway in the distance with 2 more guards on either side of the horn in the middle. Kill one and then the other. You'll know when you've done it right. Once inside the Side Entrance follow the lower path and it will be underneath a basket.
CHAPTER 4: TRENCH RUN•Locust Hammer: Pic Face the exit of the bunkers where you avoided the Gas Barge attack and turn around. It is behind you to the left in the corner.
CHAPTER 5: HIJACK•Queen's Symbol: Pic After the Gas Barge drops 3 Palace Guards with Torque Bows a brown door will open so you can move on to the next fight. On the right of that door is a tower-like structure. Walk through the door and around to the other side of the tower, kick in the gate, and find the collectible on the ground.
CHAPTER 6: AIRBORNE•Manifest: Pic After accessing Dizzy's weapons stash a new fight will break out. Go to the street and take a left. Walk to the very end of the street. It is on the ground.
•COG Tags #8: Pic On the other side of the street is a building where the Locust are attacking you from. Walk up the stairs to the building and take a right at the top of the stairs. Walk forward until you enter a room. They are in the corner of the room.
CHAPTER 7: TOUCHDOWN*No Collectibles*CHAPTER 1: UNBREAKABLE•Anvil Gate Plaque: Pic As soon as you have control of your character turn around. It is on the wall behind you.
•Watercolor Painting: Pic Go up the right staircase and keep to the right until you come to a room on your right. The collectible is very big on the wall inside the room so it's hard to miss.
•Sam's Father's Medals: Pic Exit the room with the painting, walk forward a very short distance and turn left. Walk across this catwalk. The medals are in the shack at the end of the catwalk next to the ammo.
CHAPTER 2: RESCUE•COG Tags #9: Pic You will soon be trapped inside a courtyard with a Lambent Zerker (if you chose the right path initially then this will be your 2nd encounter with it). As soon as you have control of your character, turn 90 degrees to your right and search that wall for these Tags.
•Journal: Pic Walk around the circular structure in the middle of the area until you find this on the ground next to a blue ammo container.
CHAPTER 3: BREAKNECK RUN*No Collectibles*CHAPTER 4: GHOST TOWN•Panicked Note: Pic After the cutscene with the "crazy guy" walk down the staircase on your left to find this on the ground next to a Scorcher.
•COG Tags #10: Pic Shortly after the last one you will come to a door with 2 boards over it. Saw through them, enter, and follow the rooms to the right. They are on the ground.
•
Message: Pic After defending yourself against wave after wave of Former with the Vulcan Cannon two ladders will drop down behind you. Take the left ladder and immediately turn left to find this at the end of the hallway.
CHAPTER 5: BROTHERS TO THE END•Air Raid Shelter Sign: Pic After the cutscene where Dom pays his respects to Maria a large group of Former will break through the door of the church. After defeating them enter the church and immediately turn left. Saw through the boards on the door and follow the path to the left. It is on the wall.
CHAPTER 1: ASHES TO ASHES•COG Tags #11: Pic After a metal crate of Polyps falls in front of you, defeat them, then walk around the crate and go left. You will see a room lit up by some fire. The Tags are inside.
CHAPTER 2: CRATER•Journal: Pic As soon as the chapter starts you can see a wooden door below you to your right. Kick it in.
CHAPTER 3: HANG 'EM HIGH•Fuel Order: Pic After failing to start the cable car walk through the barbed wire and keep walking to the right as far as you can go. It is on the ground next to a Retro Lancer at the end of the path.
•Old Magazine: Pic You will eventually climb up a ladder to get to the roof. Continue on until you walk inside a building. The first room inside this building has 2 couches in it. This is underneath the 2nd couch.
CHAPTER 4: BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES•Tabloid: Pic When you are introduced to the new Serapede enemy you will see a large blue container to your right. It is behind the container.
CHAPTER 5: BON VOYAGE•Bulletin: Pic At the very beginning choose to search to the left first to find the rotor. Eventually, you will walk through 2 yellow doors to the Maintenance Bay. You will come to big a room where you are attacked by a Kantus, Mauler, and other enemies. Walk down the short stairs in front of you and turn immediately to the left to find it on the ground inside this room.
•COG Tags #12: Pic After you have gathered the rotor you will begin searching for the fuel. Before going through the doors to the Docks labeled "TO DOCKYARD", turn around and walk behind you to the left to find these on the ground.
•Contractor Report: Pic Once both supplies have been returned to Dizzy your objective will become "Escort the submarine to the water dock." When the second set of doors opens walk up the staircase to your left and continue forward until you enter a small room. It is on the floor to your left.
CHAPTER 6: WATERY GRAVE*No Collectibles*CHAPTER 1: HOME AWAY FROM HOME•Pamphlet: Pic At the very beginning fight your way up all the sets of stairs until you come to the top where the railroad tracks are. At the top of the final set of stairs turn left and walk to the end to find this on the ground.
•Assault Plans: Pic Once you get the Silverback fight along the beach and stay to the left side. Eventually, you will come to a cave on your left and inside there will be a gated area. Kick down the gate with the Silverback.
CHAPTER 2: BLACKOUT•COG Tags #13: Pic Right when you start there is a Silverback you can get before you take the elevator down. Facing the entrance to the elevator, look to your right. The Silverback is behind that big door. To the right of the door is a green button you press to open it. Once the elevator stops walk down the hallway which has walls marked with 3. There is a door on your left which can be kicked in with the Silverback.
•Schematics: Pic Later in the level when Adam Fenix tells you to shut down 3 generators you will go down an elevator. When you exit the elevator you will be in a room with a desk in the middle. Press the red button on the other side of the desk to reveal a wall safe on the right side of the room.
CHAPTER 3: SHATTERED PARADISE•Money Stack: Pic As soon as you get inside the hotel make a left. At the end of this hall to your immediate left is a loose tile on the ground you can interact with.
•Diary: Pic After destroying the dam with the Siege Beast you will be back inside. Walk up the stairs to the circular area with the white statue in the middle. The collectible is on one of the tables in this area.
•COG Tags #14: Pic From the last one walk through the door to the next area. Go all the way straight down this hallway until the very end. The Tags are on the ground.
CHAPTER 4: THRESHOLD•Memorial Announcement: Pic Right when the chapter starts just walk up the stairs and you will see it at the end of the hallway.
•Announcement: Pic Just after the last one you will enter an elevator and trigger a cutscene. After the cutscene, turn around and press the elevator button on the wall to open up the other elevator and reveal the collectible inside.
CHAPTER 5: ASCENSION•Brochure: Pic After your fight on the circular elevator you will get off on the 2nd floor. Run all the way around to the left until you come down the stairs to the 1st floor. It is on the ground at the far end of this room by the couch
•COG Tags #15: Pic After dropping the ball on Queen Myrrah and her bug of doom you will exit another elevator. Just walk around to the right and destroy some wooden crates to get to it.
•Fenix Research: Pic After the cutscene with Adam Fenix turn around and it will be on a chest by a telescope.
CHAPTER 6: RECKONING*No Collectibles*