Who Is Mags Carter?

Mags Carter at a glance

Mags is new to the series, so E-Day is her first appearance. Xbox's own campaign preview introduced her alongside Lucas Reyes as the two new faces joining Marcus and Dom. Her file lists no next of kin, and she quickly forms a bond with Reyes.

Her backstory

Mags served through 15 years of the Pendulum Wars' most dangerous demolition work as a squad leader in the 8th Kalona Siege Grenadiers. Her record was decorated, but it ended badly. An explosive malfunction killed her entire squad, and she was discharged immediately afterward despite her service.

She went home to Kalona as a civilian and took a job in the harsh conditions of the Timgad Prime Imulsion refinery. Her family has deep roots there: her father and his brothers all worked at the refinery. She describes the workers' union itself as a kind of family, whether or not people are related.

Her time at the refinery has left a mark. During the campaign she mentions a lung condition that refinery workers sometimes develop, and that she has been ill on leave for months. It is a small detail that makes her feel like a person shaped by the war's economy, not just its battles.

Her role in the story

When the Locust attack, Mags rejoins the army on the spot. She introduces herself as a discharged Specialist from the 8th KSG with no squad left, and is welcomed back into service. Soon after, Marcus, Dom, Carter and Reyes are formally named Bravo Squad.

Because she knows Kalona and the refinery inside out, Mags becomes central to the later parts of the campaign. A major thread revolves around evacuating the refinery, where her knowledge of the facility matters. Her squadmates trust her to find the workers if anyone can.

The campaign unfolds over three intense nights in Kalona, a new city built specifically for this game. To see how the story ends for Bravo Squad, read our ending explained page — it contains full spoilers.

Mags and the rest of Bravo Squad

Bravo Squad is made up of two series veterans and two newcomers, and Mags is the most experienced of the new pair. Each member arrives on Emergence Day carrying something from the war that has just ended. That shared weight is a big part of how the squad bonds.

• Marcus Fenix — gave up a privileged life to enlist alongside his friend Carlos, and carries guilt over Carlos's death in the Pendulum Wars.
• Dominic Santiago — a COG commando at a crossroads now that the war is over, worried about his family.
• Mags Carter — the discharged demolitions veteran who lost her entire squad and returned to refinery work.
• Lucas Reyes — a Cadet First Class who wants to fight on the front line but was assigned to communications officer training.

Mags and Reyes form a quick bond, the veteran with nobody left and the cadet desperate to prove himself. Marcus and Dom, meanwhile, already share years of history. The mix gives the campaign two very different perspectives on the same disaster.

Our wiki overview lists the wider supporting cast, including Zee, Gill Gettner and Bryce Valen of Charlie Squad.

Who voices Mags Carter?

Mags is voiced by Elizabeth Faith Ludlow, credited in some sources as Elizabeth Ludlow. Her previous credits include The Walking Dead, where she played Arat, as well as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

Is Mags Carter playable?

Yes. Mags is listed as a playable character, and all four members of Bravo Squad can be controlled. That four-person lineup lines up with the campaign's support for up to four players in online co-op. On Steam the game is described as playable alone or with up to four players across Campaign, Horde Siege and Versus.

If you play solo, the other three squad members are handled by AI. Our beginner tips explain how to get the most out of AI squadmates, and when co-op is the better choice.

Mags Carter skins and how to unlock them

Emergence Mags is the easiest premium-looking skin to earn without spending anything. You get it by throwing explosives into a Bilefrog's mouth, which also unlocks the Explosive Indigestion achievement. Our tips page explains the trick.

Infantry Armor Mags costs either 9,000 Coins or 500 Iron in the Barracks. Iron is the premium currency, and the Premium Edition includes 1,000 of it.

Why Mags Carter is being talked about

Mags became a talking point before launch. During the multiplayer beta, screenshots of her circulated widely, and some players noticed how often Marcus praised her shooting in dialogue. She was also the only character with an Epic skin available in the beta.

The conversation continued after release. Some Steam reviewers felt she was given too much screen time relative to Marcus and Dom, calling it a bait and switch. Others simply wanted to know who the new character was, which is part of why her name became a fast-rising search term.

Critics' views on the story overall were mixed even as the game scored well. Our review roundup covers what reviewers praised and criticised about the campaign's writing.