What Happens When the Avatar Project Completes in XCOM 2?
The Avatar Project in XCOM 2 is the alien’s primary goal, and its progress is a constant source of anxiety for players. This project represents the aliens’ slow but steady march towards complete domination. Unlike a typical health bar, the Avatar Project is measured in blocks; each block filled signifies progress towards the aliens’ ultimate objective. But what exactly happens when those blocks fill up? This article dives deep into the consequences of allowing the Avatar Project to complete and answers frequently asked questions surrounding this crucial game mechanic.
The Dreaded Countdown Timer
When the Avatar Project reaches full completion – all 12 blocks are filled – the game doesn’t immediately end. Instead, the familiar project progress bar is replaced by a dreaded countdown timer. This timer represents the final phase of the aliens’ plan. Once this countdown reaches zero, XCOM will be defeated, the Earth will fall completely under alien control, and your campaign will end in a game over screen.
The severity of this outcome is clear: allowing the Avatar Project to complete is a game-ending mistake. However, the timer itself isn’t an absolute, inescapable death sentence. The key to survival is your ability to understand how the countdown timer works and how to counteract it.
How to Halt the Countdown
The countdown timer, thankfully, isn’t a fixed, unstoppable force. The game provides a crucial lifeline: you can halt and even reverse the countdown by reducing Avatar Project progress before it reaches zero. This means you’ll need to be proactive.
The timer can be halted and reverted back to the normal Avatar progress display by doing tasks that decrease avatar progress such as:
-Completing story-related missions like Stealing the Blacksite Vial or Psionic Gate.
–Skulljacking specific Advent officers and Codices
-Destroying alien facilities.
These actions subtract blocks from the Avatar Project, essentially buying you more time to complete your own objectives and ultimately stop the aliens’ plans.
Is There a “Bad Ending”?
While losing to the countdown timer leads to an obvious defeat, it is a game over not a bad ending in the game’s narrative sense. XCOM 2’s story doesn’t simply stop. The game implies that you, and the rest of Earth, are absorbed into the Elders’ grand plan. You don’t witness this or have any control over the result. The game ends, but there is a narrative implication that it has a negative, but not necessarily horrific, conclusion.
Can You Continue After a Game Over?
No, you cannot continue after the timer reaches zero and you receive a game over screen. The game will end, and you’ll have to restart the campaign. XCOM 2 does not allow continuing from this point, reinforcing the importance of actively managing and hindering the Avatar Project.
FAQs About The Avatar Project
1. What is the Avatar Project in XCOM 2?
The Avatar Project represents the aliens’ progress towards their ultimate goal of completely subjugating Earth. It’s a ticking clock that drives the main narrative of the game. When it is fully complete you get a countdown timer. If the countdown reaches zero, your game will end.
2. How many blocks does the Avatar Project have?
The Avatar Project display has 12 blocks. Once all of them are filled, the countdown timer will be initiated.
3. How do I reduce the Avatar Project progress?
You can reduce Avatar progress by completing specific story missions, skulljacking certain enemies, and destroying alien facilities. The amount of reduction varies depending on the action taken.
4. What actions reduce Avatar progress by one block?
- Stealing the Blacksite Vial.
- Skulljacking an Advent officer and killing the resulting Codex.
5. What actions reduce Avatar progress by two blocks?
- Stealing the Forge Stasis Suit.
- Stealing the Psionic Gate.
6. What action reduces Avatar progress by three blocks?
- Skulljacking a Codex and killing the resulting Avatar.
7. Does destroying an alien facility stop progress?
Yes, destroying an alien facility will eliminate all the progress the aliens were gaining from that specific facility. This is a very important way to make a big reduction in Avatar progress.
8. What is the Shadow Chamber’s role in the Avatar Project?
The Shadow Chamber is crucial for completing story-related research that allows you to locate and perform actions that reduce the Avatar Project. It also reveals enemy information. However, it does not directly reduce the Avatar progress.
9. Can I completely stop the Avatar Project permanently?
No, you cannot permanently halt the Avatar Project. It will always exist, and the aliens will constantly try to progress it. The game will always push you to take action to prevent the Avatar Project reaching its end-point.
10. Is it okay to ignore the Avatar Project for a while?
While you can focus on other aspects of the game for a while, neglecting the Avatar Project will likely lead to its completion, resulting in a game over. You should always monitor it carefully.
11. How long does the countdown timer last?
The exact duration of the countdown timer is fixed but it is long enough to ensure you can reduce the Avatar progress before the countdown reaches zero. It is long enough to provide a real sense of danger without being too short to react.
12. Does XCOM 2 continue after the main story?
Yes, you can continue playing even after completing the main storyline, but you will need to start a new game with an Ironman mode enabled. The side missions will continue to spawn, allowing you to play as long as you like.
13. Does the Avatar Project get harder over time?
While the Avatar Project is not more difficult over time, the game’s enemy encounters will become harder and more frequent as the game progresses.
14. What happens if you fail retaliation missions?
Failing or ignoring a Retaliation Strike will result in a loss of contact with the region, radio relays being destroyed, and a permanent reduction in the region’s income. This doesn’t directly impact the Avatar Project, but it hinders your resources.
15. Is it possible to play XCOM 2 endlessly?
Yes, you can play XCOM 2 for as long as you’d like. The opposition will get tougher, and enemy encounters will occur more frequently, but the game will continue to generate content until you choose to end it by engaging in the final mission.