How to Master XCOM 2: A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a Better Commander

Getting better at XCOM 2 isn’t just about luck; it’s about strategy, planning, and understanding the game’s complex mechanics. To improve, you need to focus on several key areas: strategic base building, effective tactical gameplay, optimal research priorities, and smart squad management. It’s about making informed decisions and minimizing risks. Master these elements and you’ll transform from a struggling commander to a tactical genius leading humanity against the alien threat. Let’s delve into the specifics.

Strategic Base Building: The Foundation of Success

Your base, the Avenger, is where your campaign is won or lost. The choices you make about which facilities to build, and in what order, significantly impact your capabilities.

Prioritize Early Game Essentials

1. Guerrilla Training School (GTS): This is arguably the most important early-game building. The first squad size upgrade is crucial for survivability and tactical flexibility. The ability to train additional soldiers is also invaluable. Building this early will give you a significant advantage.
2. Power Relay: Power is a crucial resource. Prioritize a Power Relay early to ensure you can expand your base and maintain other vital facilities. Upgrading it as soon as possible is also crucial.
3. Resistance Comms: Expanding your global reach is paramount. Building Resistance Comms early will allow you to contact more regions, gain more resources, and access more missions. Upgrading to Resistance Radio should be another early priority to keep those income streams flowing.
4. Proving Ground: Essential for developing advanced weapons and items. The Proving Ground allows you to take a tactical advantage in battle.

Later Base Building Considerations

• Advanced Warfare Centre (AWC): Once you’ve secured your early-game setup, the AWC is vital for healing wounded soldiers faster and granting them bonus perks, keeping your seasoned veterans in the field.
• Psi Lab: If you plan to leverage psychic soldiers, the Psi Lab is crucial. Psi Operatives offer significant tactical advantages, but they need training to become effective.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

• Ignoring Power: Running out of power will severely hinder your progress. Monitor your power consumption and upgrade relays as needed.
• Overlooking Resistance Comms: A limited global presence means fewer resources and fewer missions. Expand your network as soon as possible.
• Neglecting the Avatar Project: Keep a very close eye on the Avatar Project timer. Building facilities that slow down its progress or using Covert Actions to delay the project are both crucial. A failure to slow down the timer will lead to the end of the game.

Tactical Gameplay: Mastering the Battlefield

The tactical layer is where the rubber meets the road. Your decisions in combat will determine whether your soldiers survive and complete their missions.

Core Tactical Principles

1. Full Cover is Essential: Ensure your soldiers are in full cover as often as possible. Half cover is better than nothing, but full cover gives you the best defense against enemy attacks.
2. Flanking is Key: Aim to flank enemies whenever possible. Flanking significantly increases your hit chance and often provides a critical hit bonus.
3. Explosives are Your Friend: Grenades can destroy cover, deal area-of-effect damage, and flush out enemies from entrenched positions. The Grenadier class excels with explosives.
4. Overwatch Is Vital: Use Overwatch to punish enemies moving into the open. This is especially effective when paired with flanking maneuvers.
5. Don’t Rush: Approach each encounter carefully. Take your time, plan your moves, and avoid overextending.
6. Patience: Sometimes you don’t have to move, instead allow the enemy to run to you. Sometimes this can give you the upper hand in combat.

Soldier Class Considerations

• Rangers: Excellent for close-quarters combat and flanking maneuvers. Utilize them to get into position and deal heavy damage. A Phantom-path Ranger paired with the Wraith suit can infiltrate and outmaneuver enemies.
• Grenadiers: Essential for destroying cover and dealing area damage. They are excellent for softening up groups of enemies or disrupting their formations.
• Specialists: Provide support with hacking and healing. They are great at disabling mechanical enemies and keeping soldiers alive.
• Sharpshooters: Great for long-range damage. Snipers can be powerful if you position them well and allow them to take shots without being flanked.
• Psi Operatives: Powerful later-game additions that can mind control enemies or dish out psionic damage.

Adapting to Enemy Encounters

• Study Alien Behavior: Each alien enemy has unique abilities and behavior patterns. Understanding these will allow you to anticipate their actions and counter them effectively.
• React to the Battlefield: Be ready to adjust your strategy based on the layout of the map and the types of enemies you are facing.

Research Priorities: Teching Up for Success

Research provides access to powerful new weapons, armor, and technology. Choosing what to research, and when, is crucial for staying ahead of the alien threat.

Essential Research Early Game

1. Resistance Communications: Necessary to expand your network and gain resources.
2. Weapon Upgrades: Prioritize weapon upgrades before armor upgrades to increase your damage output.
3. Muton Autopsy: Unlocks critical advanced weapons and tools.
4. Alien Alloys and Elerium: Essential resources to get to higher level gear.

Mid and Late Game Research

• Advanced Armor: Provides improved protection for your soldiers.
• Plasma Weapons: Increases your damage against the stronger late-game enemies.
• Psionics: Develops Psionic operatives to fight the alien threat.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

• Delaying Autopsies: Delaying enemy autopsies can slow down research into vital technologies.
• Ignoring Weapon Upgrades: Focusing solely on armor upgrades while ignoring weapons can leave you underpowered.

Squad Management: The Heart of Your Force

Your squad is your most valuable asset, so managing them effectively is essential to success.

Soldier Progression and Training

1. Train New Recruits: Don’t be afraid to send lower-ranked soldiers on missions with veterans to get experience and keep your roster healthy.
2. Level Up Efficiently: Focus on killing the correct enemies to quickly level up specific class types.
3. Utilize the GTS: Train your soldiers in the GTS to gain additional perks and improve their abilities.
4. Use the Infirmary: Don’t let wounded soldiers sit in the hangar. Get them back into the field quickly with the Infirmary.

Choosing the Right Squad Composition

• Balance is Key: A balanced squad will have a mix of classes to handle different situations. A solid mid-game build can have two Rangers, one Specialist, one Grenadier, and one Sharpshooter.
• Adapt to Mission Type: Choose your squad composition based on the mission at hand. Some missions might require more support classes, while others might require heavy damage dealers.

Managing Injured Soldiers

• Heal Them Quickly: Using the AWC to reduce the time needed for soldier healing.
• Don’t Burn Out Soldiers: If a soldier is badly injured, rest them, don’t risk taking them into a mission injured.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

• Relying on a Single Squad: Having a single, static squad can lead to problems if your veteran soldiers are injured.
• Ignoring Class Synergy: Not taking class synergy into account may leave you unbalanced.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is XCOM 2 Beginner Friendly?

XCOM 2 can be challenging for newcomers, but it’s relatively beginner-friendly on easier difficulties. The theme is forgiving to some failures and mistakes. However, higher difficulties can be overwhelming.

2. What’s the Most Powerful Class in XCOM 2?

Grenadiers are often considered the most powerful and fun class. They can destroy cover and deal large area-of-effect damage, making them incredibly versatile.

3. Does XCOM 2 Get Easier?

The game does get easier once you obtain advanced gear, utilize advanced abilities, and “transform” your soldiers using the AWC. Explosives can help you if you are struggling.

4. How Can I Make XCOM 2 Easier?

You can make XCOM 2 easier using game options that lengthen mission timers and slow down the Avatar Project timer. The real way to get better is by practicing and improving your skills.

5. What’s the Best Order to Build Avenger Facilities?

A good early building order is: Guerrilla Training School > Power Relay > Resistance Comms > Proving Ground. The GTS to get squad size and then communications and power to keep your operation expanding.

6. What’s the Most Powerful Weapon in XCOM 2?

The Plasma Bolt Caster is at the top in terms of damage per shot. However, it must be reloaded after every shot, making it a situational weapon.

7. Who is the Strongest Enemy in XCOM 2?

The Berserker is the strongest melee enemy. This female alien can be quite dangerous if it gets into melee range.

8. Which Enemy Should I Mind Control?

Mutons, Heavy Floaters, and Muton Elites are great targets for Mind Control due to their low Will and high damage potential.

9. What Should I Do First in XCOM 2?

Build Power Relays and Resistance Comms, upgrading them quickly. Also, keep an eye on the Avatar Project counter. The GTS is also incredibly important to get a larger squad size.

10. How Do I Level Up Fast in XCOM 2?

Level up by completing missions and killing enemies. Specific classes receive more XP for kills: Rangers earn four points per kill, specialists earn three and so on.

11. What is the Optimal Order of Research for XCOM 2?

Prioritize Resistance Comms -> Resistance Radio early game, focusing on weaponry over armor. Do Muton autopsies as soon as possible.

12. Can I Ignore Retaliation Strikes in XCOM 2?

Ignoring Retaliation Strikes will cause you to lose contact with that region, its income stream, and any relays established there. You need to reestablish contact after that.

13. Who is the Hardest Alien Ruler in XCOM 2?

The Archon King is the hardest Alien Ruler to kill. This enemy is a more powerful version of the Archon alien.

14. What is the Max Rank in XCOM 2?

A soldier can reach a max rank of Colonel after progressing through the Rookie, Squaddie, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Major ranks.

15. How Important is Combat Intelligence in XCOM 2?

Combat Intelligence (from the War of the Chosen DLC) allows soldiers to earn Ability Points faster in combat, granting extra abilities to use.

Conclusion

Mastering XCOM 2 requires dedication, planning, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. By focusing on strategic base building, tactical gameplay, research priorities, and squad management, you can become a more effective commander. Remember to adapt to each situation, learn from each mission, and never underestimate the enemy. With enough practice and strategic thinking, you can lead humanity to victory against the alien threat.