Leveling Up Fast in XCOM 2: A Comprehensive Guide

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Leveling up your soldiers quickly in XCOM 2 is crucial for building a powerful fighting force capable of taking on the increasingly challenging alien threat. The game employs a system where experience points (XP) are primarily gained through combat, specifically by killing enemies and contributing to those kills. However, not all encounters are created equal, and knowing how to maximize your XP gains will drastically improve your campaign. This guide will detail the best methods for rapid soldier advancement.

The Core Principle: Kills and Assists (Mission XP)

The primary method of leveling up is by acquiring XP, which is generated by a combination of kills and what the game considers “mission XP”. Forget the term assist – it’s more accurate to think of it as “mission XP”. Essentially, any action that contributes to your team’s success, particularly in damaging or debilitating enemies before they are killed, contributes towards this XP pool for everyone present on the mission. This system incentivizes teamwork and ensures that even soldiers who don’t land the final blow are rewarded.

Strategies for Faster Leveling

1. Focus on Kills: It’s obvious, but prioritizing kills is paramount. Strategically positioning your soldiers and planning your attacks to ensure you secure as many kills as possible will dramatically boost your XP accumulation. Don’t leave weakened enemies for the next turn – finish them off.
2. Maximize Action Economy: Efficient use of your soldiers’ actions is vital for scoring as many kills as possible each turn. Avoid wasteful movements and focus on positioning for optimal shots.
3. Utilize Grenades: Grenades are excellent for weakening multiple enemies simultaneously, allowing your team to secure kills more easily and accumulate mission XP.
4. Pair Soldiers with Synergies: Classes like the Reaper, Grenadier, and Sharpshooter have tremendous kill potential. Combining their strengths with other classes can boost their offensive capabilities.
5. Take Calculated Risks: While reckless behavior is detrimental, don’t be overly cautious. Aggressive tactics, when executed well, can lead to a higher kill count.
6. VIP and Retaliation Missions (With a Twist): While you might think VIP and Retaliation missions are purely about objectives, they can serve as leveling grounds. Send squads of rookies on these missions (especially VIPs, where combat isn’t usually the primary goal). They won’t get much XP but, they won’t get killed either which helps in the long run. The goal here is not to win a battle but to get through it to get access to more missions to gain more kills.
7. Retaliation missions: Same as the VIP, send rookies into the fray, they will die and it is okay. The idea is to lose as little experienced soldiers as possible.
8. Embrace the Lost: The Lost can be a double-edged sword, but they are also a reliable source of XP. Missions featuring swarms of the Lost often result in numerous kills, providing substantial XP gains. However, be aware of the unique mechanics associated with the Lost; utilize their weaknesses for maximum advantage.
9. Guerilla Warfare Center: Build this as one of your first buildings. As you progress through the game, the more soldiers you have on the squad, the better your survivability.
10. Combat Intelligence: Invest in your combat intelligence as it will allow your soldiers to earn ability points in combat more quickly.
11. Don’t forget the infirmary: If you are struggling to keep your soldiers alive, make sure to build this so they come back to the fight sooner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What gives the most XP in XCOM 2?

   • Direct kills are the primary source of XP, while “mission XP” (assists) contributes significantly but generally less than a final kill. Prioritizing the elimination of all enemies will greatly improve the amount of XP you are getting.

2. Do all enemies give the same amount of XP?

   • No. Stronger enemies and enemies with more HP typically award more XP upon defeat. This means focusing down high-priority targets can also benefit your soldier progression.

3. Does difficulty level affect XP gain?

   • No, difficulty level does not directly impact the amount of XP gained per kill or assist. However, higher difficulties usually feature more and stronger enemies, indirectly resulting in faster leveling due to increased combat opportunities.

4. What are “assists” in XCOM 2?

   • The game doesn’t use the term “assist.” Think of them as “mission XP”. Damaging, weakening, or otherwise contributing to an enemy’s elimination, even if you don’t get the final kill, counts towards it.

5. Does mind control affect XP gain?

   • If you mind control an enemy and kill it, you will get the XP from it but not much.

6. Do Lost kills provide significant XP?

   • Lost kills do provide XP but the amount is quite small per Lost. However, since you are more likely to kill more of them on missions where they are present you will gain more XP than on normal missions.

7. Can soldiers gain XP from training or other non-combat activities?

   • No, XP in XCOM 2 is exclusively gained through combat encounters. Training and other activities do not contribute to soldier experience.

8. Is there an XP cap for soldiers?

   • Soldiers in XCOM 2 do not have an explicit XP cap. They gain ranks, and thus, new abilities, with enough earned experience.

9. What is the best class for fast leveling?

   • The Reaper is often considered the strongest class and excels at racking up kills, making them a good choice for fast leveling. Grenadiers are also great for multi kills with explosives.

10. Is it better to spread out kills or focus on one soldier?

    • Focus on team kills to maximize mission XP. Letting each soldier have kills will help everyone gain experience together instead of one at a time.

11. Can I farm XP?

    • While it’s not a traditional farming system, playing multiple missions with heavy combat will result in better XP gains. Do not be afraid of sending soldiers on missions where the winning of the mission isn’t that important.

12. Does Evac zone count towards XP?

    • Evac zone has no effect on XP gain. It’s based on actions in battle and kills, not just completing objectives.

13. How important is Combat Intelligence for leveling?

    • Combat Intelligence is extremely important for leveling up as it allows soldiers to gain ability points during battle. Make sure you upgrade this to make your soldiers stronger faster.

14. Should I focus on “assists” rather than kills?

    • While “mission XP” (assists) does matter, kills provide the most XP. Prioritize getting the final blow when possible, but don’t neglect weakening and debilitating enemies with the rest of your team.

15. Is there a way to make the game easier to help me level faster?

    • Yes, in the options menu you can select to make the timer twice as long by selecting “Time Turner” and double the Avatar Project timer by selecting “Lengthy Scheme”. This will give you more time to level up your soldiers and learn the mechanics.

By understanding these principles and implementing these strategies, you can significantly accelerate the leveling process of your XCOM 2 soldiers, turning them into a force capable of overcoming even the most challenging alien adversaries. Remember, tactical planning, efficient combat, and exploiting the game’s mechanics are key to achieving rapid soldier progression. Good luck, Commander!