How Long Does Poison Last in XCOM: Enemy Within?

The insidious threat of poison in XCOM: Enemy Within can quickly turn a promising mission into a desperate scramble for survival. Understanding how long poison effects last is crucial for effective tactical planning and unit management. In general, poison duration in XCOM: Enemy Within varies depending on the source of the poison. However, the most common type you’ll encounter—the Thin Man’s poison spit—lasts for a maximum of three turns.

Let’s delve into the specifics and explore the different facets of poison in XCOM: Enemy Within.

Thin Man Poison: The Most Common Threat

Duration and Effects

The Thin Man’s poison spit is a 3×3 area of effect attack that creates a cloud of poison that persists for three turns. Any soldier, or most alien units, caught in this cloud at the time of impact or subsequently entering it will become poisoned. While poisoned, a unit suffers:

• 1 damage per turn
• -30 Aim penalty
• -6 Mobility penalty

These penalties can significantly hamper a soldier’s effectiveness, particularly at critical moments.

How Poison Degrades

It’s important to note that the way poison wears off depends on whether the affected unit moves. If a poisoned soldier does not move, the poison will wear off either:

• The following turn (doing 1 damage total)
• The turn after (doing 2 damage total)

However, if a soldier moves the turn after being poisoned, the poison may last for an additional two turns, doing a total of 3 damage. This means if you’re not careful, the movement to get out of range of the initial attack can extend the poison’s effect.

Immunity and Mitigation

It is worth noting that soldiers equipped with Titan Armor or a Medikit are completely immune to Thin Man poison. This is a significant advantage, especially for frontline troops. Even if the Medikit has no more uses, the soldier is still immune to the poison.

Chryssalid Poison: A Deadly Threat

While not as common as Thin Man poison, Chryssalid poison poses a far more serious problem. Unlike Thin Man poison, Chryssalid poison has the potential to last indefinitely, until it is cured or the poison ultimately kills the afflicted unit.

This permanent nature of Chryssalid poison makes it crucial to prioritize eliminating Chryssalids before they can inflict this crippling affliction upon your squad. Curing Chryssalid poison requires specific resources, like Medkits, Medical Protocol, or extracting from the mission, which we’ll discuss later in this article.

Poison Spread

A further complication arises with the way Thin Man poison spreads, at the end of each turn, Thin Man poison spreads from a poisoned soldier to adjacent friendly units. This can create a chain reaction of poison that can quickly affect an entire squad if left unchecked.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Poison in XCOM: Enemy Within

Here are some common questions regarding poison in XCOM: Enemy Within:

1. How many turns can poison last?
   Thin Man poison typically lasts for 1-3 turns, depending on movement. Chryssalid poison lasts indefinitely until cured.

2. What are the debuffs associated with Thin Man poison?
   Poisoned units suffer -1 damage per turn, -30 Aim and -6 Mobility.

3. Does poison stack?
   No, multiple instances of Thin Man poison do not stack. A unit already poisoned will simply have the standard 3 turn duration reset if they are hit again.

4. Can aliens be affected by Thin Man poison?
   Yes, most alien units can be affected by Thin Man poison.

5. How can you cure Thin Man poison?
   Thin Man poison cannot be cured with medkits, it will simply wear off over time and is also negated by the application of a medkit when poisoned.

6. How do you cure Chryssalid poison?
   You can cure Chryssalid poison by using a Medikit, the Specialist’s Medical Protocol ability, or by extracting the soldier from the mission.

7. Does armor prevent Thin Man poison?
   Only Titan Armor provides immunity to Thin Man poison. Standard armor does not.

8. Does a Medikit prevent Thin Man poison?
   Yes, even if the Medikit has no more uses, equipping it prevents Thin Man poison from affecting a soldier.

9. Can you use a Medikit if you are poisoned?
   Yes, you can use a medkit to cure a non-chryssalid poison but the unit may still be poisoned and it is simply waiting for the timer to expire.

10. Can poison kill a soldier?
    Yes. While Thin Man poison can deal up to 3 damage, Chryssalid poison will kill a soldier if not treated.

11. Does Hunkering Down stop poison?
    No, Hunkering Down does not stop poison. It can be used to help mitigate other incoming damage, but does not prevent or stop poison effects.

12. Can a poisoned unit still fire their weapon?
    Yes, despite the aim penalty, a poisoned unit can still move and shoot.

13. Does poison spread to adjacent allies?
    Yes, Thin Man poison can spread to adjacent friendly units at the end of each turn.

14. What happens if a poisoned unit is extracted from a mission?
    When a poisoned unit is extracted, the poison effects are removed. This can be a useful last resort, especially when dealing with Chryssalid poison.

15. Are there any other sources of poison in XCOM: Enemy Within?
    While Thin Man and Chryssalid poison are the primary threats, it’s important to note that certain mods may introduce additional poison sources.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the nuances of poison duration and its effects is paramount for success in XCOM: Enemy Within. The Thin Man’s poison is a persistent annoyance that requires strategic positioning and the use of equipment like Titan Armor or Medkits to mitigate. The Chryssalid’s poison presents a far more urgent problem that must be addressed as quickly as possible. By learning how these poisons function and employing countermeasures, you can protect your team and ensure a victory against the alien threat. Remember to prioritize research, proper squad management, and a keen awareness of the battlefield in order to prevail.