Is Deadeye Worth it in XCOM 2? A Comprehensive Guide

Deadeye is a situational ability in XCOM 2, and its worth depends heavily on your playstyle and the specific soldier build. While it can deliver significant burst damage against high-health targets, its accuracy penalty and action point cost can be detrimental if not used correctly.

Understanding Deadeye

Deadeye is a Sharpshooter ability available in the Gunslinger specialization. It allows a Sharpshooter to take a shot with an accuracy penalty (-25), but it deals increased damage and has a longer range. It costs 2 action points, meaning the Sharpshooter must forgo any movement for that turn. Its effectiveness is primarily determined by the Sharpshooter’s base accuracy, aim bonuses from equipment and abilities, and the enemy’s defense stat.

The Pros and Cons of Deadeye

Pros:

• High Damage Potential: Deadeye provides a considerable damage boost, making it effective against heavily armored or high-health enemies like Sectopods, Gatekeepers, and Andromedons.
• Long Range: The extended range allows you to engage enemies from a safe distance, minimizing the risk of retaliation.
• Synergy with Aim Bonuses: Characters with high natural aim, or those buffed by abilities like “Holo-Targeting” or “Focus Fire”, can mitigate the accuracy penalty and land crucial hits.
• Situational Niche: It can be a lifesaver when you need to take down a priority target quickly, especially when your other soldiers are in vulnerable positions.

Cons:

• Accuracy Penalty: The -25 accuracy is the most significant drawback, drastically reducing the chance to hit, especially against enemies with high defense.
• Action Point Cost: The 2 AP cost restricts movement, potentially leaving your Sharpshooter exposed or unable to reposition for a better shot.
• Dependence on Aim Stacking: Reliably hitting with Deadeye often requires a significant investment in aim bonuses, either through equipment, abilities, or soldier stats.
• Better Alternatives: Other Sharpshooter abilities, such as “Fan Fire”, or abilities from other classes, can sometimes provide more consistent damage output or utility.

When to Use Deadeye (And When Not To)

Use Deadeye When:

• Targeting High-Health Enemies: Against bosses or heavily armored units, the increased damage can be extremely valuable.
• Aim Bonuses are Available: If you can stack aim bonuses through Holo-Targeting, Squadsight bonuses from other units, or soldier abilities, the accuracy penalty becomes less of a concern.
• Distance is a Factor: When engaging enemies at long range, where other abilities might be less effective.
• You Have No Other Options: In desperate situations where a high-risk, high-reward shot is your only hope.
• Using Superior Scope: The aim bonus granted from the Superior Scope can partially offset the Deadeye accuracy penalty.

Avoid Deadeye When:

• Targeting Low-Health Enemies: The accuracy penalty is not worth the damage boost against weaker targets that can be taken down with regular attacks.
• Enemy Cover is High: The combination of the accuracy penalty and enemy cover makes hitting extremely unlikely.
• Accuracy is Already Low: If your Sharpshooter has low base aim or is facing significant aim penalties (e.g., smoke grenades), Deadeye is too risky.
• Mobility is Crucial: When you need to reposition your Sharpshooter quickly, sacrificing both action points for Deadeye is a bad idea.

Optimizing Your Sharpshooter for Deadeye

To make Deadeye a viable option, focus on building your Sharpshooter to maximize their aim:

• Training: Prioritize aim boosts during soldier training.
• Equipment: Equip your Sharpshooter with a Superior Scope (+15 Aim) and a Perimeter Awareness PCS (for bonus aim and Will).
• Team Synergy: Coordinate with other soldiers to provide aim bonuses through abilities like “Holo-Targeting” from a Specialist or “Suppression” from a Grenadier.
• Abilities: Consider investing in abilities like “Death From Above” (to reposition and gain high ground bonuses) to further enhance aim.

Conclusion

Deadeye is not a universally “good” or “bad” ability. Its effectiveness hinges on the context of the situation and your Sharpshooter’s build. When used strategically and with proper aim stacking, it can be a powerful tool for taking down high-priority targets. However, its accuracy penalty and action point cost should be carefully considered before using it. Experiment with different Sharpshooter builds and playstyles to determine if Deadeye fits your overall strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Deadeye work with Squadsight?

Yes, Deadeye does work with Squadsight. This allows you to take long-range shots with increased damage, but remember that Squadsight shots already have a slight accuracy penalty that stacks with Deadeye’s.

2. How does Deadeye interact with High Cover?

Deadeye interacts with high cover the same way any other shot does. The enemy’s cover stat directly reduces your chance to hit. The -25 accuracy from Deadeye further exacerbates the negative impact of high cover.

3. Can Deadeye crit?

Yes, Deadeye can critically hit. The critical hit chance is determined by your Sharpshooter’s crit stat and any additional bonuses.

4. What is the maximum range of Deadeye?

The maximum range of Deadeye is limited only by the map size when used with Squadsight. When not using Squadsight, the range is extended compared to a standard shot, but not infinite.

5. Is Deadeye affected by weapon mods?

Yes, Deadeye benefits from weapon mods such as scopes (accuracy), laser sights (critical chance), and auto-loaders (reduced reload time). The Superior Scope is particularly useful for mitigating the accuracy penalty.

6. Does Deadeye work on robotic enemies?

Yes, Deadeye works on robotic enemies. It is especially useful against heavily armored robots like Sectopods and Gatekeepers.

7. What abilities synergize well with Deadeye?

Abilities that provide aim bonuses, such as “Holo-Targeting”, “Focus Fire”, and the use of battle scanners to reveal enemies are highly synergistic with Deadeye. Also, “Death From Above” can assist with positioning to get a good, high-ground shot.

8. Is Deadeye better than Fan Fire?

The better choice between Deadeye and Fan Fire depends on the situation. Deadeye is for high-damage single shots against tough targets, while Fan Fire allows you to unload multiple shots on weaker targets.

9. How does Deadeye compare to Long Watch?

Deadeye and Long Watch serve different purposes. Deadeye is an offensive ability for dealing burst damage, while Long Watch is a defensive ability for overwatch firing on approaching enemies.

10. Does difficulty level affect Deadeye’s effectiveness?

Yes, difficulty level can impact Deadeye’s effectiveness. On higher difficulties, enemies tend to have higher stats, including defense and dodge, making it harder to hit with Deadeye’s accuracy penalty.

11. Can I use Deadeye after moving?

No, Deadeye costs 2 action points, so you cannot move and use Deadeye in the same turn.

12. How does Deadeye interact with the Hunter’s weapons?

Deadeye functions normally with the Hunter’s weapons. The same rules regarding accuracy and damage apply.

13. Is there any way to remove the accuracy penalty of Deadeye?

No, there is no way to completely remove the accuracy penalty of Deadeye. However, you can significantly mitigate it by stacking aim bonuses from various sources.

14. Does Deadeye work with the Sharpshooter’s pistol?

No, Deadeye only works with the Sharpshooter’s sniper rifle.

15. Is Deadeye worth it in the early game?

In the early game, Deadeye’s accuracy penalty can be particularly crippling due to your Sharpshooter’s lower aim stat and lack of equipment bonuses. It’s generally best to focus on other abilities until your Sharpshooter is better equipped.