What is the Best Difficulty for Your First XCOM 2 Playthrough?
For a first playthrough of XCOM 2, the best difficulty setting is generally considered to be Veteran. This option provides a good balance of challenge and accessibility, allowing new players to learn the game’s mechanics without being overwhelmed or bored. It’s not too easy that the action becomes trivial, nor is it so punishing that it leads to constant frustration. Veteran difficulty is designed to push you to strategize without resorting to overly punishing or unfair scenarios. You will have to learn and adapt, making success all the more rewarding.
Why Veteran Difficulty is the Recommended Starting Point
Learning Curve and Engagement
XCOM 2 is a game that rewards careful planning and tactical thinking. Starting on Veteran difficulty allows you to gradually learn the game’s nuances. You’ll be challenged to make smart decisions, understand the different soldier classes, and manage your resources effectively. This difficulty setting presents obstacles that require thought, but aren’t so brutal that they feel impossible, leading to a more engaging experience. You’ll learn by doing and not by being completely stomped on, making the overall learning curve smoother.
Balanced Challenge
Rookie difficulty is often deemed too easy for most players, potentially making the game feel slow and less engaging. While it might be tempting for absolute beginners, it can quickly lead to boredom. On the other hand, Commander and Legendary difficulties introduce significant spikes in challenge, with enemies dealing more damage, possessing more health, and gaining various perks that make survival extremely hard for newcomers. Veteran difficulty provides a middle ground, testing your skills while not being overly punishing or frustrating, meaning you’ll spend more time developing strategies than pulling your hair out in frustration.
Room for Growth
Starting on Veteran gives you the space to improve your tactics and develop strategies that will become vital in the higher difficulty levels for future playthroughs. You will make mistakes, but these mistakes will serve as valuable learning experiences, preparing you for more demanding playthroughs. You’ll gain experience and hone your skills without being constantly on the edge of a wipe.
Understanding the Other Difficulty Options
Rookie
Rookie is ideal for players completely new to turn-based strategy games. However, for those with some experience, Rookie can often feel too easy, leading to a lack of engagement. If you find yourself wanting a more challenging game soon after starting, consider restarting on Veteran. Rookie’s main purpose is to help beginners understand basic mechanics and controls. If you are not a complete beginner, Veteran is the way to go.
Commander
Commander difficulty drastically ramps up the challenge. The AI opponents become smarter, soldiers die more easily, and resources are far more scarce. This setting is suitable for players who are familiar with XCOM mechanics and seek a significant challenge, after they have completed a Veteran playthrough. This difficulty can be extremely unforgiving, but that is what some experienced players are looking for.
Legendary
Legendary difficulty is the most punishing setting in the game. It combines the increased enemy stats and aggressive AI of Commander difficulty with added limitations and the brutal Ironman mode, where saves are permanent and mistakes can’t be undone. This difficulty is only recommended for XCOM veterans seeking the ultimate challenge, and it isn’t recommended at all for any first playthrough.
Ironman Mode
It’s important to note that Ironman Mode can be enabled on any of the above difficulties, and its implications are extremely significant. This mode creates only one save, which is overridden each turn. This means you cannot reload previous saves if your team does badly. It significantly increases the stakes of each mission. While Ironman adds a huge amount of tension, it is not recommended for new players. Iron Man mode is for players who like to play with the highest stakes.
15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About XCOM 2 Difficulty
1. Does the difficulty in XCOM 2 affect the story?
No, the difficulty setting does not change the story of XCOM 2. However, it does affect the challenges you face, the enemies’ health and damage, and the overall flow of the game.
2. How does difficulty impact resources in XCOM 2?
Higher difficulties typically mean that resources are more scarce. You’ll need to carefully manage your Intel, supplies, and other resources to stay afloat. Veteran difficulty balances resource availability, while harder modes make resources extremely scarce.
3. What’s the easiest difficulty in XCOM 2?
Rookie is the easiest difficulty setting. It’s designed for absolute beginners who have never played turn-based strategy games before. However, it can quickly become unengaging for players with any experience.
4. Is XCOM 2 beginner friendly?
Yes, XCOM 2 is relatively beginner-friendly on easier difficulties like Rookie and Veteran. The game introduces its mechanics gradually, allowing new players to learn without being immediately overwhelmed. However, the game is not a cakewalk, and it does expect a certain amount of tactical thinking from the player.
5. Can I change the difficulty mid-game in XCOM 2?
No, you cannot change the difficulty setting once you’ve started a campaign in XCOM 2. You will have to restart your campaign to change it.
6. What is the ‘Avatar Project’ and how is it affected by difficulty?
The Avatar Project is a doomsday clock that advances as the aliens make progress. While the timer does tick down at varying rates based on actions and game progress, the difficulty level does not inherently impact how it ticks down. However, on higher difficulties, enemies have more health and do more damage, which makes missions harder and thus slower to complete, impacting the amount of time before the timer runs out. Additionally, you could have more casualties and need to replace more soldiers which also consumes time. You will be fighting uphill.
7. What is the best starting build order for rooms in XCOM 2?
A balanced build order includes: Advanced Warfare Centre > Guerrilla Training School > Power Relay > Resistance Comms > Proving Grounds > Psi Lab. This balances upgrades, soldier training, and resource gathering. You should tailor this build order to how you approach the game.
8. How does enemy AI differ across difficulties in XCOM 2?
On higher difficulties, the enemy AI becomes more aggressive and tactical, often flanking your soldiers, utilizing cover effectively, and using advanced abilities. They will not simply run forward to be shot.
9. What should I prioritize in XCOM 2?
Prioritize Intel, Scientists, and Engineers. These resources are essential for research, upgrades, and expanding your base of operations. You will need to find the right balance to make sure you have enough.
10. How many soldiers should I aim to have in XCOM 2?
On easier difficulties, 12 soldiers might be enough, but on harder difficulties, you’ll want to aim for around 24 or more. Having a large roster allows for rotation and training, to have replacements when they are killed.
11. Is XCOM 2 War of the Chosen harder than vanilla XCOM 2?
War of the Chosen introduces new enemies and mechanics. The early game can be tougher, but it is generally considered to become easier as you progress, compared to the vanilla game.
12. What is the most powerful weapon in XCOM 2?
The Plasma Bolt Caster is one of the most powerful weapons due to its high damage output, though it does require a reload after each shot. It is a very late-game weapon, so do not expect to get one early.
13. Can I beat XCOM 2 forever?
Yes, XCOM 2 can be played infinitely. If there are no Blacksites, the internal countdown stops and you can continue playing to build up your squad. You can continue as long as you can keep up with the Avatar project.
14. What are the most powerful classes in XCOM 2?
The Reaper is generally regarded as the most powerful class, followed by the Grenadier. They both have great utility, damage, and versatility. How to utilize these classes in specific encounters is the key to winning.
15. What is the difference between XCOM 2 and XCOM 2 War of the Chosen?
XCOM 2 is the base game, while XCOM 2 War of the Chosen is an expansion that changes the structure and adds new enemies, heroes, and mission types. The expansion also introduces new mechanics. It enhances the base game with more options and variability, but may be overwhelming for first-time players.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, Veteran difficulty provides the most balanced and rewarding experience for a first playthrough of XCOM 2. It challenges you without being overly punishing, allowing you to learn the game’s mechanics and grow your strategic skills. While other difficulty levels are suitable for those who prefer a more relaxed or hardcore experience, Veteran sits firmly in the sweet spot for new players looking to engage with all that XCOM 2 has to offer. Choose this option and prepare for a great gaming experience.