Mastering the Tech Tree: What to Research First in XCOM 2
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Choosing the right research path in XCOM 2 is crucial for survival, and it can be a daunting task given the vast amount of options available. There’s no single “best” path, as much depends on your playstyle and the specific challenges you encounter. However, some research choices offer significant early-game advantages, setting you up for long-term success. So, what should you research first in XCOM 2? In the early game, prioritize research that boosts your combat effectiveness and resource gathering. This means focusing on Weapon Fragments for the Scope attachment, followed by Alien Alloys to produce Carapace Armor, and then Resistance Comms to expand your global reach. Xeno-Biology is also essential early on to unlock important facilities and the ability to capture live aliens. Let’s break down the early research priorities in more detail.
Early Game Research Priorities
1. Weapon Fragments: The Foundation of Accuracy
Your rookies are infamously inaccurate. The Weapon Fragments research allows you to build the Scope, a cheap and powerful attachment that dramatically improves hit chance. This should be your very first research project. Improving your early game hit rate is an excellent strategy for all difficulties and playstyles. The increase in accuracy the scope provides will drastically reduce the number of missed shots you experience in the early game. It increases both the reliability and consistency of your attacks. This one research will immediately improve the lethality of your squad and enable them to start generating much needed experience.
2. Alien Alloys: Essential for Survival
The next critical step is researching Alien Alloys. This unlocks the ability to build Carapace Armor, which provides a significant boost to your soldiers’ health and survivability. Given that a single hit can take a soldier out of action this research choice is imperative for anyone looking to complete missions reliably. The extra health will greatly increase the survivability of your squad, allowing you to take more risks and push your tactical advantage. It also has the added benefit of allowing you to play more aggressively. Carapace Armor can make the difference between a successful mission and a mission lost to enemy fire.
3. Resistance Comms: Expanding Your Reach
Early on, your access to resources is severely limited. Resistance Comms allows you to contact new regions, unlocking valuable supply income. It also allows you to build Radio Towers in your regions, further increasing resource gains and therefore bolstering your economy. By prioritizing this research, you lay the groundwork for a stronger economy in the mid to late game, which is important to win. The ability to make more contacts and increase supply income increases your ability to purchase much needed technology, recruit new troops, and allows you to purchase new items in the black market. It essentially underpins your entire operation, allowing it to become much more effective.
4. Xeno-Biology: Unlocking Strategic Options
While perhaps not as immediately impactful in battle, Xeno-Biology is essential for unlocking important facilities such as the Alien Containment and is required to advance the story. It also unlocks the Arc Thrower, enabling the live capture of Sectoids. Live captures are very important to getting to late-game research options, without them, you will severely limit your options and how far you can progress. Doing so opens up a whole host of research options. The benefits of the early autopsy of a Sectoid cannot be overstated.
5. Muton Autopsy: Gaining a Tactical Edge
As soon as the opportunity presents itself, prioritize the Muton Autopsy. This allows you to access Plasma Grenades, an incredibly powerful tool for dealing with heavily armored enemies, as well as providing a crucial step to many important weapons and armor research options. The Muton Autopsy is critical for any aspiring commander looking to finish the game on any difficulty level. The ability to use plasma grenades will vastly improve your ability to overcome late-game enemy types.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why is Weapon Fragments so important?
Weapon Fragments allows you to create Scopes, which give a significant boost to aim, especially for your rookie soldiers. Early accuracy is absolutely critical. Missing shots in the early game has disastrous consequences. By equipping your soldiers with scopes you greatly reduce the chance of missing an attack.
2. Should I research weapons or armor first?
Prioritize weapons slightly before armor. While Carapace Armor is critical for survivability, improving your soldiers’ ability to deal damage effectively can lead to less sustained fire and less time spent taking hits. It is advisable to get both as soon as you possibly can but focusing on damage first will be a better tactical decision for the majority of situations.
3. How crucial are scientists to research speed?
Scientists dramatically speed up your research projects. Each scientist reduces research time by a significant percentage. The more scientists you have, the faster you can progress through the tech tree. It is therefore imperative that you recruit more scientists wherever possible.
4. What is the best order to build in the Avenger?
A good early base build order is Guerrilla Training School (GTS) first for squad size and soldier training bonuses, followed by Advanced Warfare Center (AWC) for healing and training perks, then Resistance Comms for more contacts, and then the Proving Grounds for advanced projects. Then comes the Power Relay, then the Psi Lab.
5. When should I start expanding my resistance?
Start expanding your resistance early and often. Contact new regions, build radio towers, and secure more resources each month. A strong resource base is crucial for long-term success.
6. How important are Intel resources?
Intel is used to purchase valuable items and upgrades from the Black Market, and to contact new regions. A good source of Intel income is vital for accessing needed equipment and for expanding your resistance network. It is, therefore, highly recommended that you make expanding your Intel gathering network a high priority.
7. Should I autopsy every alien as soon as possible?
Yes, absolutely. Alien autopsies unlock powerful new technologies and equipment. The Muton Autopsy for Plasma Grenades is particularly important early in the game.
8. Which enemy is best to Mind Control?
Mutons, Heavy Floaters, and Muton Elites are good targets for Mind Control due to their low Will and ability to deal heavy damage to their own side. This can easily turn the tide of an encounter in your favour, and can also lead to a much easier victory.
9. Can I make XCOM 2 easier?
Yes, you can use the Lengthy Scheme and Time Turner options to double the Avatar Project timer and mission timers, giving you more time to react and develop your squad and technology.
10. Is it okay to skip missions?
It is sometimes okay to skip some missions, but avoid skipping Council and Retaliation missions as they are critical to maintaining contacts. Guerilla Ops and Supply Raids are usually better to skip when necessary.
11. Does time matter in XCOM 2?
Yes, time is of the essence. The Avatar Project progresses over time, and delaying key research or failing missions can lead to defeat.
12. How many soldiers should I have?
For a normal difficulty run, 12 soldiers is a good baseline, but cycling lower ranked soldiers in is important to ensure you have the best overall squad possible. On higher difficulties, you’ll want many more, upwards of 20 or more, to ensure you always have capable soldiers ready to deploy.
13. How can I level up my soldiers quickly?
Each mission assist gives one point of experience. Kills also grant experience, multiplied by their class’s kill multiplier, so specializing and using each class to their potential is key to quick leveling.
14. Should I play Vanilla XCOM 2 before War of the Chosen?
Yes, absolutely. War of the Chosen is significantly more difficult and will be a tough learning experience for new players. Starting with the vanilla version will greatly improve your understanding of the mechanics and prepare you for War of the Chosen.
15. What are the best classes in XCOM 2?
The Reaper is generally considered to be the strongest class in XCOM 2, followed by the Grenadier, the Ranger, the Specialist, and then the Sharpshooter. Each of the various classes has distinct advantages, so it is recommended that you experiment with all classes to see which fits your playstyle the best.
By prioritizing these research paths and taking advantage of the information provided in these FAQs, you’ll be well on your way to liberating Earth from the alien menace in XCOM 2. Good luck, Commander!