XCOM 2: War of the Chosen vs. XCOM 2 – A Deep Dive into the Differences
The core question for many XCOM fans is: What’s the difference between XCOM 2 and XCOM 2: War of the Chosen (WotC)? Simply put, War of the Chosen is not a sequel, but a massive expansion pack that fundamentally overhauls and enriches the base XCOM 2 experience. It’s akin to XCOM: Enemy Within for the previous game – a substantial upgrade that most players and critics agree is the definitive way to play XCOM 2. WotC retains the same core campaign and story but introduces a plethora of new features, mechanics, and challenges that elevate the game to another level. It’s more than just a few extra missions or characters; it’s a comprehensive expansion that refines and expands upon almost every aspect of the original game.
Key Differences and Enhancements in War of the Chosen
Narrative and Faction Expansion
One of the most significant additions is the inclusion of three new factions: the Reapers, Skirmishers, and Templars. These factions are not just new soldier classes, but also bring unique strategic layers to the game. Each faction comes with its own gameplay mechanics, soldiers with specialized abilities, and strategic options on the global map. The factions also have their own motivations and storylines that tie into the overarching campaign narrative. This faction system alone adds significant replayability.
- Reapers: Stealth specialists, ideal for scouting and assassinating high-value targets.
- Skirmishers: Former ADVENT soldiers now fighting against their oppressors, excelling in close-quarters combat and utilizing unique grappling abilities.
- Templars: Psionically gifted warriors who focus on melee combat and kinetic energy manipulation.
The Chosen: New Boss-Level Threats
WotC introduces the Chosen, powerful alien agents with unique personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. These formidable enemies stalk the player throughout the campaign, appearing randomly in missions to hunt down XCOM. Each Chosen has their own special weapons, abilities, and knowledge about your squad, requiring players to adapt their tactics. They also have their own unique mini-campaigns and side objectives, adding layers to the overall storyline. These Chosen are a constant threat that drastically alters gameplay pacing and forces you to always stay on your toes.
The Lost: A New Type of Enemy
Another major addition is the Lost, hordes of zombie-like enemies that infest certain areas. These enemies are unpredictable and can quickly overwhelm your squad, often forcing drastic changes in combat tactics. They present a new kind of challenge, focusing on crowd control and managing large groups rather than engaging single powerful units. The presence of The Lost also makes some areas riskier, but also rewarding, as there are more resources available in those locations.
Enhanced Gameplay and Mechanics
Beyond the new factions and enemies, War of the Chosen significantly enhances various gameplay mechanics:
- Bonding: Soldiers can now form bonds with each other, granting them unique combat bonuses and special abilities. These bonds are another crucial level of personalization and gameplay depth.
- Resistance Orders: A new strategic mechanic that allows players to customize the game by issuing specific orders, with options from each faction. This allows for more flexibility and further replayability.
- Covert Actions: New covert missions add a strategic element, allowing players to send soldiers on secret operations to disrupt enemy plans.
- Fatigue System: Soldiers now suffer from fatigue after missions, adding a layer of realism and forcing players to carefully manage their roster.
Overall Difficulty
While many argue that the mid and late game are easier in WotC, due to the power of the new classes and Resistance mechanics, the early game is, without question, significantly more challenging. The Chosen will often show up during early missions, and the Lost can easily overwhelm new players if they’re not careful. It’s crucial to adapt your strategies to these new threats.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is War of the Chosen a standalone game?
No, War of the Chosen is an expansion pack for XCOM 2 and requires the base game to play.
2. Does the XCOM 2 Collection include War of the Chosen?
Yes, the XCOM 2 Collection typically includes XCOM 2: War of the Chosen and other DLC packs like Shen’s Last Gift, Alien Hunters, Anarchy’s Children, and the Resistance Warrior Pack.
3. What is the difference between XCOM 2, Long War 2 and War of the Chosen?
Long War 2 is a massive mod for XCOM 2 that changes the game completely, adding systems like infiltration, multiple campaign lengths, and significantly increasing squad sizes and mission difficulty. WotC is a professionally developed expansion by the creators of the game itself, with new narrative content, enemies, classes and mechanics within the original game structure. Long War 2 changes a far greater number of core mechanics and is more akin to a total conversion mod than a DLC.
4. What new classes does War of the Chosen add to XCOM 2?
War of the Chosen introduces three new Hero classes: the Reaper, Skirmisher, and Templar. Each has unique abilities and tactical roles.
5. Is War of the Chosen better than the base XCOM 2?
Most players and critics consider War of the Chosen to be superior to the base game because of its significant enhancements and added content. It’s widely regarded as the definitive XCOM 2 experience.
6. Is the War of the Chosen DLC worth buying?
Yes, WotC is highly recommended for anyone who enjoyed XCOM 2. It’s a content-rich expansion that significantly expands the game with new enemies, classes, mechanics, and missions. It’s comparable to the “Enemy Within” expansion for XCOM: Enemy Unknown in terms of value and impact.
7. Is XCOM 2: War of the Chosen easier than the base game?
Early game is generally harder with the introduction of The Chosen, but the mid-to-late game can become easier once the player unlocks the new Hero classes and Resistance mechanics.
8. Who is the strongest soldier class in XCOM 2?
While subjective, the Reaper is often recognized as the strongest and best class in XCOM 2, especially with WotC due to its stealth and damage potential. Other classes like Grenadiers, Rangers and Specialists are also very important to master.
9. What is the most powerful weapon in XCOM 2?
The Plasma Bolt Caster is considered one of the most powerful standard weapons due to its high damage per shot, although it has a slow reload time. The Chosen weapons are also unique and very powerful, but they come with the risk of being lost forever if the soldier wielding them is killed and not extracted.
10. Should I play XCOM 2 or War of the Chosen?
It is best to play War of the Chosen, which integrates the core XCOM 2 experience and enhances it with additional content. You can enable all narrative elements from other DLCs from the options menu.
11. Should I play the base XCOM 2 before playing War of the Chosen?
While not strictly necessary, it’s recommended to play the base XCOM 2 first to understand the core mechanics before diving into WotC. That way the player can enjoy the original core game, and get a true sense of how much added value WotC brings to the table.
12. How big can a squad be in XCOM 2: War of the Chosen?
The maximum squad size is generally 8 soldiers on most missions, with special missions allowing up to 10 or 12 soldiers.
13. Can you lose Chosen weapons in XCOM 2?
Yes, Chosen weapons are permanently lost if the soldier wielding them dies and is not evacuated from the mission. This adds a higher stakes dynamic to every mission.
14. How long does it take to beat XCOM 2: War of the Chosen?
When focusing on the main objectives, it takes around 35 hours to beat XCOM 2: War of the Chosen. Completionist players can spend up to 75 hours to complete the game with all of its content.
15. Is XCOM 2: War of the Chosen canon?
Yes, the canonical XCOM video game universe includes XCOM: Enemy Unknown, XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, and XCOM: Chimera Squad.