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The Reign of the Archon King: Understanding the Leader of the Archons in XCOM 2

The leader Archon in XCOM 2 is not just any Archon; it is the terrifying Archon King, also known as Subject Alpha. This formidable foe isn’t simply a more powerful variant of the standard Archon. He is a unique Alien Ruler, possessing significantly enhanced abilities and acting as a major antagonist within the Alien Hunters DLC. Unlike regular Archons, the Archon King does not follow the typical encounter patterns of normal enemies. Instead, he appears as a singular, recurring boss, escalating the challenge and demanding strategic prowess from players. He’s the third and final Alien Ruler you’ll encounter in the Alien Hunters DLC, making him the pinnacle of ruler battles. His presence is a major threat, compelling players to adapt their tactics and employ their best strategies to overcome him. This powerful enemy embodies a unique challenge that XCOM 2 players must master if they aim to achieve victory, solidifying his position as the leader of the Archons encountered in the game.

Understanding the Archon King

The Archon King stands as a significant threat due to several factors:

Unique Ruler Mechanics: Like all Alien Rulers, the Archon King gets a “Ruler Reaction” phase. He takes one action for every action taken by an XCOM soldier. This significantly disrupts typical turn-based strategies, forcing players to meticulously plan their moves to mitigate the impact of his immediate counter-attacks.
Superior Power: Compared to regular Archons, the Archon King possesses enhanced stats, making him far more durable and dangerous in combat. He has increased health, armor, and damage output, making him a true challenge for even veteran XCOM players.
Strategic Encounter: The Archon King is not a random encounter. He’s tied to the Alien Hunters DLC and appears after the Viper King and the Berserker Queen have been defeated. This staged introduction ensures that players face an increasing level of difficulty as they progress through the ruler encounters.

The Archon King is the most powerful of all the rulers, requiring an entirely new tactical approach than just direct firepower. Failure to understand his unique combat style will inevitably lead to heavy casualties.

Why is He So Difficult?

The difficulty of the Archon King encounter stems from his combination of high mobility, durability, and the punishing Ruler Reaction mechanic. His core abilities include:

Flight: Like all Archons, the King can fly, allowing him to easily traverse the battlefield and engage your squad from unpredictable positions.
High Dodge: The Archon King has a significantly high dodge stat which makes it harder to hit him, wasting valuable shots.
Battle Frenzy: When damaged, the Archon King activates Battle Frenzy, granting him an extra action per turn. This ensures he can close the gap and engage in melee combat or use his special abilities, which often results in an increased offensive presence.
Blazing Pinions: The Archon King uses the ‘Blazing Pinions’ attack, a powerful area-of-effect fire attack that can damage multiple soldiers, forcing you to maintain good spacing.
Destructive Force: Like other “Massive” enemies in XCOM 2, he can destroy Force Fields, negating an otherwise useful defensive tool.

His abilities, coupled with the Ruler Reaction mechanic, demand that players think several steps ahead, forcing them out of typical XCOM battle tactics. Direct confrontation without proper preparation is a near guarantee for defeat.

Tactics for Overcoming the Archon King

Overcoming the Archon King requires a strategic approach that minimizes his actions and maximizes the player’s advantages. Here are some tips:

Focus Fire: Prioritize targeting the Archon King to quickly reduce his health. A coordinated attack involving multiple soldiers utilizing high-damage weapons and abilities is essential.
Armor Piercing Rounds: Utilize weapons equipped with Armor Piercing Rounds to negate some of his defenses.
Grenades: Grenades are useful for dealing AOE damage against him since he has a high dodge rate. Incendiary and acid grenades can also apply damage over time.
Avoid Overextending: Do not use multiple actions per unit in one turn, which would trigger several reactions from the King. Plan out moves so you can limit the damage output he can do with his reactions.
Disabling Abilities: Use items or abilities that can disorient, stun, or freeze him. These can temporarily negate some of his abilities and prevent him from reacting.
Utilize Cover: Ensure your soldiers are always behind cover to minimize the effectiveness of his attacks.
Patience: Battling the Archon King is a marathon, not a sprint. Engage him with patience and deliberation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What exactly is the Archon King?

The Archon King is a unique Alien Ruler, a special type of boss enemy introduced in the Alien Hunters DLC. He’s not a regular Archon but a more powerful, significantly more dangerous foe.

2. How is the Archon King different from regular Archons?

The Archon King has enhanced stats, including higher health, armor, and damage, and his unique Ruler Reaction mechanic where he acts after every action a player takes. He is far more resilient and strategically challenging than the standard Archon.

3. How many Alien Rulers are in XCOM 2?

There are three Alien Rulers in XCOM 2: The Viper King, the Berserker Queen, and the Archon King. Each ruler presents a unique challenge, with the Archon King being the final and most difficult encounter.

4. When do you encounter the Archon King?

The Archon King is the third and final Ruler you’ll encounter in the Alien Hunters DLC, typically appearing after you’ve defeated the Viper King and the Berserker Queen.

5. What is the “Ruler Reaction” mechanic?

The Ruler Reaction means that an Alien Ruler gets to take a free action after every action any of your XCOM squad members take. This forces the player to think carefully before each movement or action.

6. Can the Archon King be encountered multiple times in the same campaign?

Once the Archon King is encountered and defeated (or escapes), he will continue to make random appearances.

7. What are some of the Archon King’s unique abilities?

The Archon King can fly, has a high dodge rate, uses Battle Frenzy when damaged, and has the special Blazing Pinions attack in addition to basic Archon abilities.

8. Is the Archon King the hardest enemy in XCOM 2?

While some might argue other enemies are challenging, the Archon King is often considered the hardest enemy in the game. His powerful abilities and the Ruler Reaction mechanic make him a formidable foe.

9. What type of weapons are effective against the Archon King?

Weapons with Armor Piercing Rounds are effective against the Archon King. Grenades and items that cause status effects (such as stun or freeze) are also useful.

10. Can the Archon King be permanently killed?

Yes, while the rulers will escape the first time, they can be killed permanently during later encounters, including the special mission to hunt them.

11. How does the Archon King’s “Battle Frenzy” work?

When the Archon King takes damage, he will use Battle Frenzy, allowing him to perform an extra action during that turn, typically moving closer to your squad to engage in combat.

12. What should a player prioritize when fighting the Archon King?

Players should prioritize strategic positioning, coordinated fire, the use of cover, and items that disorient or disable the Archon King. Focus fire is important to reduce his health as quickly as possible.

13. Is the Archon King related to the normal Archons in the game?

The Archon King is a unique, more powerful variant of the standard Archon enemy but is still a separate entity and is a unique enemy.

14. Is there any lore behind the Archon King?

The Archon King is called Subject Alpha in the game, indicating that he was part of the ADVENT experiments with enhanced Archons. There is no additional lore provided besides that.

15. Is the Archon King a required boss to beat in XCOM 2?

The Archon King is a required boss encounter if you have the Alien Hunters DLC enabled. However, he’s not a mandatory boss within the main game’s storyline if you disable that DLC.

In conclusion, the Archon King stands as a challenging and unique enemy in XCOM 2, representing the pinnacle of the Alien Rulers. Understanding his abilities, strategic positioning, and proper use of items and abilities are vital for overcoming him. By adapting to his aggressive and reactive style, players can emerge victorious against this formidable opponent.

Who is the leader Archon in XCOM 2?