XCOM 2: Tips and Tricks For Beginners

STAY CONCEALED AS LONG AS POSSIBLE

XCOM 2 offers a concealment mechanic to start off missions. You’re able to move around the battlefield prior to being spotted. This allows you to scan for enemy or objective locations and not get lit up. Once your soldier steps into the line of sight of an enemy (portrayed as a red eye square) or shoots at an alien, your entire squad’s concealment is lifted. It’s always smart to move around as much as possible while concealed to get a good feel of where everything is first. Plus, if you instantly alert the aliens, you are definitely going to be shot up and flanked. They quickly move in to preemptively mess you up, so be the first shot always.

COVER COVER COVER COVER

Always. Opt. For. Some. Cover. Never leave your soldier just standing around and check your options thoroughly. XCOM 2 is turn-based and there are a lot of percentages and odds that come into play with combat. When you’re covered (if even a little bit), your soldier has better chances of staying alive. The shield icon will let you know in which direction you’re covered, and yes, this matters greatly. You could be totally flanked and all your defense bonus could go away, so always pick the spot that covers more positions. Two plus shields is good. If you manage three, you’re a god. And one is always better than zero, so keep that in mind.

EDIT YOUR SQUAD

After the tutorial, you’ll get your first real mission that will allow you to edit your squad’s info, looks, and loadout. Do it! Not only is this a fun mechanic, it adds a whole new layer to the game. No longer are you just trying to keep random soldiers alive. Your family and friends are now a part of XCOM 2 and it makes everything all the more dramatic as you strive to keep them alive. They will inevitably die, by the way. So be prepared to have mini traumatizations. It’s a lot like real life.

50% PLUS

As previously stated, XCOM 2 is all about strategy with odds. Whenever you try to take a shot or do damage in some way, you’ll get a percentage letting you know the chance of success. Don’t waste bullets on anything lower than 50%. If you’re in absolute dire straits, sure. Otherwise, move around and try to flank or get a better shot. You will run out of bullets and this means having to spend a turn reloading. If you get a 50% or higher, the odds are pretty good to try and take the shot.

REMEMBER GRENADES

Grenades are your friends in XCOM 2. They may be limited in quantity each mission, but they pack a hell of a punch. Not only do they have an area of effect that can damage multiple aliens, they also totally demolish any cover the enemy might be hiding behind. They’re pretty versatile, too, and can reach good distances. They’re perfect for clumps of aliens. Seriously, don’t forget about your grenades.

And yes, there is a grenade launcher class that you can get later on.

BE SMART ABOUT OVERWATCH

XCOM 2 has a mechanic called Overwatch which has your soldier in a sort of alert mode. This will kick in on the next turn when an enemy walks into their line of sight. They’ll then automatically shoot at them, causing some extra damage after your turn has ended. This is best used when your soldier can’t make a shot. If you see your percentage on a shot isn’t that high, or there’s nothing really your soldier can do, set them to Overwatch to knock some health down.

Also, here’s a specific hypothetical for you; if you’re extracting a VIP and aliens are on Overwatch, sacrifice a soldier with higher health to run into their line of sight. This will make them waste their Overwatch and you’ll be clear after that to move around.

THE PUPPET MASTERS MUST DIE

There are these asshole aliens called Sectoids that are a real pain. They have enough health to take as many as three attacks and they have some special powers that really suck. Sectoids can panic your soldiers, mind-control them, and reanimate corpses. Yeah, talk about overpowered. When panicked, your soldier will act on their own for a couple of turns which can range from being helpful and attacking or being stupid and running out of cover. Mind-controlled soldiers are just straight up the enemy and will do the aliens’ bidding. Reanimated corpses bring back dead aliens or even comrades to attack back. All options suck for you so your best bet is to get rid of these aliens immediately. Once they’re dead, everything goes back to normal.

There you have it! With these simple tips, you’ll be the ultimate XCOM 2 player in no time. Take back Earth, Commander.

For more tips and guides, check out our ever-expanding wiki!