XCOM 2 is a thrilling game that puts you in command of a squad of soldiers as you battle against alien invaders to save the Earth. With its intense turn-based combat and strategic elements, XCOM 2 requires careful planning and execution of tactics to succeed. In this article, we will explore 20 essential strategies that will help you defend Earth and emerge victorious in your battles.
1. Build a Powerful Squad: Assemble a diverse squad of soldiers with different abilities and skills to maximize your chances of success. Each class has unique strengths and weaknesses, so create a balanced team that can handle any situation.
2. Research and Development: Invest in researching new technologies and advances to unlock powerful weapons, armor, and abilities for your squad. Stay ahead of the alien threat by constantly upgrading your equipment.
3. Cover and Overwatch: Always take cover behind obstacles or structures to protect your soldiers from enemy fire. Use the Overwatch ability to provide suppressive fire and eliminate any enemies that move within your squad’s sight.
4. Flanking Maneuvers: Use the terrain to your advantage and execute flanking maneuvers to gain an advantage over your enemies. Attacking from the sides or rear will increase your chances of landing critical hits and taking down enemies quickly.
5. Utilize Height Advantage: Take advantage of higher ground whenever possible. Soldiers positioned on elevated platforms have increased accuracy and a better chance of landing critical hits.
6. Grenade Tactics: Use grenades strategically to destroy enemy cover and expose them to your squad’s gunfire. This can be especially effective against enemies hiding behind walls or in fortified positions.
7. Overwatch Crawling: When engaging enemies that are out of sight, move your soldiers using the crawling technique. This allows them to maintain concealment while still being able to respond to any detected enemy movement.
8. Alien Abilities: Familiarize yourself with the unique abilities of different aliens. This knowledge will help you prioritize targets and take down the most dangerous foes first.
9. Hunker Down: In situations where your soldiers are exposed or under heavy fire, use the Hunker Down ability to increase their defense and reduce the chances of getting hit.
10. Synchronized Attacks: Coordinate your squad’s attacks to focus fire on a single enemy at a time. This will increase your chances of landing critical hits and taking down strong enemies quickly.
11. Stealth Approach: Use the concealment mechanic to infiltrate enemy positions without being detected. This allows you to set up ambushes and take out enemies before they have a chance to react.
12. Defensive Positions: Establish defensive positions when necessary to hold off enemy assaults. Create chokepoints and use cover efficiently to maximize your squad’s defensive capabilities.
13. Overwatch Traps: Set up Overwatch traps by positioning soldiers on Overwatch near a concealed soldier. When the concealed soldier is detected, the Overwatch shots will activate and take out the enemy.
14. Prioritize Objectives: In missions with multiple objectives, prioritize the most critical ones and plan your movements accordingly. This will ensure that you accomplish your mission goals without jeopardizing the safety of your soldiers.
15. Capturing Enemies: Use the Skulljack item to hack into enemy robotic units and extract valuable intel. This can provide significant advantages in future battles.
16. Overwatch Ambushes: Use Overwatch on multiple soldiers to set up deadly ambushes. When enemies come into range, your squad will unleash a barrage of gunfire, catching them off guard.
17. Protect VIPs: In escort or rescue missions, prioritize the safety of the VIPs. Use defensive tactics to shield them from harm and ensure their successful extraction.
18. Flashbang Grenades: Carry Flashbang grenades to disrupt enemy abilities and reduce their accuracy. This can be particularly useful against enemies with powerful psionic abilities.
19. Retreat if Necessary: In situations where victory seems unlikely, it’s better to retreat and regroup than risk losing valuable soldiers. Sometimes, a tactical retreat can save your squad from total annihilation.
20. Adapt and Learn: Every battle in XCOM 2 is a learning experience. Analyze your successes and failures, adapt your strategies, and continuously improve your squad’s performance.
By following these 20 essential strategies, you’ll be well-prepared to defend Earth against the alien invasion in XCOM 2. Develop your own tactics, experiment with different approaches, and remember to stay calm under pressure. Good luck, Commander!