How to Play XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Introduction to XCOM: Enemy Unknown

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a turn-based tactical strategy game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games. Released in 2012, it is a reimagining of the classic X-COM series from the 1990s. The game places you in command of the XCOM project, an international paramilitary organization tasked with defending Earth from an alien invasion. As the commander, you are responsible for managing your base, conducting research, deploying troops, and making critical decisions that can impact the outcome of the war.

This guide is designed to help new players get started with the game, offering tips and strategies to maximize your chances of success. Whether you’re new to the series or a seasoned strategy gamer, XCOM: Enemy Unknown offers a deep and challenging experience that will test your tactical and strategic skills.

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into the more complex aspects of the game, it’s important to understand the basic mechanics and systems that govern gameplay.

1. The Two Phases of the Game

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is divided into two main phases: the strategic phase (or base management) and the tactical phase (combat missions). Success in the game requires mastering both aspects.

• Strategic Phase: This is where you manage your base, research new technologies, build facilities, and manage your resources. Decisions made during this phase can have a significant impact on your tactical missions. For example, researching better weapons or armor can improve your soldiers’ effectiveness in combat.
• Tactical Phase: This phase occurs during combat missions, where you command a squad of soldiers to complete objectives. The missions are turn-based, meaning you’ll need to carefully plan each move and anticipate enemy actions.

2. Resource Management

Resources are critical in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and managing them effectively is key to success. The primary resources you’ll need to manage include:

• Credits: The game’s currency, used to build facilities, manufacture equipment, and hire new soldiers.
• Scientists and Engineers: These personnel are essential for researching new technologies and building equipment. The more you have, the faster you can develop new gear.
• Alien Artifacts: These are recovered from combat missions and are used in research and manufacturing. Be careful about selling them, as they are often required for important projects.
• Meld: A valuable resource introduced in the Enemy Within expansion, used for genetic modifications and MEC Trooper upgrades.

3. Base Management

Your base serves as the central hub for all your operations. Managing your base effectively involves:

• Building Facilities: Constructing facilities like laboratories, workshops, and satellite uplinks is essential for advancing your technology and maintaining global coverage.
• Expanding Your Base: As the game progresses, you’ll need to excavate new areas to make room for additional facilities. Plan your base layout carefully to maximize the benefits of adjacency bonuses, which provide extra resources or faster build times when certain facilities are placed next to each other.
• Managing Your Soldiers: Keeping your soldiers healthy, well-equipped, and trained is crucial. Promote them to higher ranks to unlock new abilities and assign them to different classes based on their skills.

Combat Mechanics and Strategy

Combat in XCOM: Enemy Unknown is where the game truly shines, offering deep tactical gameplay that requires careful planning and decision-making. Here’s how to navigate the complexities of combat.

1. Understanding Soldier Classes

There are four main soldier classes in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, each with unique abilities and roles in combat:

• Assault: Specializes in close-range combat and can use shotguns or rifles. Their Run & Gun ability allows them to move and fire in the same turn, making them ideal for flanking enemies.
• Heavy: Equipped with a machine gun and a rocket launcher, Heavies excel at dealing massive damage and destroying cover. They are also effective against large groups of enemies.
• Support: Provides medical assistance and tactical support to the squad. Support soldiers can use smoke grenades to provide cover and medkits to heal wounded comrades.
• Sniper: Specializes in long-range attacks and can take down enemies from a distance. Snipers are most effective when placed in elevated positions with a clear line of sight.

Each class has a skill tree that allows you to customize their abilities as they gain experience. Choose abilities that complement your playstyle and the needs of your squad.

2. Cover and Positioning

Cover and positioning are critical elements in combat. Always try to keep your soldiers in cover to reduce the chances of being hit by enemy fire. There are two types of cover: half cover (which offers partial protection) and full cover (which provides greater protection). Always prioritize full cover when possible.

• Flanking: Flanking is a key tactic in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. When you flank an enemy, you negate their cover bonus and significantly increase your chances of hitting them. Use your Assault soldiers’ Run & Gun ability or reposition your squad to get around enemy defenses.
• Overwatch: Overwatch is a defensive ability that allows your soldiers to fire at enemies during the enemy’s turn if they move within your soldiers’ line of sight. Use Overwatch to cover your squad’s advance or to protect against enemy reinforcements.
• Hunkering Down: If a soldier is in a vulnerable position and cannot move to better cover, consider using the Hunker Down ability. This action increases their defense and makes them harder to hit, but it also prevents them from attacking that turn.

3. Weapon and Equipment Choices

Selecting the right weapons and equipment for your soldiers can make a significant difference in combat.

• Primary Weapons: Each class has access to specific primary weapons. Upgrade these weapons through research to increase their damage and effectiveness. For example, research laser and plasma weapons to give your soldiers a significant firepower boost.
• Secondary Weapons: Certain classes can equip secondary weapons, such as pistols or grenades. These can provide additional utility in combat. For example, a Sniper’s pistol can be used when they are unable to take a long-range shot.
• Armor: Armor not only provides additional health but also comes with unique abilities. For example, the Titan Armor provides immunity to fire and poison, while the Ghost Armor allows soldiers to become invisible for a short period.
• Equipment: Customize your soldiers’ loadouts with additional equipment like medkits, grenades, and scopes. Each item provides different tactical advantages, so choose based on the mission requirements and your squad’s composition.

4. Enemy Types and Tactics

Understanding the different enemy types and their behaviors is crucial for planning your tactics.

• Sectoids: The basic alien unit, Sectoids are weak but often appear in groups. They can mind-merge to boost their abilities, but killing the merged Sectoid will also kill the one providing the boost.
• Thin Men: These aliens have high mobility and can use poison attacks. They are relatively fragile but can be dangerous if not dealt with quickly.
• Mutons: Mutons are heavily armored and can deal significant damage. Use your Heavies to shred their armor and focus fire to take them down quickly.
• Chryssalids: These fast-moving melee attackers can kill a soldier in one hit and turn them into a zombie. Keep your distance and focus fire to prevent them from getting close.
• Sectopods: The most powerful alien unit, Sectopods have heavy armor and devastating attacks. Use every available resource, including rockets and grenades, to bring them down.
• Ethereals: These powerful psionic aliens can control your soldiers and use devastating psychic attacks. Focus on them first in any encounter, and use soldiers with high Will to resist their abilities.

Managing Panic and Global Strategy

One of the most challenging aspects of XCOM: Enemy Unknown is managing global panic. Panic levels increase when countries are left undefended, when UFOs are not intercepted, or when missions fail. High panic levels can lead to countries withdrawing from the XCOM project, which reduces your funding and can ultimately lead to losing the game.

1. Deploying Satellites

Satellites are your primary tool for reducing panic and increasing your coverage of alien activity.

• Launch Satellites Strategically: Place satellites over countries that are at high risk of panic or that provide significant funding and bonuses. Prioritize countries that are close to leaving the project.
• Build Uplinks and Nexus Facilities: To support more satellites, build Satellite Uplinks and Nexus facilities in your base. These facilities should be placed next to each other to gain adjacency bonuses, allowing you to launch more satellites.
• Intercept UFOs: Satellites allow you to detect and intercept UFOs. Successfully shooting down UFOs prevents them from causing panic and allows you to recover valuable alien technology.

2. Managing Missions and Panic Levels

Missions are often presented as choices between different locations, each with its own reward and panic reduction.

• Choose Missions Wisely: When multiple missions are available, consider the rewards and the impact on panic levels. If a country is on the verge of withdrawing, prioritize missions in that location to reduce panic.
• Balance Short-Term and Long-Term Goals: Sometimes you’ll need to balance immediate rewards (such as money or new soldiers) with the long-term goal of keeping panic levels low. Always consider the broader strategic implications of your choices.
• Use Officers’ Training School Upgrades: Upgrades like the ability to train soldiers faster or deploy larger squads can greatly improve your effectiveness in managing missions and panic levels. Prioritize these upgrades based on your current needs and long-term strategy.

Advanced Strategies and Tips

As you become more familiar with the basics of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, you can start to incorporate more advanced strategies into your gameplay. These tips are designed to help you optimize your playthrough and tackle some of the game’s toughest challenges.

1. Prioritizing Research

Research is the backbone of your technological advancement in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Prioritizing the right research projects can significantly improve your chances of survival.

• Focus on Weapon and Armor Upgrades Early: Improving your soldiers’ firepower and survivability should be a top priority. Research laser and plasma weapons, as well as advanced armor like Carapace and Titan Armor, to give your troops the edge they need in combat.
• Don’t Neglect Alien Autopsies and Interrogations: These research projects can unlock critical upgrades and insights into alien weaknesses. Completing autopsies and interrogations early can provide you with useful tactical advantages.
• Plan for Psionic and MEC Trooper Development: If you have the Enemy Within expansion, consider researching psionics and MEC Trooper technology. These can add powerful new capabilities to your squad, but they require significant investment in time and resources.

2. Optimizing Base Layout

The layout of your base can have a major impact on your efficiency and resource management.

• Maximize Adjacency Bonuses: Placing similar facilities next to each other can provide adjacency bonuses, such as reduced build times or increased power output. Plan your base layout with these bonuses in mind to maximize your resource efficiency.
• Build Power Generators and Thermal Generators Early: Power is required to build and maintain facilities. Make sure to construct power generators early on, and place them in optimal locations to ensure you have enough energy to support your base’s growth.
• Expand Your Satellite Network: Building Satellite Uplinks and Nexuses should be a priority, as they allow you to increase your global coverage and reduce panic levels. Ensure you have enough power and engineers to support these expansions.

3. Mastering Combat Scenarios

Combat in XCOM: Enemy Unknown can be unforgiving, especially as the game progresses. Developing advanced combat tactics is essential for surviving tougher missions.

• Use High Ground to Your Advantage: Soldiers positioned on high ground receive an aim bonus, making them more effective in combat. Whenever possible, position your snipers and other ranged units on elevated terrain to increase their accuracy and survivability.
• Coordinate Your Squad’s Abilities: Many soldier abilities are designed to work in tandem with each other. For example, use a Support soldier’s Smoke Grenade to cover your Assault soldier’s advance, or have your Heavy use Suppression to pin down enemies while your Sniper lines up a shot.
• Take Advantage of Environmental Destruction: Certain weapons, like grenades and rockets, can destroy enemy cover or even entire structures. Use this to your advantage to flush out enemies from cover or create new lines of sight for your squad.
• Mind Control and Psionics: If you’ve developed psionic abilities, consider using them to turn the tide of battle. Mind-controlling an enemy can significantly alter the balance of power, allowing you to use the enemy’s own strengths against them.
• Dealing with Overwhelming Odds: In some missions, you’ll be outnumbered or outgunned. In these situations, consider retreating to a defensible position and using Overwatch to create a kill zone. Focus on taking down the most dangerous enemies first, and don’t be afraid to use grenades or explosives liberally.

4. Dealing with Chryssalids and Terror Missions

Terror missions are some of the most challenging scenarios in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, primarily due to the presence of Chryssalids.

• Preventing Zombie Outbreaks: Chryssalids can turn civilians into zombies, which will then transform into more Chryssalids. Prevent this by prioritizing Chryssalid targets and using explosives to take them out quickly.
• Saving Civilians: While it’s important to save as many civilians as possible, don’t overextend your squad. Focus on clearing out the immediate threats before moving to rescue civilians. Use Support soldiers with medkits to heal any wounded soldiers or civilians you manage to save.
• Dealing with Panic: Failing to save civilians or allowing Chryssalids to run rampant can cause panic to spike. Manage this by deploying satellites and completing other missions successfully to keep overall panic levels under control.

Endgame and Final Mission Preparation

As you approach the endgame in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, your focus will shift towards preparing for the final mission. This phase requires careful planning and resource allocation to ensure your squad is fully equipped to face the toughest challenges.

1. Final Tech and Research Goals

Before launching the final mission, make sure you’ve completed the necessary research and development.

• Psionic Soldiers: If you’ve unlocked psionics, make sure to train a few soldiers with psionic abilities. These can be crucial in the final mission, particularly for dealing with Ethereal enemies.
• Best-in-Class Weapons and Armor: Ensure your squad is equipped with the best weapons and armor available. Plasma weapons, Titan Armor, and Ghost Armor should be standard for your final mission squad.
• MEC Troopers and Gene Mods: If you’re playing with the Enemy Within expansion, fully upgrade your MEC Troopers and apply gene mods to enhance your soldiers’ abilities. These upgrades can provide significant advantages in the final mission.

2. Squad Composition for the Final Mission

The final mission requires a well-balanced squad that can handle a variety of threats. Consider the following squad composition:

• 1-2 Assault Soldiers: Their mobility and close-range firepower are invaluable for flanking and taking down high-priority targets.
• 1-2 Heavies: Bring Heavies for their explosive capabilities and ability to deal with heavily armored enemies. They are also useful for taking out Sectopods and other tough opponents.
• 1 Support Soldier: A Support soldier with medkits and Smoke Grenades can provide critical healing and cover for your squad.
• 1-2 Snipers: Snipers can provide long-range support and take out enemies from a distance. Consider equipping one with a Plasma Sniper Rifle and another with a Snapshot ability for more flexible movement.
• 1-2 Psionic Soldiers: If you have access to psionics, bring a soldier with Mind Control and other psionic abilities. These can be game-changers in the final mission.

3. The Final Mission: Temple Ship Assault

The final mission, known as the Temple Ship Assault, is a multi-stage operation that culminates in a battle against the Ethereal Uber Enemy. Here’s how to prepare:

• Conserve Resources: The final mission is long and features multiple waves of enemies. Conserve your medkits, grenades, and heavy weapon ammo for the toughest encounters.
• Use Overwatch and Hunker Down Tactically: As you progress through the mission, use Overwatch to protect your squad from ambushes and Hunker Down to minimize damage when under heavy fire.
• Target Prioritization: Prioritize taking out high-damage enemies like Sectopods and Ethereals first. Use your Heavies and Snipers to focus fire on these threats while your Assault and Support soldiers handle smaller enemies.
• The Final Battle: In the final battle against the Ethereal Uber Enemy, be prepared for a tough fight. The Ethereal has powerful psionic abilities and can control your soldiers. Use your psionic soldiers to counter these attacks and focus all firepower on the Ethereal to bring it down quickly.

Conclusion

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a game that combines deep strategic gameplay with intense tactical combat. Success in the game requires a balance of effective resource management, smart base-building, and careful planning in both the strategic and tactical phases.

By following the strategies and tips outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of XCOM: Enemy Unknown and lead humanity to victory against the alien threat. Remember, every decision matters, and the fate of the world is in your hands.