XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is known for its tactical depth and strategic intricacies. One of the very important facets of this experience is the arsenal at your disposal. The right weapon can indeed mean the difference between victory and defeat. In this guide, we will explore the best weapons in XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, their respective powers, benefits, and tactical applications.
1. Introduction to Weapon Systems in XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
According to XCOM 2, weapons are classified by type, such as rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, and others. Each type has different strengths and tactical applications. With the addition of the War of the Chosen expansion, new ways on how to customize, upgrade, and improve weapon options have proliferated for players to consider.
1.2. The Weapon Categories
Assault Rifles: Versatile and all-round weapons that can be employed in any combat situation.
Sniper Rifles: These crush enemies from afar with single precision shots.
Shotguns: At short range, final blow.
Submachine Guns: It is a fast rate of fire and light class, to be used for fast engagement.
Heavy Weapons: It dishes out high damage and lays in an area of effect, usually in maximum use against groups of enemies.
1.2. Upgrading Weapons
In XCOM 2, the weapons can be upgraded with attachments such as scopes, extended magazines, or better materials. The better a weapon becomes after the upgrade, the more important it is to understand these upgrades on each weapon.
2. Assault Rifles Best
Assault rifles are a staple in most X-com squads, offering flexibility and offensive power. Here are the best assault rifles in War of the Chosen:
**2.1. M4A1 Carbine
Overview: M4A1 Carbine is a handy, versatile gun favored for its compromises between range, accuracy, and damage.
Key Features:
Versatile Performance: Medium to close range.
High Accuracy: Base accuracy is satisfactory and is improved with the use of scopes.
Customization Options: There is attachment discrimination for performance enhancements.
Why It’s Great: Balanced stats make the M4A1 Carbine a very versatile weapon; therefore, it performs well practically in any kind of combat scenario.
**2.2. TAC-50 Rifle
Overview: The TAC-50 Rifle is known to max out damage with precision shots.
Key Features:
High Damage: Severely damages a single target with each shot; useful to thin down heavily armored foes.
Long Range: Has never stopped to be brilliant in his long-range sniping.
Precision: The best accuracy ensures the shot hits its utmost mark.
Why It’s Great: With accuracy and heavy damage, the TAC-50 is a fine sniper rifle to pick off important targets from afar.
**2.3. The M16A4
Overview: The M16A4 is a time-tested, reliable, and potent assault rifle, balancing firepower and versatility.
Key Features:
Balanced Stats: Good balance between damage, range, and accuracy.
Automatic Fire: Can fire automatically, useful for suppressing enemies and dealing with groups.
Convertible: Can take several attachments to improve upon its performance.
Why It’s Great: This funny little M16A4 can be used for various tactical uses, ranging from medium-range engagements to suppressive fire.
3. Best Sniper Rifles
Sniper rifles are essential for long-range support and picking off high-value targets. Here are some of the best sniper rifles available:
**3.1. AMR-2 Sniper Rifle
Overview: The AMR-2 Sniper Rifle is built for extreme damage and long-range accuracy.
Key Features:
High Damage Output: Capable of inflicting huge damage to enemy targets.
Long Range: Can hit at unbelievably long distances, ensuring that snipers stay out of danger.
Accuracy: Precision ensures that it will hit the target on the dot.
Why It’s Great: The AMR-2 deals devastating damage and hits the mark over great distances, capable of picking off the Reds well before they enter the camp and providing vital support to the rest of the squad.
**3.2. Remington 700
Overview: The Remington 700 is the elder statesman of the sniper world, known for reliability and precision.
Key Features:
Accuracy: Requirements include high accuracy over long-range engagements.
Consistent Performance: Reliable damage output and performance.
Setup: Compatible with many attachments for the best choice.
Why It’s Great: The Remington 700 is an ideal long-range sniper rifle for consistent performers who need consistent performance in long-range engagements combined with accuracy and reliability.
**3.3. SVD Dragunov
Overview: The SVD Dragunov is a semi-automatic sniper rifle with a high rate of fire and with excellent motility.
Key Features:
Semi-Automated Fire: Follow-up shots can rapidly be made, increasing the overall damage output.
Accuracy: Appropriate for long-range combat due to high accuracy.
Versatility: Available to be used effectively in a varied landscape.
Why It’s Great: The semi-auto in SVD Dragunov and accuracy make this sniper rifle versatile enough for precision and fast engagements.
4. Top Shotguns
Shotguns are devastating in close range because they can do huge damage to enemies in tight quarters. Here are the best shotguns in War of the Chosen:
**4.1. Remington 870
Overview: Remington 870 is a powerful and reliable shotgun for close-quarters combat.
Key Features:
High Damage: Hits hard at close range.
Wide Spread: Good for engaging many targets within close proximity.
Customization: Can be equipped with a plethora of attachments to improve its value.
Why It’s Great: With its high damage and wider spread, the Remington 870 is a perfect shotgun for controlling small spaces while dispatching groups of enemies.
**4.2. Mossberg 500
Overview: Mossberg 500 is a good all-around shotgun prized for its reliability and power.
Key Features:
Balanced Performance: It offers a good balance between damage, spread, and rate of fire.
Versatility: Effective in both short to medium ranges. Can be upgraded through various attachments.
Why It is Great: With balanced stats that lend versatility to the gun, it is great for various close-quarter engagements.
4.3. Benelli M4
Overview: The Benelli M4 is a high-performance shotgun, highly effective at close quarters.
Key Features:
High Rate of Fire: Increases the rate of firing follow-up shots.
High Damage: It delivers pain and suffering to enemies close by.
Customizable: It allows for the attachment of many options that enhance its performance.
Why It Is Great: Its high rate of fire and damage output renders the Benelli M4 suitable for aggressive close-quarters encounters and dispatching enemy groups.
5. Heavy Weapons
Heavy weapons are capable of dealing a huge amount of damage over an area, so they are essential if you want to take on large mobs of enemies or severely armored targets. A rundown of the best heavy weapons in War of the Chosen is as follows:
In brief, the M134 Minigun is a very powerful heavy weapon, for the high-fire rate and damage it outputs.
Key Features:
– Fire Streaks: Can send down an ocean of fire within weeks.
– Damage: Works well against enemy armor and in groups.
– Area Shock: Hits multiple targets in its trajectory.
Why It Might Be Good: Big damage from volume fire permits M134 Minigun to quickly wipe duress off enemy groups and to take on the more heavily armored.
**5.2. M202 FLASH
Overview: The M202 FLASH presents a rocket launcher with excellent explosive potential.
Key Features:
– Explosive Damage: An awesome big-time exploded damage to enemies.
– Area of Effect: Greatest blow to chances of several targets.
– Versatility: Works also against environmental objects.
Why It’s Great: The flash with explosive power and area-effect capability makes the M202 FLASH to deal with big groups of enemies or destroy enemy cover.
**5.3. GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun)
Overview: The GPMG is a general heavy machine gun, and its attributes are an balance of firepower and accuracy.
Key Features:
Sustained Fire: It can provide continuous fire to suppress the enemy.
Balanced Performance: It is middle of damages, accuracy, and rate of fire.
Attachments: Can install various attachments.
Why It’s Great: Due to the sustained fire and balanced stats, the GPMG proved to be a reliable weapon to provide support and suppress enemy positions.
6. Weapon Upgrades and Customization
Upgrading and customizing weapons in XCOM 2 is important for enhancing the performance. Here is the key overview of upgrades and customization:
6.1. Weapon Upgrades
Scopes: Scopes decrease the difficulty of hitting the target at longer range. They may also increase critical hit chance, which is helpful for snipers and rifles.
Extended Magazines: Increasing rounds in the magazine of a firearm before it must be reloaded would be cupidity for the applicator. This application is especially warranted by weapons with a fast firing rate, such as machine guns and assault rifles.
Laser Sights: The laser sights can increase the accuracy and sometimes the bonus damage of a weapon. They are particularly important for shotguns and rifles where precision counts.
Reinforced Barrels: These upgrades augment the weapon’s damage and range. Reinforced barrels enforce the damage capacity of sniper rifles and heavy weapons.
Advanced Stocks: These stocks reduce the recoil of weapons and increase stability while aiming, thereby being very useful for rifles and sniper rifles wherein accuracy is vital.
6.2. Weapon Customization
Attachments: Customizing your weapons with various attachments can tailor their performance to specific needs. For example, a silencer is great for those stealth assignments where you want the targets going down quietly, whereas an underbarrel grenade launcher packs a serious punch for those moments when brute force takes over.
Upgrade Paths: Certain weapons follow specific upgrade paths that improve their use. For instance, upgrading the sniper rifle to extend range or increase damage may make it more suitable for eliminating high-priority targets.
Appearance Modifications: This mainly concerns customization, so change the look of your weapons to somewhat personalize your squad and increase enjoyment while playing.
7. Selecting the Best Weapons for Different Scenarios
Different missions and enemy types call for different tactics and weapons. Here is how you select the best weapons according to any given situation:
7.1. Urban Combat
Shotguns and SMGs work best in urban settings where tight spaces and multiple floors can be givens. Shotguns such as Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 are excellent choices in this type of combat.
7.1. Short-Ranged Combat
Short-range combat situations, particularly in indoor loci, favor heavy and spread-damage shotguns capable of clearing enemies from rooms.
Recommended Weapons:
Remington 870: High damage with spread, ideal for room clearing.
Mossberg 500: Considered a weapon of choice for urban warfare, being versatile and well balanced.
7.2. Long-Distance Engagements
When long-distance engagements come in, one prefers sniper rifles and rifles with the qualities of accuracy override and damage. The AMR-2 Sniper Rifle and the TAC-50 Rifle are best used when you want to pick enemies off at a distance.
Recommended Weapons:
AMR-2 Sniper Rifle: For long shots with high damage and accuracy.
TAC-50 Rifle: Powerful and precise, apt for eliminating high-value targets.
7.3. High-Density Combat
When up against huge gatherings of foes, heavy weapons and rapid-fire rifles come into effect. The M134 Minigun and the M202 FLASH take down multiple targets and offer area-effect damage.
Recommended Weapons:
M134 Minigun: Highest rate-of-fire and greatest damage for crowd control.
M202 FLASH: Clearing out groups of enemies with explosive damage.
7.4. Stealth Missions
Stealth missions call for weapons that permit silent takedowns or low-profile operations. Sniper rifles are thus good candidates when equipped with a silencer, while rifles should be equipped with scopes for an additional level of precision.
Recommended Weapons:
Silenced Sniper Rifle: A long-range weapon that allows for silent elimination of targets.
Silenced Assault Rifle: Allows for stealthy engagements while not restricting versatility.
8. Modding and Community Recommendations
The XCOM 2 modding community has produced many mods that enhance or change weapon mechanics, providing additional options and balance adjustments. These are some of the popular mods and community recommendations:
8.1. Weapon Overhaul Mods
Long War 2: This mod makes vast changes to weapon stats and customization which guarantee a much more challenging and immersive experience.
The Alien Hunters: Adds new alien weapons and upgrades, thereby significantly expanding the arsenal available in the game.
8.2. Cosmetic Mods
Weapon Skins: Different mods provide new skins and appearances for weapons, thus allowing you to personalize your arsenal.
Animations: Weapon animation mods ensure that they look prettier when fighting, thus increasing the game’s engagement level.
8.3. Balance Mods
XCOM 2 Balance Mod: Changes the weapon stats to allow a more balanced experience, keeping overpowered and underpowered weapons in check.
Enhanced Weapon Customization: Increases the customization options available for weapons, thus encouraging a more customized performance.
9. Conclusion
In XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, choosing the right weapons is a big consideration in thriving through a variety of combat situations. Close-quarters battles, long-distance sniping, and heavy assaults-the right weapon selection leads to appropriate performance.
Summary of Top Weapons
Assault Rifles: M4A1 Carbine, TAC-50 Rifle, M16A4.
Sniper Rifles: AMR-2 Sniper Rifle, Remington 700, SVD Dragunov.
Shotguns: Remington 870, Mossberg 500, Benelli M4.
Heavy Weapons: M134 Minigun, M202 FLASH, GPMG.
With knowledge of the strengths and uses of weapons, a balanced squad can be created for handling any challenge that presents itself. Go ahead and complement these weapons with upgrades and customizations to boost their performance and adaptability in diverse combat situations.
The more you know about harnessing the best weapons, the more you can chance your tactical might. That will surely bring success to your campaign, overtime-if you are indeed a seasoned player or disgruntled newbie at XCOM 2.