XCOM: Enemy Unknown, released in 2012, is a strategy game that blends tactical combat with base management, creating an immersive experience as players fight to protect Earth from an alien invasion. A critical aspect of gameplay is equipping your soldiers with the best armor to increase their chances of survival. Armor in XCOM: Enemy Unknown is not just a defense mechanism; it’s a game-changer that can influence your strategy, soldier positioning, and overall mission success. This review delves deep into the best armor options available in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and tactical applications.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Armor in XCOM: Enemy Unknown
In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, armor plays a crucial role in ensuring the survival of your soldiers. As the game progresses, the enemies become increasingly powerful, and having the right armor can make the difference between life and death for your troops. Armor not only increases a soldier’s health points but also often provides additional benefits like enhanced mobility, special abilities, or immunity to certain status effects.
The game offers a progression system where you start with basic armor and gradually unlock more advanced options as you research alien technologies and complete missions. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each armor type is essential for optimizing your squad’s effectiveness in combat.
Basic Armor Options
Before diving into the best armor options, it’s important to understand the basic armor that your soldiers start with and how it evolves as you progress through the game.
Kevlar Armor
- Health Bonus: None
- Special Abilities: None
Kevlar Armor is the default armor that all soldiers start with. It provides no additional health bonuses or special abilities, making it the weakest armor in the game. As you progress, upgrading from Kevlar Armor is a priority to ensure your soldiers can withstand more damage.
Best Armor in XCOM: Enemy Unknown
As you progress through the game, several armor types become available, each offering unique benefits. The best armor in XCOM: Enemy Unknown can be categorized based on their strengths, such as enhanced protection, increased mobility, and special abilities.
Carapace Armor
- Health Bonus: +4 HP
- Special Abilities: None
Carapace Armor is the first significant upgrade from Kevlar Armor. It provides a substantial health bonus, increasing a soldier’s survivability in battle. Although it doesn’t offer any special abilities, the increased HP is crucial, especially in the early to mid-game stages when enemy firepower starts to ramp up. This armor is particularly useful for soldiers who need to be on the front lines, such as Assault and Heavy classes, as it allows them to take more hits before going down.
Skeleton Suit
- Health Bonus: +3 HP
- Special Abilities: Grappling Hook
The Skeleton Suit offers a balance between increased health and enhanced mobility. While it provides a slightly lower health bonus compared to Carapace Armor, its real strength lies in the Grappling Hook ability. This tool allows soldiers to reach higher ground or move quickly across the map, providing a tactical advantage in terms of positioning and line of sight. The Grappling Hook is especially useful for Snipers, who can benefit from elevated positions to gain better accuracy and vision across the battlefield.
Titan Armor
- Health Bonus: +10 HP
- Special Abilities: Immunity to Fire and Poison
Titan Armor is one of the best armors available in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, providing a massive health boost that makes your soldiers extremely resilient. The +10 HP bonus is the highest in the game, making it ideal for soldiers who need to be in the thick of the action. Additionally, the immunity to fire and poison makes this armor particularly valuable against enemies that use these types of attacks, such as Chryssalids and Sectopods. Titan Armor is a great choice for your Assault and Heavy units, who are often at the forefront of combat and need maximum protection.
Ghost Armor
- Health Bonus: +6 HP
- Special Abilities: Ghost Mode (Invisibility)
Ghost Armor offers a unique tactical advantage with its Ghost Mode ability, which allows soldiers to become invisible for a short period. This ability can be a game-changer, allowing your soldiers to flank enemies, avoid detection, or escape dangerous situations. The +6 HP bonus is solid, making Ghost Armor a versatile choice for various soldier classes. It is particularly effective for Assault and Support classes, as they can use the invisibility to move into advantageous positions or rescue injured teammates without drawing enemy fire.
Archangel Armor
- Health Bonus: +8 HP
- Special Abilities: Flight
Archangel Armor is another top-tier option, providing a substantial health bonus and the ability to fly. The flight ability gives soldiers unparalleled mobility, allowing them to reach otherwise inaccessible areas or gain a bird’s-eye view of the battlefield. This is particularly useful for Snipers, who can take advantage of elevated positions to increase their accuracy and visibility. The +8 HP bonus also ensures that soldiers are well-protected, making Archangel Armor a great all-around choice for various mission types.
Psi Armor
- Health Bonus: +6 HP
- Special Abilities: Psi Boost (+20 Will)
Psi Armor is specialized armor designed for soldiers with psionic abilities. It provides a health bonus and a significant boost to Will, which enhances the effectiveness of psionic powers and increases resistance to panic. This armor is essential for soldiers who rely on psionic attacks, such as Mind Control or Psi Inspiration, as the increased Will improves the success rate of these abilities. Psi Armor is best used by soldiers in the Psi Operative class, who can turn the tide of battle with their powerful mental attacks.
Comparative Analysis of Best Armor
Each of the best armors in XCOM: Enemy Unknown has its unique strengths, and choosing the right one depends on your overall strategy and the specific needs of your squad. Here’s a comparative analysis to help you decide which armor to prioritize based on different scenarios.
Survivability Focus
- Best Option: Titan Armor
- Reason: With a +10 HP bonus and immunity to fire and poison, Titan Armor offers the best survivability. It’s ideal for missions where you expect heavy enemy resistance or need to engage in prolonged firefights.
Mobility and Positioning
- Best Option: Archangel Armor or Ghost Armor
- Reason: Archangel Armor’s flight ability provides unmatched mobility, allowing you to position your soldiers in advantageous spots. Ghost Armor, with its invisibility, offers a different kind of mobility by enabling stealthy movements and flanking maneuvers.
Tactical Flexibility
- Best Option: Ghost Armor
- Reason: The ability to become invisible provides tactical flexibility, allowing soldiers to adapt to changing battlefield conditions. It’s particularly useful for making surprise attacks, rescuing teammates, or avoiding overwhelming enemy forces.
Specialized Roles
- Best Option: Psi Armor
- Reason: For soldiers with psionic abilities, Psi Armor is the best choice due to its Will boost. This armor enhances the effectiveness of psi attacks and improves resistance to enemy psi powers, making it essential for Psi Operatives.
Tactical Applications of Armor
Understanding the strengths of each armor type is crucial, but so is knowing how to use them effectively in different combat scenarios. Here’s how to apply these armors tactically to maximize their potential.
Frontline Assault
For soldiers who need to be on the front lines, such as Assault and Heavy classes, Titan Armor is the best choice. The high HP bonus ensures they can take hits while pushing forward, and the immunity to fire and poison reduces the risk of status effects that could hinder their effectiveness. These soldiers can be used to draw enemy fire, allowing your Snipers and Support units to position themselves for strategic attacks.
Sniper Support
Snipers benefit greatly from armor that enhances mobility and positioning. Archangel Armor is perfect for this role, as the flight ability allows Snipers to reach elevated positions that provide better lines of sight and increased accuracy. Alternatively, Skeleton Suit’s Grappling Hook can also be useful for Snipers who need to move quickly between vantage points.
Stealth and Flanking
For missions that require stealth or involve flanking maneuvers, Ghost Armor is the ideal choice. The invisibility provided by Ghost Mode allows soldiers to move undetected, set up ambushes, or bypass heavily defended areas. This is especially useful for Assault units that need to close in on enemies quickly or Support units tasked with rescuing civilians or wounded teammates.
Psionic Warfare
Psi Armor is designed for soldiers with psionic abilities, making it the best choice for Psi Operatives. The Will boost increases the success rate of psi attacks, which can be crucial in turning the tide of battle. Psi Armor is particularly effective in missions where you expect to encounter enemies with strong Will or psi abilities, as it helps your soldiers resist panic and other mental attacks.
Armor Progression and Research
In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, acquiring the best armor requires careful research and resource management. Understanding the progression path for armor research is essential for planning your strategy and ensuring your soldiers are well-equipped for the challenges ahead.
Research Priorities
To unlock the best armor, you’ll need to prioritize certain research projects in your base. Early in the game, focus on researching Carapace Armor to provide an immediate boost to your soldiers’ survivability. As you gather alien materials and research new technologies, you can progress to more advanced armors like Titan Armor, Ghost Armor, and Archangel Armor.
Resource Management
Advanced armors require Alien Alloys, Elerium, and other rare materials, so managing your resources effectively is crucial. Make sure to salvage materials from downed UFOs and prioritize missions that offer these resources as rewards. Balancing resource allocation between armor upgrades, weapon improvements, and other technological advancements is key to maintaining a well-rounded and effective squad.
Balancing Armor with Other Equipment
While it’s tempting to focus solely on upgrading armor, it’s important to maintain a balance between armor, weapons, and other equipment such as grenades, medkits, and specialized gear like Mind Shields or Chitin Plating. Having a diversified approach ensures your soldiers are prepared for a variety of threats and mission types.
Weapons and Armor Synergy
Combining the right armor with the appropriate weapon loadout can create powerful synergies that enhance your soldiers’ effectiveness in combat. For example:
- Titan Armor + Shotgun (Assault Class): The high health bonus from Titan Armor allows Assault soldiers to get up close to enemies and take them down with a shotgun, even in dangerous situations where they might otherwise be vulnerable to counterattacks.
- Archangel Armor + Sniper Rifle (Sniper Class): The ability to fly with Archangel Armor pairs perfectly with a sniper rifle, as it enables soldiers to find the best vantage points for long-range attacks, increasing both their accuracy and damage potential.
- Ghost Armor + Alloy Cannon (Support/Assault Class): The invisibility from Ghost Armor combined with the close-range power of the Alloy Cannon allows soldiers to ambush enemies effectively, delivering powerful strikes from unexpected angles.
Specialized Gear and Armor
In addition to standard armor, there are specialized items that can complement your soldiers’ capabilities:
- Mind Shield: Provides extra protection against psi attacks, making it a good complement to Psi Armor, especially for soldiers facing enemies like Sectoid Commanders or Ethereals.
- Chitin Plating: Offers additional health and damage reduction against melee attacks, which can be useful when paired with Titan Armor to further enhance a soldier’s tanking ability.
- S.C.O.P.E.: Increases aim, making it a useful accessory for soldiers wearing Skeleton or Ghost Armor, where mobility and positioning might require pinpoint accuracy.
Strategic Considerations in Armor Deployment
Choosing the right armor for each mission involves understanding the specific threats you’re likely to encounter. The tactical map, enemy types, and mission objectives all play a role in deciding which armor to equip your soldiers with.
Urban Missions
In tight, urban environments with lots of cover and verticality, armor like the Skeleton Suit or Ghost Armor can provide the mobility and stealth necessary to navigate the terrain effectively. The Grappling Hook can help soldiers reach rooftops or move quickly between buildings, while Ghost Mode can be used to avoid detection in areas with limited cover.
Open-Field Battles
In missions set in more open areas, such as farms or wilderness, where cover is sparse, the high health bonus of Titan Armor becomes more valuable. The extra protection allows soldiers to survive longer in open engagements where they might otherwise be exposed to enemy fire.
Base Defense
During base defense missions, where your squad needs to hold off waves of enemies, the resilience provided by Titan Armor is crucial. The immunity to fire and poison also helps against Chryssalids and other enemies that might use area-of-effect attacks. Combining this with Archangel Armor for snipers to take strategic positions can create a strong defensive setup.
Psi Warfare
In missions where you expect heavy psi combat, equipping your Psi Operatives with Psi Armor is a must. The increased Will helps them resist enemy psi attacks and enhances their own psi abilities, making them more effective at controlling the battlefield. Pairing Psi Armor with items like Mind Shields further boosts their resilience against mental attacks.
Late-Game Armor Strategy
As you approach the late game, the enemies become tougher, and the stakes are higher. By this stage, you should have access to all the best armor types, and your strategy should involve a mix of these armors to handle different threats.
Versatility and Adaptability
Your squad should be outfitted with a variety of armors to ensure versatility. For example, having two soldiers in Titan Armor, one in Archangel Armor, and one in Ghost Armor allows you to handle different combat scenarios. The Titan Armor wearers can absorb damage and draw enemy fire, the Archangel Armor user can provide sniper support from above, and the Ghost Armor soldier can move stealthily to flank or complete mission objectives.
Specialized Squads
Depending on the mission, you might want to specialize your squad. For example, in missions where you’re facing a known enemy with strong psi abilities, a squad outfitted with Psi Armor and Mind Shields would be ideal. Alternatively, for missions where mobility and speed are crucial, such as timed missions or those with a lot of verticality, using Skeleton and Ghost Armor could be more beneficial.
Conclusion: Optimizing Armor for Success
In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the right armor can make a significant difference in your soldiers’ survivability and effectiveness. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each armor type, as well as how to apply them strategically, is crucial for overcoming the increasingly challenging threats posed by the alien invaders.
- Titan Armor offers unmatched protection and is best suited for front-line combatants who need to absorb damage.
- Ghost Armor provides stealth and mobility, making it ideal for flanking maneuvers and avoiding detection.
- Archangel Armor gives soldiers the ability to fly, offering unparalleled positioning advantages, especially for snipers.
- Psi Armor enhances the capabilities of Psi Operatives, making them more effective in mental warfare.
- Skeleton Suit balances mobility and protection, with the added advantage of the Grappling Hook for reaching elevated positions.
By carefully selecting and equipping your soldiers with the appropriate armor for each mission, you can maximize their chances of survival and success. Balancing armor upgrades with other technological advancements and managing your resources effectively are key to maintaining a well-equipped and adaptable squad. With the right armor, your soldiers will be better prepared to face the alien threat and protect humanity from extinction.