XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a critically acclaimed turn-based tactical strategy game where players manage a global defense initiative against an alien invasion. One of the core aspects of the game is base management, which includes building and upgrading various facilities to support your operations. A well-planned build order is crucial to ensuring that your squad is well-equipped and your base is efficiently managed. This comprehensive review will guide you through an optimal build order strategy, including tips, pitfalls to avoid, and how to adapt to different game scenarios.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Build Orders in XCOM: Enemy Unknown
In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the build order is the sequence in which you construct facilities and upgrade your base to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. The build order directly impacts your ability to respond to alien threats, manage resources, and maintain global support. Given the game’s strategic depth and resource constraints, making informed decisions about what to build and when can be the difference between victory and defeat.
Phase 1: Early Game Build Order (First 1-2 Months)
In the early game, your focus should be on establishing a solid foundation for your base while preparing for the increased alien activity.
1. Immediate Actions
- Excavate for Initial Facilities: Start by excavating the areas necessary for your first key facilities. The initial excavation costs are relatively low, and it’s essential to have room for critical structures like the Command Center, Satellite Uplink, and Power Generator.
- Command Center: Building the Command Center should be your first priority. This facility is essential as it allows you to manage base operations, conduct research, and make strategic decisions. It also unlocks the ability to build and deploy satellites, which is crucial for global coverage and panic management.
- Power Generator: Early on, you will need a Power Generator to support the construction of additional facilities. Build this as soon as possible to avoid power shortages that can hinder your ability to expand.
2. Satellite Uplink and Expansion
- Satellite Uplink: Construct the Satellite Uplink as your next priority. This facility allows you to launch satellites, which are critical for detecting UFOs and reducing panic levels globally. Launching satellites over countries with high panic levels will prevent them from withdrawing from the XCOM project and reduce global panic.
- Additional Excavation: Begin excavating more areas to make space for future facilities. Plan ahead for constructing a Workshop, Laboratory, and additional Power Generators.
3. Workshop and Laboratory
- Workshop: Once you have the Command Center and Satellite Uplink, focus on building a Workshop. The Workshop provides an adjacency bonus to facility construction speed and reduces the cost of building new structures. This will be particularly useful for managing resources and speeding up facility construction.
- Laboratory: Build a Laboratory to accelerate research. Research is crucial for unlocking new technologies, improving your soldiers’ equipment, and advancing your strategic capabilities. A Laboratory increases the speed at which your scientists complete research projects.
Phase 2: Mid-Game Build Order (3-6 Months In)
In the mid-game, your focus shifts to expanding your capabilities and preparing for more advanced alien threats.
1. Expand Satellite Coverage
- Additional Satellite Uplinks: Continue expanding your satellite network by building additional Satellite Uplinks. Aim to cover as many countries as possible to maintain global support and reduce panic levels. Ensure you have the necessary Power Generators to support the additional uplinks.
2. Build a Secondary Power Generator
- Secondary Power Generator: As you expand your base and build more facilities, you will need additional power. Construct a second Power Generator to avoid power shortages and ensure you can support all your operational needs.
3. Advanced Facilities
- Situational Room: Depending on your current needs, you might consider building facilities like the Situational Room, which provides various strategic bonuses. This facility can be useful for specific scenarios, such as when you need to reduce panic or boost your overall strategic capabilities.
- Satellite Nexus: If you have the Enemy Within expansion, build a Satellite Nexus to support additional satellites and provide further global coverage. The Satellite Nexus also reduces the cost of launching satellites, making it a valuable addition.
4. Research and Engineering
- Advanced Research Projects: Focus on completing key research projects that unlock advanced weapons, armor, and technologies. Prioritize projects that enhance your soldiers’ capabilities and provide critical upgrades.
- Engineering Upgrades: Use your Engineers to build and upgrade equipment. Invest in improving your soldiers’ weapons and armor to prepare for tougher missions and stronger alien enemies.
Phase 3: Late Game Build Order (6 Months to Endgame)
In the late game, your focus should be on preparing for the final missions and ensuring you have the resources and facilities needed for endgame success.
1. Finalize Base Layout
- Optimal Layout: Ensure your base layout is optimized for efficiency. Place facilities that provide adjacency bonuses next to each other, such as Workshops and Laboratories. This will maximize the benefits and reduce the time and cost of construction.
- Power Management: Make sure you have enough Power Generators to support all your facilities. Upgrade or build additional generators if necessary to avoid power shortages.
2. Upgrade and Prepare for Final Missions
- Endgame Research: Complete any remaining research projects that unlock the most powerful technologies and equipment. This includes advanced weapons, armor, and psionic abilities if you have the Enemy Within expansion.
- Psionic Training and MEC Troopers: If you have access to psionic abilities or MEC Trooper technology, ensure that you have fully developed and equipped these capabilities. Psionics can be particularly useful in the final missions, providing powerful abilities to counter alien threats.
3. Manage Global Panic
- Reduce Panic Levels: Continue to manage global panic levels by launching satellites and completing missions. Ensure that you have sufficient global coverage to prevent any countries from withdrawing from the XCOM project.
- Terror Missions: Pay special attention to Terror Missions and prioritize them to prevent panic from increasing. These missions often involve saving civilians from alien attacks and can significantly impact global panic levels.
Advanced Tips and Strategies
To further enhance your build order and base management, consider the following advanced tips:
1. Balancing Resource Allocation
- Credits vs. Research: Balance your spending between building new facilities and conducting research. Avoid overspending on facilities at the expense of research, as advanced technologies are crucial for dealing with tougher alien threats.
- Engineer and Scientist Allocation: Allocate your Engineers and Scientists strategically based on your current needs. If you need to accelerate construction, prioritize Engineers. For research, ensure you have a sufficient number of Scientists.
2. Utilize Adjacency Bonuses
- Facility Placement: Place facilities that provide adjacency bonuses next to each other to maximize their benefits. For example, place Workshops next to each other to reduce construction time and cost.
- Efficient Layout: Plan your base layout to minimize travel time between facilities and ensure that you can quickly access critical structures like the Command Center and Satellite Uplinks.
3. Prepare for Alien Threats
- Research Key Technologies: Focus on researching technologies that counter specific alien threats. For example, researching improved armor and weapons will help you deal with tougher enemies like Sectopods and Ethereals.
- Upgrade Equipment: Regularly upgrade your soldiers’ weapons and armor to ensure they are prepared for increasingly challenging missions. Invest in the latest technology to give your squad the edge they need in combat.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
1. Overbuilding Facilities
- Avoid Overbuilding: Don’t build too many facilities too quickly, as this can lead to power shortages and resource management issues. Focus on constructing essential facilities first and expand as needed.
- Manage Power Efficiently: Ensure that you have enough power to support your facilities. Avoid building more facilities than your current power capacity can handle.
2. Neglecting Research
- Prioritize Research: Research is crucial for unlocking advanced technologies and improving your squad’s capabilities. Don’t neglect research in favor of building more facilities.
- Balance Facility and Research Needs: Strike a balance between building facilities and conducting research. Ensure that you are progressing in both areas to maintain a well-rounded and effective base.
3. Ignoring Global Panic
- Manage Panic Levels: Global panic can lead to countries withdrawing from the XCOM project and reducing your funding. Prioritize launching satellites and completing missions to keep panic levels under control.
- Respond to UFOs: Ensure that you have a sufficient number of Interceptors to respond to UFOs and prevent panic from increasing. Build and upgrade your Interceptors to effectively counter alien threats.
Conclusion
A well-planned build order in XCOM: Enemy Unknown is essential for managing your base, expanding your capabilities, and preparing for the alien threat. By following a strategic build order, focusing on key facilities, and balancing resources, you can optimize your base management and increase your chances of success.
From the early game to the endgame, each phase of the build order requires careful planning and decision-making. Use this guide to navigate the complexities of base management, avoid common pitfalls, and develop a winning strategy for defending Earth against the alien invasion.
With a solid build order and effective base management, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of XCOM: Enemy Unknown and lead humanity to victory.