XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a much-acclaimed, turn-based tactical strategy game where the player controls a global defense force against an alien invasion. Base management is a central theme, wherein different facilities are constructed and upgraded to further one’s operations. Planning your build order carefully ensures that your squad is properly equipped and that the base is managed efficiently. This extensive review will walk you through the ideal build order strategy, along with tips on what to avoid and how to adapt to different situations.
Introduction to Build Orders in XCOM: Enemy Unknown
The build order in XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the order in which you build your facilities and upgrade your base for maximum efficiency and effect. Your build order determines how well you prepare for alien threats, manage your resources, and keep the global support up. This factor can make or break the player’s game since the strategic depth of the game and its resource limitations are very high.
Phase 1: Early Game Build Order (First 1-2 Months)
Early on, your primary goal is to set up a solid foundation for your base and prepare for the rise in alien activity.
1. Immediate Actions
Excavate for Initial Facilities: Excavation needs to start for the first and crucial facilities. Since excavation costs are minimal at the start, it is crucial to keep in mind that extra space is needed for key structures like the Command Center, Satellite Uplink, and Power Generator.
Command Center: Your very first priority should be to build the Command Center. This facility is necessary to oversee the operations of the base, conduct researches at a strategic level, making top decisions, and also, enables the building and deployment of satellites which are required for global coverage and handling panic.
Power Generator: The Power Generator will also be required and this will allow the construction of more buildings. Build it as quickly as possible to prevent power outages from restricting your ability to expand.
2. Uplink and Expansions
Satellite Uplink: Now, you should turn to Satellite Uplink construction as there is huge demand for it. This facility allows the launching of satellites, which are vital for UFO detection and reducing panic worldwide. Launching satellites over countries where there is high panic will stop them from withdrawing from XCOM projects and reduce global panic.
Additional Excavations: Begin excavating more areas to start the construction of future facilities. This will include preparing for the Workshop, Laboratory, and more Power Generators.
3. Workshop and Laboratory
Workshop: The next thing to take care of after the Command Center and Satellite Uplink is construction of the Workshop. The Workshop has synergy with construction speed for other facilities and also lowers the cost of building new structures. This will be especially handy resource-wise and zipping through undertaking the construction of facilities.
The Laboratory: Build the Laboratory to allow for faster research. Research is the key to new technologies, from improving your soldiers’ equipment to the strategic capabilities of your operations. A Laboratory hastens the research completion speed of a scientist.
Phase 2: Mid-Game Build Order (Months 3-6)
The mid-game setting sees your consideration shift toward the expansion of your capabilities and preparing yourself against more difficult alien threats.
1. Expand Satellite Coverage
Additional Satellite Uplinks: Continue building more Satellite Uplinks to expand your satellite network. You want to have as many countries under your support so panic does not increase in those countries. Be sure to build enough Power Generators for the extra uplinks.
2. Build a Secondary Power Generator
Secondary Power Generator: As you expand the base by building more facilities, you will require even more power. You should construct a second Power Generator to ensure you never run out of power while trying to support your organizational needs.
3. Facilities
Situational Room: Depending on what your situation calls for, you should consider constructing facilities that provide various strategic bonuses, such as a situational room. Specific scenarios might warrant having one, such as when you are working to reduce panic or just need those few extra strategic bonuses.
Satellite Nexus: If you can afford the Enemy Within expansion, build a Satellite Nexus to support more satellites for even greater global coverage. Besides that, the Satellite Nexus also reduces the cost of launching satellites, making it a degree of importance.
4. Research and Engineering
Advanced Research Projects: Advance research to complete the most important projects that alternatively: unlock the advanced weapons and armor, technologies, and enhancements for better soldier tactics.
Engineering Upgrades: Engineers will do the building and upgrading of equipment. Enhancing the soldiers’ weapons and armor will better prepare them for tougher missions and stronger alien opponents.
The Phase 3 late-game build order lasts from 6 months to the end of the answer.
During the late game, the end game is preparing for the last missions, so a player must really be sure he has the resources and the facilities necessary for endgame operations.
1. Finalize Base Layout
Optimal Layout: The orientation of your base should be toward efficiency. Facilities that gain adjacency bonuses should be placed next to each other; for example, Workshops should be adjacent to Laboratories to maximize the effect and minimize construction time and cost.
Power Management: Power Generators are such that they need to support every single one of your establishments. You would have to upgrade them or build new ones if power becomes an issue.
2. Upgrade and Prepare for Final Missions
Endgame Research: Finish whatever research remains in unlocking the most powerful tech and equipment: advanced weapons, armor, and psionics, if you have the Enemy Within expansion.
Psionic Training and MEC Troopers: If psionic or MEC Trooper abilities are at your disposal, make sure you have fully implemented and equipped them. Psionics are good for the final missions, granting powerful alien-threat-countering abilities.
3. Managing Global Panic
Reduce Panic Levels: Continue managing global panic levels through the launch and completion of satellite missions. Keep enough global coverage so that no countries choose to cancel from XCOM.
Terror Missions: Beware of terror missions and execute those missions to prevent additional panic increases. They usually involve rescuing civilians from alien attacks and whose aftermath greatly affects global panic levels.
Advanced Tips and Strategies
For a run smoother than ever with the build order and base management programs, the following advanced tips can come in handy:
1. Balancing Resource Allocation
Credits vs. Research: Be equidistant between spending resources on research and the construction of new facilities. Avoid spending too much resources on constructing facilities at the expense of research because advanced technology means more advanced hard alien threats.
Engineer and Scientist Allocation: Based on current needs, allocate Engineers and Scientists appropriately. If construction needs to be quick, prioritize Engineers over Scientists who are still needed in good numbers for research.
2. Utilize Adjacency Bonuses
Facility Placement: Set up the facilities that grant adjacency bonuses next to each other to reap maximum benefits. For instance, set up Workshops next to each other to reduce time and construction costs.
Efficient Layout: Try to plan a layout for your base that will allow you to just minimize travel time between facilities so that you can get quickly to the must-visit places like Command Center and Satellite Uplinks.
3. Prepare Alien Threats
Research Important Technologies: Emphasis should be on attempting to research those technologies that specifically oppose alien threats. For example, improved armor and weapons research would allow you to better handle stronger enemies like Sectopods and Ethereals.
Upgrade Equipment: Continually equip your soldiers with new weapons and armor to fight missions that are getting harder with upgrading technology, giving your squad the best chance to fight back.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid
#1 Overbuilding Facilities
1. Avoid Overbuilding: Try not to construct too many facilities too quickly since shortages of power and difficulties with resource management can result from that. Build the essential facilities first, then construct further if and when necessary.
2. Use Power Wisely: Make sure power can accommodate your facilities. Do not build more facilities than your current power capacity can supply for.
#2 Neglecting Research
Prioritize Research: It is through research that advanced technology is unlocked and squad capabilities are improved. Never let research get pushed aside due to facility construction.
Work to Find a Balance Between Facility Construction and Research: Always build facilities as well as conduct research so progress is always made in both areas in order to have a better rounded base.
3. Ignoring Global Panic
Manage Panic Levels: During global panic, member states withdraw from the XCOM project and therefore reduce your funding. Give priority to satellite launching and completing missions to keep the panic levels down.
Respond to UFOs: Make sure that you have plenty of Interceptors to respond to UFO activity and not let the panic levels rise. Build and upgrade your Interceptors to answer alien threats effectively.
Closing Lines
A well-thought-out build order in XCOM: Enemy Unknown puts into order the management of your base plus expanding its capability to face the alien threat. With a strategic build order, you can manage your base by focusing on important facilities and managing some resources to optimize their abilities for a given purpose.
From early game to late game, each phase in the build order requires deep consideration for what has to be constructed when. Here is this guide that should help you manage through the complexities of base management, find the needed information so you avoid common pitfalls, and build up a winning strategy in defense of Earth against an alien invasion.
You will be all set for taking down all the challenges thrown by XCOM: Enemy Unknown and thus leading humanity to victory, exactly that is about knowing the inner workings of the game, executing these, and dealing with new issues along the way.