![Complete Soldier Guide [CUSTOMIZATION + SKILLS + FACTORY BUILD] for XCOM 2](https://steamsolo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/complete-soldier-guide-customization-skills-factory-build-xcom-2.jpg)
Overview
This guide will show you how the Soldiers in XCOM 2 work. The point is to take a look at the various gear and explain how everything work.If you have played XCOM: Enemy Unknown you will not have problem with the soldier’s loadout.This guide is from a high-progression playthrough, it won’t show spoilers, but will show later-in game equipment.
Knowing the basics: Where are your Soldiers, how to Hire and Access them
After completing the Tutorial Level (or the first mission if you skipped it) you’ll find yourself within The Avenger, the Alien Crusader-ish Battleship.
From the bottom of the screen many options will appear to be selected, one of them is “Armory”.
Small Note: Your Armory may not show some of the options in the image, as I’ve said: I’m pretty deep within the game mechanics and progression. But no worries! I’ll also show you how to get the good stuff 🙂
Some of the options include “View Soldiers”, where you can see everyone, their ranks, status and nationality. If you click on their names you’ll access the individual and will be taken to their customization menu.
This is the Soldier List from your XCOM Army.
I’ll explain how each facility work and how they impact your soldier’s performance and Skill Progression. For explaining purposes I’ll begin showing the Soldier’s Customization (Both Loadout and Skills) with my Sexy Spanish Sniper.
– Customize: Edit your character appearance (Aesthetics)
– Loadout: Edit your character’s Armor and Equipments.
– Personal Combat Stims: They grant a small bonus to your soldier, like “Reaching Extra Titles when moving”, “Have 2 more HP points” and things alike.
– Weapon Upgrade: XCOM 2 has a small loot-system. Enemies may drop random loot that can be attached to your weapon. They all provide small benefits, but useful.
– Soldier Abilities: It’s the Character Progression of your Soldier, contains the skills you’ve picked and shows the class-tree (in this case, my Sharpshooter – sniper – ).
Excluding the primary and secondary weapons, every gadget, equipment, granade, ammo type and armor are avaliable for ALL classes.
You can recruit by clicking in the “Recruit” option from the Armory Menu. Each soldier will be avaliable at the moment you pick them (Unlike XCOM: Enemy Unknown).
Character Loadout Breakdown
From the Loadout Option you’ll get the access to various gears and gadgets. The organization follows: Armor, Primary Weapon, Secondary Weapon, Gadget 1, Gadget 2 (The 2nd slot is exlusive to Grenadier Class).
Small Note: I’ve selected the W.A.R Suit, which gives me access to a Heavy Weapon. In that case: The rocket. This extra slot is exclusive to W.A.R and EXO Suits.In my loadout I’ve also added an extra layer of Armor (The yellow vest). It replaced the slots of Granades and Ammo Types. We’ll get to that soon.
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These are the Armor Types I’ve unlocked, I can select one of them. Some will have special bonuses (Like allowing a Heavy Weapon, a 3rd Gadget Slot or a Hook, so my soldier can reach high distances without wasting Action Points)
If we select the Weapons (in this case, the Secondary Weapon Slot) we can swith to other weapons we’ve previously created.
The game also shows you which Primary and Secondary you can and can’t equip.
We also have the Utility / Gadgets Slot, they will allow you to equip special items like Acid Granades, Plasma Granades, Smoke Granades, Med-Kits, Acid Ammo, Armor-Piercing Ammo, Incendiary-Ammo, various Ballistic Vests and etc
Each of these vests have an unique attribute, they aren’t “progression linear”.
As I’ve mentioned, the W.A.R and EXO Suit will provide an extra Heavy Weapon. The Weapon types are:
– Rocket / Missile
– Flamethrower
– Shredder “Shotgun” Gun
Here are a few expanples of other gadgets:
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This is a new feature to the XCOM series, at least from the 2012 reboot. If an enemy happens to drop loot after his death you will be able to get random loots, they can be Data Pads (which gains Intel), Weapon Mods, Elyrium Cores and etc.
Again, the loot is random, you can use the Black Market to get specific loot, but we’ll get into that later.
After you select your weapon it’ll allow you to put 1 or 2 attachments on it.
This is Sniper has 2 slots, other weapons have 2 slots as well, but basic lvl-weapons will only have one.
The gun will also provide its own unique customization! You can rename it, change the pattern and the color.
Personal Combat Stims are a small bonus to add in every soldier. Only ONE can be added per soldier.
The buffs aren’t that needed, but are nice to have around. You can buy them from the Black Market.
Character Skills and Level Breakdown / Psi Labs (Facility)
Each time a Solder kills a certain amount of enemies in the field he’ll get a promotion. Only one promotion is granted per mission.
The promotion will give them 1 skill to chose from their Class Skill Tree.
The first skill is granted and will define the soldiers class. In this case it is Squadsight.
As you go deeper into character progression you’ll have the decision to pick the perks that you want (and that will suit your soldier)
Here are a few expamples:
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The Sharpshooter (Sniper) class can go all the way to be an Elite Overseer Sniper or Handguns / Revolvers / Gunslinger Specialist. Other classes also have their variations.
The Psi Class isn’t a deafult class. You can have this 5th class after putting you rookie soldiers to train in the Psi Labs, which must be constructed in order to be able to get this psionic soldier.
Small Note: The Psi Class also every customization and loadout options as the other classes, the only way it differs from its squadmates is when it comes to getting new perks.
He’s also unique when it comes to getting perks / abilities. You must chose which skills you want him to have and leave him training in the Psi Labs. As time passes he’ll be ready with those skills.
Increasing Squad Size, Squad Bonuses / Guerrilla Tactics School (Facility)
After creating the Guerrilla Tactics School you’ll have access to Squad upgrades that can benefit your team as a whole in the battlefield.
Some notorious ugrades are:
– Squad Size I: Increase your Squad Size from 4 to 5.
– Squad Size II: Increase your Squad Size from 5 to 6. (Maximum)
– Will Bonuses: Soldiers are less likely to panic in battle
– Durability Bonuses: Wounded soldiers are less likely to get killed and might enter in an unconscious state.
And others as you can see in the following image:
Small Note: … Or small reminder, you can only acces these upgrade after you build this facility.
The Guerrilla Tactics School allows you to train a rookie soldier and chose which class you want him to specialize.
Advanced Warfare Center (Facility)
The Advanced Warfare Center is a facility that allows you to reset your soldiers skills and re-organize them. It serves as a “prestige” in the game, but it wont erase the character progression.
It will also increase the Recovery of wounded soldiers (if you assign an Engineer to the Facility).
It is pretty useful, specially if your best soldiers are injured and you need them for the next mission.
The Black Market
The Black Market can be used as a plce where you can buy Weapon Mods, Personal Combat Stims and sell unused Gear like some Ballistic Vests (if you don’t use them anymore).
It is a great way to find a specific weapon attachment or any other gear you are looking for.
Watch out, you may sell research material without knowing!
Take the battle to the Aliens!
The diversity in classes in each mission might be a crucial point to achieve success. Mix your agents, bring a Specialist Hacker, Demolition Grenadier, Elite Sniper, Assault with Blades and Mind-Controlling Psi Operative! Or a Specialist Healer, Heavy Fire Grenadier, Gunslinger Sniper, Stealth Assault and Will-Breaker Psi Operative! The game grants you lots of variation. I hope I can help you guys with this article 🙂
XCOM LIVES AND ITS KICKIN’ SOME ADVENT ASS!