Specialized Soldiers Builds V1.2

Hello Commanders

Here you will find some soldier builds that have worked for me in wonderfull ways. Each build will have skill distribution, equipment and a little explanation of how it works.

NOTE: This guide is updated to the latest version of the game and includes all DLC and War of the Chosen content.

This class can go either all AoE or focus in single targets with deadly effects. The grenade launcher adds range and ratius to all grenades, not just offensive ones. Here go two builds.

War of the Chosen notes: with the new expansion you can buy skills from the other trees, so get Blast Paddings in both builds, depending on your Combat Intelligence you should try to get something from the random pool.

Some skills are self explanatory, but the idea is maximum AoE and armor Shredding. Acid Bombs dont destroy cover and have to be carefully launched since cover blocks the explosion, but 4 armour shredding is beautifull, specially if you can combine it with another grenade, HW or cannon attack, you can shred all of the Gatekeeper armour with just one soldier.

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This build maximizes the cannon, each shot you take will apply holo targeting and the ammo effect, the PCS will counteract the aim penalty of chain shot and the expanded mag will save you from a lot of weapon reloads and insuficient ammo for a lot of skills.

Rangers are right in the face of danger, this class is al about mobility, so lets start with two builds


You might be wondering "why no conceal?", it might be very useful, but you can use it only once, with Gun n Run you can dash, flank and shot an enemy, remember the ranger GTS training that gives +3 damage (1 in WotC) when flanking.
A shotgun with AP rounds is effective in a wide array of enemies, and the laser sight adds a really good chance to crit. The proximity mine is the only explosive that doesnt break concealment when is used, this way you can plan for really interesting ambushes.

War of the Chosen notes: Get Conceal through Action Points, also switch the AP Rounds for a Refraction Field to maximize the concealment mechanic

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This build is about mobility and survival, since you will use mostly the sword the light suit will give you dodge and mobility, paired with the PCS you will reach 50 Dodge. If that is not enough Implacable and Untouchable will make you even harder to kill. Last but not least, the Hazmat vest will protect you against a lot of status effects that not only do damage, but also hinder your mobility and skill usage.

War of the Chosen notes: Get Bladestorm and Deep Cover with AP.

Long range or close range, this unit is a versatile damage dealer. Two builds ahead.


The idea is simple, you position yourself using the grapple and fun starts right away. The expanded mag and the repeater sinergize really well with Kill zone and Serial, you will be able to take up to six overwatch or serial shots. Talon rounds will give you some preety nice critical chance.

War of the Chosen notes: Get Shredder and Holo Targeting with AP if you can.

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Pistols are a real beauty, not only they dont have to reload, but also they are the only sidearm that can use special rounds. If you play your cards right you can poison all enemies in your sight ratius or deal a ton of damage shooting up to five times to a robotic unit (+25 bonus damage with Bluescreen rounds if they all hit). In War of the Chosen this unit does wonders against the Lost, as long as you have the "Between the Eyes" Resistance Order.

Either a Battle medic or a fully offensive soldier, specialist are the most maleable class. Two builds for now.


Under no circunstance EVER you should go to battle without one of these. This is the ultimate support unit, remote healing, status removal, reviving, can give a defense + overwatch buff, and automatic overwatch if you dash. The PCS will make mind controling and panicking this unit a lot harder (very important for your main medic), also it will recieve less psionic damage.

War of the Chosen notes: Get Covering Fire and Capacitor discharge with AP, the first will boost your overwatch and the second is a Free EMP grenade.

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Sayonara Mr. Roboto. This unit is basically a robot killer, Capacitor discharge is an EMP Bomb that also affects organic enemies in a minor degree. Combining Covering Fire, Guardian, the Preception PCS, the GTS specialized training and both weapon add ons this soldier becomes an Overwatch God.

War of the Chosen notes: Get Ever Vigilant with AP, also try to buy Shredder and Holo Targeting.

Psi Operatives are a lot different from regular soldiers. First and most important, they can train ALL their skills, so it is useless to post a build since there is only one. Second there is no natural way to get a Psi operative, you have to train one, and keep training all of their skills. The good side of that is that you can deploy a Magi without risking his life leveling up, the bad side is that it takes a lot of in game time.

War of the Chosen notes: Use ONLY rookies with standard Combat Intelligence, as Psi Ops dont benefit from the Action Points system.

Introduced with the Shen´s Last Gift DLC, this mechaniced units are some sort of Jack of all trades (master of none). To get this unit you will have to complete a special mission and then manufacture them. Unlike other soldiers the SPARK can´t equip PCS or items, it doesnt heal automatically so you have to assign them to Engineering Bay to repair them (but you can send them to battle damaged).

In War of the Chosen, SPARKS are the only unit not affected by the fatigue system and Chosen Daze, they also had a stat buff and are now able to equip weapon mods.

This build will act more a a defensive bullet sponge, the good side is that each shot targeted against the SPARK will increase his damage output by one in the next shot, that´s why Bulwark, Channeling Field work so well toghether. Also Bulwark and Sacrifice with tier 3 armor will grant you 6 armor points.

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The offensive variant of the SPARK is all about Overdrive and heavy weapons (Blaster Launcher recomended). This killer robot from the future is excelent in the front lines when an enemy gets revealed and also in the back with a steroid pumped HW.

Reapers are an excelent scouting unit, as they use Shadow concealment, a special form of concealment that makes all enemies have 1 tile of detection radius, each shot they take has a 50% chance of breaking Shadow, so you can remain concealed after shooting, also their Claymore doesnt break concealment.

While this class excels at cover ops ambushes, since their shadow mode makes them almost undetectable, this class is strictly situational. Most of their skills have only one or two charges, except for Remote Start, his rifle is weaker than the standard assault rifle and their armour has no equipment slot*, except they get Tactical Rigging in the random skill pool.

This build focuses on mantaining the Reaper in shadow mode and using him as a scout. Due to the class limitations it is recomended to leave him for killing blows only. In the random skills pool try to get Tactical Riging and Serial.

Skirmishers are a mobility focused class. Their Bullpup rifle has the particularity that it doesnt finish your turn after shooting it, giving you a lot of flexibility in combat, specialy when you combine it with the grappling hook.


This build is about maximizing the use of the Bullpup, specially against organic targets. With the mobility of the Skirmishers you will be able to flank and atack twice (the second time with more presicion and crit chance) aplying a chance to panic and a status effect. If you happen to get Tactical Rigging give this unit a grenade to remove cover and shoot.

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This build is more of a support unit, whose main goal is maximizing the use of Combat Precense for some really flexible tactics during the enemy turn. You should also try to Bond this unit to a Battle Medic Specialist for healings.

The Templars are a melle focused psyonic warriors. They have a disctintive mechanic calles Focus, wich is built up during the mission to increase Damage, Dodge and Mobility but its consumed when you use certain skills.


This build is all about melee and retaining focus. Use your melee attacks for guarenteed AoE psyonic damage, with parry, deflect/reflect and the PCS+Focus dodge bonus this unit is really hard to hit. For the common tree skills you should aim for Bladestorm, Reaper and Fortress to change the Hazmat Vest for a Mindshield as a Disoriented status make you lose all Focus.

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This unit is more of a supportive Psy Op, the main goal is to obtain Focus as fast as possible to use his main skills. with the GTS training you will start all missions with one point of Focus, so get it ASAP.

In War of the Chosen two new systems have been introduced that will alter the tactical phase of the game.

The first one is the AP system, wich allows you to pucharse skills from the same rank and from other classes using Action Points, the higher ranking the skill, the more it cost (up to 25 AP for a colonel skill).

The second one is Bonding, wich allows a unit so share his actions with his bondmate, do a combined attack and remove negative mental effects.

Finally, Breakthroughs allow each main weapon type to have an extra slot and +1 damage, the extra add on has been included between < >.

For more information about the items listed here you can check

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=728883189

Thanks for reading.