Overview
This is to help players get a feel for X-COM. I’ve started a new campaign, so I’m going to continue to add to this guide as I go along
X-COM Overview
X-COM Enemy Unknown places you in command of an elite military formed by many different governments. It’s up to you to use the best weapons, armor, and soldiers to combat the alien menace.
Keep in mind that I’m still playing through it again, so it will take some time for me to finish this guide.
The Base
The X-COM base is where all tactical decisions are made. It’s where upgrades are researched, weapons are developed, and the squad is launched. You can also model your soldiers in the barracks or rearm the fighters in the hanger.
Mission Control
Mission Control is where you go to when you’re not on a mission. The hologlobe will scan the world and pop up a list of locations where there is alien activity. It is important to note that central, who briefs you on stuff you already know stays in here.
Engineering
Engineering is where weapons, armor, satellites, and assorted equipement is created. Engineering will become your best friend later on when you’re building the best weapons and armor in the game in order for your soldiers to survive.
The Lab
The lab is where Dr. Valen conducts research with her team. It’s where weapons and armor are research and where you learn more about aliens.
Notes about Dr. Valen
She cares about the research and capture of aliens more than she cares about soldiers. Unless you lose them all. (I lost 5 of my men and the 6th had 1 health. She still cared about the research more!)
Weapons
Weapons needs no description. It’s weapons.
Pistol- Used by every class but the heavy. Does 2 damage, but 4 on a crit.
Rifle- Used by assaults and supports. Does 4 damage and 6 on crit
Shotgun- Used by the assault. Does 5 damage, 8 on crit.
Sniper- Used by sniper. Does 5 damage, 7 on crit.
Rocket launcher- Used by the heavy in place of the pistol. Does 6 damage in target area.
Grenade- Does 3 damage in target area.
Laser Pistol- Used by every class but the heavy. Does increased damage.
Laser Rifle- Used by assaults and supports. Does increased damage.
Laser Scattergun- Used by assault. Increased damage.
Laser Sniper- Increased damage
Note: Laser weapons seem to have increased accuracy as well.
Plasma Pistol- More damage.
Plasma Rifle- More damage
Allow Cannon- More damage
Laser Sniper- More damage
Blaster Launcher- Upgraded rocket launcher for NINE damage!
The aliens
Here is a list of aliens and their specialities
Sectoid- The basic alien. They travel in groups of 2 or 3 and carry light plasma rifles. They can also give each other 1 additional health for the rest of the turn. They have 3 HP
Thin Men- Another basic alien. They travel in groups of 2 or 3 and carry light plasma rifles. They also spit poison and killing one creates a cloud of poison. They have 3 HP
Floater- The last basic alien. They travel in groups of 2 or 3 and carry light plasma rifles. They can fly for better aim or can use an ability to jump behind your men. They have 4 HP
Outsiders- Alien commanders. They reside on any UFOs that get shot down. They travel either alone or in a pair. Later in the game is when it’s common to fight 2 outsiders at the same time.
Etherals- Annoying enemies that can mind-control your soldiers. Can also deflect your shots back at you. Use explosives and/or plasma snipers to kill them.
Sectoid Commanders- Remember those pesky sectoids? These have 10 health and can use mind control. They appear in groups of 1-3
Muton- Heavy damage dealing enemy. Appears in groups of 2-3
Muton Beserker- Melee muton. If you use kinetic strike on one with a mec and it dies, there’s a short cutscene of your mec and the muton fighting. Appears with 2 mutons.
Muton Elite- Mutons, only stronger. Appears in groups of 2 or 3.
Cyberdisk- A tough alien, the first time I fought one of these it killed 3 of my men. By a grenade, but 3 nonetheless. It may look harmless, but upon firing, it expands into a giant robot of death.
Sectopod- My favortie, these are tough mofos. They have 25 (or 30, can’t remember) health total and have heavy armor, meaning that damage on them is reduced. You fight multiple of these on the final mission, the assault on the temple ship.
Drone- A simple alien, even weaker than the sectopod. However, it flies and can repair mechanized units (Ex: Sectopod)
X-COM ENEMY WITHIN ALIENS
Seeker- Typically has 4 or 5 health, vanishes as soon as you see it. It grabs one of your men and chokes them to death, doing 2 health to start, and then one or two each turn. It will typically take out one guy at a time.
Mechtoid- The alien’s version of the OP Mect. Thank god sectopods were weakened to allow this unit 😀
Will be added later
More Weapons
Armor
More Aliens
Sections on meld
Strategies (including a satellite rush)
Memorial for Soldiers
Lt Marine, assault, killed by a muton, 8 kills and 9 missions- General Vance Stubbs
Knight of Heal, killed by an outsider, 2 kills 2 missions- Cashpwns
Knight of Night, killed by a muton, 5 kills and 4 missions-Cashpwns
Skinner O’Dourghty, killed by a sectoid, 21 kills and 12 missions-Whatsername
Colonel LeBron James, sniper, killed by friendly fire, 37 kills 18 missions.-ishallownyou
Lt Mihir ‘Casino’ Yadav-Kitty Cat Bills
Spec Angel of Vengence- killed by drone, 1 kill and 2 missions-General Vance Stubbs (Long War)
Major Isabelle “Zoidberg” Frenth, killed by muton elite, 16 kills and 7 missions -Mr. Dr. Prof Flame Esq. III
Squaddie Wilfred Warfstache, Assault, 2 kills and 2 missions -thomson0306
Spec Salamander, Assault, floater, 5 kills and 3 missions
If anyone has any soldiers they want on the memorial wall, let me know.
Long War High Casualities
Operation Cursed Sentinel (6 man squad) (General Vance Stubbs)
LCPL Knights of Sanguinas, Infantry, Sectoid, 7 kills and 4 missions
LCPL 1st Company Guns, Rocketeer, Sectoid, 5 kills and 4 missions
SPEC Sons of Medusa, Infantry, Sectoid, 4 kills and 2 missions
Notes
Trying to sort out things in real life. I will update this as much as I can as often as I can.
Base Personnel
Will add any if you tell me to. Just need the last names. And the whole point of this is so that if the name shows up in a later play through in XCOM 2, I make them one of the veterans from the first war.
Stevehazelnut
Boroto -Active
Ballo -Active
Chipo -Active
Vandeermeer- Anti-Exalt Agent
X. Cissoko- Active
J. Cissoko- Active
Wahid- Killed by Heavy Floater
Shazad- Active