XCOM 2
XCOM 2

DLC Content Overview

Integrate XCOM 2's DLC content into your campaign. Learn about Anarchy's Children and new challenges to maximize your success against ADVENT.

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DLC Content Overview

Welcome, Commander, to the comprehensive guide for XCOM 2's downloadable content! This section will detail the additional challenges, gear, and strategic layers introduced by each major DLC, helping you integrate them seamlessly into your campaign and maximize your chances of success against ADVENT.

Anarchy's Children

This cosmetic-focused DLC adds a wealth of customization options for your soldiers, allowing for greater personalization and expression. While it doesn't introduce new gameplay mechanics or missions, it significantly expands the aesthetic variety of your squad.

  • New Customization Options: Over 100 new exotic customization options are added, including punk-rock hairstyles, rebellious face paints, new armor patterns, and unique helmet designs.
  • Availability: These options become available immediately upon installing the DLC and can be accessed in the Barracks under the "Customize Soldier" menu for any of your recruits or existing soldiers.
  • Strategy: While purely cosmetic, these options can boost morale for some players and help differentiate soldiers more easily in the heat of battle. Consider using them to give your most decorated soldiers a distinctive look.

Alien Hunters

Alien Hunters introduces a new narrative arc, powerful unique weapons, and formidable "Ruler" alien enemies that will relentlessly pursue your squad across the globe. This DLC significantly ups the ante, requiring careful planning and tactical adaptation.

Initiating the Content

To begin the Alien Hunters storyline, you must research the Alien Autopsy project in the Proving Grounds. Once complete, a new Resistance mission will appear on the Geoscape:

  1. "The Nest" Mission: This mission is crucial. It will pit your squad against a new alien type and, upon completion, unlock the unique Alien Hunter weapons.
  2. Warning: The Ruler aliens (Viper King, Archon King, Berserker Queen) will begin appearing in regular missions after you complete "The Nest." Be prepared!

Unique Weapons

Upon completing "The Nest," you will acquire three powerful prototype weapons, each with unique abilities:

  • Bolt Caster: A heavy rifle that deals massive damage and has a chance to stun. It has a limited ammo capacity but can be devastating in the right hands. Best used by a Ranger or Sharpshooter.
  • Hunter's Axe: A throwable melee weapon that can be retrieved. It deals significant damage and has a chance to disorient. Excellent for Rangers or Specialists who need a versatile close-quarters option.
  • Shadowkeeper: A pistol that guarantees a hit and has a chance to disorient. Its "Shadowfall" ability allows the wielder to enter concealment after a kill, making it ideal for stealthy operatives or Sharpshooters needing to reposition.

Ruler Aliens

These powerful adversaries are a major challenge. They act immediately after any soldier's action (moving, shooting, using an ability), making them extremely dangerous. They also have unique abilities and a large health pool.

  • Viper King: Can constrict multiple soldiers and has a powerful tongue pull. Focus fire and use area-of-effect abilities.
  • Archon King: Can launch a devastating "Blazing Pinions" attack and has a powerful melee. Keep your distance and use snipers.
  • Berserker Queen: Extremely fast and hits hard. Can use "Quake" to deal area damage and destroy cover. Use stuns, disorients, and high-damage attacks to mitigate her threat.
  • Strategy Against Rulers:
    • Stuns and Disorients: These are your best friends. Flashbangs, Mimic Beacons, and abilities like the Specialist's "Combat Protocol" can buy you crucial turns.
    • Alpha Strike: Try to deal as much damage as possible in a single turn to prevent them from acting multiple times.
    • Positioning: Rulers will pursue. Use environmental hazards and choke points to your advantage.
    • Armor Piercing: Rulers have significant armor. Bring shredding abilities or armor-piercing rounds.
    • Ruler Armor: Killing a Ruler allows you to research their corpse and craft unique armor sets (e.g., Serpent Suit from the Viper King, Icarus Armor from the Archon King, Rage Suit from the Berserker Queen). These armors offer powerful abilities like grappling hooks, flight, and berserker rage.

Shen's Last Gift

This DLC introduces a new narrative mission, a new soldier class (the SPARK unit), and powerful robotic allies. It offers a unique tactical experience and expands your roster with durable, customizable war machines.

Initiating the Content

The "Shen's Last Gift" storyline begins with a specific Resistance mission that will appear on the Geoscape:

  1. "Lost Towers" Mission: This multi-stage mission is a challenging delve into an abandoned ADVENT facility. You will accompany Dr. Lily Shen and uncover the secrets of her father's final project.
  2. Reward: Completing "Lost Towers" unlocks the ability to build SPARK units in the Proving Grounds.

SPARK Units

SPARKs are robotic soldiers that function as a heavy weapons platform and frontline tank. They do not use cover but have high health and armor, making them incredibly resilient.

  • Building SPARKs: After completing "Lost Towers," you can construct SPARK units in the Proving Grounds. Each SPARK requires resources and build time, similar to other Proving Grounds projects.
  • Customization: SPARKs have their own unique customization options, allowing you to change their chassis, head, and color schemes.
  • Abilities: SPARKs have a unique ability tree focusing on heavy weapons, area-of-effect attacks, and defensive protocols. Key abilities include:
    • Overdrive: Allows the SPARK to take three actions in a single turn, but disables it for the next turn. Excellent for burst damage or repositioning.
    • Bombard: A powerful area-of-effect attack that deals damage in a radius.
    • Adaptive Aim: Increases aim for each enemy within a certain radius.
    • Channeling Field: Provides defensive bonuses to nearby allies.
  • Strategy: SPARKs excel at drawing enemy fire, breaking enemy formations with their area attacks, and providing sustained firepower. Pair them with Specialists for healing and support, and Grenadiers to soften up armored targets. They are immune to many status effects like poison and fire, making them reliable in challenging environments.