XCOM 2
XCOM 2

Supply Raids & Resource Gathering

Maximize resource gathering in XCOM 2. Learn effective strategies for Supply Raids and acquiring vital Supplies and Intel for your campaign.

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Supply Raids & Resource Gathering

Effective resource management is the backbone of any successful XCOM 2 campaign. Without a steady influx of Supplies, Intel, and Alien Alloys, your Avenger will quickly grind to a halt. This section details how to maximize your gains from Supply Raids and other resource-gathering opportunities.

Understanding Supply Raid Missions

Supply Raids are critical missions that appear periodically on the Geoscape. They offer a significant boost to your primary resource, Supplies, and often provide opportunities for additional gains. These missions typically involve securing a series of ADVENT supply crates before they are extracted by enemy forces.

Mission Objectives & Timers

  • Primary Objective: Secure X number of ADVENT Supply Crates. The number varies, but usually ranges from 3 to 5.
  • Extraction Timer: Each crate has an individual timer. Once a crate's timer expires, ADVENT will extract it, and you will lose the resources it contains. Prioritize crates with shorter timers.
  • Enemy Reinforcements: Expect heavy resistance. ADVENT will continuously deploy reinforcements, often including more powerful units like Mutons, Sectopods, and Gatekeepers, especially on higher difficulties or later in the campaign.

Optimal Squad Composition for Supply Raids

Given the timed nature and potential for overwhelming enemy numbers, a balanced and aggressive squad is recommended:

  • Ranger (Blademaster/Run & Gun): Excellent for quickly closing distances to secure crates and dealing high damage to priority targets. A Blademaster Ranger with a superior sword can one-shot many early-game enemies.
  • Specialist (Combat Hacker/Medic): Crucial for hacking ADVENT terminals (which sometimes reveal crate locations or disable enemy turrets) and providing vital healing. Combat Hackers can also disable enemy MECs and Sectopods, buying precious turns.
  • Sharpshooter (Gunslinger/Sniper): A Gunslinger with Fan Fire and Faceoff can clear multiple low-health enemies or deal significant damage to a single target. A Sniper can provide long-range overwatch and critical hits from a safe distance, but may struggle to keep up with crate objectives.
  • Grenadier (Demolitions/Heavy Gunner): Indispensable for destroying cover, dealing area-of-effect damage, and shredding armor. A Grenadier with Volatile Mix and Salvo can clear entire pods or soften up heavily armored units like MECs and Andromedons.
  • Psi Operative: Their diverse abilities like Stasis, Null Lance, and Soulfire make them incredibly versatile. Stasis can buy time on a critical crate or neutralize a dangerous enemy.

In-Mission Strategy

  1. Prioritize Crates: Immediately assess the timers on all visible crates. Plan your movement to secure the most urgent ones first.
  2. Aggressive Movement: Don't be afraid to use dashes and Run & Gun. The mission rewards speed.
  3. Use Explosives Wisely: While tempting to blow up everything, remember that destroying a crate will prevent you from securing its contents. Use grenades to clear cover around crates, not on the crates themselves.
  4. Overwatch Traps: If you anticipate reinforcements from a specific direction, set up an overwatch trap. This can thin out enemy numbers before they become a threat.
  5. Hack Terminals: Always attempt to hack ADVENT terminals. The rewards can include bonus Supplies, Intel, or even a reduction in the crate timers. Be mindful of the hack defense and your Specialist's hack skill.
  6. Evacuate Strategically: Once all accessible crates are secured, or if your squad is heavily damaged, don't hesitate to evacuate. There's no shame in leaving a few crates if it means saving your soldiers.

Other Resource Gathering Opportunities

Scanning Sites on the Geoscape

The Geoscape is your primary source of passive resource generation. Always have the Avenger scanning a region. Prioritize scanning sites that offer:

  • Supplies: The most common resource, vital for building facilities, recruiting soldiers, and purchasing equipment.
  • Intel: Required for contacting new regions, purchasing items from the Black Market, and initiating Covert Operations.
  • Alien Alloys & Elerium Crystals: Essential for advanced weapon and armor upgrades. These are rarer and often found at crash sites or specific scanning locations.
  • Scientists & Engineers: Crucial for accelerating research and construction times. Always prioritize these when they appear.

Black Market

The Black Market, accessible via the Geoscape, allows you to trade resources. While generally not recommended for selling essential materials like Alien Alloys or Elerium, it can be useful for:

  • Selling Excess Corpses: Early game, you might accumulate many ADVENT Trooper Corpses or Sectoid Corpses. Selling these for a quick Intel boost can be beneficial.
  • Buying Emergency Supplies/Intel: If you're critically low on a specific resource for a time-sensitive project, the Black Market can be a lifeline, though prices are steep.

Resistance Contacts & Covert Operations

Establishing Resistance Contacts in new regions expands your reach and provides more scanning opportunities. Once a region is contacted, you can assign Resistance personnel to gather resources, often yielding a steady trickle of Supplies or Intel.

Covert Operations, unlocked through the Resistance Ring facility, are excellent for targeted resource acquisition. Look for operations that reward:

  • Large quantities of Supplies or Intel.
  • Scientists or Engineers.
  • Rare resources like Elerium Cores or Alien Rulers' corpses (if the DLC is active).

Always consider the risks and rewards of a Covert Operation, especially the chance of an ambush mission.

Facility Management: GTS & Proving Grounds

  • Guerrilla Tactics School (GTS): While primarily for soldier abilities, the GTS can also unlock squad size upgrades, which indirectly improve your resource gathering efficiency by allowing more soldiers on missions.
  • Proving Grounds: Essential for producing advanced gear. Early production of items like the Mimic Beacon can drastically reduce casualties on Supply Raids, saving you valuable resources in the long run.

By diligently managing your Geoscape activities, prioritizing Supply Raids, and making smart use of your facilities, you'll ensure your XCOM project has the resources it needs to fight back against ADVENT.