Part 26

Learn strategies to counter the Ethereal's psionic abilities and the Sectopod's artillery in XCOM: Enemy Within. Includes tips for Muton Elites, Cyberdisks, and more.

Alien Units and Tactics:

1. Sectopod:
   • Artillery: Deals 6 damage per hit to a targeted area. Keep troops moving to avoid artillery barrages.
   • Reinforced Armor: Reduces all incoming damage by half, effectively doubling its HP.
2. Ethereal:
   • Appears during base defense missions and after raiding overseer UFOs.
   • Comes alone or with Mutons/Muton Elites. Rushing the plot before plasma weapons is ill-advised due to Ethereals.
   • Abilities:
     • Psi-lance: Deals 10 damage, potentially modified by Will checks.
     • Block/Reflection: Randomly reflects or blocks incoming attacks. Reflection sends attacks back to the attacker. This ability is less effective when the Ethereal is injured and does not affect Area of Effect (AoE) weapons like rockets and grenades.
     • Mind Fray: Deals 5 damage and applies penalties to Aim (-25), Will (-25), and Movement (-25%).
     • Rift: An AoE attack dealing around 13 damage, similar to a human rocket launcher.
     • Mind Control: Takes control of an enemy unit for 3 turns.
     • Psi-Drain: Steals HP from an ally.
     • Hardened: Reduces critical hit chance by 60%.
   • Stats: HP: 20, Aim: ?, Defense: 40 (does not take cover).
   • Tactics: Use AoE attacks to bypass reflection. Damaging the Ethereal reduces its Will, making it vulnerable to basic weapon fire. While Shivs can be vulnerable to Ethereals, coordinated Shiv assaults can be effective.
3. Muton Elite:
   • Carries a heavy plasma weapon, has high defense and aim.
   • Low Will makes them susceptible to psionic attacks.
   • Generally appears in pairs.
   • Abilities:
     • Suppression: Applies a -30 Aim penalty and grants a reaction shot if the target moves.
     • Bombardment: Throws a grenade from long range.
   • Stats: HP: 18, Aim: 90, Defense: 30.
4. Cyberdisk:
   • Flying unit that can transform. Critical hits are only possible in transformed mode.
   • Comes with a drone escort.
   • Abilities:
     • Grenade: Throws an alien grenade dealing 5 damage.
     • Death Blossom: A rare AoE attack hitting all surrounding units.
     • Hardened: -60% chance to be critically hit.
     • Cyberdisk Cannon: Deals 8 damage per shot.
   • Stats: HP: 20, Aim: 80, Defense: 10 (does not take cover).
5. Heavy Floater:
   • Flying unit with good Aim and defense bonuses from flying.
   • Low Will, making them vulnerable to psionic attacks.
   • Typically carries a plasma rifle. Yields 5 Meld when killed.
   • Abilities:
     • Bombard: Throws an alien grenade from long range.
     • Launch: Instantly moves to any map area, ending the turn.
   • Stats: HP: 14, Aim: 80, Defense: 10.
6. Thin Man:
   • Considered very dangerous in early to mid-game due to high accuracy.
   • Abilities:
     • Leap: Can jump to elevated areas.
     • Poison Gas: Spits poison, dealing 1 damage for 3 turns and reducing Aim by 20. Explodes into poison gas when killed.
     • Suppression: Can suppress enemy units.
   • Stats: HP: 4, Aim: 75 (+10 with light plasma rifle), Defense: 0.
   • Tactics: Use explosives and lasers.
7. Muton:
   • Large brute unit, starts with light plasma rifles.