Xcom 2 Long War Guide -
Long War 2 (LW2) and its War of the Chosen counterpart (LWOTC) are total conversion mods that transform into a grueling guerrilla war. Unlike the base game, success is measured by managing dozens of soldiers across multiple global regions simultaneously. Core Strategic Concepts The biggest shift from vanilla is that missions are no longer handed to you; you must find them and then decide if you have the time to infiltrate them.
A post for XCOM 2: Long War should prioritize explaining the critical shift from "winning tactical battles" to "managing a global insurgency." Unlike the vanilla game, Long War 2 (LW2) and Long War of the Chosen (LWotC) focus on infiltration, haven management, and regional liberation. Essential XCOM 2 Long War Strategy Guide 1. Mastering the Strategy Layer The strategy layer is where Long War is won or lost. You are no longer just reacting to alien threats; you are leading a resistance. Haven Management : Switch all rebels in your starting haven to immediately. This increases your chances of detecting missions with enough time to infiltrate them. Infiltration : Never launch a mission at 0% infiltration unless it's a desperate situation. Aim for 100% to 200% to reduce enemy numbers and deployment speed. Regional Liberation : Your primary goal is to liberate your first region. This involves completing a chain of "Liberation" missions, culminating in an ADVENT HQ assault. Once liberated, the region provides a steady supply of resources and becomes a safe haven for your rebels. : Contact new regions once you have approximately 200+ Intel. This broadens your reach and creates more opportunities for missions. 2. Tactical Combat & Squad Composition Tactics in Long War require high-level coordination and specialized roles. Long War 2 - Opening Strategy Outline - by Casey
The Ultimate XCOM 2 Long War Guide: Surviving the Advent Occupation Introduction: What is Long War? If you have mastered XCOM 2: War of the Chosen on Commander difficulty and found it wanting, Long War of the Chosen (LWotC) is your next war. This is not a simple difficulty bump. It is a complete restructuring of the game’s economy, strategy layer, infiltration mechanics, and soldier progression. In Long War, you are not a strike force; you are a guerrilla insurgency. You will field 40-50 soldiers across 5-7 active squads simultaneously. You will fail missions. You will lose regions. You will retreat from unbeatable odds. That is by design. This guide will break down the key pillars of success: Infiltration , Squad Composition , Strategic Layer (Avenger/Resistance) , Tactical Combat , and Tech Progression .
Part 1: The Infiltration Revolution The single biggest change in Long War is Infiltration . You can no longer take your A-Team on every mission. How Infiltration Works When a mission spawns, you have a window (e.g., 7 days). You select a squad and click "Infiltrate." The longer you wait before launching, the lower the enemy activity level. xcom 2 long war guide
100% Infiltration (Baseline): You face the intended enemy count. <100% (Rushed): Enemy forces are "Heavily reinforced" (+50% to +200% enemies). Never do this unless the Avatar Project is about to finish. >100% (Over-infiltration): Enemy forces are "Very Light" or "Extremely Light." This is ideal for Swarming missions.
The Golden Rule of Infiltration Always aim for 100-125% infiltration. Do not launch below 100% on missions requiring an objective (Hack, Destroy Relay, Extract VIP). Ambush Troop Columns are the only missions worth launching at 50-75% because you get to open fire from concealment first. Infiltration Gear (Crucial)
Suppressors: Reduces infiltration time by ~15%. Equip these on Shinobi and Sharpshooters. SMGs: The SMG reduces infiltration time significantly. Your Assaults and Rangers should carry SMGs on stealth missions. Infiltrator Class (Specialist branch): Reduces squad infiltration time by 20%. Long War 2 (LW2) and its War of
Squad Size vs. Detection Every soldier you add increases infiltration time. A 6-man squad takes 50% longer to infiltrate than a 3-man squad.
Extract VIP / Destroy Relay: 2-4 soldiers (Shinobi + Specialist + Assault) Neutralize Field Commander / Troop Column: 6-8 soldiers Supply Raid / HQ Assault: 8-10 soldiers
Part 2: Soldier Classes & Squad Composition Long War introduces eight core classes (plus Psi and Hero classes). Forgetting the "Generalist" build is key. Specialize ruthlessly. The Essential Roles 1. Shinobi (The Scout) A post for XCOM 2: Long War should
Role: Scout ahead, spot for Sharpshooters, never fire their gun unless it’s a guaranteed kill. Build: Stealth (Concealment, Covert, Ghostwalker). No swords. No shotguns. Use SMG. Use: Your eyes on every mission.
2. Specialist (The Officer/Hacker)
