Experience (LWR)
In General
Soldiers and MECs mainly gain experience (XP) through completing missions. However, various other sources of experience are possible.
Experience allows soldiers to promote to higher ranks which will increase the number of perks they have.
Soldiers that jump to a rank (reward soldiers, starting soldiers, XTP boosts) start with the XP of one rank lower than their current rank.
XCOM starts with 3 soldiers at the LCPL rank, 4 soldiers at the SPEC rank and 6 soldiers at the PFC rank.
Note: SHIVs do not gain XP.
Mission XP
| Source | XP |
|---|---|
| Mission Complete | +120 |
| Major* Mission Complete | +150 |
| Covert Operative Assignment*** | +240 |
| Mission Complete with less than max units | 300 x (Max/Deployed - 1)** |
| MSGT on mission | +10 per MSGT |
| Alien Kill | +8 (Killer only; SHIVs share with squad) |
| Killing Alien Leader | +40 per Leader LvL / Num Soldiers** |
| Capturing Alien Leader | +80 per Leader LvL / Num Soldiers** |
Notes: *Major Missions are: Landed UFOs, Terror Missions, Alien Base Assaults, and XCOM Base Defenses **The Deployed and Num Soldiers values have a minimum value of 4 ***The Covert Operative will not gain normal mission XP, only the Covert Operative Assignment XP
The following factors modify only the Mission Complete and Major Mission Complete XP gains:
| Factor | Mission Complete XP Modification |
|---|---|
| Newfoundland (Site Recon Mission) | +200 |
 Show 'Em the Ropes |
+70% for soldiers of SGT rank or less |
 Tricks of the Trade |
+15% for all soldiers |
| 1st SHIV (Alive after Mission) | Shared evenly to squad |
The following factors modify all Mission XP gains:
| Factor | Mission XP Modification |
|---|---|
| Campaign Progression | +10% per month passed |
| Alien Trophy | +15% |
| Cognitive Enhancer | +70% |
| Campaign Length | *2/*1/*0.5/*0.25 |
Officer Training School XP
| Source | XP | Psi XP |
|---|---|---|
| XTP I | +4 / day | 0 / day |
| XTP II | +8 / day | +2 / day |
| XTP III | +20 / day | +4 / day |
| Retired Soldiers | 25% of retired soldier missions (modified by campaign length) |
All OTS XP/PsiXP is granted at midnight and only apply to active/fatigued soldiers.
Experience per Rank
| Rank | XP Required |
|---|---|
 Specialist |
100 |
 Lance Corporal |
400 |
 Corporal |
1000 |
 Sergeant |
2000 |
 Tech Sergeant |
3500 |
 Gunnery Sergeant |
5000 |
 Master Sergeant |
6500 |
Sources of Psi Experience
After Xenopsionics is researched, soldiers will begin accruing psi XP after each mission (modified by Campaign Length).
Psi XP gained after any mission:
70 Psi XP
This can be doubled if the soldier is wearing a Neuroregulator.
The amount of psi XP a soldier can acquire is capped at the required psi XP for their next psi level (e.g. An Awakened psion can only acquire up to 400 psi XP).
You can see the current Psi XP level and cap in their Barracks profile.
As well, soldiers can gain Psi XP from the OTS projects II and III (see above).
Psi Experience per Rank
| Rank | Psi XP Required |
|---|---|
 Awakened |
100 |
| Adept |
200 |
| Empath |
400 |
| Psion |
600 |
| Master |
1000 |