XCOM Base Defense (EU2012)

2013-12-24T05:57:43Z

JZTess: Added note about Ethereals. They can appear in this mission if you're late in the game (September and beyond)

{{Ref Open | title = Mission Objectives }}
[[File:XCOM Base Defense Mission Screen (EU2012).png|200px|right]]
The invaders have infiltrated XCOM in unknown numbers. Limited reinforcements, including XCOM Base Security personnel, are available. Failure will mean the end of XCOM.
*Defend our base by all necessary means
*If all soldiers in the combat area are killed, XCOM HQ will fall
{{Ref Close | source = [[XCOM: Enemy Within DLC (EU2012)|XCOM: Enemy Within DLC]]}}

'''Notes'''
*This mission is always called: '''Operation Ashes and Temples'''.
*The Aliens can now attack the [[XCOM HQ (EU2012)|XCOM HQ]] once during a game, resulting on a Base Defense mission against the aliens.
*Base Defense always takes place 2-3 weeks after you've assaulted the [[Storyline Missions (EU2012)#Alien Base Assault|Alien Base]].
*While you're scanning for activity the Hologlobe on [[Mission Control (EU2012)|Mission Control]] will start to flicker and there will be a cinematic showing sections of the XCOM HQ exploding or being attacked by mind controlled XCOM personnel. Afterwards [[Bradford (EU2012)|Bradford]] will inform you that alien intruders have been detected and you'll need to defend HQ's Delta Section.
*You'll start with some veteran soldiers and base security personnel (a.k.a. Blueshirts). Delta section has been cut off and you'll have to defend it from the aliens. The aliens will attack in waves.
**The soldiers you get will always be your highest ranked ones. If you have more than one soldier eligible at each rank they will be picked at random (i.e. if you have 4 Colonels and 4 Majors, you'll get the 4 Colonels and a random 2 Majors).
*If you lose the mission you'll lose the game.
**You can restart the mission if you lose.
*Your combat soldiers will be equipped with what they have at the moment in the Barracks and the base security will have [[Assault Rifle (EU2012)|Assault Rifles]] and [[Frag Grenade (EU2012)|Frag Grenades]].
**Keeping your highest ranked soldiers equipped is one of the most crucial things you can do to make this mission easier.
* You'll get 3 waves of reinforcements each time Bradford informs you that they've managed to reopen the security door.
**Each time you receive reinforcements you'll get 1 of your combat soldiers, plus 0-2 Blueshirts.
*The Blueshirts will have -1 HP and -10 Will than a Rookie.
**If you get [[Foundry (EU2012)#Tactical Rigging|Tactical Rigging]], the base security personnel will have 2 grenades instead of one.
**Although Base Security personnel may earn promotions during the mission, you won't get to keep them as soldiers.
*Delta Section has a rectangular design, consisting of 4 linked sections: Rear Guard Station, Command Center, MEC Bay and Forward Access Tunnel.
*At the end of the mission Bradford will comment that "we still need to find how this was possible", although you'll need to play the [[Progeny (EU2012)|Progeny]] campaign to learn about it.
*Depending on game progression, the [[Ethereal (EU2012)|Ethereal]] may be introduced in this mission
<noinclude>
'''Tactics'''
*Expect to be fighting 30+ aliens during the whole mission. You'll face a mix of all types of aliens.
**Naturally, composition will reflect current campaign progress.
*There are no penalties for demolishing the XCOM HQ, so feel free to use explosives.
*Blueshirts have terrible aim and damage with their conventional weapons, but their grenades are very helpful for softening up enemies and removing their cover so your soldiers can get good hits.
*Try to get a killing blow with a Blueshirt for the All Hands on Deck [[Achievements (EU2012)|achievement]], if you're playing to get them.
*Blueshirts don't last beyond the end of the mission, so feel free to use them as disposable scouts. You can absorb [[Overwatch (EU2012)|Overwatch]] fire with them, and try to get psionic enemies to waste their Mind Controls on them, at which point you can kill them. Try not to let [[Chryssalid (EU2012)|Chryssalids]] zombify them though. If one of your soldiers is in trouble, you can move a Blueshirt out of cover to try to present a more tempting target.
*Falling dirt means that Aliens are about to drop in from the vents, so take a moment to look ahead and see if there's any falling dirt, as it'll give you a turn before they drop, as Bradford may not warn you until ''their'' turn.

*The first wave will drop directly in to the Command Center where your troops start, with some dropping in the Rear Guard Station and a few in the MEC Bay.
**Try to get your soldiers on Overwatch on the elevated platforms in the Command Center for the bonus accuracy from high ground.
**This is probably the most dangerous part of the mission. If you fail to take out the most dangerous aliens on the turn they drop in then they're almost guaranteed to get flanking shots or melee attacks in such an enclosed space.
*A large group of flying units will arrive at the Rear Guard Station. Most will fly in to the Command Center, but some may get "lost" and you'll have to go out and get them.
*After that more units will drop in to the MEC bay.
**Try to move some troops out early on to the elevated platforms overseeing the MEC Bay, you'll get excellent shots from the high ground.
**If you're still fighting the flyers when the new wave drops in then you may be better off pressing in to the Rear Guard Station to buy time and then fighting the new enemies from across the Command Center.
*Two more waves of aliens will come through the Forward Access Tunnel. Bradford will urge you to go to them, but it's likely a better idea to keep your troops covering the MEC Bay, since it's very defensible. The aliens will eventually come to you.
</noinclude>

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<gallery widths=180px heights=100px perrow=5>
File:Base Defense 3 (EU2012).png|The Skyranger gets sabotaged
File:Base Defense 2 (EU2012).png|Bradford about to shoot a mind controlled XCOM technician
File:Command Center (EU2012).png|Command Center and Rear Guard Station
File:MEC Bay (EU2012).png|MEC Bay
File:Forward Access Tunnel (EU2012).png|Forward Access Tunnel
</gallery>
<noinclude>
{{Template:Maps Navbar (EU2012)}}

[[Category:Enemy Unknown (2012)]]
[[Category:Missions (EU2012)]]
[[Category:Enemy Within DLC (EU2012)]]
</noinclude>

Ethereal (EU2012)

2013-12-24T05:53:08Z

JZTess:

{{OriginalVersion (EU2012)}}
{{BureauVersion (EU2012)}}

[[Image:Ethereal 2 (EU2012).png|right|300px|Ethereal]]

The Ethereals are some of, if not '''the''' most powerful alien creatures you will ever encounter in the game. These ancient aliens are the true masterminds behind the alien invasion. They are humanoid in form and possess four arms. While they are physically quite frail the Ethereals have the greatest psionic abilities seen in the entire game, using them to obliterate the minds and bodies of your squad.

Dr. Vahlen identifies a specimen to be centuries old. Despite this Ethereals actually have a ton of health. (20 health points in total on Classic and below [[Difficulty (EU2012)|difficulties]]) Do not expect them to turn into a pile of dust when you shoot them.

You will only find Ethereals in [[UFOs (EU2012)|UFO]] assaults or on the final [[Missions (EU2012)|mission]]. They prefer to send their underlings such as [[Muton (EU2012)|Mutons]] to do their dirty work. In Enemy Within, it is possible for Ethereals to appear during Operation Ashes and Temples in the final alien wave

== Stats==
{{Unit Stat Box (EU2012)
|picture=[[File:Ethereal (EU2012).png|150px]]
|hp=20/20/20/25
|aim=N/A
|defense=40
|will=120/120/145/155
|move=12
}}

'''Abilities:'''
* '''Psi Lance''': offensive Psi ability (9 [[Damage (EU2012)|damage]]) and that deals more damage if the target fails a will challenge.
* '''Mindfray''': offensive psionic ability (5 damage) that causes damage and lowers will/mobility/aim.
* Can '''Mind Control'''.
* '''Psi Drain''': drains up to 5 points worth of health from a friendly organic target. Can kill target (can be used on mind-linked targets such as mind controlled squaddie)
* '''Rift''': powerful AoE attack that inflicts more damage if they fail a will challenge. It has the potential to do from 4 damage (if resisted) to 20+ (to [[S.H.I.V. (EU2012)|S.H.I.V.s]], since they have no will to resist.) Rift will persist on the map for one turn and damage anything that enters.
* Chance to reflect physical projectiles back at the attacker. The reflected attack deals reduced damage.
* '''Hardened''': Hardened units receive extra protection against critical hits (-60% crit chance)
* High Will: resistant to psionic attacks.
* Ethereals explode upon death, dealing damage to all units within a fairly small radius.

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==Notes==
*[[S.H.I.V. (EU2012)|S.H.I.V.s]] can be one of the best units against these aliens since they can't be mind controlled by them.
*If killed during a successful mission an [[Ethereal Corpse (EU2012)|Ethereal Corpse]] will be recovered.
*If [[Arc Thrower (EU2012)|captured]] during a mission and [[Interrogate Ethereal (EU2012)|interrogated]] afterwards they will provide a [[Research (EU2012)#Research Credits|bonus reduction]] on all technology.
==Trivia==
* The [[Ethereal (Bureau)|Ethereals]] of [[The Bureau: XCOM Declassified|The Bureau]] may be related to these with the others being the Ethereals that transcended.

== See Also ==
* [[Uber Ethereal (EU2012)|Uber Ethereal]] - Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
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{{Aliens (EU2012)}}

[[Category: Enemy Unknown (2012)]]
[[Category: Aliens (EU2012)]]

UFOpaedia - User contributions [en]

XCOM Base Defense (EU2012)

Ethereal (EU2012)