Capturing Live Aliens (Apocalypse) - Revision history

Magic9mushroom: /* General capture procedure */ further clarification

2025-12-18T14:55:29Z

General capture procedure: further clarification

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:55, 18 December 2025
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	1) Set up a situation where you can afford to concentrate on the capture. This means eliminating or drawing off other aliens, as well as bringing the proper equipment and/or soldiers to make the target itself less dangerous (you don't generally want to be risking soldiers for a capture).		1) Set up a situation where you can afford to concentrate on the capture. This means eliminating or drawing off other aliens, as well as bringing the proper equipment and/or soldiers to make the target itself less dangerous (you don't generally want to be risking soldiers for a capture).

	2) Perform the capture. For most aliens, this simply means sending a few soldiers in with Stun Grapples or Stun Grenades while having the rest of your squad hold their fire. However, the maximum stun level is 255, and some aliens (Multiworms, Megaspawn, Psimorphs and the Queenspawn) have more health than this; they can receive stun normally, but you will also need to reduce their health below 256 (with lethal weapons, ideally weak ones to reduce the risk of critical wounds, and ideally ''slowly'' as soldiers take a certain amount of time to stop firing at a stunned alien) in order to make them fall unconscious.		2) Perform the capture. For most aliens, this simply means sending a few soldiers in with Stun Grapples or Stun Grenades while having the rest of your squad hold their fire. However, the maximum stun level is 255, and some aliens (Multiworms, Megaspawn, Psimorphs and the Queenspawn) have more health than this; they can receive stun normally, but you will also need to reduce their health below 256 (with lethal weapons, ideally weak ones to reduce the risk of critical wounds, and ideally ''slowly'' while maintaining a high stun level, as soldiers take a certain amount of time to stop firing at a stunned alien) in order to make them fall unconscious.

	3) Pin the alien to the ground by having a soldier stand on top of it. This prevents the alien from "waking up" as its stun level decreases over time. It's generally best to put the soldier used for this in a squad by himself, so that you don't accidentally move him.		3) Pin the alien to the ground by having a soldier stand on top of it. This prevents the alien from "waking up" as its stun level decreases over time. It's generally best to put the soldier used for this in a squad by himself, so that you don't accidentally move him.

Magic9mushroom: Undo revision 124008 by Kuchikirukia (talk) avoid restatement; rephrased to be clearer

2025-12-18T14:53:20Z

Undo revision 124008 by Kuchikirukia (talk) avoid restatement; rephrased to be clearer

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:53, 18 December 2025
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	1) Set up a situation where you can afford to concentrate on the capture. This means eliminating or drawing off other aliens, as well as bringing the proper equipment and/or soldiers to make the target itself less dangerous (you don't generally want to be risking soldiers for a capture).		1) Set up a situation where you can afford to concentrate on the capture. This means eliminating or drawing off other aliens, as well as bringing the proper equipment and/or soldiers to make the target itself less dangerous (you don't generally want to be risking soldiers for a capture).

	2) Perform the capture. For most aliens, this simply means sending a few soldiers in with Stun Grapples or Stun Grenades while having the rest of your squad hold their fire. However, the maximum stun level is 255, and some aliens (Multiworms, Megaspawn, Psimorphs and the Queenspawn) have more health than this; you~~'ll~~ need to ~~carefully damage them~~ with weapons ~~while keeping~~ a ~~fairly-constant stun level on~~ them.		2) Perform the capture. For most aliens, this simply means sending a few soldiers in with Stun Grapples or Stun Grenades while having the rest of your squad hold their fire. However, the maximum stun level is 255, and some aliens (Multiworms, Megaspawn, Psimorphs and the Queenspawn) have more health than this; they can receive stun normally, but you will also need to reduce their health below 256 (with lethal weapons, ideally weak ones to reduce the risk of critical wounds, and ideally ''slowly'' as soldiers take a certain amount of time to stop firing at a stunned alien) in order to make them fall unconscious.

	3) Pin the alien to the ground by having a soldier stand on top of it. This prevents the alien from "waking up" as its stun level decreases over time. It's generally best to put the soldier used for this in a squad by himself, so that you don't accidentally move him.		3) Pin the alien to the ground by having a soldier stand on top of it. This prevents the alien from "waking up" as its stun level decreases over time. It's generally best to put the soldier used for this in a squad by himself, so that you don't accidentally move him.
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	===[[Multiworm]]===		===[[Multiworm]]===

	~~A Multiworm needs to take a certain amount of health damage before it is susceptible to being stunned.~~ The problem with Multiworms is their high health and their high rate of fire. The safest way to capture these is to use Stun Grenades from long range (exploiting the short range of Multiworms' spit and their inability to escape the gas cloud) while chipping away with ~~weak weapons like~~ the [[Lawpistol]], [[M4000]] and [[Megapol Laser Sniper Gun\|Laser Sniper Gun]] (to reduce their health below the stun limit without inflicting critical wounds). A high-health Multiworm can still accumulate stun damage, resulting in health-damaging attacks reducing it to a stunned state when enough damage has been dealt.		The problem with Multiworms is simply their high health and their high rate of fire. The safest way to capture these is to use Stun Grenades from long range (exploiting the short range of Multiworms' spit and their inability to escape the gas cloud) while chipping away with the [[Lawpistol]], [[M4000]] and [[Megapol Laser Sniper Gun\|Laser Sniper Gun]].

	Alternatively, charging in to point-blank range with a full squad of soldiers in [[Megapol Armor]] dual-wielding the above weapons with Stun Grapples will almost always bring down a worm before it can kill any of them (though they'll usually be wounded).		Alternatively, charging in to point-blank range with a full squad of soldiers in [[Megapol Armor]] dual-wielding the above weapons with Stun Grapples will almost always bring down a worm before it can kill any of them (though they'll usually be wounded).

Kuchikirukia: /* Multiworm */ Reiterating that multiworms need to take damage first. A rather important fact.

2025-09-22T00:18:37Z

Multiworm: Reiterating that multiworms need to take damage first. A rather important fact.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:18, 22 September 2025
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	===[[Multiworm]]===		===[[Multiworm]]===

	The problem with Multiworms is ~~simply~~ their high health and their high rate of fire. The safest way to capture these is to use Stun Grenades from long range (exploiting the short range of Multiworms' spit and their inability to escape the gas cloud) while chipping away with weak weapons like the [[Lawpistol]], [[M4000]] and [[Megapol Laser Sniper Gun\|Laser Sniper Gun]] (to reduce their health below the stun limit without inflicting critical wounds).		A Multiworm needs to take a certain amount of health damage before it is susceptible to being stunned. The problem with Multiworms is their high health and their high rate of fire. The safest way to capture these is to use Stun Grenades from long range (exploiting the short range of Multiworms' spit and their inability to escape the gas cloud) while chipping away with weak weapons like the [[Lawpistol]], [[M4000]] and [[Megapol Laser Sniper Gun\|Laser Sniper Gun]] (to reduce their health below the stun limit without inflicting critical wounds). A high-health Multiworm can still accumulate stun damage, resulting in health-damaging attacks reducing it to a stunned state when enough damage has been dealt.

	Alternatively, charging in to point-blank range with a full squad of soldiers in [[Megapol Armor]] dual-wielding the above weapons with Stun Grapples will almost always bring down a worm before it can kill any of them (though they'll usually be wounded).		Alternatively, charging in to point-blank range with a full squad of soldiers in [[Megapol Armor]] dual-wielding the above weapons with Stun Grapples will almost always bring down a worm before it can kill any of them (though they'll usually be wounded).

Magic9mushroom: restoring; this page is important

2023-12-28T04:37:17Z

restoring; this page is important

Show changes

EsTeR: re-written... hardly any mention of containment and its not even linked just waffle straight into research projects AND Stun Tactics are written elsewhere - no dups

2023-12-02T07:08:59Z

re-written... hardly any mention of containment and its not even linked just waffle straight into research projects AND Stun Tactics are written elsewhere - no dups

Show changes

EsTeR: menu

2022-10-18T06:37:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:37, 18 October 2022
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	4) After five grenades or so, if she is not stunned, have a soldier start shooting her with a Devastator Cannon on aimed shot (to inflict damage slowly; a Toxigun will often be too fast and kill her in the couple of seconds before the mission ends). Keep throwing Stun Grenades until she drops.<br>		4) After five grenades or so, if she is not stunned, have a soldier start shooting her with a Devastator Cannon on aimed shot (to inflict damage slowly; a Toxigun will often be too fast and kill her in the couple of seconds before the mission ends). Keep throwing Stun Grenades until she drops.<br>


			[[Psionics_(Apocalypse)\|Next: Psionics]]<br>
			[[Strategies_for_Troops_(Apocalypse)\|Previous: Anti-Alien Strategies For Troops]]<br>
	[[Tactics_(Apocalypse)\|Return to Start]]		[[Tactics_(Apocalypse)\|Return to Start]]


	[[Category: Apocalypse]]		[[Category: Apocalypse]]

EsTeR: 7link

2022-04-06T23:59:54Z

7link

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:59, 6 April 2022
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	3) Start throwing Stun Grenades at the Queenspawn. Wait for the gas cloud to nearly dissipate before throwing the next grenade, to get the maximum effect from each grenade.		3) Start throwing Stun Grenades at the Queenspawn. Wait for the gas cloud to nearly dissipate before throwing the next grenade, to get the maximum effect from each grenade.

	4) After five grenades or so, if she is not stunned, have a soldier start shooting her with a Devastator Cannon on aimed shot (to inflict damage slowly; a Toxigun will often be too fast and kill her in the couple of seconds before the mission ends). Keep throwing Stun Grenades until she drops.		4) After five grenades or so, if she is not stunned, have a soldier start shooting her with a Devastator Cannon on aimed shot (to inflict damage slowly; a Toxigun will often be too fast and kill her in the couple of seconds before the mission ends). Keep throwing Stun Grenades until she drops.<br>

			[[Tactics_(Apocalypse)\|Return to Start]]

	[[Category: Apocalypse]]		[[Category: Apocalypse]]

Magic9mushroom: /* Multiworm */ as suggested

2020-07-28T08:47:32Z

Multiworm: as suggested

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:47, 28 July 2020
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	===[[Multiworm]]===		===[[Multiworm]]===

	The problem with Multiworms is simply their high health and their high rate of fire. To capture these ~~safely, you~~'~~ll generally want a full squad of three soldiers with Stun Grapples in order~~ to ~~build up a high stun level quickly;~~ the ~~damage required for the stun is best inflicted~~ with weak weapons like the [[M4000 ~~Machine~~ Gun]], to ~~avoid~~ inflicting critical wounds.		The problem with Multiworms is simply their high health and their high rate of fire. The safest way to capture these is to use Stun Grenades from long range (exploiting the short range of Multiworms' spit and their inability to escape the gas cloud) while chipping away with weak weapons like the [[Lawpistol]], [[M4000]] and [[Megapol Laser Sniper Gun\|Laser Sniper Gun]] (to reduce their health below the stun limit without inflicting critical wounds).

	~~As you'll need~~ to ~~spend a fair amount of time at~~ point-blank range ~~during the stunning process,~~ [[Megapol Armor]] ~~is necessary to avoid your soldiers being killed~~ - ~~this is another reason for sending~~ a ~~full squad~~.		Alternatively, charging in to point-blank range with a full squad of soldiers in [[Megapol Armor]] dual-wielding the above weapons with Stun Grapples will almost always bring down a worm before it can kill any of them (though they'll usually be wounded).

	===[[Popper]]===		===[[Popper]]===

Magic9mushroom: /* Methods of capture */

2020-07-15T10:54:53Z

Methods of capture

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:54, 15 July 2020
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	*The Stun Grapple requires little micromanagement, is cheap and has infinite ammunition, but is short-ranged and cannot penetrate [[Personal Disruptor Shield]]s.		*The Stun Grapple requires little micromanagement, is cheap and has infinite ammunition, but is short-ranged and cannot penetrate [[Personal Disruptor Shield]]s.
	*The Stun Grenade ignores shields and has medium range, but the cloud of stun gas dissipates quickly and also affects X-COM personnel; the grenades are also consumable and must be manually transferred to hand as needed. It also has no effect on Micronoid Aggregates.		*The Stun Grenade ignores shields and has medium range, but the cloud of stun gas dissipates quickly and also affects X-COM personnel; the grenades are also consumable and must be manually transferred to hand as needed. It also has no effect on Micronoid Aggregates.
	*Psionic stunning can be done anywhere within line of sight, ignores shields, and only uses (regenerating) Psi-energy, but you'll need to train [[Hybrids (Apocalypse)\|hybrids]] to do it and it only ~~works well~~ on Anthropods and Skeletoids.		*Psionic stunning can be done anywhere within line of sight, ignores shields, and only uses (regenerating) Psi-energy, but you'll need to train [[Hybrids (Apocalypse)\|hybrids]] to do it and it only has a high success rate on Anthropods and Skeletoids.

	==General capture procedure==		==General capture procedure==

Magic9mushroom: fixes

2020-07-15T10:43:05Z

fixes

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:43, 15 July 2020
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	There are several distinct stages of this research path, which are worth keeping in mind when deciding which aliens to bother capturing. Each stage's information and toxin technology requires that of the previous stage.		There are several distinct stages of this research path, which are worth keeping in mind when deciding which aliens to bother capturing. Each stage's information and toxin technology requires that of the previous stage.

	*[[The Alien Genetic Structure]] and [[Biological Warfare]], the latter of which provides the Toxigun itself and Toxin Type A, merely require the autopsy of any one immature alien (Multiworm Egg, Multiworm or Hyperworm).		*[[The Alien Genetic Structure (Apocalypse)\|The Alien Genetic Structure]] and [[Biological Warfare (Apocalypse)\|Biological Warfare]], the latter of which provides the Toxigun itself and Toxin Type A, merely require the autopsy of any one immature alien (Multiworm Egg, Multiworm or Hyperworm).
	*[[The Alien Life Cycle]] and [[Toxin Type B]] require the live examination and autopsy of the Multiworm, Hyperworm and Chrysalis - as you'll see below, the Multiworm is the only tricky one here.		*[[The Alien Life Cycle (Apocalypse)\|The Alien Life Cycle]] and [[Toxin B (Apocalypse)\|Toxin Type B]] require the live examination and autopsy of the Multiworm, Hyperworm and Chrysalis - as you'll see below, the Multiworm is the only tricky one here.
	*[[The Real Alien Threat]] and [[Toxin Type C]] require the live examination and autopsy of the Multiworm Egg, Brainsucker, Anthropod, Spitter, Popper, Skeletoid, Micronoid Aggregate, Megaspawn and Psimorph - i.e., every alien except the Queenspawn and Overspawn.		*[[The Real Alien Threat]] and [[Toxin C (Apocalypse)\|Toxin Type C]] require the live examination and autopsy of the Multiworm Egg, Brainsucker, Anthropod, Spitter, Popper, Skeletoid, Micronoid Aggregate, Megaspawn and Psimorph - i.e., every alien except the Queenspawn and Overspawn.
	*[[Alien Gas (Apocalypse)\|Alien Gas]] requires the live examination and autopsy of the Queenspawn.		*[[Alien Gas (Apocalypse)\|Alien Gas]] requires the live examination and autopsy of the Queenspawn.

	(Additionally, you will need to research the [[Bio-Transport Module]] and [[Advanced Biochemistry Lab]]; both should be considered high-priority if you wish to pursue this path, although in the former case there's nothing else to research yet anyway.)		(Additionally, you will need to research the [[Bio-Transport Module (Apocalypse)\|Bio-Transport Module]] and [[Advanced Biochemistry Lab (Apocalypse)\|Advanced Biochemistry Lab]]; both should be considered high-priority if you wish to pursue this path, although in the former case there's nothing else to research yet anyway.)

	The important thing to note here is the enormous gulf between Toxin B and C; capturing a Multiworm is a high priority, as it is the only significant capture requirement for Toxin B, but unless you're willing to bother capturing ''all'' the aliens needed for Toxin C there's little reason to bother capturing ''any'' of them (or to capture the Queenspawn). Toxin B is already exceptionally good, so decide early on whether you want to get Toxin C and play accordingly.		The important thing to note here is the enormous gulf between Toxin B and C; capturing a Multiworm is a high priority, as it is the only significant capture requirement for Toxin B, but unless you're willing to bother capturing ''all'' the aliens needed for Toxin C there's little reason to bother capturing ''any'' of them (or to capture the Queenspawn). Toxin B is already exceptionally good, so decide early on whether you want to get Toxin C and play accordingly.
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	===[[Skeletoid]]===		===[[Skeletoid]]===

	While Skeletoids are very similar to Anthropods in most respects, they only show up in Week 3. Depending on X-COM's [[Alien Tech Levels (Apocalypse)\|performance]], this means that they may already be equipped with [[Devastator Cannon]]s. A Skeletoid, or even Anthropod, with a Devastator Cannon is a serious threat at long range, and attempting a live capture will frequently result in soldier deaths. The humanoid aliens will also eventually gain access to [[Personal Disruptor ~~Shields~~]], which negate Stun Grapples.		While Skeletoids are very similar to Anthropods in most respects, they only show up in Week 3. Depending on X-COM's [[Alien Tech Levels (Apocalypse)\|performance]], this means that they may already be equipped with [[Devastator Cannon]]s. A Skeletoid, or even Anthropod, with a Devastator Cannon is a serious threat at long range, and attempting a live capture will frequently result in soldier deaths. The humanoid aliens will also eventually gain access to [[Personal Disruptor Shield]]s, which negate Stun Grapples.

	Nabbing a Skeletoid safely is best done with psi from behind cover (line of sight is only required for the initial lock), or opportunistically (with Stun Grapples if encountered at close range, or with Stun Grenades if many Skeletoids are encountered in an enclosed space).		Nabbing a well-armed Skeletoid safely is best done with psi from behind cover (line of sight is only required for the initial lock), or opportunistically (with Stun Grapples if encountered at close range, or with Stun Grenades if many Skeletoids are encountered in an enclosed space). If you find a lone Skeletoid with a Brainsucker Launcher or Disruptor Gun, of course, such caution is unnecessary.

	===Psionic aliens===		===Psionic aliens===
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	Note that Stun Grenades are not very useful against either of these; Micronoids are immune, while Psimorphs can fly and have a great deal of health.		Note that Stun Grenades are not very useful against either of these; Micronoids are immune, while Psimorphs can fly and have a great deal of health.

	==[[Megaspawn]]==		===[[Megaspawn]]===

	Megaspawn are a notoriously-difficult capture due to their heavy armament - in particular, their infinite supply of long-range homing missiles. The ideal way to capture a Megaspawn is to wait until you have [[X-COM Disruptor Armor]], which largely obviates their missiles as a threat, and/or [[Personal Cloaking ~~Fields~~]], which prevent them from targetting your soldiers at long range (unless another alien is spotting for them).		Megaspawn are a notoriously-difficult capture due to their heavy armament - in particular, their infinite supply of long-range homing missiles. The ideal way to capture a Megaspawn is to wait until you have [[X-COM Disruptor Armor]], which largely obviates their missiles as a threat, and/or [[Personal Cloaking Field]]s, which prevent them from targetting your soldiers at long range (unless another alien is spotting for them).

	If you aren't willing to wait that long, the best bet is to use several soldiers, each with a Stun Grapple and two shields and one additionally holding a Devastator Cannon, and try to take a Megaspawn by surprise in the cramped rooms of a UFO. Expect lost shields and possibly soldiers.		If you aren't willing to wait that long, the best bet is to use several soldiers, each with a Stun Grapple and two shields and one additionally holding a Devastator Cannon, and try to take a Megaspawn by surprise in the cramped rooms of a UFO. Expect lost shields and possibly soldiers.

	==[[Queenspawn]]==		===[[Queenspawn]]===

	The Queenspawn capture is a bit complicated due to her tentacle whip, but quite easy with Cloaking Fields, 20 or so Stun Grenades, and patience. Given the very fixed nature of the mission (she's always in exactly the same place and can't move), this section will be quite detailed.		The Queenspawn capture is a bit complicated due to her tentacle whip, but quite easy with Cloaking Fields, 20 or so Stun Grenades, and patience. Given the very fixed nature of the mission (she's always in exactly the same place and can't move), this section will be quite detailed.