Covert Operations (Long War) - Revision history

J2Greene at 07:47, 29 March 2025

2025-03-29T07:47:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:47, 29 March 2025
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	A covert operative can be deployed to target any exposed EXALT cell, whether it exposed itself through an attack or was exposed by XCOM through an Intel Scan. Once a Covert Operative is deployed in the field, all EXALT cells cease all operations and activity. No new cells can spawn, no new operations can be conducted, no EXALT cells can hide, EXALT cells won't magnify panic increases, and all timers and cooldowns go on pause.		A covert operative can be deployed to target any exposed EXALT cell, whether it exposed itself through an attack or was exposed by XCOM through an Intel Scan. Once a Covert Operative is deployed in the field, all EXALT cells cease all operations and activity. No new cells can spawn, no new operations can be conducted, no EXALT cells can hide, EXALT cells won't magnify panic increases, and all timers and cooldowns go on pause.

			Unlike standard combat missions, a covert operative cannot deploy while Fatigued.

	Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM must at least attempt the mission and bring its Covert Operative to the extraction point, or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].		Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM must at least attempt the mission and bring its Covert Operative to the extraction point, or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].

DjinnFor: /* Covert Operatives */

2024-11-21T17:13:16Z

Covert Operatives

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:13, 21 November 2024
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	==Covert Operatives==		==Covert Operatives==

	XCOM can prevent EXALT from conducting operations, and eventually defeat EXALT for good, by deploying Covert Operatives to ~~EXALT cells.~~		XCOM can prevent EXALT from conducting operations, and eventually defeat EXALT for good, by scanning to expose cells pre-emptively and deploying Covert Operatives to exposed cells.

	~~A covert operative can be deployed to target any~~ exposed EXALT cell. Once a Covert Operative is deployed in the field, all EXALT cells cease all operations and activity. No new cells can spawn, no new operations can be conducted, no EXALT cells can hide, EXALT cells ~~won't magnify panic increases, and all timers and cooldowns go on pause~~.

	===Intel Scan===		===Intel Scan===
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	If there are any active EXALT cells present when an Intel scan is triggered, they will be exposed for 2-5 days (4-7 on normal), rolled randomly. All of activities of the affected cells pause while they are exposed, but resume immediately after the elapsed period; a cell that was just about to attack may immediately strike after it hides again!		If there are any active EXALT cells present when an Intel scan is triggered, they will be exposed for 2-5 days (4-7 on normal), rolled randomly. All of activities of the affected cells pause while they are exposed, but resume immediately after the elapsed period; a cell that was just about to attack may immediately strike after it hides again!

	===~~Missions~~===		===Deployment===
	:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''		:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''

			A covert operative can be deployed to target any exposed EXALT cell, whether it exposed itself through an attack or was exposed by XCOM through an Intel Scan. Once a Covert Operative is deployed in the field, all EXALT cells cease all operations and activity. No new cells can spawn, no new operations can be conducted, no EXALT cells can hide, EXALT cells won't magnify panic increases, and all timers and cooldowns go on pause.

	Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM must at least attempt the mission and bring its Covert Operative to the extraction point, or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].		Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM must at least attempt the mission and bring its Covert Operative to the extraction point, or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].

DjinnFor: /* Strategy */

2024-07-27T15:43:06Z

Strategy

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:43, 27 July 2024
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	==Strategy==		==Strategy==

	Cells can attack as soon as 7 days after spawning, and one ~~spawn~~ every 6-10 days. An unlikely but plausible scenario is that a hidden cell spawns immediately after XCOM scans; thus, it's hypothetically possible for a cell to attack XCOM 7 days following a failed scan. Similarly, following a successful covert operation, it's possible an EXALT cell spawns almost immediately afterwards and strikes or, if a second cell is already active, it's possible for it to attack as soon as 7 days afterwards. Therefore, if XCOM wants to avoid all EXALT attacks, it should scan 7 days following a failed scan or successful covert operation.		Cells can attack as soon as 7 days after spawning, and one spawns every 6-10 days. An unlikely but plausible scenario is that a hidden cell spawns immediately after XCOM scans; thus, it's hypothetically possible for a cell to attack XCOM 7 days following a failed scan. Similarly, following a successful covert operation, it's possible an EXALT cell spawns almost immediately afterwards and strikes or, if a second cell is already active, it's possible for it to attack as soon as 7 days afterwards. Therefore, if XCOM wants to avoid all EXALT attacks, it should scan 7 days following a failed scan or successful covert operation.

	Two possibilities may also occur after an unsuccessful covert operation: either 1) the cell is alone when it relocates, striking as soon as 7 days later, or 2) there are multiple cells, and any cell other than the targeted cell can strike at any time. As a result, XCOM should scan immediately following a failed covert operation if there are multiple cells active, or seven days later if there is only one.		Two possibilities may also occur after an unsuccessful covert operation: either 1) the cell is alone when it relocates, striking as soon as 7 days later, or 2) there are multiple cells, and any cell other than the targeted cell can strike at any time. As a result, XCOM should scan immediately following a failed covert operation if there are multiple cells active, or seven days later if there is only one.

DjinnFor: /* Missions */

2024-07-27T15:41:34Z

Missions

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	:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''		:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''

	Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM ~~will need to extract~~ its Covert Operative or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].		Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM must at least attempt the mission and bring its Covert Operative to the extraction point, or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].

	The first two exalt missions will always be a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Covert Data Recovery]] and a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Covert Extraction]]; the first is picked randomly, while the second is always whichever one wasn't done first. Thereafter, there is exactly a 50% chance of either mission type spawning.		The first two exalt missions will always be a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Covert Data Recovery]] and a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Covert Extraction]]; the first is picked randomly, while the second is always whichever one wasn't done first. Thereafter, there is exactly a 50% chance of either mission type spawning.

	If completed successfully, a covert operation destroys the cell, awards XCOM § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]], and reduces panic in the country by 20. Furthermore, all remaining EXALT cells worldwide are relocated, resetting their attack cooldown and triggering the EXALT spawn cooldown. Conversely, if a covert operation fails, the targeted cell merely relocates and any remaining EXALT cells worldwide resume operations immediately, without resetting their cooldowns.		If completed successfully, a covert operation destroys the cell, awards XCOM § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]], and reduces panic in the country by 20. Furthermore, all remaining EXALT cells worldwide are relocated, resetting their attack cooldown and triggering the EXALT spawn cooldown. Conversely, if a covert operation fails because its covert operative was killed or XCOM failed to complete the mission objectives, the targeted cell merely relocates and any remaining EXALT cells worldwide resume operations immediately, without resetting their cooldowns.

	The number and strength enemies in a covert operation depends on the total number of covert operations attempted over the course of the campaign as well as whether or not the operation is a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Data Recovery]] or [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Extraction]] mission. See those pages for more details.		The number and strength enemies in a covert operation depends on the total number of covert operations attempted over the course of the campaign as well as whether or not the operation is a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Data Recovery]] or [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Extraction]] mission. See those pages for more details.

DjinnFor: /* Cell Relocation */

2023-01-14T05:53:40Z

Cell Relocation

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	Cells may relocate to a different country in some instances. The relocation uses the same algorithm to select the destination as a regularly spawning cell, except the cell does not have a chance to fail to spawn.		Cells may relocate to a different country in some instances. The relocation uses the same algorithm to select the destination as a regularly spawning cell, except the cell does not have a chance to fail to spawn.

	Cell relocation triggers:		Cell relocation triggers if:

	* A cell attempts to perform an attack against XCOM, but no valid attacks are available because the conditions to trigger them are not met.		* A cell attempts to perform an attack against XCOM, but no valid attacks are available because the conditions to trigger them are not met.
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	* XCOM successfully completes a covert operation against another cell.		* XCOM successfully completes a covert operation against another cell.

	When an EXALT cell relocates, it effectively counts as if a new cell had spawned; this triggers the cooldown between consecutive cell spawns, and resets the ~~cells~~ attack cooldown.		When an EXALT cell relocates, it effectively counts as if a new cell had spawned; this triggers the cooldown between consecutive cell spawns, and resets the cell's attack cooldown.

	===EXALT Attacks===		===EXALT Attacks===

DjinnFor: /* Strategy */

2021-11-20T19:06:03Z

Strategy

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:06, 20 November 2021
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	# After 7 days have elapsed, scan again. If no EXALT cell is detected, scan again after 7 days (which is guaranteed to locate a cell). Repeat from step 2.		# After 7 days have elapsed, scan again. If no EXALT cell is detected, scan again after 7 days (which is guaranteed to locate a cell). Repeat from step 2.

	Covert operations are among the most difficult of missions. If you fail a covert operation here or there, it's not the end of the world. So long as your covert operative and soldiers extract alive, you can try again next time; the only thing you lose is some cash rewards and Intel, plus the cost of additional scans. For more information on successfully completing each mission type at the tactical layer, see the [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]] page.		Covert operations are among the most difficult of missions, particularly in the mid and lategame. If you fail a covert operation here or there, it's not the end of the world. So long as your covert operative and soldiers extract alive, you can try again next time; the only thing you lose is some cash rewards and Intel, plus the cost of additional scans. For more information on successfully completing each mission type at the tactical layer, see the [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]] page.

	==See also==		==See also==

DjinnFor: /* EXALT Headquarters */

2021-11-20T19:04:47Z

EXALT Headquarters

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	===EXALT Headquarters===		===EXALT Headquarters===
			:''See also: [[Missions_(Long_War)#EXALT_Base_Assault\|EXALT Base Assault Mission]]''

	To stop EXALT for good, XCOM will need to locate and take out the EXALT HQ. At any point, XCOM can accuse any country of harboring the EXALT HQ; if you guess incorrectly, the country immediately leaves XCOM (conversely, if it has already left, every country within that continent gains +40 panic), and [[Alien Research (Long War)\|alien research]] increases by 50. As a result, it is not recommended for XCOM to make wild accusations against countries without more information.		To stop EXALT for good, XCOM will need to locate and take out the EXALT HQ. At any point, XCOM can accuse any country of harboring the EXALT HQ; if you guess incorrectly, the country immediately leaves XCOM (conversely, if it has already left, every country within that continent gains +40 panic), and [[Alien Research (Long War)\|alien research]] increases by 50. As a result, it is not recommended for XCOM to make wild accusations against countries without more information.

DjinnFor: /* EXALT Attacks */

2021-11-20T19:02:22Z

EXALT Attacks

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	* '''Sabotage''': Steals §40 x [Number of Months Elapsed] + §[0 to 99] from XCOMs reserves. This operation can push XCOM's § reserves into the negatives. Condition: ''can only be conducted if XCOM has 0 or more §.''		* '''Sabotage''': Steals §40 x [Number of Months Elapsed] + §[0 to 99] from XCOMs reserves. This operation can push XCOM's § reserves into the negatives. Condition: ''can only be conducted if XCOM has 0 or more §.''
	* '''Propaganda''': Adds +40 panic in the country that the cell is located. Additionally, if there is at least one more country within the same continent who has not left the project, the operation will add an additional +20 panic to one such country, randomly selected. Condition: ''can only occur if the country the cell is located in has not left the council.''		* '''Propaganda''': Adds +40 panic in the country that the cell is located. Additionally, if there is at least one more country within the same continent who has not left the project, the operation will add an additional +20 panic to one such country, randomly selected. Condition: ''can only occur if the country the cell is located in has not left the council.''
	* '''Research Hack''': Removes 50% of research progress from the current research project (30% on normal). Condition: ''can only occur if 50% (30% on normal) of progress has ~~occurred~~ towards the current research project.''		* '''Research Hack''': Removes 50% of research progress from the current research project (30% on normal). Condition: ''can only occur if 50% (30% on normal) of progress has been made towards the current research project.''

	Each attack in which the minimum condition is met is equally likely to occur (though the first attack conducted is always a Sabotage). Once an attack triggers, the cell is exposed for 2-5 days (4-7 on normal), during which time its activities are paused and XCOM can deploy a covert operative against it.		Each attack in which the minimum condition is met is equally likely to occur (though the first attack conducted is always a Sabotage). Once an attack triggers, the cell is exposed for 2-5 days (4-7 on normal), during which time its activities are paused and XCOM can deploy a covert operative against it.

DjinnFor: /* EXALT Attacks */

2021-11-20T19:02:00Z

EXALT Attacks

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	Exalt cells can randomly choose between three operations, assuming the minimum condition for said mission type is met:		Exalt cells can randomly choose between three operations, assuming the minimum condition for said mission type is met:

	* '''Sabotage''': Steals §40 x <Number of Months Elapsed> + §<0 to 99> from XCOMs reserves. This operation can push XCOM's § reserves into the negatives. Condition: ''can only be conducted if XCOM has 0 or more §.''		* '''Sabotage''': Steals §40 x [Number of Months Elapsed] + §[0 to 99] from XCOMs reserves. This operation can push XCOM's § reserves into the negatives. Condition: ''can only be conducted if XCOM has 0 or more §.''
	* '''Propaganda''': Adds +40 panic in the country that the cell is located. Additionally, if there is at least one more country within the same continent who has not left the project, the operation will add an additional +20 panic to one such country, randomly selected. Condition: ''can only occur if the country the cell is located in has not left the council.''		* '''Propaganda''': Adds +40 panic in the country that the cell is located. Additionally, if there is at least one more country within the same continent who has not left the project, the operation will add an additional +20 panic to one such country, randomly selected. Condition: ''can only occur if the country the cell is located in has not left the council.''
	* '''Research Hack''': Removes 50% of research progress from the current research project (30% on normal). Condition: ''can only occur if 50% (30% on normal) of progress has occurred towards the current research project.''		* '''Research Hack''': Removes 50% of research progress from the current research project (30% on normal). Condition: ''can only occur if 50% (30% on normal) of progress has occurred towards the current research project.''

DjinnFor: /* Missions */

2021-11-20T19:00:21Z

Missions

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:00, 20 November 2021
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	:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''		:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''

	Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM will need to extract its Covert Operative or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and ~~'''~~[[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]]~~'''~~.		Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM will need to extract its Covert Operative or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].

	The first two exalt missions will always be a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Covert Data Recovery]] and a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Covert Extraction]]; the first is picked randomly, while the second is always whichever one wasn't done first. Thereafter, there is exactly a 50% chance of either mission type spawning.		The first two exalt missions will always be a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Covert Data Recovery]] and a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Covert Extraction]]; the first is picked randomly, while the second is always whichever one wasn't done first. Thereafter, there is exactly a 50% chance of either mission type spawning.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:41, 27 July 2024
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	:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''		:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''

	Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM ~~will need to extract~~ its Covert Operative or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].		Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM must at least attempt the mission and bring its Covert Operative to the extraction point, or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].

	The first two exalt missions will always be a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Covert Data Recovery]] and a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Covert Extraction]]; the first is picked randomly, while the second is always whichever one wasn't done first. Thereafter, there is exactly a 50% chance of either mission type spawning.		The first two exalt missions will always be a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Covert Data Recovery]] and a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Covert Extraction]]; the first is picked randomly, while the second is always whichever one wasn't done first. Thereafter, there is exactly a 50% chance of either mission type spawning.

	If completed successfully, a covert operation destroys the cell, awards XCOM § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]], and reduces panic in the country by 20. Furthermore, all remaining EXALT cells worldwide are relocated, resetting their attack cooldown and triggering the EXALT spawn cooldown. Conversely, if a covert operation fails, the targeted cell merely relocates and any remaining EXALT cells worldwide resume operations immediately, without resetting their cooldowns.		If completed successfully, a covert operation destroys the cell, awards XCOM § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]], and reduces panic in the country by 20. Furthermore, all remaining EXALT cells worldwide are relocated, resetting their attack cooldown and triggering the EXALT spawn cooldown. Conversely, if a covert operation fails because its covert operative was killed or XCOM failed to complete the mission objectives, the targeted cell merely relocates and any remaining EXALT cells worldwide resume operations immediately, without resetting their cooldowns.

	The number and strength enemies in a covert operation depends on the total number of covert operations attempted over the course of the campaign as well as whether or not the operation is a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Data Recovery]] or [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Extraction]] mission. See those pages for more details.		The number and strength enemies in a covert operation depends on the total number of covert operations attempted over the course of the campaign as well as whether or not the operation is a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Data Recovery]] or [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Extraction]] mission. See those pages for more details.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:00, 20 November 2021
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	:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''		:''See also: [[Missions (Long War)#EXALT Missions\|EXALT Missions]], [[EXALT_Units_(Long_War)\|EXALT Units]] and [[Alien Deployment (Long War)#EXALT Pods\|EXALT Pods]].''

	Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM will need to extract its Covert Operative or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and ~~'''~~[[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]]~~'''~~.		Once a covert operative has been deployed to the field for 6 days, a Covert Operation mission is triggered. XCOM will need to extract its Covert Operative or they will die. Furthermore, completing the mission objectives allows the recovery of § and [[Alien Artifacts (Long War)#Story related items\|Intel]].

	The first two exalt missions will always be a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Covert Data Recovery]] and a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Covert Extraction]]; the first is picked randomly, while the second is always whichever one wasn't done first. Thereafter, there is exactly a 50% chance of either mission type spawning.		The first two exalt missions will always be a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Data Recovery\|Covert Data Recovery]] and a [[Missions (Long War)#Covert Extraction\|Covert Extraction]]; the first is picked randomly, while the second is always whichever one wasn't done first. Thereafter, there is exactly a 50% chance of either mission type spawning.