Tactics (EU2012) - Revision history

Parogen: /* Implied Hit Chance Ratio */

2025-10-28T20:47:54Z

Implied Hit Chance Ratio

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:47, 28 October 2025
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	==== Implied Hit Chance Ratio ====		==== Implied Hit Chance Ratio ====

	If you are above the threshold, it is still feasible to conclude that it's worth dropping to worse defence since killing a target would imply an improved hit chance ratio, but the math is hairy. Generally, it's worth it if the enemy count is low AND the lethality chance is decent.		If you are above the threshold, it is still feasible to conclude that it's worth dropping to worse defence since killing a target would imply an improved hit chance ratio, but the math is hairy. Generally, it's worth it if the enemy count is low AND the lethality chance of the average shot is decent.

	=== Mind Wall ===		=== Mind Wall ===

Parogen: /* Hit Chance Ratio (or when "Low cover is NOT no cover") */ there is implied ratio but it's too complicated

2025-10-28T20:17:54Z

Hit Chance Ratio (or when "Low cover is NOT no cover"): there is implied ratio but it's too complicated

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:17, 28 October 2025
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	'''Generally, the lower ''a''/''d'' is and/or the more soldiers with the better defence option available, the less likely that it is correct to utilize the worse defence option.'''		'''Generally, the lower ''a''/''d'' is and/or the more soldiers with the better defence option available, the less likely that it is correct to utilize the worse defence option.'''

			==== Implied Hit Chance Ratio ====

			If you are above the threshold, it is still feasible to conclude that it's worth dropping to worse defence since killing a target would imply an improved hit chance ratio, but the math is hairy. Generally, it's worth it if the enemy count is low AND the lethality chance is decent.

	=== Mind Wall ===		=== Mind Wall ===

Parogen: /* Hit Chance Ratio (or when "Low cover is NOT no cover") */ include smoke example and reword

2025-10-19T08:30:11Z

Hit Chance Ratio (or when "Low cover is NOT no cover"): include smoke example and reword

Parogen: /* Combat */

2025-10-17T04:21:19Z

Combat

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:21, 17 October 2025
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	* Have a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if intending to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). 90% rockets or 95% shots are not guaranteed kills.		* Have a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if intending to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). 90% rockets or 95% shots are not guaranteed kills.
	* Suppression+Smoke Grenade+high cover is safe against Sectoids, Floaters, Mutons at range, and Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.		* Suppression+Smoke Grenade+high cover is safe against Sectoids, Floaters, Mutons at range, and Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.
	* ~~Circumstantially, there (rarely) might exist spots~~ to Overwatch a sliver of vision ~~without seeing any~~ cover~~/peeking tile~~ the enemy ~~has blue~~ move ~~access to~~ to ~~return fire~~. Those are great penalty free reaction shots if the enemy crosses the visible region. ~~Unfortunately, these can usually only be encountered after the environment has been destroyed a bit~~.		* Try to find Overwatch spots where the enemy can not Fire back from, such as a sliver of vision containing no viable cover or places where the enemy would have to yellow move to. Those are great penalty free reaction shots if the enemy crosses the visible region. Hard to come by but rewarding when discovered.
	* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:		* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:
	*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on Overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.		*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on Overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.

Parogen: /* Hit Chance Ratio (or when "low cover is NOT no cover") */

2025-10-16T12:33:13Z

Hit Chance Ratio (or when "low cover is NOT no cover")

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:33, 16 October 2025
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	A simple heuristic to evaluate a play is to add up the hit chances of XCOM and the implied hit chance of the enemies' subsequent turn to get a hit chance ratio. Higher number is better.		A simple heuristic to evaluate a play is to add up the hit chances of XCOM and the implied hit chance of the enemies' subsequent turn to get a hit chance ratio. Higher number is better.

	: Assume you have four soldiers and there are only two high cover spots to ~~shoot~~ at two Sectoids in high cover, the hit chance ratio (assuming first mission stats) is 2(65-40):2(75-40), 50:60 or ~.83:1, if only using high cover. Not great assuming there are more pods left. However, there are plenty of low cover spots lying around which would allow us to ~~shoot~~ with all four soldiers. That should mean the Sectoids would target the unit in low cover, 4(65-40):2(75-20), 100:105 or ~.95:1. Better because it allowed XCOM to increase their firepower despite using low cover (though the ratio is still not the best). Let's add one more piece of high cover, that would again change the ratio to 3(65-40):2(75-40), 75:60 or 1.25:1. Less total hit chance than the four soldiers in low cover, but that added piece of high cover tipped the scale again compared to the two high cover option. This is to demonstrate that the maxim of "low cover is no cover" is not ~~at all~~ correct~~, assuming the plan is to shoot~~.		: Assume you have four soldiers and there are only two high cover spots available to Fire at two Sectoids in high cover, the hit chance ratio (assuming first mission stats) is 2(65-40):2(75-40), 50:60 or ~.83:1, if only using high cover. Not great assuming there are more pods left. However, there are plenty of low cover spots lying around which would allow us to Fire with all four soldiers. That should mean the Sectoids would target the unit in low cover, 4(65-40):2(75-20), 100:105 or ~.95:1. Better because it allowed XCOM to increase their firepower despite using low cover (though the ratio is still not the best). Let's add one more piece of high cover, that would again change the ratio to 3(65-40):2(75-40), 75:60 or 1.25:1. Less total hit chance than the four soldiers in low cover, but that added piece of high cover tipped the scale again compared to the two high cover option. This is to demonstrate that the maxim of "low cover is no cover" is not always correct.

	Instead of calculating the ratio, we can determine whether using a lower defence option will improve the ~~hit chance~~ ratio ~~or not~~ without requiring XCOM's hit chances ~~at all~~ (assuming ~~XCOM's~~ average hit chance for each soldier).		Instead of calculating the hit chance ratio, we can actually determine whether using a lower defence option will improve the ratio without requiring XCOM's hit chances (assuming the average hit chance of the XCOM squad for each soldier).

	The '''engagement threshold''' ''t'' of when to consider ''s'' free soldiers using the 2nd best of two defence options is '''''s''·''a''/''d''''', with ''a'' being the alien hit chance with the 2nd best option and ''d'' being the defence difference between the two options. In another way, to consider the 2nd best option, the ratio of soldiers using the 1st best to soldiers considering the 2nd best is at or worse than ''t''-''s'':''s''.		The '''engagement threshold''' ''t'' of when to consider ''s'' free soldiers using the 2nd best of two defence options is '''''s''·''a''/''d''''', with ''a'' being the alien hit chance with the 2nd best option and ''d'' being the defence difference between the two options. In another way, to consider the 2nd best option, the ratio of soldiers using the 1st best to soldiers considering the 2nd best is at or worse than ''t''-''s'':''s''.
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	In this case, ''a''=75-20=55, ''d''=40-20=20, making ''t''=''s''·''a''/''d''=''s''·55/20=2.75s. Either the ratio of soldiers using high cover to low cover must be equal to or less than 1.75''s'':''s'' or the total number of soldiers is equal to or less than 2.75''s''. If ''s''=1, there must be at least 1.75 (so 2 whole in this case) soldiers utilizing high cover to not expose the third in low cover. That would only lower the hit chance ratio.		In this case, ''a''=75-20=55, ''d''=40-20=20, making ''t''=''s''·''a''/''d''=''s''·55/20=2.75s. Either the ratio of soldiers using high cover to low cover must be equal to or less than 1.75''s'':''s'' or the total number of soldiers is equal to or less than 2.75''s''. If ''s''=1, there must be at least 1.75 (so 2 whole in this case) soldiers utilizing high cover to not expose the third in low cover. That would only lower the hit chance ratio.

	However, if ''s''=2, the total 2.75''s'' becomes 5.5, or the ratio of high cover to low cover is 3.5:2. This means that if you have 3 or less soldiers in high cover and are considering 2 soldiers to using low cover, you should if you plan to increase the hit chance ratio and ~~shoot~~.		However, if ''s''=2, the total 2.75''s'' becomes 5.5, or the ratio of high cover to low cover is 3.5:2. This means that if you have 3 or less soldiers in high cover and are considering 2 soldiers to using low cover, you should if you plan to increase the hit chance ratio and Fire.

	A more extreme example is to consider when to go uncovered. Let's say it's 75 aim Sectoid again but low cover vs no cover. ''a''=75, ''d''=20, ''t''=''s''·''a''/''d''=3.75s. If there happens to be only two or less pieces of low cover available, you can allow yourself to go rambo knowing you made the locally optimal call. If there are three pieces of low cover with a squad of four, better not expose the fourth.		A more extreme example is to consider when to go uncovered. Let's say it's 75 aim Sectoid again but low cover vs no cover. ''a''=75, ''d''=20, ''t''=''s''·''a''/''d''=3.75s. If there happens to be only two or less pieces of low cover available, you can allow yourself to go rambo knowing you made the locally optimal call. If there are three pieces of low cover with a squad of four, better not expose the fourth.

	This assumes that the enemy can always hit a soldier using the 2nd option. XCOM engagement can be stratified though and so dividing which set of units is engaging with the enemy's set of units is something to consider. This also isn't a confirmation that simply ~~shooting~~ is good play. The ratios in the initial examples are atrocious considering there are 3-4+ pods every mission. But there may come a point where "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". The ratio is a gauge of how hard you are getting punched and the threshold is how to correct it given no other options.		This assumes that the enemy can always hit a soldier using the 2nd option. XCOM engagement can be stratified though and so dividing which set of units is engaging with the enemy's set of units is something to consider. This also isn't a confirmation that simply Firing is good play. The ratios in the initial examples are atrocious considering there are 3-4+ pods every mission. But there may come a point where "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". The ratio is a gauge of how hard you are getting punched and the threshold is how to correct it given no other options.

	'''Generally, the lower ''a''/''d'' is and/or the more soldiers with the 1st best defence option available, the less likely that it is correct to utilize the 2nd best defence option.'''		'''Generally, the lower ''a''/''d'' is and/or the more soldiers with the 1st best defence option available, the less likely that it is correct to utilize the 2nd best defence option.'''

Parogen: /* Combat */ hit chance ratio and edit/format a bit

2025-10-16T07:22:06Z

Combat: hit chance ratio and edit/format a bit

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 * Circumstantially, there (rarely) might exist spots to Overwatch a sliver of vision without seeing any cover/peeking tile the enemy has blue move access to to return fire. Those are great penalty free reaction shots if the enemy crosses the visible region. Unfortunately, these can usually only be encountered after the environment has been destroyed a bit.
 * Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:
-*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.
+*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on Overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.
-*# If you want to move them somewhere else you can't because they are locked once on overwatch.
+*# If you want to move them somewhere else you can't because they are locked once on Overwatch.
-* [Overwatch tactic; Weak] Alternatively, put several secure units (like snipers) into overwatch before revealing enemies. Your soldiers will open fire on aliens as they scramble for cover and the penalty to reaction fire will be more than compensated by the absence of a cover penalty.
+* Alternatively, put several secure units (like Snipers) into Overwatch before revealing enemies. Your soldiers will open fire on aliens as they scramble for cover.
-* [Exploit] If AI unit has no AOE attack, has no enemy in LOS which is exposed/flanked, is himself exposed/flanked, and sees a unit which is on overwatch, it will completely skip its turn. AI seems to run out of options and "panics". Therefore, you can "lock down" units like sectoids and floaters (on the ground), or Mutons if they already used their grenades, or Thin Men if you carry medkits, by simply flanking them with one of your units and putting one of your soldiers that is visible to them on overwatch (can be the flanker, can be different unit).<br>This can allow you to advance your Arc Thrower carrying soldier, or take free shots on the enemy until it dies, or just save yourself from harm. Using this is way superior to just taking the shot with your flanking unit, because in case you do not kill it, AI will move to cover on its turn and fire back, plus, in a situation when your unit flanks 2 or more enemies, he can only theoretically kill one of them (except using grenades, but then flanking was probably unnessecary), plus flanking does not always guarantee a hit, etc. However, by going overwatch, you can single-handedly keep all flanked enemies at bay while giving yourself freedom to deal with them in whichever way you prefer.<br>Notice, however, that you must have no units exposed/flanked by an alien locked that way, or alien will fire. Also watch out for aliens with grenades or other AOE attacks.<br>The panic also seems not to trigger a good amount of the time if the alien unit has not yet moved away from it's starting position. (the cover it moves to after its introductory cinematic) To be completely sure that overwatch will lock down an enemy, make sure it has moved at least once, unless you have no other options.<br>Because the flanking unit does not necessarily have to be the one to overwatch, you dash a unit to a good position where it has an exposed view of all enemies, and as long as a unit has any line of sight on these same enemies (not necessarily an exposed one) overwatch will lock them down, except in some cases mentioned above.<br>This has been 'fixed' in Enemy Within.
 === Mind Wall ===
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 If you are tired of mind controlling aliens after you got Psionics and if you have lucky to have 5/6 Psionic soldiers you can set your psi squad to be permanently in a Telekinetic Field that gives all units (including the aliens) inside +40 Defense. The ability has a 4 turn cooldown so you need 5 soldiers equipped with it to always have 1 unit activating it at the end of your turn.
 This tactic works ideally on open areas like smaller UFO maps and most abduction and Council missions. Even if the aliens are protected within the field you just need not to set your soldiers on Overwatch so that they'll not fire at the aliens, and if you combine it with Dense Smoke and/or terrain cover you'll get +80 Defense stats. The only vulnerability of the field is to grenades, so take out first any aliens with explosive weapons.
 == Equipment ==

Parogen: /* Combat */ more info to overwatch trick

2025-05-01T01:57:41Z

Combat: more info to overwatch trick

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:57, 1 May 2025
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	== Combat ==		== Combat ==

	* Have a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if intending to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). 90% rockets or a 95% shots are not guaranteed kills.		* Have a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if intending to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). 90% rockets or 95% shots are not guaranteed kills.
	* Suppression+Smoke Grenade+high cover is safe against Sectoids, Floaters, Mutons at range, and Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.		* Suppression+Smoke Grenade+high cover is safe against Sectoids, Floaters, Mutons at range, and Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.
	* Circumstantially, there (rarely) might exist ~~a spot~~ to Overwatch ~~on where a soldier can see~~ a sliver of vision ~~but not~~ any cover/peeking tile the enemy has access to ~~in one blue move~~ to return fire on. ~~That is a~~ penalty free reaction ~~shot~~ if the enemy crosses the visible region.		* Circumstantially, there (rarely) might exist spots to Overwatch a sliver of vision without seeing any cover/peeking tile the enemy has blue move access to to return fire. Those are great penalty free reaction shots if the enemy crosses the visible region. Unfortunately, these can usually only be encountered after the environment has been destroyed a bit.
	* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:		* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:
	*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.		*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.

Parogen: /* Combat */ reword

2025-04-30T15:48:41Z

Combat: reword

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:48, 30 April 2025
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	== Combat ==		== Combat ==

	* ~~You should always think about having~~ a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if ~~you intend~~ to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). ~~Things like a~~ 90% ~~rocket~~ or a 95% ~~shot~~ are not guaranteed kills.		* Have a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if intending to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). 90% rockets or a 95% shots are not guaranteed kills.
	* Suppression+Smoke Grenade+high cover is safe against Sectoids, Floaters, Mutons at range, and Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.		* Suppression+Smoke Grenade+high cover is safe against Sectoids, Floaters, Mutons at range, and Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.
	* ~~Sometimes you can find~~ a spot to Overwatch where a soldier can see a sliver of vision ~~and~~ not ~~see~~ any cover ~~and~~ peeking tile the ~~AI can~~ blue move to fire ~~back~~ on. That is a ~~cost~~ free ~~potential~~ reaction shot if the ~~AI has a valid reason to cross~~ the visible region.		* Circumstantially, there (rarely) might exist a spot to Overwatch on where a soldier can see a sliver of vision but not any cover/peeking tile the enemy has access to in one blue move to return fire on. That is a penalty free reaction shot if the enemy crosses the visible region.
	* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:		* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:
	*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.		*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.

Parogen: /* Combat */

2025-04-30T13:33:37Z

Combat

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:33, 30 April 2025
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	* You should always think about having a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if you intend to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). Things like a 90% rocket or a 95% shot are not guaranteed kills.		* You should always think about having a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if you intend to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). Things like a 90% rocket or a 95% shot are not guaranteed kills.
	* Suppression+Smoke Grenade+high cover is safe against Sectoids, Floaters, Mutons and Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.		* Suppression+Smoke Grenade+high cover is safe against Sectoids, Floaters, Mutons at range, and Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.
	* Sometimes you can find a spot to Overwatch where a soldier can see a sliver of vision and not see any cover and peeking tile the AI can blue move to fire back on. That is a cost free potential reaction shot if the AI has a valid reason to cross the visible region.		* Sometimes you can find a spot to Overwatch where a soldier can see a sliver of vision and not see any cover and peeking tile the AI can blue move to fire back on. That is a cost free potential reaction shot if the AI has a valid reason to cross the visible region.
	* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:		* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:

Parogen: /* Combat */ mention overwatch trick

2025-04-30T13:24:39Z

Combat: mention overwatch trick

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:24, 30 April 2025
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	* You should always think about having a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if you intend to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). Things like a 90% rocket or a 95% shot are not guaranteed kills.		* You should always think about having a guaranteed backup plan, e.g. a Grenade or double Grenade kills, or someone has a 100% kill, if you intend to take pot shots (that could go horribly wrong). Things like a 90% rocket or a 95% shot are not guaranteed kills.
	* ~~Supression~~ + Smoke ~~provides enough defence~~ against Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.		* Suppression+Smoke Grenade+high cover is safe against Sectoids, Floaters, Mutons and Sectopods, given they don't run the reaction shot.
			* Sometimes you can find a spot to Overwatch where a soldier can see a sliver of vision and not see any cover and peeking tile the AI can blue move to fire back on. That is a cost free potential reaction shot if the AI has a valid reason to cross the visible region.
	* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:		* Plan before you commit. This is important for 2 reasons:
	*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.		*# Aliens get a free move when they are seen and if the alien moves into view of a soldier that has already been put on overwatch they cannot use that turn to fire. You have to rely on them having a reaction shot during the alien's turn.

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:30, 19 October 2025
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	* Alternatively, put several secure units (like Snipers) into Overwatch before revealing enemies. Your soldiers will open fire on aliens as they scramble for cover.		* Alternatively, put several secure units (like Snipers) into Overwatch before revealing enemies. Your soldiers will open fire on aliens as they scramble for cover.

	=== Hit Chance Ratio (or when "~~low~~ cover is NOT no cover") ===		=== Hit Chance Ratio (or when "Low cover is NOT no cover") ===

	A simple heuristic to evaluate a play is to add up the hit chances of XCOM and the implied hit chance of the enemies' subsequent turn to get a hit chance ratio. Higher number is better.		A simple heuristic to evaluate a play is to add up the hit chances of XCOM and the implied hit chance of the enemies' subsequent turn to get a hit chance ratio. Higher number is better.
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	: Assume you have four soldiers and there are only two high cover spots available to Fire at two Sectoids in high cover, the hit chance ratio (assuming first mission stats) is 2(65-40):2(75-40), 50:60 or ~.83:1, if only using high cover. Not great assuming there are more pods left. However, there are plenty of low cover spots lying around which would allow us to Fire with all four soldiers. That should mean the Sectoids would target the unit in low cover, 4(65-40):2(75-20), 100:105 or ~.95:1. Better because it allowed XCOM to increase their firepower despite using low cover (though the ratio is still not the best). Let's add one more piece of high cover, that would again change the ratio to 3(65-40):2(75-40), 75:60 or 1.25:1. Less total hit chance than the four soldiers in low cover, but that added piece of high cover tipped the scale again compared to the two high cover option. This is to demonstrate that the maxim of "low cover is no cover" is not always correct.		: Assume you have four soldiers and there are only two high cover spots available to Fire at two Sectoids in high cover, the hit chance ratio (assuming first mission stats) is 2(65-40):2(75-40), 50:60 or ~.83:1, if only using high cover. Not great assuming there are more pods left. However, there are plenty of low cover spots lying around which would allow us to Fire with all four soldiers. That should mean the Sectoids would target the unit in low cover, 4(65-40):2(75-20), 100:105 or ~.95:1. Better because it allowed XCOM to increase their firepower despite using low cover (though the ratio is still not the best). Let's add one more piece of high cover, that would again change the ratio to 3(65-40):2(75-40), 75:60 or 1.25:1. Less total hit chance than the four soldiers in low cover, but that added piece of high cover tipped the scale again compared to the two high cover option. This is to demonstrate that the maxim of "low cover is no cover" is not always correct.

	Instead of calculating the hit chance ratio, we can actually determine whether using a lower defence option will improve the ratio without requiring XCOM's hit chances (assuming the average hit chance of the XCOM squad for each soldier).		Instead of calculating the hit chance ratio, we can actually determine whether using the lower defence option of two will improve the ratio without requiring XCOM's hit chances (assuming the average hit chance of the XCOM squad for each soldier).

	The '''engagement threshold''' ''t'' of when to consider ''s'' free soldiers using the ~~2nd best~~ of two defence options is '''''s''·''a''/''d''''', with ''a'' being the alien hit chance with the ~~2nd best~~ option and ''d'' being the defence difference between the two options. In another way, to consider the ~~2nd best~~ option, the ratio of soldiers using the ~~1st best~~ to soldiers considering the ~~2nd best~~ is at or worse than ''t''-''s'':''s''.		The '''engagement threshold''' ''t'' of when to consider ''s'' free soldiers using the worse of two defence options is '''''s''·''a''/''d''''', with ''a'' being the alien hit chance with the worse option and ''d'' being the defence difference between the two options. In another way, to consider the worse option, the ratio of soldiers using the better to soldiers considering the worse is at or worse than ''t''-''s'':''s''.

	: If ''f'' is fixed soldiers using ~~best~~ defence option and ''t''=''f''+''s'', ''f''/(''a''-''d'')=(''f''+''s'')/''a'', fixed soldiers over worse alien hit chance vs fixed plus free soldiers over better alien hit chance, derives to ''s''·''a''/''d''=''f''+''s''=''t''		: If ''f'' is fixed soldiers using the better defence option and ''t''=''f''+''s'', ''f''/(''a''-''d'')=(''f''+''s'')/''a'', fixed soldiers over worse alien hit chance vs fixed plus free soldiers over better alien hit chance, derives to ''s''·''a''/''d''=''f''+''s''=''t''

	Let's take the example of 75 aim Sectoids and high cover(40) vs low cover(20).		Let's take the example of 75 aim Sectoids and high cover(40) vs low cover(20).
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	However, if ''s''=2, the total 2.75''s'' becomes 5.5, or the ratio of high cover to low cover is 3.5:2. This means that if you have 3 or less soldiers in high cover and are considering 2 soldiers to using low cover, you should if you plan to increase the hit chance ratio and Fire.		However, if ''s''=2, the total 2.75''s'' becomes 5.5, or the ratio of high cover to low cover is 3.5:2. This means that if you have 3 or less soldiers in high cover and are considering 2 soldiers to using low cover, you should if you plan to increase the hit chance ratio and Fire.

			If you have smoke, that would adjust the hit chance value with the difference between cover being the same, ''a''=75-40=35, ''d''=60-40=20, making ''t''=''s''·''a''/''d''=''s''·35/20=1.75s. A little less viable to deploy units in smoked low cover based on ''s''.

	A more extreme example is to consider when to go uncovered. Let's say it's 75 aim Sectoid again but low cover vs no cover. ''a''=75, ''d''=20, ''t''=''s''·''a''/''d''=3.75s. If there happens to be only two or less pieces of low cover available, you can allow yourself to go rambo knowing you made the locally optimal call. If there are three pieces of low cover with a squad of four, better not expose the fourth.		A more extreme example is to consider when to go uncovered. Let's say it's 75 aim Sectoid again but low cover vs no cover. ''a''=75, ''d''=20, ''t''=''s''·''a''/''d''=3.75s. If there happens to be only two or less pieces of low cover available, you can allow yourself to go rambo knowing you made the locally optimal call. If there are three pieces of low cover with a squad of four, better not expose the fourth.

	This assumes that the enemy can always hit a soldier using the ~~2nd~~ option. XCOM engagement can be stratified though and so dividing which set of units is engaging with the enemy's set of units is something to consider. This also isn't a confirmation that simply Firing is good play. The ratios in the initial examples are atrocious considering there are 3-4+ pods every mission. But there may come a point where "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". The ratio is a gauge of how hard you are getting punched and the threshold is how to correct it given no other options.		This assumes that the enemy can always hit a soldier using the worse option. XCOM engagement can be stratified though and so dividing which set of units is engaging with the enemy's set of units is something to consider. This also isn't a confirmation that simply Firing is good play. The ratios in the initial examples are atrocious considering there are 3-4+ pods every mission. But there may come a point where "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". The ratio is a gauge of how hard you are getting punched and the threshold is how to correct it given no other options.

	'''Generally, the lower ''a''/''d'' is and/or the more soldiers with the ~~1st best~~ defence option available, the less likely that it is correct to utilize the ~~2nd best~~ defence option.'''		'''Generally, the lower ''a''/''d'' is and/or the more soldiers with the better defence option available, the less likely that it is correct to utilize the worse defence option.'''

	=== Mind Wall ===		=== Mind Wall ===