Rank

This article is about the ranks an X-COM soldier can achieve, for alien ranks see Alien Ranks

Rank represents the soldier's position within the hierarchy of soldiers. The higher the rank, the more command the soldier can exert over his or her subordinates. In the X-COM world, rank is primarily a conciliatory tool to reassure the lower ranks during times of strife.

Higher ranked soldiers that are still in battle help keep morale high in an event of a casualty or injury. However, when they are killed or incapacitated it means that the other soldiers suffer a big morale loss which could mean that they will panic or go berserk. You may find it useful for your highest ranked officers to act as a Rear Commander.

Your soldiers can advance to higher ranks with experience, assuming you have a large enough number of soldiers to justify the promotion.

Actions that qualify towards promotions are:

• Hitting a target

Shooting things with guns, hitting them with melee weapons, or blowing them up with grenades. HE and stun explosives count whether they connect directly or otherwise. Smoke/incendiary/proximity explosives do not, and neither does shooting scenery. You don't have to deal damage so long as the bullet hits a unit.

• Reacting

Shooting at an enemy during their turn. Doesn't matter whether the shot connects.

• Psi attacks

Doesn't matter whether they succeed or not.

• Bravery checks

Having little enough morale that panicking is possible, but keeping under control regardless.

• Throwing things

Mentioned because it is the only recorded action that does NOT count towards promotions.

In an equal environment (say all you have are new recruits) the soldier that obtains the most experience in battle will get the best available promotion that is up for grabs. If there is one position available but two equally ranked and equally eligible soldiers are present, the game will randomly pick between the two. (Or does it just pick them according to table order? Are certain types of experience points worth more then others?)

It is worth noting that once a soldier has been handed a rank above rookie, they can continue to be promoted even if they do not leave base and other soldiers surpass their level of experience. So long as no one catches up to their rank they will remain on top.

Rookies can be immediately promoted to Sergeant in 1 battle. Presumably, squaddie promotion is always performed immediately after battle, not shown on screen, and promotions are handed out on almost immediately after that.

UFO: Enemy Unknown / X-COM: UFO Defense

Rank	Notes
Commander	Only one allowed over all X-COM Bases, requires at least 30 soldiers in all bases.
Colonel	Most experienced Captain is promoted to Colonel if opening present. 1 Colonel for 23 soldiers, limit of 10.
Captain	Most experienced Sergeant is promoted to Captain if opening present. 1 Captain for 11 soldiers, limit of 22.
Sergeant	Most experienced Squaddie is promoted to Sergeant if opening present. 1 Sergeant for 5 soldiers, limit of 50.
Squaddie	Perform any action that qualifies towards promotion, may not be given with high troop counts.
Rookie	Starting rank for all new recruits.

X-COM: Terror From the Deep

Rank	Notes
Captain	Only one allowed over all X-COM Bases, requires at least 30 aquanauts in all bases.
Commander	Most experienced Lieutenant is promoted to Commander if opening present. 1 Commander for 23 aquanauts, limit of 10.
Lieutenant	Most experienced Ensign is promoted to Lieutenant if opening present. 1 Lieutenant for 11 aquanauts, limit of 22.
Ensign	Most experienced Able Seaman is promoted to Ensign if opening present. 1 Ensign for 5 aquanauts, limit of 50.
Able Seaman	Promotion Perform any action that qualifies towards promotion, may not be given with high troop counts.
Seaman	Starting rank for all new recruits.