Alien Defectors (TJ)

Former servants of the Elder armies, either brought from extra terrestrial destinations or created on Earth directly. Alien defectors are all those that have managed to break free out of the psionic network control. Alien Defectors come in a large variety of species and all are ready to fight and die for a chance for freedom, that means fighting for XCOM. However due to their alien nature, XCOM soldiers do not trust them with officer privileges besides one exception and their alien nature makes genetic modifications in the infirmary impossible and their different anatomies makes certain equipment impossible to use for them. Some aliens also are incapable of forming bonds with our troops.

Recruitment

Gatecrasher

One Alien Defector is always present on gatecrasher, unlike ADVENT Defectors, the list has restrictions:

• Vipers - Viper, Sidewinder, Frost Adder, Frost Mamba, Python, Taipan
  • Taipan is only possible if Requiem Legion is present
• Mutons: Muton Sapper, Frost Bomber, Muton Harrier, Muton Beleaguer, Muton Infiltrator
  • Muton Infiltrator is only possible if Requiem Legion is present
• Sectoids: Sectoid, Frost Necromancer

Alien Defectors Faction Contact

At a start of the campaign, XCOM can research a topic that unlocks experimental weapons for Alien Defectors and also grants a Muton Trooper to the barracks

• This Muton is immune to Not Created Equally and always comes at squaddie rank

Covert Operation

More can be acquired in the same style as Advent Defectors through a seperate covert operation. Unlike their ADVENT counterparts, Aliens do have force level requirements.

• Duplicates are not allowed unless you already have all of them on the Avenger already, the covert operation will always give you someone you do not have already
• This covert operation cannot fail and does not require any faction influence, intel can also be paid to make the covert operation impossible to ambush. Also due to being incapable of failure, XCOM can send low-ranking soldiers, or even BU's to do it.

Force Level Gates

Advanced unit types have a minimum force level before XCOM can earn them

Force Level Requirements

Alien	Force Level
Floater	5
Viper Commando	6
Archon	6
Andromedon	7
Berserker	8
Seraphim	9

Heroic Alien Recruitment

Once XCOM finishes the second Chosen hunt covert operation, XCOM can possibly undertake special covert operation to recruit some of the highest ranking Alien Defectors, each resistance faction has different heroic alien tied to it

• Unlike the standard covert operation, this mission rewards the heroic alien directly to your barracks, no mission required
• If XCOM is facing Requiem Legion, different heroic alien will be handed out
  • If facing Requiem Legion, XCOM gains the Wraith
  • If Requiem Legion is not present, XCOM gains the Desolator
• Only one heroic alien is allowed under normal circumstances

Reapers

Winter Sentinel is tied to the Reaper faction, this former Frost Legion Cobra is a heavily mutated Frost Adder, armed with a bolt caster, extended line of sight and increased strength, letting them bind even large humanoids that other Vipers cannot

Skirmisher

Warmaster is tied to the Skirmisher faction, this Muton Devastator is the only alien capable of becoming an officer and the only alien capable of learning pistol perks. This heavily armoured unflankable tank is a powerful support unit.

Templars

If Requiem Legion is present, then Wraith is tied to the Templar faction, this Sectoid rigged on a MEC chassis is a mixed fire and psionic support unit, armed with an energy cannon that melts armor or special psi amp to fuel its psi offense.

Without Requiem Legion present, then Desolator is tied to the Templar faction, this special Andromedon is armed with a radiation flamethrower, improved melee capabilities and deadly incendiary blob launcher. Desolator is unflankable and heavily armoured.

Point of Interest

Once per campaign, it is possible to receive a point of interest that gives XCOM a Frost Viper to the barracks, this Frost Viper is otherwise unobtainable through the standard covert operation.

Compared to XCOM soldiers

• Aliens get always executed if they get captured, there is no saving them if left behind.
• Aliens do have their own equipment, only Muton Sapper and Frost Mamba share their cyber warfare drones with XCOM troops. Alien equipment is cheaper to make in comparison to XCOM's one.
• Aliens are incapable of using medkits and some specialized equipment, but most can use vests, grenades and ammo
• Aliens generally recover faster from lighter to moderate injuries than XCOM troops.
  • This is caused by higher baseline health, which lets more gradual injuries rather than any special mechanic accelerating such process
• Aliens cannot become Officers or receive Gene Mods
  • Only the Warmaster can be an officer
  • Some gene mods are present as XCOM perks
• Only Vipers, Mutons (besides Berserker), Sectoids (besides the Wraith) and Andromedon's can be bonded
• Only Warmaster can learn pistol perks, nobody else can.
• Only Frost Mamba and Muton Sapper can hack, the rest are incapable of interacting with any hack-related objective
• Alien weapons only have 2 weapon slots and cannot accept underbarrel attachments
• Aliens are impossible to turn in to MEC Troopers

Compared to ADVENT Defectors

• A Lot of the aliens share equipment with each other or even have different weapons to choose from. They can also gain further specialized equipment through the workshop exotic weaponry projects.
• Only Warmaster can become an officer, all ADVENT defectors can do it in comparison
• Aliens are generally more durable than their ADVENT brethren
• Aliens start with their respective immunities, they do not require armor upgrade to gain them. A Viper will always be immune to poison.

Synergy Armory

Once XCOM has build the Research and Development building (the workshop), XCOM can conduct a short research to unlock specialized weapons for their alien allies they have on board. This system works on counting alien types present on the Avenger and combining them to unlock certain weapons. The more aliens XCOM has on board, the larger variety of specialized equipment can be made for them. Some requirements are rigid, while others are loose.

• The initial project, the Exotic Armory Expansion has to be initiated in the workshop, but once its done, either the workshop or proving grounds can be used to make these weapons or armor
• Most are one-piece construction only, if lost, they are gone for good, just like the bolt caster, axe or frost bomb
• Certain synergy weapons can be upgraded
• Most of these are coil-gun tier weapons, but some like armors are accessible earlier

List of Synergy Weapons and Armor can be found here

List of Alien Defectors

• Requiem Legion defectors will only be present if XCOM faces such foe in the campaign
• Advent Military refers to Long War 2 and War of The Chosen as origin of the Alien
• Alien Defectors as a faction means that the Alien has no ADVENT version and is unique in some way.

Overview

Type	Faction	Primary Weapon	Secondary Weapon	Armor type
Andromedon	ADVENT Military	Andromedon Cannon	Acid blob launcher	Andromedon Armor
Archon	ADVENT Military	Archon Ranged Wand	Archon Bayonet	Alien Flight Armor
Berserker	ADVENT Military			Berserker Armor
Desolator	Drone Dome Division	Rad-Dust Flamethrower	Desolator Blob Launcher	Andromedon Armor
Faceless	ADVENT Military			Faceless Armor
Floater	Requiem Legion	Floater Carbine		Advent Flight Armor
Frost Adder	Frost Legion	Viper Shotgun	Frost Adder Tail	Viper Armor
Frost Bomber	Frost Legion	Frost Bomber Shotgun	Frost Bayonet	Muton Infantry Armor
Frost Mamba	Frost Legion	Viper Sniper Rifle	Gremlin	Viper Armor
Frost Necromancer	Frost Legion	Frost Sectoid Blaster	Sectoid Psi-Amp	Sectoid Armor
Muton Beleaguer	Muton Harrier Division	Muton Battle Rifle		Muton Striker Armor
Muton Harrier	Muton Harrier Division	Muton Grenade Launcher		Muton Striker Armor
Muton Hunter	Muton Hunter Division	Muton Stalker Rifle		Muton Stalker Armor
Muton Prowler	Muton Hunter Division	Muton Stalker Rifle		Muton Stalker Armor
Muton Sapper	Alien Defectors	Muton Sapper Rifle	BIT	Muton Infantry Armor
Muton Trooper	ADVENT Military	Muton Rifle	Muton Bayonet	Muton Infantry Armor
Muton Infiltrator	Requiem Legion	Muton Infiltrator Rifle	Infiltrator Claw	Muton Stalker Armor
Naja	ADVENT Military	Viper Sniper Rifle		Viper Armor
Python	Alien Defectors	Python Magma Rifle	Python's Tongue	Viper Armor
Sectoid	Alien Defectors	Sectoid Blaster	Sectoid Psi-Amp	Sectoid Armor
Sectoid Abjurer	Abjurer Corp	Sectoid Blaster	Sectoid Psi-Amp	Sectoid Armor
Seraphim	Requiem Legion	Archon Ranged Wand	Seraphim Bayonet	Alien Flight Armor
Sidewinder	ADVENT Military	Viper SMG		Viper Armor
Taipan Hussar	Requiem Legion	Taipan SMG	Taipan Sword	Viper Armor
Viper	ADVENT Military	Viper Rifle		Viper Armor
Viper Commando	Bio Division and Requiem Legion		Commando Pistol	Viper Armor
Frost Viper	Frost Legion	Viper Rifle		Viper Armor
Warmaster	Muton Harrier Division	Psionic Rifle	Lightning Claw + Lance Pistol	Muton Striker Armor
Winter Sentinel	Frost Legion	Sentinel's Bolt Caster	Sentinel's Tail	Viper Armor
Wraith	Requiem Legion	Wraith Psi Rifle	Wraith Psi-Amp	Sectoid MEC Armor