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
| 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.
- Only Frost Mamba and Muton Sapper can hack
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.
| Type | Faction | Primary Weapon | Secondary Weapon | Armor type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andromedon | ADVENT Military | Andromedon Rifle | Acid Launchers | 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 | 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 | |
| Viper Marauder | 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 |