Abilities (EU2012)

A list of all abilities can be found below, with their in-game descriptions. More information about Abilities and their uses can be found on the links on top of each category.

Class & Rank Abilities

These are special perks available to each class and rank. Up reaching a certain rank a soldier has to choose exclusively between two abilities.

Assault

Run & Gun

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Run & Gun	Squaddie	Active	Allows firing or Overwatch after Dashing on the turn Run & Gun is activated. 2 turn cooldown.

Tactical Sense

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Tactical Sense	Corporal	Passive	Confers +5 Defense per enemy in sight (max +20).

Aggression

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Aggression	Corporal	Passive	Confers +10% critical chance per enemy in sight (max +30%).

Lightning Reflexes

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Lightning Reflexes	Sergeant	Passive	Forces the first reaction shot against this unit each turn to miss.

Close & Personal

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Close & Personal	Sergeant	Passive	Confers +30% critical chance against adjacent targets. The bonus declines with distance from the target. EW DLC: The first standard shot made within 4 tiles of the target does not cost an action. Cannot combine with Run And Gun.

Flush

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Flush	Sergeant	Active	Fire a shot that causes enemies to run out of cover. The shot is easy to hit with, but does reduced damage.

Rapid Fire

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Rapid Fire	Sergeant	Active	Take two shots against a single target in quick succession. Each shot carries a -15 penalty to Aim.

Close Combat Specialist

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Close Combat Specialist	Captain	Passive	Confers a reaction shot against any enemy who closes to within 4 tiles. Does not require Overwatch.

Bring 'Em On

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Bring 'Em On	Captain	Passive	Adds 1 damage on critical hits for each enemy the squad can see (up to 5).

Extra Conditioning

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Extra Conditioning	Major	Passive	Confers bonus health based on which type of armor is equipped. Heavier armor increases the bonus.

Resilience

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Resilience	Colonel	Active	Confers immunity to critical hits.

Killer Instinct

Ability	Rank/Unit	Type	Description
Killer Instinct	Colonel	Active	Activating Run & Gun now also grants +50% critical damage for the rest of the turn.

Heavy Abilities
Ability	Rank Required	Description
Fire Rocket	Squaddie	Fire a rocket using an equipped launcher. This ability can not be used after moving, nor more than once per mission.
Bullet Swarm	Corporal	Firing the primary weapon as the first action no longer ends the turn.
Holo-Targeting	Corporal	Shooting at or suppressing enemies also confers a +10 Aim to any allies' attacks on those enemies.
Shredder Rocket	Sergeant	Fire a rocket that causes all enemies hit to take +33% damage from all sources for the next 4 turns. The rocket's blast is weaker than a standard rocket's.
Suppression	Sergeant	Can fire a special shot that grants reaction fire at a single target. The target also suffers a -30 Aim penalty.
HEAT Ammo	Lieutenant	+100% to damage against robotic enemies. EW DLC: Confers +50% damage against robotic enemies.
Rapid Reaction	Lieutenant	Confers a second reaction shot, if on Overwatch and the first reaction shot is a hit.
Grenadier	Captain	Allows to carry 2 grenades in a single inventory slot. EW DLC: Allows 2 grenades in a single inventory slot. Frag, Alien, and Needle Grenades receive a 1 damage bonus.
Danger Zone	Captain	Increases hit area of rockets and suppression by 2 tiles.
Will to Survive	Major	Reduces all normal damage taken by 2 if in cover and not flanked.
Rocketeer	Colonel	Allows 1 additional standard rocket to be fired per battle.
Mayhem	Colonel	Confers additional damage based on weapon tech level to Suppression and all area-effect abilities.

Sniper Abilities
Ability	Rank Required	Description
Headshot	Squaddie	Fire a shot with +30% critical chance and extra damage on critical hits based on the tech level of the sniper rifle. 2 turn cooldown. a.k.a. Precision Shot.
Squad Sight	Corporal	Allows firing at targets in any ally's sight radius. EW DLC: Allows firing at targets in any ally's sight radius, but these targets cannot be critically hit unless using Headshot.
Snap Shot	Corporal	Removes the sniper rifle's restriction on firing and Overwatch after moving. Any shots taken suffer a -20 Aim penalty. EW DLC: Removes the sniper rifle's restriction on firing and Overwatch after moving. Any shots taken suffer a -10 Aim penalty.
Damn Good Ground	Sergeant	+10 Aim and +10 Defense against enemies at lower elevation in addition to the usual elevation bonuses.
Gunslinger	Sergeant	Confers 2 bonus damage with pistols.
Disabling Shot	Lieutenant	Allows the Sniper to fire a shot that causes the target's main weapon to malfunction. The target may use Reload to fix the weapon. The shot cannot inflict a critical hit. 2 turn cooldown. -10 Aim penalty
Battle Scanner	Lieutenant	Scanning device, when thrown creates a new source of vision for 2 turns. Can only be used 2 times per battle.
Executioner	Captain	+10% Aim against targets with less than 50% Health.
Opportunist	Captain	Eliminates the Aim penalty on reaction shots, and allows reaction shots to cause critical hits.
Low Profile	Major	Makes partial cover count as full.
In The Zone	Colonel	Killing a flanked or uncovered target with the sniper rifle does not cost an action.
Double Tap	Colonel	Both actions can be used for Standard/Precision/Disabling Shot. 1 turn cool down.

Support Abilities
Ability	Rank Required	Description
Smoke Grenade	Squaddie	Deploy a smoke grenade once per mission. The smoke confers +20 defense to all units, not just allies, and lasts during the enemy turn.
Sprinter	Corporal	Allows the support to move 3 additional tiles.
Covering Fire	Corporal	Allows reaction shot to trigger on enemy attacks, not just movement. EW DLC: The reaction fire now happens before the enemy attacks, not after.
Field Medic	Sergeant	Allows medikits to be used 3 times per battle instead of once.
Smoke and Mirrors	Sergeant	Allows 1 additional use of Smoke Grenade each mission. EW DLC: Allows two extra uses of Smoke Grenade each mission, for a total of three.
Revive	Lieutenant	Allows Medikits to revive critically wounded Soldiers at 33% of maximum health instead of just stabilizing them.
Rifle Suppression	Lieutenant	Fires a barrage that pins down a target, granting reaction fire against it and imposing a 30 penalty to aim.
Combat Drugs	Captain	Smoke Grenades now contain powerful stimulants that grant +20 Will and +10% Critical Chance for all units in the cloud.
Dense Smoke	Captain	Smoke Grenades have increased area of effect and further increase units' Defense by 20. (Also grants +20 Aim Bonus)
Deep Pockets	Major	Confers an additional item slot in inventory. EW DLC: All limited-use items in your inventory receive one extra use.
Savior	Colonel	Medikits restore 4 more health per use.
Sentinel	Colonel	Allows two reaction shots during Overwatch, instead of only one.

Psionic Abilities
Ability	Rank Required	Description
Mindfray	Psionic	Use psi abilities in combat to unlock further psi training. Causes the target to lose grip on reality, inflicting penalties to Aim, Will, and mobility, and doing 5 base damage. Robotic units are immune. Lasts 2 turns. 1 turn cooldown.
Psi Inspiration	Specialist	Removes Mindfray and panic from all allies within 3 tiles, and strengthen their Will by 30 for 3 turns. 4 turn cooldown.
Psi Panic	Specialist	Cause target to panic on its following turn, if the target's Will is overcome. Robotic enemies are immune. 2 turn cooldown.
Telekinetic Field	Operative	Create an immobile telekinetic field that lasts through the enemy turn. The field distorts and deflects incoming attacks, granting 40 Defense to both allies and enemies within the field. 5 turn cooldown.
Mind Control	Operative	Very difficult psi technique that, if successful, grants control of the target for 5 turns. Robotic enemies are immune. 5 turn cooldown.
Rift	Special	Devastate an area with a storm of psi energy. The rift does more damage against targets with low Will, and reduced damage against targets with high Will. 4 turn cooldown. Only available at a certain time in the story.

MEC Trooper Abilities
Ability	Rank Required	Description
Shock-Absorbent Armor	Squaddie (Assault)	Damage received from enemies within 4 tiles is reduced by 33%.
Body Shield	Squaddie (Heavy)	The nearest visible enemy suffers -20 Aim and cannot critically hit this unit.
Platform Stability	Squaddie (Sniper)	Any shots taken without moving have +10 Aim and +10% critical chance.
Distortion Field	Squaddie (Support)	Nearby allies in cover receive +10 Defense.
Collateral Damage	Squaddie	Area of effect attack that destroys most cover and hits all eligible targets for 34% damage. This attack cannot cause critical hits.
Advanced Fire Control	Corporal	Shots from Overwatch no longer suffer any Aim penalty.
Automated Threat Assessment	Corporal	Confers +15 Defense when in Overwatch. Cancelled when the MEC fires.
Vital-Point Targeting	Sergeant	Confers 2 bonus damage against targets that have been autopsied.
Damage Control	Sergeant	When the MEC takes damage, all further damage will be reduced by 2 on the following 2 turns.
Jet Boot Module	Lieutenant	When activated, confers the ability to jump to normally inaccessible heights for the rest of the turn. Has an unlisted 1-turn cooldown.
One For All	Lieutenant	When activated, the MEC becomes a high cover element. Moving or using an arm-based weapon will return the MEC to standard posture.
Repair Servos	Captain	Confers 2 health recovery at the start of each turn. A total of 6 health can be regenerated per battle.
Expanded Storage	Captain	Allows additional uses of Restorative Mist, Grenade Launcher and Proximity Mine Launcher in each mission, and increases primary weapon base ammo by 50%.
Overdrive	Major	Firing the MEC's primary weapon as the first action no longer ends the turn.
Absortion Fields	Colonel	Any hit that makes 33% more damage to the MEC's maximum health is reduced to that number.
Reactive Targeting Sensors	Colonel	MEC gets a free shot back at the first enemy who attacks the MEC each turn, providing there's enough ammo do to so.

Officer Training School Abilities

These abilities can be obtained/purchased through building an Officer Training School. They have a monetary cost and require specific ranks to be purchased/activated.

OTS Abilities
Ability	Rank Required	Cost	Description
Wet Work	Sergeant	§125	+25% experience gained from kills
Squad Size I	Sergeant	§50	Squad size increased to 5 soldiers
Rapid Recovery	Lieutenant	§150	Soldiers heal twice as fast from wounds taken in combat.
Squad Size II	Captain	§75	Squad size increased to 6 soldiers.
Iron Will	Major (EU) Sergeant (EW)	§200	Soldiers receive a larger Will bonus each time they are promoted. (Adds between 2-6 extra Will increases per promotion on top of the default +2-6)
New Guy	Major	§250	New soldiers are automatically promoted to the "Squaddie" rank.
Don't Die On Me	Colonel	§275	The higher the rank, the more likely the soldier will be critically wounded instead of killed (Enemy Unknown Only)
Lead by Example	Lieutenant	§50	The Squad leader substitutes his or her Will for that of all nearby lower Will squadmates (Enemy Within Only)

General Abilities/Penalties

These are general human abilities and penalties - many are provided by the presence or use of selected equipment or other game features (terrain). The penalties occurring from loss of comrades, injuries, etc. are also listed here.

Equipment Abilities
Ability	Requirement	Description
Move	None	No description, icon present on game textures. Shared with all aliens.
Fire	None	Does up to X damage.Also shared with most aliens.
Overwatch	None	Fire on the first enemy that moves within your line of sight at a small Aim penalty. - Also shared with most aliens.
Reload	None	Reload your weapon. Also shared with most aliens.
Hunker Down	Cover	Doubles cover bonus and provides immunity to critical hits, but reduces sight radius.
Frag Grenade	Frag Grenade	Does X damage.
Alien Grenade	Alien Grenade	Does X damage. - Also shared with some aliens.
Head Down	Civilian VIPs	Civilians can duck their heads and crouch for a small Defense bonus, even when not in cover.
Heal Wound	Medikit	Use the Medikit to heal up to 4 Health Points (or more if the soldier is a properly trained Support class.)
Stabilize	Medikit	Use the Medikit to stabilize a critically injured soldier.
Grapple Hook	Skeleton Suit Ghost Armor	Use the grappling hook to reach high locations.
Stealth	Ghost Armor	The Ghost Armor's stealth systems can be activated up to 4 times per battle. Activating Ghost Mode does not cost an action or end the wearer's turn. The wearer becomes invisible to enemies, but must re-activate Ghost Mode each turn to remain so. Firing from stealth confers a large bonus to critical hit chance.
Stun	Arc Thrower	Can incapacitate enemy targets within a range of 2. Higher chance if the target's health is at 3 HP or below. - Some alien species have the Stun Immunity ability as a counterpart.
Combat Stims	Combat Stims	Use combat stimulants to temporarily increase soldier's stats. Incoming damage cut by 50%(rounded down), +40 Will against Panic and +3 Movement.
Elevated Ground	Terrain	All units receive offensive bonuses against enemies on lower ground. - Also shared with aliens.
Airborne	Archangel Armor	Flying units can bypass ground obstacles. They can remain in flight if they have sufficient fuel. - Also shared with flying aliens.
Evasion	Archangel Armor	Enemies targeting this unit when it is airborne suffer a -10% Aim penalty. - Also shared with flying aliens. Stacks with penalties for enemy being higher.
Hardened	S.H.I.V.	Confers extra protection against critical hits. Enemies suffer a -60% chance to inflict critical hits.". Also shared with some aliens.
Robotic	S.H.I.V.	Robotic units are immune to Psi and poison attacks. Also shared with some aliens.
Poison Immunity	Titan Armor	Unit is immune to Poison attacks and effects.
Drone Hack	Arc Thrower	Bring an enemy drone under your control.
Repair SHIV	Arc Thrower	Repairs robotic units.
Chitin Plating	Chitin Plating	Confers extra protection that reduces incoming melee damage by 50% and grants +4 health.
Mind Shield	Mind Shield	A device that protects the wearer's mind, increasing their Will.
Battle Fatigue	Combat injuries	This unit has suffered combat wounds, weakening its Will.
Fallen Comrades	Combat losses	An ally has fallen, weakening this unit's Will.
Panicked	Combat injuries/losses	Panicked units have a chance to move or act unpredictably.
Hallucinating	Mind Fray attack	Hallucinating units have their Aim, Mobility and Will affected.
Critically Injured	Combat injuries	Critically wounded units will bleed out after a short time unless Stabilized or Revived by a Medikit.
Enemy Within Additions
Comm Array Hack.	Covert Operative	See link
Flashbang Grenade	Flashbang Grenade	See link
Gas Grenade	Gas Grenade	See link
Ghost Grenade	Ghost Grenade	See link
MEC Close Combat	MEC Trooper	See link
Mimic Beacon	Mimic Beacon	See link
Needle Grenade	Needle Grenade	See link
Reaper Rounds	Reaper Rounds	See link
Respirator Implant	Respirator Implant	See link'
S.C.O.P.E.	S.C.O.P.E.	See link
Sentinel Module	Sentinel Drone	See link

Unique Alien Abilities

Ability	Species	Description
Melee Only	Berserker Chryssalid	Unit may not use ranged weapons.
Cluster Bomb	Sectopod	Mark a large area, and after one turn, saturate it with a barrage of explosive mini-bombs.
Overload	Drone	Overload the unit's own power source, destroying the unit but causing explosive damage similar to a grenade's. Note - Although the description implies the drone will self-destruct, on Classic or Impossible difficulty it has enough health to survive the 3 damage explosion.
Repair	Drone	Repairs robotic units.
Cannon Fire	Sectopod	Beam attack that causes high damage and grants free Overwatch. If the Sectopod does not move, Cannon Fire can be used twice (against different enemies).
Destroy Terrain	Sectopod	Destroy Terrain or other environmental annoyances at will. - Icon uncertain.
Close	Cyberdisc	Switch to closed mode for increased defense. Allows Death Blossom attack.
Blood Call	Muton	Unleash a bestial roar that inspires nearby allies of the same species to greater speed, focus, and resolve for 2 turns. 4 turns cooldown. (+10% aim, +10 will, +4 move)
Intimidate	Muton	Reacts unpredictably when wounded, provoking panic in enemies.
Bloodlust	Berserker	Allows the Berserker to charge an enemy that wounds it.
Bull Rush	Berserker	Charge in a straight line through cover to unleash a devastating melee attack
Death Blossom	Cyberdisc	Project an intense energy field from Closed position, damaging all nearby enemies.
Launch	Floater	Move anywhere on the battlefield in a single turn. Launch cannot be used indoors.
Bombard	Cyberdisc, Elite Muton, Heavy Floater	Throw or launch grenades over exceptionally long distances.
Leap	Thin Man, Chryssalid	Allows vertical leaps onto elevated surfaces during movement.
Poison Spit	Thin Man	Spit poison at long range, causing a noxious cloud to remain briefly on the battlefield.
Poisonous Claws	Chryssalid	Poison enemies wounded with melee attacks.
Implant	Chryssalid	Victims are implanted with a Chryssalid egg if they are killed by a Chryssalid's attack (not from poison caused by Poisonous Claws).
Mind Merge	Sectoid	Psionically assisting an ally, granting the ally an array of stat bonuses.
Greater Mind Merge	Sectoid Commander	Merge minds with all lesser allies of the same species nearby, granting them +25 critical chance and +1 health.
Psi Drain	Ethereal	Drain health from an ally.
Psi Lance	Ethereal	Project a bolt of pure psi force at an enemy.
Enemy Within Additions
Reinforced Armor	Sectopod	All incoming damage is reduced by 50%
Plasma Barrage	Mechtoid	Twin-linked plasma mini-cannons allow the Mechtoid two shots in the same turn.
Strangle	Seeker	Strangle can be used against adjacent humans unprotected by strangle-resistant armor, items or abilities.

Disabled Abilities

These abilities are presented/mentioned on the game code but they are deactivated - most don't seem to work and are merely listed for documentation. The activities whose status is Inactive can be activated through a game mod. For more details check this link [1].

Ability	Status	Description
Aim	Inactive*	Increase Aim by 20 for 2 turns
Torch	Inactive*	?????
Command	Inactive*	Give a free move to any squadmate that has ended their turn.
Heat Wave	Disabled	Can fire a devastating long-range wave that scorches and destroys virtually anything in its path. Takes one action to warm up.
Ready For Anything	Disabled	Allows Overwatch after shooting, even if no actions remain.
Too Close For Comfort	Disabled	Aim penalty for close proximity is halved.
Mark	Disabled	????? - Has icon
Psi Bless	Disabled	Early version of Psi Inspiration?
Motion Detector	Disabled	Early version of Battle Scanner?
Shot Paint Target	Disabled	Early Holo-Targetting? - Has icon
Shot Paint Defense	Disabled	?
Bottom Up	Disabled	Apparently Sniper class
Damage Cover	Disabled	Damage and potentially destroy enemy cover or other environmental elements.
First Blood	Disabled	"Allows a second use of Fire Rocket in each mission." Original name for Rocketeer.
HEAT Rockets	Disabled	"All attacks do double damage against robotic enemies." Original name for HEAT Ammo.
Flame On	Disabled	Apparently Assault class
Vengeance	Disabled	If an enemy does damage to you or another nearby soldier, you get a reaction shot (with pistol, if you have a flamethrower) against it.You get a reaction shot against any targetable enemy that does damage to you or another soldier -- including cases where the damage kills you.
Move	Disabled
Fly	Disabled
FlyUp	Disabled
FlyDown	Disabled
Shot Sniper	Disabled
Shot SuppressII	Disabled
Shot SuppressArea	Disabled
Destroy Terrain	Disabled	Destroy Terrain or other environmental annoyances at will.
Tesla Hammer	Disabled
Hot Potato	Disabled
PFG	Disabled	PFG = Primed Frag Grenade?
PFG Dropped	Disabled
PFG CookedOff	Disabled
Equip Weapon	Disabled
Psi Bolt II	Disabled
Psi Bomb	Disabled	Possible original name for Rift?
War Cry	Disabled	Possible original name for Blood Call?
Berserk	Disabled	Has icon
Reanimate Ally	Disabled
Reanimate Enemy	Disabled
Flare Shot	Disabled
SHIV Cover	Disabled?

Ingame descriptions appear on Italic text. The icons are taken from the game files and their placement is based on are educated guesses based on the Abilities' name and description. The following icons are also present in the game textures.