XCOM 2 is a turn based strategy game developed and released by Firaxis Games and 2K Games. It is set on plant Earth where you are the leader of a guerilla resistance against the alien overlords that took over in the prequel XCOM.
The aim of the game is to use your minimal resources available to fight back against the alien invasion and ultimately overthrow your oppressors.
The Long War 2 mod developed by Pavonis Interactive expands on the original game by completely overhauling many of the key elements to create what appears to be a completely different game.
One of the major changes from the base game is soldier classes and how their talents are distributed. The class talents included are based around the Long War 2 mod talent trees.
In the Long War 2 mod soldiers begin at Rookie level, once they level up through completing a mission they will be automatically allocated into one of the 8 classes listed below.
Once in a class they recieve all of their Squaddie abilities. Going forward each promotion they can only pick one of the 3 talents on offer.
If you are looking for something a little more lighthearted why not try out our XCOM 2 themed memory game.
Select a class to start!
Assault
Grenadier
Gunner
Ranger
Sharpshooter
Shinobi
Specialist
Technical
Assualts specialise in dealing high amounts of damage with their primary weapon, which is a shotgun. They are experts in breaking through the enemy lines and creating flanks.
Assaults are also able to stun the enemies with their secondary weapon, the Arc Pulser. The Arc Pulser is able to deal damage to robotic enemies if specced with certain talents.
If you are new to Long War 2, why not try one of the prebuilt talent builds below.
The Grenadier is mainly a support soldier who is equipped with a grenade launcher which allows them to launch grenades further and with a bigger splash area than regular soldiers.
Through their talent tree they are able to specialise in destroying enemy cover, stunning enemies or making the hack chance easier on mechanical enemies.
If you are new to Long War 2, why not try one of the prebuilt talent builds below.
The Gunner can be a damage dealer or a support soldier. They are unique being the only class able to operate the heavy cannon primary weapon. The cannon is able to deal heavy damage and restrict the enemy through suppression.
Dependent on what you need for the squad, the gunner can specialise in suppression and locking down the enemy or on damage dealing so that when they hit the enemy they are unlikely to get back up.
If you are new to Long War 2, why not try one of the prebuilt talent builds below.
Rangers are mainly damage dealers who specialise in dealing damage with their main rifle. They also have access to a sawed-off shotgun to allow them to be more effective in short range situations.
Through their talent tree, you can spec the soldiers to excel in offensive situations by multiple attacks in your turn or defensive abilities for when the aliens are patrolling to you.
If you are new to Long War 2, why not try one of the prebuilt talent builds below.
Sharpshooters specialise by using their sniper rifle to deal high damage. With high aim, they are likely to be able to hit shots even when the enemy is in high cover. Snipers can also be used in a support role utilising their holo-targeter to allow the rest of the squad a higher chance to hit.
The Sharpshooter talent tree allows you to maximise your role either as a spotter for the rest of the squad or building you into a highly accurate assassin.
If you are new to Long War 2, why not try one of the prebuilt talent builds below.
The Shinobi class is usually a support class allowing vision of the battlefield without triggering the enemy patrols. They can also be damage dealers utilising their expertise with their sword.
The Shinobi talent tree allows you to spec them to be extremely hard for the aliens to detect or to give them more skills with their sword to turn them into a close combat damage dealer.
If you are new to Long War 2, why not try one of the prebuilt talent builds below.
The Specialist soldier is an expert in all things tech. They are very versatile and can be a healer, support or damage dealer. They have a drone with them that most of their skills are utilised through.
Through their talent tree, the Specialist is able to increase their hack chances against the mechanical enemies or can be specced towards a more supportive role through healing and sustain.
If you are new to Long War 2, why not try one of the prebuilt talent builds below.
The Technical is a soldier specialised in heavy weapons. They have a rocket and a flamethrower equipped which are used to destroy enemy cover and control the battlefield.
The Technical's talent tree is aimed at increasing the power and functionality of their rockets and flamethrower.
If you are new to Long War 2, why not try one of the prebuilt talent builds below.
Squaddie
Run and Gun
Stun
Take an action after dashing
Fire your Arc Thrower to incapacitate a target
Lance Corporal
Slug Shot
Electro Shock
Lightning Reflexes
Special shot for primary weapon shotguns only: Fire a shot that pierces two armor and has no range penalties. Uses 2 ammo. Three turn cooldown
Your arc thrower disorients the target when it misses.
Reaction fire shots against you have a significantly decreased chance to hit. The bonus goes down with each additional reaction shot you face.
Corporal
Trench Gun
Arc Pulser
Close and Personal
Special shot for primary-weapon shotguns only: Fire a short-range cone-based attack at nearby targets. Three-turn cooldown.
Fire your Arc Thrower to incapacitate a target and damage mechanical enemies.
Confers +30 critical chance against adjacent targets. The bonus declines with distance from the target.
Sergeant
Killer Instinct
Stun Gunner
Fortify
Activating Run & Gun grants +50% critical damage for the rest of the turn.
Your Arc Thrower now has a bonus to hit.
Activate to grant +20 defense until the beginning of the next turn. Does not cost an action. Has a 5-turn cooldown.
Staff Sergeant
Extra Conditioning
Aggression
Formidable
Run and Gun cooldown is reduced by one turn.
Gain +5 critical chance for each enemy you can see, up to a maximum of 30.
Your gear includes an extra layer of protection, granting two extra points of Ablative HP and 50% less damage from explosive attacks.
Tech Sergeant
Hit and Run
Rapid Fire
Close Encounters
Once per turn, gain an additional action after taking a standard shot at a flanked or exposed target with your primary weapon.
Fire twice in a row at an enemy. Each shot suffers an Aim penalty of -15. There is no cooldown on this ability.
Once per turn, gain a bonus action after taking a standard shot with your primary weapon at an enemy within four tiles. Close Encounters cannot be used after Run and Gun is activated.
Gunnery Sergeant
Bring 'Em On
Close Combat Specialist
Untouchable
Gain +1 damage on critical hits for every two enemies you can see, up to a maximum of +8.
During enemy turns, fire a free reaction shot with your primary weapon at any visible enemy within four tiles who moves or fires. Will not trigger if soldier is concealed.
If you score a kill during your turn, the next attack against you during the enemy turn will miss.
Master Sergeant
Street Sweeper
Chain Lightning
Lethal
Cone-based shotgun attack that does bonus damage to unarmored targets. Blocked by heavy cover.
Fire your Arc Thrower at every visible enemy who is capable of being stunned. Five-turn cooldown.
You do two additional points of base damage and one point of additional crit damage with your primary weapon.
Squaddie
Launch Grenade
The Grenadier uses a grenade launcher to fire grenades rather than throwing them. This allows for greater range and grenade capacity.
Lance Corporal
Sapper
Needle Grenades
Rapid Deployment
Your explosives can destroy many cover objects.
Your explosives do not destroy loot when they kill enemies.
Activate this ability before throwing or launching a support grenade, and the throw will not cost an action.
Corporal
Heavy Ordinance
Center Mass
Protector
Any damaging grenade in your grenade-only slot gains a bonus use.
You do one additional point of base damage when using guns.
Non-damaging grenades in your grenade-only slot gain a bonus use.
Sergeant
Boosted Cores
Formidable
Bluescreen Bombs
Explosive grenades do one additional damage.
Your gear includes an extra layer of protection, granting two extra points of Ablative HP and 50% less damage from explosive attacks.
Your flashbang grenades now disorient robotic units and reduce their resistance to hacking.
Staff Sergeant
HEAT Warheads
Tandem Warheads
Dense Smoke
Your grenades now pierce up to 2 points of armor and shred one additional point of armor.
Your grenades and rockets do full damage to units to the maximum extent of their area of effect.
Your smoke grenades confer an additional 10 defense.
Tech Sergeant
Biggest Booms
Chain Shot
Sting Grenades
Your grenades and standard rockets can inflict critical damage (50% chance for +2 damage).
Take a shot with an aim penalty of -10. If you hit the target, you take another shot on the target automatically.
Your flashbang grenades have a 50% chance to stun enemies for one turn in the flashbang's Area of Effect.
Gunnery Sergeant
Volatile Mix
Bombardier
Salvo
Your grenades' area of effect is increased by one tile.
You may throw or launch grenades two additional tiles.
Launching or throwing grenades, using heavy weapons or using the Gauntlet's Rocket Launcher with your first action will not end your turn.
Master Sergeant
Combat Engineer
Full Kit
Ghost Grenade
Your explosives do significantly greater damage to cover objects and other things on the battlefield.
Grants +1 charge per grenade item in a utility slot.
A specialized smoke grenade that causes the targeted ally to enter concealment.
Squaddie
Knife Fighter
Suppression
Area Suppression
You may make a melee attack with your knife against adjacent enemies.
Fire a barrage that pins down a target, grants reaction fire against it if it moves, restricts the use of many abilities, and imposes a -25 penalty to the target's aim.
Fire a barrage that pins down multiple targets within a 4-tile radius, granting reaction fire against anyone that moves, and imposing a -25 penalty to all targets' aim until suppression is removed. Cannot be used when concealed.
Lance Corporal
Center Mass
Combatives
Grazing Fire
You do one additional point of base damage when using guns.
You may parry melee attacks and counterattack with your combat knife. Also gain +10 dodge.
Missed shots with your primary weapon have an additional roll to become a graze.
Corporal
Flush
Formidable
Lockdown
Special shot with a bonus to hit that does little damage but forces target to change position if it hits and gives a penalty to defense and dodge.
Your gear includes an extra layer of protection, granting two extra points of Ablative HP and 50% less damage from explosive attacks.
Gain +15 to hit against enemies who attempt to move when suppressed.
Sergeant
Hail of Bullets
Shredder
Mayhem
Unleash a hail of bullets that is guaranteed to hit your target, but uses a lot of ammunition.
Your primary weapon attacks shred armor.
Gain 25% bonus damage against enemies who attempt to move when suppressed.
Staff Sergeant
Chain Shot
Iron Curtain
Demolition
Take a shot with an aim penalty of -10. If you hit the target, you take another shot on the target automatically.
Special shot that does half damage but reduces target mobility for the following two turns. Cone-based attack with primary weapon.
Unleash a volley of bullets at your target's cover, significantly damaging or destroying it. Deals no damage to your target.
Tech Sergeant
Cyclic Fire
Danger Zone
Cool Under Pressure
Special Shot: Fire three shots at a target in a single attack. Requires both actions and all shots have aim penalties. Four-turn cooldown.
Area Suppression suppresses enemies in a 5-tile radius.
You gain +10 Aim on Overwatch and other reaction shots, and they can critically hit.
Gunnery Sergeant
Rupture
Rapid Fire
Kill Zone
A Rupture shot has a large bonus to crit chance and ensures that the target takes an additional +3 damage from all attacks in the future.
Fire twice in a row at an enemy. Each shot suffers an Aim penalty of -15. There is no cooldown on this ability.
Take a reaction shot against any enemy that moves or attacks within a cone of fire.
Master Sergeant
Saturation Fire
Combat Fitness
Traverse Fire
Fire a cone-shaped barrage of bullets at every enemy in an area. In addition, the cover of those enemies can be damaged or destroyed. Uses a lot of ammunition.
Gain 4 aim, 1 mobility, 2 HP, 4 will, and 4 dodge.
After taking a standard shot with your primary weapon with your first action, you may take an additional non-movement action.
Squaddie
Point Blank
Both Barrels
Light 'Em Up
Fire your sawed-off shotgun at a nearby enemy.
Fire both barrels of sawed-off shotgun at nearby enemy, doing double damage.
Taking a standard shot with your primary weapon as your first action no longer ends your turn.
Lance Corporal
Walk Fire
Close and Personal
Ever Vigilant
Take a highly accurate shot with +30 bonus to hit but for half damage and -30 crit. Uses 2 ammo.
Confers +30 critical chance against adjacent targets. The bonus declines with distance from the target.
If you spend all of your actions on moves, you are granted an automatic overwatch shot at the end of the turn.
Corporal
Locked On
Pump Action
Covering Fire
Gain +10 aim and +10 crit for successive shots at the same enemy unit.
Gain two extra ammo in your sawed-off shotgun.
Overwatch shots can now be triggered by any enemy action, not just movement. Targets of overwatch shots receive -10 aim for the rest of the turn whether or not the shot was triggered because of this ability.
Sergeant
Aggression
Center Mass
Cool Under Pressure
Gain +5 critical chance for each enemy you can see, up to a maximum of 30.
You do one additional point of base damage when using guns.
You gain +10 Aim on Overwatch and other reaction shots, and they can critically hit.
Staff Sergeant
Executioner
Fortify
Suppression
Confers +10 aim and +10 critical chance against targets at half or less of their original hit points.
Activate to grant +20 defense until the beginning of the next turn. Does not cost an action. Has a 5-turn cooldown.
Fire a barrage that pins down a target, grants reaction fire against it if it moves, restricts the use of many abilities, and imposes a -25 penalty to the target's aim.
Tech Sergeant
Bring 'Em On
Implacable
Grazing Fire
Gain +1 damage on critical hits for every two enemies you can see, up to a maximum of +8.
If you score one or more kills on your turn, you are granted a single bonus move.
Missed shots with your primary weapon have an additional roll to become a graze.
Gunnery Sergeant
Rapid Fire
Tactical Sense
Rapid Reaction
Fire twice in a row at an enemy. Each shot suffers an Aim penalty of -15. There is no cooldown on this ability.
Gain 3 defense for each enemy you can see, up to a maximum of 15 defense.
When in overwatch, each shot you hit with grants another reaction fire shot, up to a maximum of three shots. Each enemy can only be the target of one shot.
Master Sergeant
Rupture
Combat Fitness
Kill Zone
A Rupture shot has a large bonus to crit chance and ensures that the target takes an additional +3 damage from all attacks in the future.
Gain 4 aim, 1 mobility, 2 HP, 4 will, and 4 dodge.
Take a reaction shot against any enemy that moves or attacks within a cone of fire.
Squaddie
Holo Targeting
Squadsight
Holotarget your enemy to grant an aim bonus to all attacks on this target by you and your allies for the remainder of the turn.
You can target enemies within squadmates' sight, provided there is line of sight to the target.
Lance Corporal
Death From Above
Rapid Targeting
Snap Shot
Killing an enemy at a lower elevation with your primary weapon costs only a single action, and does not end your turn. Also grants a long-range accuracy bonus for sniper rifles.
You may Holotarget an enemy as a free action with a 4-turn cooldown. In addition, Holotargeting no longer ends your turn.
You may take standard shots with your sniper rifle after moving, but you suffer severe range penalties beyond 5 tiles of squadsight range.
Corporal
Damn Good Ground
Phantom
Center Mass
Confers +10 aim and +10 defense against targets at a lower elevation.
When the squad is revealed, this soldier remains concealed.
You do one additional point of base damage when using guns.
Sergeant
Precision Shot
HiDef Holo
Lone Wolf
Take a special shot with +30 bonus to critical chance and 33% bonus critical damage. Three-turn cooldown.
Your Holotargeted enemies are easier to critically hit.
Gain +10 aim and +10 defense when 7 or more tiles distance from any ally.
Staff Sergeant
Long Watch
Independent Tracking
Low Profile
Allow Overwatch to trigger with Squadsight.
A Holotargeted enemy will remain so for 1 additional turn(s)
Makes partial cover count as full.
Tech Sergeant
Deadeye
Vital Point Tracking
Aggression
Take a shot with a small aim penalty for a significant damage boost.
Attacks against your Holotargeted enemies deal more damage.
Gain +5 critical chance for each enemy you can see, up to a maximum of 30.
Gunnery Sergeant
Kubikuri
Multi Targeting
Hunter's Instincts
Special shot against most enemies who have taken any damage: Any critical hit kills them, but regular hits do half damage. Requires two actions and has a 4-turn cooldown.
You may Holotarget multiple enemies with a 2-turn cooldown.
Ranged attacks against flanked enemies deal +2 damage.
Master Sergeant
Double Tap
Alpha Mike Foxtrot
Serial
Fire a standard shot and gain a bonus shot or overwatch action.
You do 4 additional points of base damage and 2 additional points of crit damage with your primary weapon.
A powerful chained shot ability. For every kill made with your primary weapon, your actions will be refunded but your damage and crit chance will be reduced for every subsequent attack.
Squaddie
Phantom
Fleche
Slash
When the squad is revealed, this soldier remains concealed.
Attack any enemy within movement range with your sword. Deals +1 damage for every 4 tiles between your starting position and the target.
Attack an adjacent target with your sword. Uses one action.
Lance Corporal
Ghostwalker
Lone Wolf
Blademaster
Activate this ability to reduce enemy detection range against you by 25% for the rest of your turn as well as the following turn. Four-turn cooldown.
Gain +10 aim and +10 defense when 7 or more tiles distance from any ally.
All sword attacks deal +1 extra damage and have +10 Aim.
Corporal
Shadowstep
Executioner
Combatives
This soldier does not trigger overwatch or reaction fire.
Confers +10 aim and +10 critical chance against targets at half or less of their original hit points.
You may parry melee attacks and counterattack with your combat knife. Also gain +10 dodge.
Sergeant
Covert
Hard Target
Cutthroat
Enemies have 25% smaller detection range against you.
Gain 3 dodge per enemy you can see, up to a maximum of +30.
Your melee attacks against biological enemies ignore their armor, have a +15 critical chance, and do +2 critical damage.
Staff Sergeant
Shadowstrike
Low Profile
Bladestorm
While concealed, gain +50 bonus aim and +50 bonus critical hit chance when attacking enemies.
Makes partial cover count as full.
Free sword attacks on any enemies that enter or attack from melee range.
Tech Sergeant
Hunter's Instincts
Evasive
Reaper
Ranged attacks against flanked enemies deal +2 damage.
Start each mission with 100 bonus dodge. The bonus is removed after you take damage for the first time.
A devastating chain melee attack where the first melee attack cannot miss. Each melee kill in Reaper mode grants an extra action, but further melee attacks have reduced damage.
Gunnery Sergeant
Tradecraft
Hit and Run
Whirlwind
This soldier has significantly reduced infiltration times while on missions.
Once per turn, gain an additional action after taking a standard shot at a flanked or exposed target with your primary weapon.
If you hit with a melee attack during your turn, gain a bonus move.
Master Sergeant
Conceal
Rapid Fire
Coup de Grace
Immediately enter concealment once per mission.
Fire twice in a row at an enemy. Each shot suffers an Aim penalty of -15. There is no cooldown on this ability.
Sword attacks against unconscious, stunned, panicked or disoriented enemies have +50 aim, +50 crit and deal two points of additional base damage.
Squaddie
Aid Protocol
Haywire Protocol
Hack
Command your GREMLIN to move to a friendly target. It grants that target a bonus to Defense until the start of the next player turn.
You may target robotic and mechanical enemies with your GREMLIN, attempting to hack them and seize control.
Attempt to remotely breach security on a network access point with your GREMLIN.
Lance Corporal
Revival Protocol
Sentinel
Combat Protocol
Send the GREMLIN to an ally to remove any negative mental status effects: Disoriented, Stunned, Panicked, or Unconscious.
When in overwatch, you may take two reaction shots.
Send the GREMLIN to an enemy to jolt them, dealing guaranteed damage, which is increased against robotic enemies.
Corporal
Field Surgeon
Covering Fire
Interference
Reduce wound recovery times for most soldiers.
Overwatch shots can now be triggered by any enemy action, not just movement. Targets of overwatch shots receive -10 aim for the rest of the turn whether or not the shot was triggered because of this ability.
GREMLIN cancels overwatch on targeted unit. Use three times per battle. Number of uses is increased with advanced GREMLINs.
Sergeant
Medical Protocol
Scanning Protocol
Trojan
The GREMLIN can perform healing actions remotely: GREMLIN Heal and GREMLIN Stabilize. The GREMLIN has a single charge. If a medikit is equipped, the GREMLIN will gain an additional charge.
The GREMLIN can trigger an instant scan of the area, increasing the Specialist's sight radius substantially for one turn, and revealing any hidden or disguised enemies in view.
Enemy units that are hacked take damage and lose their actions on the turn the hack effect ends.
Staff Sergeant
Field Medic
Ever Vigilant
Airdrop
Equipped medikits have 2 extra charges.
If you spend all of your actions on moves, you are granted an automatic overwatch shot at the end of the turn.
The GREMLIN grants an explosive grenade to the targeted ally. Use twice per mission.
Tech Sergeant
Savior
Cool Under Pressure
Failsafe
Healing abilities restore four additional hit points.
You gain +10 Aim on Overwatch and other reaction shots, and they can critically hit.
If you fail a hack, you prevent any negative effects from occurring.
Gunnery Sergeant
Rescue Protocol
Threat Assessment
Full Override
Use your Gremlin to grant a movement action to an ally.
Aid Protocol now grants the target a Covering Fire Overwatch shot.
Take permanent control of a robotic unit and potentially acquire ADVENT MECs for the Resistance.
Master Sergeant
Restoration
Kill Zone
Capacitor Discharge
The GREMLIN flies to each squad member, healing or reviving them as needed.
Take a reaction shot against any enemy that moves or attacks within a cone of fire.
Send the GREMLIN to a location where it emits a substantial electric discharge, damaging and potentially stunning all nearby units. Robotic units take more damage.
Squaddie
Heavy Weapons
This soldier is trained to use the XCOM gauntlet, a combination Rocket Launcher and Flamethrower.
Lance Corporal
Fire in the Hole
Suppression
Roust
Your rockets are more accurate.
Fire a barrage that pins down a target, grants reaction fire against it if it moves, restricts the use of many abilities, and imposes a -25 penalty to the target's aim.
Special Flamethrower shot that does limited damage but forces enemies to change their position.
Corporal
Biggest Booms
Fortify
Napalm-X
Your grenades and standard rockets can inflict critical damage (50% chance for +2 damage).
Activate to grant +20 defense until the beginning of the next turn. Does not cost an action. Has a 5-turn cooldown.
Your Flamethrower can now disorient or panic enemies.
Sergeant
Concussion Rocket
Shredder
Burnout
Fire a special rocket that does limited damage but has a chance to stun or disorient organic enemies within its area of effect and leaves a cloud of smoke.
Your primary weapon attacks shred armor.
Activating your Flamethrower leaves a small smoke cloud around your position, providing a defensive bonus.
Staff Sergeant
Tandem Warheads
Formidable
Phosphorus
Your grenades and rockets do full damage to units to the maximum extent of their area of effect.
Your gear includes an extra layer of protection, granting two extra points of Ablative HP and 50% less damage from explosive attacks.
Your flamethrower can now damage mechanical units and shreds armor.
Tech Sergeant
Javelin Rockets
Fire and Steel
Incinerator
The range of your rockets is increased by 6 tiles and you may hit targets beyond your visual range.
Attacks with your gauntlet, and fires set by gauntlet weapons, do +1 damage.
Your flamethrower has an increased range of one tile and covers a wider area of effect.
Gunnery Sergeant
Salvo
Tactical Sense
Quickburn
Launching or throwing grenades, using heavy weapons or using the Gauntlet's Rocket Launcher with your first action will not end your turn.
Gain 3 defense for each enemy you can see, up to a maximum of 15 defense.
Activate so your next use of the flamethrower will not cost an action.
Master Sergeant
Bunker Buster
Rapid Fire
Firestorm
Fire a special rocket that destroys buildings and other objects in the environment.
Fire twice in a row at an enemy. Each shot suffers an Aim penalty of -15. There is no cooldown on this ability.
Once per battle, attack all units in a complete circle around the soldier's position. Also grants immunity to fire damage.
Check out Jorbs' video below which gives a breakdown of the early game Assault talents
For the videos covering the later talents, you can find them here:
Check out Jorbs' video below which gives a breakdown of the early game Grenadier talents
For the videos covering the later talents, you can find them here:
Check out Jorbs' video below which gives a breakdown of the early game Gunner talents
For the videos covering the later, talents you can find them here:
Check out Jorbs' video below which gives a breakdown of the early game Ranger talents
For the videos covering the later talents, you can find them here:
Check out Jorbs' video below which gives a breakdown of the early game Sharpshooter talents
For the videos covering the later talents, you can find them here:
Check out Jorbs' video below which gives a breakdown of the early game Shinobi talents
For the videos covering the later talents, you can find them here:
Check out Jorbs' video below which gives a breakdown of the early game Specialist talents
For the videos covering the later talents, you can find them here:
Check out Jorbs' video below which gives a breakdown of the early game Technical talents
For the videos covering the later talents, you can find them here:
