You will fail your first LWotC campaign around August. You will lose your best soldier to a critical hit from a unit you couldn't see. Advent will drop a pod of Muton Elites directly on your extraction zone. The Chosen will daze your medic while a Priest Mind Controls your Grenadier.
This is normal. This is Long War.
The secret is not perfect tactics. The secret is resilience. Build depth in your roster. Never risk a mission for a "maybe" reward. Treat every wound as a lesson. And above all, remember: the Avatar Project is a timer, but so is your soldiers' sanity. Rotate them, respect the Fatigue, and always—always—bring a Flashbang.
The world is burning, Commander. But if you follow this guide, you might just be the one holding the fire extinguisher.
Good luck. You will need it.
XCOM 2's Long War 2 (LW2) and its successor, Long War of the Chosen (LWOTC)
, are massive overhauls that shift the game from a linear series of battles to a complex, worldwide guerrilla war. Success depends on mastering the infiltration system and managing a large roster of specialized soldiers rather than relying on a single elite squad. Strategic Core: Infiltration and Havens
The most critical change from vanilla is the Infiltration mechanic. You no longer launch missions immediately; you send squads to "infiltrate" a site for several days to reduce enemy presence.
Infiltration Timing: A 100% infiltration level is your baseline, typically resulting in an "Extremely Light" (6–9 enemies) presence. Launching earlier (e.g., at 50% or 0%) will face significantly more enemies, often overwhelming your squad.
Squad Size vs. Speed: Larger squads take longer to infiltrate. For many early missions, a small, stealthy team of 3–4 soldiers is often more efficient than a full 8-person squad.
Haven Management: Assign your resistance personnel in each Haven to specific jobs:
Intel: High priority early on to detect missions with enough time to fully infiltrate.
Supply/Recruit: Switch to these once a region is liberated or you need resources.
Haven Advisors: Assigning a soldier as an advisor helps root out Faceless spies who sabotage your Haven's output. Tactical Combat & Equipment
Combat in Long War is deadlier and emphasizes crowd control over pure damage. xcom 2 long war guide
The Utility of Flashbangs: These are essential in the first two months. They break mind control, dispel Psi Zombies, and prevent enemies like Stun Lancers from using melee attacks.
Avoid "Alpha Striking" Everything: Unlike the base game, you often cannot kill every enemy pod the turn you see it. Use Suppression, Smoke Grenades, and Flamethrowers to control the battlefield while you focus fire on high-priority targets.
Stealth and SMGs: Soldiers equipped with SMGs have higher mobility and a smaller detection radius, making them ideal scouts or "objective runners" for missions where you want to avoid combat entirely. Soldier Classes and Roster
You will need a roster of 40 to 60 soldiers to handle the constant flow of missions and the "Fatigue" system, which forces units to rest between deployments. Long War 2 - Quick Start Guide - XCOM Commander's Journal
Long War of the Chosen (LWOTC) for XCOM 2 is a total overhaul that transforms the game into a complex strategic simulation. Success requires a shift from "tactical aggression" to "logistical management." 🛡️ Strategic Layer: The Resistance Management
The strategy layer is where the war is won or lost. You are no longer just responding to icons; you are managing a global insurgency.
Infiltration is Key: You cannot launch missions instantly. You must commit a squad to a site for days to "infiltrate."
100% Infiltration: Always aim for at least 100%. Anything less massively increases enemy numbers and detection ranges. Haven Management: Assign rebels to specific jobs: Supply: Generates monthly income.
Intel: Discovers missions (crucial for finding ADVENT leads). Recruit: Increases rebel count and finds new soldiers. Hiding: Protects the Haven from ADVENT Retaliation strikes.
Liberation: Focus on liberating one region early. This provides a safe base of operations and massive resource boosts. 🎖️ Tactical Combat: Squad Composition
In LWOTC, your soldiers are divided into specialized roles. A balanced squad is mandatory for survival.
Shinobi: Your primary scouts. Keep them concealed to provide vision for your snipers and heavy hitters.
Technical: Early-game powerhouses. Their flamethrowers and rockets can clear entire pods of enemies.
Specialist: Essential for hacking objectives from a distance and providing "Medical Protocol" in long engagements. You will fail your first LWotC campaign around August
Assault: High-risk, high-reward. Use them to "Run and Gun" and finish off high-threat targets at point-blank range.
Technical/Grenadier: Destruction of cover is vital. If an enemy is in full cover, you likely won't hit them without blowing up that cover first. 🔬 Research & Engineering Priorities
Resources are extremely scarce. You cannot buy everything; you must prioritize tech that keeps soldiers alive. Modular Weapons: Unlock weapon attachments immediately.
Resistance Communications: Essential for contacting new regions.
Vulture (GTS): Buy this early. It doubles the loot dropped by enemies, which is your primary source of Alloys and Elerium.
Armor over Weapons: In Long War, a single hit often kills. Predator Armor should be a priority over Mag Weapons if your death rate is high. ⚠️ Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Over-extending: Do not try to scan every mission. Only take missions where you have enough time to reach 100% infiltration.
Ignoring Vigilance: Doing too many missions in one region increases "Vigilance." ADVENT will move more troops there, making it harder. Move your operations to different regions to spread the heat.
Forgetting the Timer: Missions have hard evac timers. Always have an "exit strategy" by turn 4. To help you get started with your specific run, tell me: What difficulty level are you playing on?
Do you have any specific DLCs enabled (like Alien Hunters or Shen's Last Gift)?
Are you struggling more with the Tactical combat or the Strategic map?
I can provide a tailored build order or squad loadout based on your answers.
XCOM 2: Long War 2 (LW2) and its successor, Long War of the Chosen (LWOTC), transform XCOM 2 into a grueling, multi-layered strategic marathon. This guide covers the essential systems you must master to survive the resistance. 1. Master the Strategy Layer: Haven Management
Unlike the base game, your primary "economy" is managed through Resistance Havens. In vanilla, inactive pods didn't care
Intel is King: In the early game, assign almost all rebels to Intel. This is the only way to detect missions early enough to have sufficient time for infiltration.
Haven Advisors: Assign a soldier as a Haven Advisor to root out Faceless infiltrators who steal your supplies. High-ranking soldiers (especially Officers) are more effective at this.
Liberation Chain: Your main goal is to liberate a region. Look for missions with "Find a Lead" as a reward; these are the first steps toward capturing a region and securing a massive monthly supply boost. 2. The Infiltration Mechanic
Infiltration is the most critical addition to LW2. When you launch a mission, your squad "waits" at the site to prepare.
The 100% Rule: Aim for at least 100% infiltration on every mission. Launching at 0% will result in "Swarming" enemy activity, making victory nearly impossible.
Squad Size vs. Time: Larger squads take much longer to infiltrate. For most early missions, a squad of 4–6 soldiers is the "sweet spot" for hitting 100% infiltration within typical 5-to-8-day mission windows.
Boosting: If you find a vital mission with a short timer, you can spend Intel to "Boost Infiltration," which increases the infiltration rate by 50%. 3. Tactical Combat and Squad Composition
LW2 combat is a game of "Alpha Striking"—killing or controlling the enemy before they can act.
For players looking to tackle the complex XCOM 2 Long War mods (both Long War 2 Long War of the Chosen
), community reviews and veteran players highlight several essential guides and strategic approaches to survive the "slog" of the campaign. Recommended Resources & Guides Ufopaedia (Long War 2)
: Widely considered the "best place to start" for organized data on classes, tech, and mechanics. XCOM Commander’s Journal (Substack) : Features highly-rated, deep-dive strategy guides for both early-game mid/late-game DerAva’s YouTube Channel
: Frequently cited as an essential visual resource for learning mission-critical mechanics like Infiltration Haven Management Steam Community: LW2 Class Breakdown
: A comprehensive review of soldier specializations, though some reviewers note that specific class power levels (like Gunners) shifted across patches. Key Strategic Highlights from Reviews
In vanilla, inactive pods didn't care. In LW2, if you shoot, all active pods on the map hear it and move toward you at double speed.
Liberating a region is your win condition. It is a chain of 5 missions (Find a Lead, Rescue VIP, Destroy Relay, Hacking Defense, Network Tower, then Regional HQ). Liberating a region:
Tip: The first liberation is incredibly hard. You will need a 10-man squad at 100% infiltration on the HQ assault. Bring a Sharpshooter for the massive sightlines.