Game Info
Advanced tactical unit of the Information Era. Replaces the Paratrooper.
- Special traits:
- May paradrop 40 tiles away
Strategy
The XCOM Squad is an elite team of soldiers based on the technology pioneered by the XCOM Initiative. When starting the turn in friendly territory this squad can be dropped up to 40 tiles away. Deploy these units into areas where the danger level is out of this world.
Their high combat strength (100) being only matched by the Modern Armor and outmatched by the Giant Death Robot, they are the strongest unit requiring no resources. Contrary to the 2 former units, they can use defense, meaning they can form a solid defensive line. However they lack mobility by modern units standard.
They can paradrop 40 hexes away, making them fantastic for diversions. One or a few of these units can paradrop far into enemy land to attack weakly defended cities or pillage the area, letting them some time before the bulk of enemy forces can arrive. They may also quickly reach a defensive position, and combined with their strength this can effectively delay an enemy on a choke point. And of course, paradroping allows quickly reinforcing your frontline.
However although their combat strength is high, they can still be beaten, notably by the Giant Death Robot, which is also much more mobile, or by more conventional units supported by ranged units. This may put them in danger if they are unable to retreat.
Historical Info
Recognizing the potential threat from Giant Death Robots, aliens, and other external threats, the XCOM Initiative was born to protect the populace from enemies known, and unknown.
Trivia
- The XCOM Squad is a reference to the videogame XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which was also developed by Firaxis.
- The unit image displays soldiers carrying the Heavy Plasma weapon and wearing armor that is loosely based on the Archangel Armor.
- Interestingly, in spite of the XCOM Squad's armor requiring extensive research of alien technology and their weapon being created and designed by the aliens in question, there has been no such alien invasion in the Civilization universe - outside of Civ II: Fantastic Worlds - yet.