Primary weapons | Soldier equipment XCOM 2 Guide

The primary weapons of your soldiers are one of the most important things that you must take care of during the playthrough.

At the beginning of the game, all your soldiers will be equipped with the most basic weaponry, and even though the first couple of missions can be completed with them, you will soon stumble upon enemies that have significant amounts of health and even some armor points - and as you are probably aware, each point of armor decreases the amount of damage a unit takes by 1.

That is precisely why you should equip your soldiers with better weapons as quickly as possible, but it's associated with completing a number of researches, which in turn take some time. Nonetheless, it's worthy of the required time, as equipping your soldiers with upgraded weaponry will allow them to fight on even ground with enemies for at least several missions.

Rangers, Specialists, Psi Operatives and Rookies will be given a new weapon upon completion of "Modular Weapons" and "Magnetic Weapons" research projects, whereas Sharpshooters and Grenadiers will require an additional research, "Gauss Weapons".

Note: after completing the above mentioned research projects, you still have to craft the gear you're interested in - the second installment of the XCOM franchise, contrary to the first game, requires you to construct a given weapon only once, after which it will be unlocked to an unlimited amount of soldiers capable of using them.

More information about unlocking further equipment can be found in the tables below, in the next chapter, as well as in the "Research" chapter.

Assault Rifles

Icon	Name	Stats	Costs	Required research
	Assault Rifle	Damage: 3-5 Ammunition: 4 Effective range: medium 1 upgrade slot	none - available from the beginning	none
	Magnetic Rifle	Damage: 5-7 Ammunition: 4 Effective range: medium 2 upgrade slots	125x Supplies 10x Alien Alloys	Magnetic Weapons
	Plasma Rifle	Damage: 7-9 Ammunition: 4 Effective range: medium 2 upgrade slots	250x Supplies 20x Alien Alloys 10x Elerium Crystals	Plasma Rifle

Assault Rifles can be used by Rangers, Specialists, Psi Operatives, as well as untrained soldiers, Rookies.

Shotguns

Icon	Name	Stats	Costs	Required research
	Shotgun	Damage: 4-6 Ammunition: 4 10% increased critical chance Effective range: short 1 upgrade slot	none - available from the beginning	none
	Shard Gun	Damage: 6-8 Ammunition: 4 15% increased critical chance Effective range: short 2 upgrade slots	75x Supplies 5x Alien Alloys	Magnetic Weapons
	Storm Gun	Damage: 8-10 Ammunition: 4 20% increased critical chance Effective range: short 2 upgrade slots	140x Supplies 10x Alien Alloys 10x Elerium Crystals	Storm Gun

Shotguns are usable only by Rangers. Their short range is compensated by extremely high damage, as well as significantly increased chance for a critical hit.

Cannons

Icon	Name	Stats	Costs	Required research
	Cannon	Damage: 4-6 Ammunition: 3 Effective range: medium 1 upgrade slot	none - available from the beginning	none
	Mag Cannon	Damage: 6-8 Ammunition: 3 Effective range: medium 2 upgrade slots	150x Supplies 10x Alien Alloys	Gauss Weapons
	Beam Cannon	Damage: 8-10 Ammunition: 3 Effective range: medium 2 upgrade slots	250x Supplies 20x Alien Alloys 10x Elerium Crystals	Beam Cannon

Cannons are unique to Grenadiers. Their medium range, coupled with some of the abilities of the Grenadier class allows cannons to become one of the most destructive weapons in the game, regardless of their somewhat mediocre damage.

Sniper Rifles

Icon	Name	Stats	Costs	Required research
	Sniper Rifle	Damage: 4-6 Ammunition: 3 10% increased critical chance Effective range: long 1 upgrade slot	none - available from the beginning	none
	Gauss Rifle	Damage: 6-8 Ammunition: 3 10% increased critical chance Effective range: long 2 upgrade slots	150x Supplies 10x Alien Alloys	Gauss Weapons
	Plasma Lance	Damage: 8-10 Ammunition: 3 10% increased critical chance Effective range: long 2 upgrade slots	300x Supplies 20x Alien Alloys 10x Elerium Crystals	Plasma Lance

Sniper rifles can only be wielded by Sharpshooters. Weapons from this group are extremely effective from long ranges, allowing the soldier to harass enemies from a safe distance, but it comes with at a price - a huge penalty to aim when the enemy is at medium or short range.