Research | XCOM Base XCOM: Enemy Unknown Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

In order to compensate the technological gap with the aliens, it is necessary to carry out research on new weapons, armor or vehicles. All the discoveries we make in the lab are available when you press the button Research.

The most important option is Start New Research Project . After selecting it, you see the list of available research projects. At the top of the list, you will usually find elements that are necessary to develop in order to continue the main storyline and thus move forward the action of the game. They are marked with green color and additional description ** PRIORITY **. Below the priorities there are other inventions that are not necessary to research, but make the game much easier later on. Research typically lasts a few days, but we can speed it up by hiring new scientists (i.e. receiving a reward for the successful completion of the task and launch of the satellites) or earning credit research (as described below).

 

The priority projects are located on the top of the list of inventions.

The second option available on the lab panel is Access Research Archives. This is a list of completed research projects along with their detailed description and unlocked objects or buildings.

The last tab (Review Credits Research)shows you if you can perform the test in a shorter time. You receive research credits by interrogating the captured aliens. Each race will give us a different bonus. For example, Sectoids facilitate our development of laser technology and Floaters reveal information that help produce body armor. If the research project will use the bonuses received, you will be informed about it in its description.

 

Project summary: time study, cost, potential cost in research credits.

Each available project costs a number of resources: Elerium, Alloys or Weapon Fragments . You gain them by penetrating wrecks of downed UFOs. In addition, to start some studies, such as the plasma weapons, you need to get at least one copy of the equipment. As the alien equipment breaks down right after shooting its user, it is necessary to catch a live alien. For this purpose it is necessary to develop two projects: Xeno-Biology (available from the start of the game) and the Arc Thrower (appears after researching Xeno-Biology).Then you can just make a copy of Arc Thrower (i.e. large taser) and give it to the soldier in the slot available for grenades. In addition, we need a cell for the alien. This means we need to build (in Engineering - Build Facility) the Alien Containment room.

 

Arc Thrower in the soldier's inventory.

After sending troops to the mission, we have to isolate one of the aliens from the rest, then weaken it for two or three points of life. Pistols are perfect for this task. Then you have to hit the wounded enemy with an Arc Thrower. Unfortunately, this weapon has a limited range, and if an alien uses Overwatch mode, coming close to him can be deadly. Therefore, the best way is to force a shot from the enemy (Assault-class soldier with the Lightning Reflexes ability is best suited for this purpose, as he automatically avoids the first alien attack) and then use another soldier to run to the enemy and use the paralizator. The hit alien stranger falls to the ground and will remain unconscious to the end of battle. After moving him to the base, he will be automatically placed in a cell - Alien Containment. In addition to the live alien, we obtain in this way the weapon he held. This is the best way to get new items.

 

Alien Containment with the captured aliens waiting to be interrogated.

You can then interrogate the captures alien, using the same panel as when selecting new research projects. Simply browse the list for interrogate, and then select which of the captured aliens are going to be interrogated. After the project is completed, you automatically get research credits, and sometimes even a new invention.

Carrying out continuously scientific research and speeding up the arms race is a must-do in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. If you fail to keep up with the aliens, it is possible that at some point you'll meet so powerful enemies that your obsolete weapons will not be able to cause them significant damage. Clashes with Mutons will be a nightmare if you don't have at least laser weapons, and Chryssals will kill your squad instantly.