
For this reason, it can be crucial to have at least two squads that can handle difficult missions.

This means that, on many occasions, players might find themselves surprised by important missions and will not have their ideal squad available. Soldiers will often have downtime as they recover from wounds or mental trauma, or when they are sent on dispatch missions. Having an extra spot open also means that one more soldier will be gaining experience with each XCOM 2 mission.Īlthough having at least one soldier level up quickly is imperative to unlock GTS upgrades, having more than a single squad to handle tough missions can be very important. Like any turn-based RPG, the action economy always favors the side with the most characters, making this upgrade extremely valuable, especially in the early game. With the GTS building, players can buy the Squad upgrade, allowing for an extra soldier to be sent on missions. In XCOM 2, the Grenadier and the Ranger are two of the most powerful classes at this stage, and players should consider comprising their team of multiple of these if the early game is proving difficult in Ironman mode. XCOM 2 is extremely deadly in the early game, and soldiers often end up dying with a single unlucky critical hit from an enemy. How to Survive the Early Game of XCOM 2 in Ironman Mode Properly managing the XCOM headquarters, identifying what missions are most valuable, and learning to move carefully while dealing with mission timers are all crucial skills players will need to master to succeed in Ironman runs, especially at higher difficulties. Having permanent consequences gives more weight to each decision and rewards good strategy.


XCOM 2's Ironman runs can provide a very rewarding experience despite these drawbacks. Related: Tactical Squad Games to Play While Waiting for XCOM 3 As such, players should be prepared to accept some bad luck and persevere. These unlucky occasions are the most punishing during the early game when XCOM 2 is at its deadliest. XCOM 2 is famous for occasionally feeling unfair due to having a high percentage of shots missed or having a soldier behind full cover instantly die to a critical hit from an enemy alien. To survive Ironman runs, it can be helpful for players to prepare for failure. All progress is kept on a single save that updates constantly, making every action and consequence permanent.

Unlike the normal modes, Ironman does not allow players to load previous saves. XCOM 2 can be an extremely challenging game, and playing on Ironman can sometimes feel like a daunting experience.
