Part 29

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Part 29 covers research projects, alien autopsies, and DLC missions like Friends in Low Places.

Research Projects & Benefits:

1. Heavy Lasers: Researching this project unlocks the Shiv laser project. Completing the Shiv laser project replaces the Shiv's weapon with a laser, granting +10 aim to the Shiv.
2. Alien Flight Computer: Researching this unlocks the Stealth satellite project. Completing the Stealth satellite project makes the Stealth satellite available, which is less likely to be shot down by escaping UFOs.
3. Elerium: Researching Elerium unlocks the Improve arc thrower project. Completing this project allows the Arc Thrower to stun at 6 HP, with increased odds as HP goes below 6.
4. Archangel Armor: Researching this unlocks the Advanced flight project. Completing the Advanced flight project allows units to fly for longer.
5. Plasma Pistol: Researching this unlocks the Improve pistol 3 project. Completing this project increases pistol damage by 1.
6. Recover Alien Grenade: Completing this unlocks the Alien grenade project. Completing the Alien grenade project replaces all grenades with alien grenades.
7. Emp Cannon: Researching this unlocks the Shiv repair project. Completing the Shiv repair project allows MECs and Shivs to be repaired by Arc Throwers.
8. Heavy Plasma: Researching this unlocks the Shiv plasma project.
9. Drone Autopsy: Completing this unlocks the Sentinel Drone project and the Drone Capture project. Completing the Sentinel Drone project causes all Shivs to heal 2 HP per turn. Completing the Drone Capture Project allows Drones to be captured by Arc Throwers.
10. Muton Autopsy: Completing this unlocks the Ammo Conservation project. Completing the Ammo Conservation project grants all units more ammo.
11. Thin Man Autopsy: Completing this unlocks the Improve medikit project. Completing the Medikit project makes Med Kits heal for +2 more.
12. Sectopod Autopsy: Completing this unlocks the Advanced construction project. Completing the Advanced construction project enables the Rush construction option, allowing you to speed up construction at the expense of money.
13. Experiment Warfare: Researching this unlocks the Tactical Rigging project. Completing the Tactical Rigging project grants all soldiers 2 item slots, while supports can fit even more uses in their two item slots.
14. Mechtoid Autopsy: Completing this unlocks the Shaped armor project and the Advanced servomotors project. Completing the Shaped armor project grants +3 HP to all MEC and Shiv armor. Completing the Advanced servomotors project grants +3 movement to MEC and Shiv.
15. Elerium (Second Instance): Researching Elerium unlocks the Elerium Jelly project. Completing the Elerium Jelly project grants +3 damage to the MEC flamethrower attack.
16. Heavy Floater Autopsy: Completing this unlocks the Advanced repair project. Completing the Advanced repair project results in SHIVs and aircraft having a lower recovery time.

DLC Missions (Slingshot):

Friends in Low Places: After an intro cinematic, Zhang becomes a weak hostage. Use standard target extraction (council) tactics: advance your squad and set up a kill zone before moving the VIP. Expect Thin Men, and potentially Mutons or Chryssalids in later waves (generally 4 waves). Zhang joins as a Heavy with higher HP and Will than normal.

Confounding Light: Use standard bomb disposal tactics, but you are planting beacons. The timer is generous but cannot be delayed. Enemies are primarily Thin Men, with Mutons warping in, sometimes to high ground. Plant 4 beacons and have one soldier activate train controls within 10 turns. Killing aliens is heavily recommended, especially since this mission precedes a harder one. You can delay this mission if you are not prepared with laser-level weapons.

Gangplank: This mission appears shortly after Confounding Light, as you lured an alien battleship into a trap. Ignoring it means the trap fails. Prioritize disabling/blowing the engine nodes, but be aware this triggers reinforcements (Sectoids, Chryssalids, Thin Men, or Mutons). Your team starts outside the battleship. Entering the first door leads to a large room with grav lifts and an engine node, likely with 2-3 Thin Men. Approaching the center triggers reinforcements.

DLC Mission Failure: If you fail a DLC mission, there is little recourse. Hope for a glitch that offers it again, or accept the loss. Rewards from Slingshot and Progeny can be replaced through gameplay.

No DLC: If you do not have the DLC, you will not get DLC characters, but you are not missing out on much else. You will not receive an adequate explanation for why your base was attacked.