Part 1

New to XCOM: Enemy Within? This guide breaks down game setup, Second Wave mods, and essential early-game concepts to help you succeed.

Alright, Commander! So you're ready to dive into XCOM: Enemy Within. This is where we lay the foundation for your global defense force. Don't worry, we'll take it step-by-step, and I'll help you avoid the common beginner traps. This guide is designed to get you through Normal and Classic difficulties without losing any soldiers or countries. Impossible mode is a whole different beast, and even the best players will lose units and nations there, so we'll focus on setting you up for success on the more manageable difficulties.

First things first, let's talk about getting your game set up. Assuming you've bypassed any pesky menu bugs, you'll want to click 'Start New Game.' This brings up a menu where you can tweak all sorts of settings. You can randomize soldier stats, choose which DLC packs are active, decide if you want to enable 'save scumming' (more on that in a sec), make the game harder, or even turn off that chatty Dr. Valen. For your first go, I highly recommend enabling the 'Save Scum' option and turning off the tutorial. We'll be playing on Classic difficulty for this guide, with all DLC enabled and no extra difficulty-boosting Second Wave modifiers.

Now, about those Second Wave mods. These can really change the game. Some just add flavor, while others crank up the difficulty. The ones we're concerned with are the ones that affect how tough the game is. For this guide, we're keeping those off, but it's good to know what they are.

• Save Scum: This is a big one for beginners. Normally, XCOM's random number generator can be brutal. You might have a 90% chance to hit, and your shot still misses. If you don't have 'Save Scum' on, that miss is permanent for that playthrough. Enabling it means that if you reload your game, the game re-rolls the dice, giving you a chance to undo those frustratingly bad luck moments. If you're the type who can accept losses and move on, you might not need it, but for learning the ropes, it's a lifesaver.
• Aiming Angles: This mod gives bonuses to aim when you're flanking an enemy. In the original XCOM: Enemy Unknown, sometimes bullets seemed to magically hit cover instead of the target. This mod tries to make flanking more rewarding and accurate, reflecting the tactical advantage of attacking from the side.

There are other Second Wave options, but these are the main ones to be aware of early on. We'll cover more about managing your country, the tactical game, and dealing with aliens as we go. Just remember, the key is to learn the systems and adapt. Don't get discouraged by bad luck; that's what 'Save Scum' is for!