Part 20

Detailed breakdown of Heavy and Sniper soldier ranks in XCOM: Enemy Within, including their abilities, stats, and strategic uses for each level from Rookie to Colonel.

This guide details the soldier ranks and abilities for the Heavy and Sniper classes in XCOM: Enemy Within. Soldier stats like Aim and HP are listed, though Will values increase randomly on level up. Note that HP values can vary by difficulty: +1 for Normal, +2 for Classic, and -1 for Impossible.

Heavy Soldier Ranks:

1. Rookie (Rank 0): Basic stats with no special skills. Cannot be converted into MECs.
   • Aim: 65
   • HP: 4
   • Skills: Hunker, Overwatch
2. Squaddie (Rank 1):
   • Skill: Rocket (Fire rocket - 6 damage in a large radius. Damage can be increased with Blaster Launcher or Mayhem. Enemies killed by rockets drop no items or fragments.)
3. Corporal (Rank 2):
   • Choice: Bullet Swarm or Holo-targeting
   • Bullet Swarm: Shooting as the first action does not end the turn.
   • Holo-targeting: Shooting a target grants +10 Aim to all other units targeting the same enemy.
4. Sergeant (Rank 3):
   • Choice: Shredder Rocket or Suppression
   • Shredder Rocket: Fires a rocket dealing 4 damage in a large radius. Enemies hit take 33% more damage.
   • Suppression: Inflicts -30 Aim on an enemy and grants a reaction shot if they move.
5. Lieutenant (Rank 4):
   • Choice: Heat Ammo or Rapid Reaction
   • Heat Ammo: Deals 50% more damage to mechanical enemies.
   • Rapid Reaction: Grants a second reaction shot if the first hits.
6. Captain (Rank 5):
   • Choice: Grenadier or Danger Zone
   • Grenadier: Allows carrying two grenades per slot and adds +1 damage to grenades.
   • Danger Zone: Increases the radius of Rockets and Suppression. Suppression can hit multiple enemies.
7. Major (Rank 6):
   • Skill: Will to Survive (All damage taken while in cover and not flanked is reduced by 2.)
8. Colonel (Rank 7):
   • Choice: Rocketeer or Mayhem
   • Rocketeer: Allows firing an extra rocket per battle.
   • Mayhem: Suppression, rockets, and grenades deal damage equal to the tier of the soldier's gun (Regular +1, Laser +2, Plasma +3).

Sniper Soldier Ranks:

1. Rookie (Rank 0): Basic stats.
   • Aim: 105
   • HP: 7
2. Rank 1:
   • Skill: Headshot (Adds 30% extra chance for critical damage. Critical damage scales with rifle tier: +1 Bullet, +2 Laser, +3 Plasma.)
3. Rank 2:
   • Choice: Snap Shot or Squad Sight
   • Snap Shot: Allows the sniper to move and shoot their sniper rifle with a -10 Aim penalty.
   • Squad Sight: Allows the sniper to shoot any enemy visible to the team, provided there is a line of fire. Only Headshot can cause criticals with Squad Sight.
4. Rank 3:
   • Choice: Gunslinger or Damn Good Ground
   • Gunslinger: Adds +2 damage to pistols.
   • Damn Good Ground: Adds +10 Aim and inflicts -10 Aim to enemies below the sniper's elevation. Stacks with elevation bonuses.
5. Rank 4:
   • Choice: Disabling Shot or Battle Scanner
   • Disabling Shot: Forces an enemy to reload, preventing them from attacking.
   • Battle Scanner: Reveals enemies in a radius.