Part 28

Analyze XCOM: Enemy Within Seekers (Aim 75, HP 5) and Sectoids (Aim 75, HP 3), plus detailed research pathways.

Seeker Analysis:

Seekers are a flying alien unit in XCOM: Enemy Within. They possess an Aim of 75, 5 HP, and 20 Defense. Their abilities include:

• Strangle: Decloaks and deals 2 damage, preventing the target from taking further actions. This effect can escalate, dealing 2 + n damage per turn where n is the number of turns the unit is strangled. Reaction fire can occur if the seeker decloaks within overwatch range, but the targeted unit cannot react. A successful strangle attempt means the seeker continues attacking unless hit, which releases the target. The released target suffers a 50 Aim reduction and 75% movement reduction but retains 2 actions, entering a 'catching breath' state.
• Cloak: Allows the seeker to become invisible.
• Seeker Gun: Deals 3 damage with a hit chance based on the Aim stat. This is rarely used unless soldiers are immune to strangle.

Seekers typically cloak and move away when activated. You cannot move into a space occupied by a cloaked seeker. Explosives can reveal a cloaked seeker but are generally considered a waste on such a weak enemy. Bioelectric skin also counters their cloaking. Seekers are not the most deadly enemy and can be accidentally killed while fighting other aliens like Mutons and Mechtoids. They have a unique calculating AI that targets the most vulnerable unit in your squad and cannot be stunned.

Sectoid Analysis:

Sectoids are described as the weakest aliens, possessing psionic talents but lacking bulletproof capabilities or good equipment. They carry weak plasma pistols. They have an Aim of 75, 3 HP, and 0 Defense. Their primary ability is:

• Mind Merge: Grants a friendly target +1 HP, +25 Will, and +25 critical hit chance. Killing the casting Sectoid also kills the unit receiving the buff.

Research Pathways (RDUL):

Research in XCOM: Enemy Within involves several intertwined pathways:

Biology/Story Pathway:

• Kill alien = Alien Biology research
• Research Alien Biology = Arc Thrower + Alien Containment + Autospies pathway
• Build Alien Containment = Interrogations pathway
• Capture Outsider = Outsider shard research
• Research Outsider = Assault alien base
• Assault Alien Base (survive) = Hyperwave communication research
• Research Hyperwave communication = Hyperwave facility
• Build Hyperwave facility = Spot Overseer UFO
• Shoot down Overseer UFO + raid = Ethereal device
• Research Ethereal Device = Gollop Chamber + Psi lab + Psi armor

Weapons Pathway:

• Kill aliens and get fragments = Weapon Fragments research
• Research Weapon Fragments = Scope + Experimental warfare research (also opens plasma tech if a plasma weapon is captured)
• Research Experimental Warfare = Foundry facility + Phoenix cannon + Beam Weapons research
• Build Foundry Facility = Access to foundry projects pathway
• Research Beam Weapons Research = Laser rifle + Laser pistol + Heavy Lasers research + Precision Lasers research
• Research Precision Lasers = Scatter Laser + Laser sniper rifle
• Research Heavy Laser = Heavy laser + Railgun + Laser cannon
• Capture Alien Weapons (with appropriate biology research) = Access to research of the captured weapon
• Research Plasma pistol = Plasma pistol
• Research Light Plasma Rifle = Light plasma Rifle + Plasma rifle research + Plasma cannon
• Research Plasma Rifle = Plasma rifle + Plasma sniper research + Alloy cannon research + Heavy Plasma Research (researching the last 3 unlocks associated weapons)

Armor Pathway:

• Kill aliens and get fragments = Alien Material Research
• Research Alien Materials = Experimental warfare + Nanofiber vest
• Recover Alien Alloys + Research Alien Materials = Carapace armor research
• Research Carapace armor = Carapace armor + Skeleton suit research
• Research Skeleton Suit = Skeleton suit
• Research Carapace armor + Research Elerium = Titan Armor research
• Research Titan Armor = Titan Armor
• Research Titan Armor + New Fighter Craft = Archangel Armor research
• Research Archangel Armor = ArchAngel Armor
• Research Titan Armor + Hyperwave communication research = Ghost Armor Research
• Research Ghost Armor = Ghost Armor
• Research Ethereal Device = Psi Armor

Engineering Pathway:

• Recover Alien Nav computer = Alien flight computer research
• Research Alien flight computer = Satellite nexus facility
• Recover Alien power source = Alien power source research
• Research Alien power source = Elerium generator facility + Elerium research
• Research Alien Flight computer + Research Alien power source = New fighter craft Research
• Research New fighter Craft = Firestorm craft + Emp cannon research
• Emp Cannon Research = Emp cannon

Foundry Pathway:

• Build Foundry = Improve pistol 1 project + Scope upgrade project + Heavy weapons platform project
• Complete Improve Pistol 1 project = +10 Crit chance for pistol
• Complete Scope Upgrade project = +10 Crit chance for equipping scope
• Complete Heavy weapons platform project = SHIV + SHIV suppression research + MEC close combat project
• Complete MEC close combat project = +6 damage to kinetic strike and kinetic strike does not end turn
• Complete Shiv suppression = SHIVs can suppress
• Complete Heavy weapons platform project + research Carapace armor = Alloy SHIV
• Complete Heavy weapons platform project + research new fighter craft = Hover SHIV
• Research Beam weapons = Improved pistol 2 project