XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012)
From SDA Knowledge Base
THIS PAGE IS A WIP
Routing notes for XCOM: EU. This route was intended for speedruns played on easy. Runs on other difficulties may require running additional missions
and acquiring additional squad upgrades.
Contents
Overview
Routing an XCOM speedrun comes down to, in the fastest possible way, gathering the materials and research neccesary to unlock the three story missions.
The requirements for each mission are below along with recommended squad upgrades. Note that credits are not tallied as they are generally in plentiful supply.
Base Assault
Research:
- Xeno-Biology -> (Arc Thrower, build Alien Containment) -> (capture alien -> interrogate alien, capture Outsider) -> Outsider Shard -> buy Skeleton Key
Minimum Resources Required:
- 10 Weapon Fragments
- 10 Elerium
- 10 Alloys
Overseer UFO
Research:
- (Alien Nav Computer, UFO Power Source) -> New Fighter Craft -> (buy Firestorm, EMP Cannon -> buy EMP Cannon)
- Hyperwave Communication -> build Hyperwave Relay
Minimum Resources Required:
- 4 UFO Flight Computers
- 2 UFO Power Sources
- 70 Elerium
- 90 Alloys
- 75 Weapon Fragments
- 30 Engineers
Temple Ship
Research:
- Ethereal Device -> (PSI Armor -> buy PSI Armor, build Gollop Chamber)
- Sectoid Commander Autopsy -> build Psionic Lab
Minimum Resources Required:
- 60 Elerium
- 40 Alloys
Recommended Squad Upgrades
By Base Assault:
- Weapon Fragments -> Experimental Warfare -> build Foundry -> Heavy Weapons Platform -> buy 3-4 S.H.I.V.s
- 5 Weapon Fragments
By Overseer UFO:
- buy 5 Hover S.H.I.V.s
- 100 Elerium
- 150 Alloys
By Temple Ship:
- Beam Weapons -> Heavy Lasers -> S.H.I.V. Laser
- 40 Alloys
- 30 Weapon Fragments
Detailed Route
The first couple months of the run will be spent taking optional missions and gathering resources. The second couple months will be spent fighting through
story missions and ignoring optional encounters. XCOM must attack the Temple Ship before the end of June to avoid a game over condition.
March (Month 1)
The only variance in the first month is the order in which the first abduction and the first UFO come in. Either way, if the first abduction happens before the 7th of June, you are good to go.
Intro Mission
- Start Xeno-Biology, excavate.
First Abduction
- Must arrive before the 7th of June. If it doesn't, reset. Take Engineer reward. Start 2 satellites and a Workshop immediately afterwards, excavate if available.
First UFO
- Arc Thrower Research after Xeno-Biology. Sell corpses and broken UFO parts up to 150 credits. If neccesary, sell some alloys and Elerium too. When Workshop
- finishes, build Satellite Uplink, excavate if available.
Second Abduction
- Take credit reward. Start Alien Containment. Start Power Generator. Start Lift. Weapon Fragments Research after Arc Thrower. Excavate second level when available.
- Launch Satellites to Canada, the USA and Mexico when Satellite Uplink Finishes.
April (Month 2)
The order in which these missions arrive is pretty random. In any case, you should try to grab the live alien first mission of the month. Don't forget to buy and
Equip your Arc Throwers beforehand. It's recommended to bring 2 Arc Throwers and to give at least 1 to a support class with movement bonus. Also make sure you aren't
ever idling on research. If you don't have an interrogation going, start either Alien Nav Computer or Alien Power Source. Both should be done around the end of the month.