If you are coming from vanilla XCOM 2 (even on Legendary), forget everything you know about timers, squad wipes, and stealth. This guide will break down the five pillars of Long War 2 :
| Infiltration % | Activity Level | Approx Enemies | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 0-50% | Swarming / Very Heavy | 25-40+ | | 51-75% | Heavy | 15-25 | | 76-100% | Moderate | 9-14 | | 100-125% | Light | 6-8 | | 125%+ | Extremely Light | 3-5 |
), community reviews and veteran players highlight several essential guides and strategic approaches to survive the "slog" of the campaign. Recommended Resources & Guides Ufopaedia (Long War 2) xcom 2 long war guide
This is normal. This is Long War .
When you discover a mission, you must select a squad and send them to infiltrate the site. Infiltration takes days, during which those soldiers are unavailable. If you are coming from vanilla XCOM 2
You need specialized squad archetypes rather than generalists. Every soldier must fulfill a dedicated role within the team. The Standard Combat Squad
Here are some overarching strategies broken down by campaign phase. This is Long War
Bottlenecks in tech will end your campaign faster than tactical blunders. Focus your resources on immediate defensive and offensive leaps. Early-Game Tech Path
Move your forward-most soldier first. Never advance beyond that soldier's position with your remaining actions to avoid accidentally alerting a new group of enemies.
Use this job when a Haven falls below 5–6 rebels. A low population slows down all other operations.
Area-denial specialists. Use Suppression to pin down dangerous targets and shred enemy armor with heavy cannons. Fire Support & Utility