Xcom 2 Long War Guide May 2026

Long War 2 Long War of the Chosen (LWOTC) mods for transform the game from a linear series of tactical encounters into a complex simulation of global insurgency 1. The Infiltration System The defining feature of Long War is the Infiltration

mechanic, which replaces the "drop in and shoot" style of the base game.

: When you detect a mission, you must send a squad to "infiltrate" the site before the mission starts. Scaling Difficulty

: Your infiltration percentage directly affects enemy numbers. 0% Infiltration : Can add up to 12 Strength (approx. 18 extra enemies) to the mission. 100% Infiltration : The baseline difficulty. 200% Infiltration

: Further reduces enemy presence and lowers their reaction readiness. Time Management

: You must balance squad size against the mission timer. Larger squads take longer to infiltrate, while smaller squads (even solo Reapers) can reach 100% much faster. XCOM Commander's Journal 2. Haven Management & The Intel Game

You no longer just receive monthly supplies; you must manage Resistance Havens in each contacted region. The Scientific Gamer Rebel Jobs : Assign your 1-13 rebels to specific tasks: xcom 2 long war guide

: Essential for detecting missions early. If you have no one on Intel, you will miss most missions entirely. : Generates monthly income but increases regional , drawing ADVENT reinforcements. : Finds new rebels and occasionally new soldiers. : Reduces the chance of ADVENT Retaliation missions. Haven Advisors

: You can station a soldier, scientist, or engineer as an advisor to boost job efficiency and detect faceless spies. 3. Overhauled Soldier Progression The mod expands your tactical options with 8 primary classes and a redesigned officer system. Long War 2 - Quick Start Guide - XCOM Commander's Journal

XCOM 2's Long War 2 (LW2) and its successor, Long War of the Chosen (LWOTC)

, are massive overhauls that shift the game from a linear series of battles to a complex, worldwide guerrilla war. Success depends on mastering the infiltration system and managing a large roster of specialized soldiers rather than relying on a single elite squad. Strategic Core: Infiltration and Havens

The most critical change from vanilla is the Infiltration mechanic. You no longer launch missions immediately; you send squads to "infiltrate" a site for several days to reduce enemy presence.

Infiltration Timing: A 100% infiltration level is your baseline, typically resulting in an "Extremely Light" (6–9 enemies) presence. Launching earlier (e.g., at 50% or 0%) will face significantly more enemies, often overwhelming your squad. Long War 2 Long War of the Chosen

Squad Size vs. Speed: Larger squads take longer to infiltrate. For many early missions, a small, stealthy team of 3–4 soldiers is often more efficient than a full 8-person squad.

Haven Management: Assign your resistance personnel in each Haven to specific jobs:

Intel: High priority early on to detect missions with enough time to fully infiltrate.

Supply/Recruit: Switch to these once a region is liberated or you need resources.

Haven Advisors: Assigning a soldier as an advisor helps root out Faceless spies who sabotage your Haven's output. Tactical Combat & Equipment

Combat in Long War is deadlier and emphasizes crowd control over pure damage. The Ultimate XCOM 2: Long War 2 Guide

The Utility of Flashbangs: These are essential in the first two months. They break mind control, dispel Psi Zombies, and prevent enemies like Stun Lancers from using melee attacks.

Avoid "Alpha Striking" Everything: Unlike the base game, you often cannot kill every enemy pod the turn you see it. Use Suppression, Smoke Grenades, and Flamethrowers to control the battlefield while you focus fire on high-priority targets.

Stealth and SMGs: Soldiers equipped with SMGs have higher mobility and a smaller detection radius, making them ideal scouts or "objective runners" for missions where you want to avoid combat entirely. Soldier Classes and Roster

You will need a roster of 40 to 60 soldiers to handle the constant flow of missions and the "Fatigue" system, which forces units to rest between deployments. Long War 2 - Quick Start Guide - XCOM Commander's Journal

The Ultimate XCOM 2: Long War 2 Guide – From Panic to Victory

If you’ve clicked on this article, you’ve likely already heard the stories. You’ve heard that Long War 2 (LW2) isn’t just a mod; it’s a total conversion that turns XCOM 2 into a grueling, months-long guerilla campaign. You’ve heard about the 100+ soldiers, the infiltration mechanics, and the brutal "RNG" that makes the vanilla game feel like a tutorial.

You might be asking yourself: Is it playable? Can I actually win?

The answer is yes. But you cannot play Long War 2 like you play vanilla XCOM. The rules have changed. This guide is your field manual for surviving the early game, managing the geo-scape, and eventually taking the fight to the Elders.

2. Key Mechanic Deep-Dives

Part 2: The Strategic Layer (Geoscape) – The "Burn the World" Phase

Unlike vanilla where you expand to stop the Avatar Project, LW2 requires you to ignore the Avatar Project until the last minute.