XCOM 2 Multiplayer Guide

XCOM 2 multiplayer pits two players against each other in a tactical battle. It’s easy to set up and games can last anywhere between 15 minutes and an hour. If you’re looking to start playing against other people, this guide will show you how multiplayer works in XCOM 2, as well as provide you some tips that can help you overcome your opponent.

How to play multiplayer in XCOM 2

Starting a game is easy. You’ll find the option in the main menu, and you can either play with random people on the internet or with your friends. The options available are:

• Ranked Match – The results of this kind of game will influence your place on the leaderboards.
• Quick Match – A more casual game with a stranger.
• Create Custom Match – Set up a game you can invite friends to, with parameters set to your liking.
• Search For Custom Match – Search for a game with a certain set of parameters.
• Leaderboards – Access the global ranking list.
• Edit Squad Loadout – Create and save different squad loadouts that you can quickly load when you want to play.

The last option is important. It’s where you get to create your team. Each player has 10,000 credits to spend on a squad – this includes buying units and equipment. You can choose from a range of aliens, Advent and XCOM soldiers here. They can be equipped with any kind of weapon, armor and usable item available in the singleplayer portion.

You can also choose the map and the duration of turns. Since maps are randomized, you’re really only choosing the tileset and not the layout itself. As for the duration, 90 seconds seems to work great, adding pressure to an already tense situation.

XCOM 2 Multiplayer Tips & Tricks

Here are some tips that should help you survive longer in multiplayer:

• Diversify your team – When playing ranked, you’ll want to have a balanced squad. Something that includes close range specialists, snipers, bombers and support. Having a homogenous team can be fun, but it can also be a problem – placing all your bets on a crew of Phantom Rangers can be lethal when the other player has at least one battle scanner.
• Sometimes it pays off to have a disposable soldier you can flick into the open to speed up the process of finding the other player.
• When buying items for your team, prioritize aim – except for Grenadiers specializing in bombs and Rangers going with swords. It’s the holy grail of stats.
• It might not be a bad idea to buy better weapons and skimp on the armor. Don’t ever pinch pennies on utility items, though.
• Humans are more likely to try to avoid triggering overwatch than AI is. There is almost always a better way to spend your second action.
• Watch the line of sight indicators – they will save you a lot of trouble.

We’re going to update this guide with more information once the game is out. If you have any tips of your own, feel free to share them in the comments.