Man, I remember firing up War of the Chosen for the first time after hundreds of hours in vanilla XCOM 2. That intro sequence with the Chosen emerging from their pods? Chills. Suddenly my comfortable guerrilla tactics felt dangerously outdated. If you're wondering whether this expansion is worth it, let me save you some time: it fundamentally transforms the game into something richer, tougher, and way more replayable. But is it perfect? Nah - we'll get to those rough edges later.
What Exactly is War of the Chosen?
Think of War of the Chosen as XCOM 2's glorious second act. It's not just DLC - it overhauls nearly every system. Released in August 2017, this expansion introduces three deadly adversaries (The Chosen), three resistance factions with unique soldiers, fatigue mechanics, covert ops, and enough new enemies to make your veteran squad sweat. The key thing? These elements intertwine dynamically.
Remember when the Assassin first showed up in my campaign? She kidnapped my best ranger during a VIP extraction mission. For three in-game months, that soldier was MIA until we launched a rescue op. That personal vendetta element? That's War of the Chosen in a nutshell - it makes conflicts feel deeply personal.
Core Additions Breakdown
| Feature | Impact | Personal Take |
|---|---|---|
| The Chosen | Persistent nemeses who adapt to your tactics | The Warlock's psychic spam nearly broke me |
| Resistance Factions | Reapers, Skirmishers, Templars with unique abilities | Templars feel OP early but balance out |
| Fatigue System | Soldiers need rest after missions | Forces squad diversity - no more A-team carries |
| Covert Ops | Risk-reward missions between deployments | Best way to counter dark events |
| Bond System | Soldiers develop combat synergies | Losing bonded pairs hurts worse than squad wipes |
Game-Changing Mechanics You Can't Ignore
Here's where War of the Chosen separates itself from minor DLCs. These systems create constant tension:
SitReps - The Good and Bad
Random mission modifiers keep you on your toes. "Lost World" sounds fun until Chrysalids spawn every turn. Pro tip: "Low Profile" (+3 concealment) is borderline broken with Reaper scouts.
The Brutal New Enemy Roster
- Priests - That darn Sustain ability lets them survive killing blows once
- Purifiers - Flamethrowers will torch your carefully planned cover
- Spectral Zombies - Created by the Chosen Warlock, chain-killing nightmares
- Spectres - Clones your soldiers to fight against you (personal hatred)
I'll be honest - the first time a Spectre duplicated my grenadier and blew up my own team? I nearly rage-quit. Took three campaigns before I developed reliable counters.
Factions Deep Dive: More Than Just Recruits
These aren't reskinned soldiers. Each faction completely changes tactical approaches:
| Faction | Signature Ability | Best For | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reapers | Permanent stealth when moving | Scouting, remote detonations | Low firepower |
| Skirmishers | Grapple hooks & double shots | Mobility, action economy | Exposed positioning |
| Templars | Psionic melee & parry | Crowd control, boss killing | Ranged vulnerability |
That moment when my Templar parried three consecutive attacks from the Chosen Hunter? Chef's kiss. But their Rend ability misses frustratingly often on 85% hits. Just saying.
Survival Strategies From the Trenches
After six completed WOTC campaigns, here's what actually works:
Early Game Priorities (Months 1-2)
- Rush Resistance Ring - covert ops counter dark events
- Scan for faction heroes immediately
- Buy Medkits BEFORE first retaliation mission
- Research modular weapons first (ammo types trivialize Chosen)
Seriously, AP rounds negate the Assassin's blade resistance. Game changer.
Chosen Countermeasures
Each Chosen develops immunities based on your actions. Fighting them unprepared is suicide:
| Chosen | Common Weaknesses | Kill Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin | Explosives, Reapers | Overwatch traps around her reveal location |
| Hunter | Close combat, Templars | Rush with Bladestorm rangers |
| Warlock | Mindshields, Skirmishers | Destroy psionic portals immediately |
Pro tip: If the Warlock gets "Spectral Army" as a strength? Restart the mission. Trust me.
The Rough Edges Nobody Talks About
Look, I adore War of the Chosen, but some design choices baffle me:
- Performance Issues: Loading times triple on older consoles
- Avatar Project Acceleration: Feels artificially rushed compared to vanilla
- Faction RNG: Getting Templars last makes certain Chosen fights brutal
My Xbox save corrupted twice during Chosen stronghold assaults. Autosave religiously.
Essential Comparisons: Vanilla vs WOTC
| Aspect | XCOM 2 Base | XCOM 2 with War of the Chosen |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign Length | 25-30 hours | 40-50 hours |
| Replay Value | Moderate | Extreme (procedural Chosen traits) |
| Difficulty Curve | Steady | Spikey but rewarding |
| Required Management | Base building | Personnel, bonds, fatigue, covert ops |
Mod Compatibility Note
Most popular mods work with WOTC, but ALWAYS check descriptions. My 100+ hour campaign died to a cosmetic armor conflict. Still bitter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does War of the Chosen integrate with previous DLC?
Absolutely. Alien Hunters and Shen's Last Gift missions appear naturally. Pro tip: Delay Alien Rulers until you have bluescreen rounds - they shred robots too.
How difficult is XCOM 2 with War of the Chosen?
It's tougher early game but more balanced late-game. The learning curve? Steeper than the Viper King's ice mountain. Expect 3-4 restarts on Commander difficulty.
Can I disable the expansion content?
Yep, through Steam launch options. But why would you? Even with occasional frustrations, XCOM 2 War of the Chosen is the definitive experience.
What's the ideal platform?
PC for mods, PS5/XSX for performance. Switch version has brutal load times (45+ seconds between missions). My PC load times with SSD? Under 10 seconds.
Is It Worth Your Money?
Let's cut to the chase. At full price ($40), it's steep but justifiable for XCOM devotees. On sale (frequently $10-15)? No-brainer. The sheer volume of content - new enemies, mechanics, missions, and systems - triples the game's lifespan. Does it have flaws? Sure. Performance can chug, RNG sometimes feels cruel, and losing a bonded soldier to a random crit still makes me want to hurl my controller. But when your Reaper spots a pod, your Skirmisher grapples to high ground, and your Templar parries the Chosen's killing blow? Pure tactical bliss. Just... maybe keep a stress ball handy.
Honestly? I've purchased XCOM 2 with War of the Chosen three times across platforms. That should tell you something. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a Warlock to hunt.
Leave a Comments