EXALT (EU2012)

EXALT is a new global human threat introduced in Enemy Within DLC. EXALT is a paramilitary secret society that seeks to use alien tech to enrich and technologically change themselves and gain world domination. They will carry out anti-XCOM operations until their base is found and destroyed.

EXALT wants the aliens to genetically perfect mankind and sees XCOM as an obstacle to that. While EXALT agrees with the aliens, it will avoid working with them and instead and disrupt XCOM efforts's to fight the invasion. Despite sharing some common goals, the Aliens and EXALT will not cooperate together and appear together on any mission. EXALT will even try to outsmart the aliens during Operation Progeny in order to gain access to a high value weapon.

The nature of EXALT's threat is similar to the one posed Cult of Sirius on X-COM Apocalypse. However, one major difference between the two groups is that the religious structure of the Cult speaks of humans subjecting themselves to their new alien overlords, while the extravagance of the EXALT Headquarters suggests powerful people in black market and clandestine circles, groups who's interest tend to lie in acquiring power for themselves.

The first EXALT mission takes place on May, the day depends on the difficulty level. To completely eliminate the EXALT threat, XCOM will have to discover and raid their base.

Notes

• Anti-EXALT operations are accessed through the Situation Room, through the Covert Operations view.
• The Covert Operations view will display the map and the presence of any discovered EXALT cells.
• The first Intel Scan taken each month costs 50§ and will reveal any additional cells to the ones already revealed. Later scans taken the same month will cost the double of the previous scan.
• Revealing EXALT cells will postpone their ability to hurt XCOM operations. Only hidden EXALT cells can conduct operations.
• After a while, an exposed EXALT cell will relocate to another country and become hidden.

• Hidden EXALT cells can conduct 3 types of operations:
  • Propaganda - Increases Panic on the targeted country.
  • Sabotage - XCOM's money reserve is halved.
  • Research Hack - Slow down XCOM's current research.
• Also, if you turn down an abduction in Africa and there's an exposed EXALT cell on that country then the resulting panic from the Abduction will be further increased.
• Building Labs can provide a guard against Research Hacks.
• To stop a revealed EXALT cell, XCOM may perform a Covert Mission on the country where the cell is based by deploying a soldier as a Covert Operative and later retrieving that soldier on a regular mission, along with info regarding the location of the EXALT base.
• Like dealing with the "future" Cult of Sirius: regular Covert Operations to keep them neutered means experience points, extra credits, and less hassle for XCOM.
• Even after successfully accusing a country of harboring EXALT or deducing the country through enough Covert Operations, EXALT will still conduct hidden operations, allowing you to "farm" as referred above. You don't have to perform Intel Scans however, as mid to late-game you may allow them to perform operations as they will expose themselves after successful Propaganda/Sabotage/Research Hack with a pop-up, allowing you to send a Covert Operative for "free" or without spending cash on Intel Scans.
  • EXALT operations will only cease when the EXALT base raid was successful. Similar to Alien Base Assault or Storyline missions, the EXALT Base Raid will stay available until you decide to deal with EXALT, once and for all.

• If the Progeny campaign is selected and Annette is rescued, Dr. Vahlen will reveal that Annette was originally captured by EXALT and given to the aliens. Later EXALT will revert on their decision and try to get Annette for themselves. It is possible to see a picture of Annette during the EXALT Base mission.