Jaeger (LWR)
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MEC variant of the Scout and Sniper classes. The Jaeger is designed for fire support, with the best aim progression of any class in the game (tied with the Sniper), and a plethora of offensive perks to increase damage. Jaegers' main drawback are their low HP progression and a poor selection of defensive perks, making them a bit fragile for MECs.
- Primary Weapon: MEC Primary Weapons
- Secondary Weapon: MEC Secondary Weapon Systems
- Class-Limited items: MEC Equipment items
Abilities
| Rank | Ability | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Specialist |
 Hunter
This unit cloaks at the beginning of each turn if it can see an enemy, has ammo, and is idle. Cloaking breaks after taking any non-movement action or at the end of turn. Shots from cloak deal +30% weapon damage and +30% crit. Grants Combined Arms and Opportunist.  Combined Arms
All weapons and equipment deal +1 damage. Officer's provide this to the squad. Officers gain +1.3 base mobility and +1 Command. | ||||||
 Lance Corporal |
 Rapid Fire
Take two shots with your primary weapon against a single target in quick succession. Each shot carries a -40 aim penalty. Grants +1 ammo to non-arc primary weapons. |
 Close Combat Specialist
Grants a reaction shot at any enemy within 4 tiles that acts. Reaction shot only activates on enemy's turn, once per enemy, and if hit chance >50. Grants +1 ammo to non-arc primary weapons. [Basic reaction shots bypass half of cover DR/def, cannot crit, and require hit chance >30] |
 Vital Point Targeting
Steadied shots or shots at targets not protected by cover deal 30% more damage when hitting humans or autopsied biological aliens. | ||||
 Corporal |
.png){kind=icon} Sharpshooter
All shots with the primary weapon gain +15 aim against biologic targets. |
 |
 Jetboot Module
When activated, grants +2.6 mobility and the ability to jump to normally inaccessible heights for the rest of the turn. 3 turn cooldown. Does not break hidden abilities (Cloaking, Shadow, Concealment, Stealth, or Ghosting). | ||||
 Sergeant |
 Killer Instinct
Critical hits from shots deal 175% damage. Critical hits from explosives deal 200% damage. |
 Aggression
Grants the primary weapon additional crit damage equal to the number of enemies in sight or squadsight. |
 Bring 'Em On
Grants additional damage, crit, and graze based on the number of enemies in sight or squadsight (Damage = 0.5x enemies, Crit and Graze = 5x enemies). | ||||
 Tech Sergeant |
 Lock N' Load
Reloading any weapon costs only 1 AP. Dashing automatically reloads the active weapon. | ||||||
 Gunnery Sergeant |
.png){kind=small} Lone Wolf
Grants 10 aim, crit, and defense if not within 4 tiles of an allied unit. |
 Awareness
Provides +30 defense. Steadied weapons do not become unsteadied after taking damage. |
 Repulsor
If at full HP, repulses any attack against this unit, causing it to graze (dealing only half of the original damage). | ||||
 Master Sergeant |
 Extra Conditioning
Grants +2 armor HP, +0.6 mobility, and a 10% chance for all end-in-idle actions to cost 0 AP. |
 Sprinter
Grants +1.3 mobility and increases the movement bonus when dashing to +40% (from +20%). | |||||
Stat Progression
| Rank | Attribute Gains | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 | |
| Specialist
|
- | +5-15 | +1.3 | - |
| Lance Corporal
|
- | +1-3 | - | - |
| Corporal
|
- | +1-3 | - | - |
| Sergeant
|
- | +1-3 | - | - |
| Tech Sergeant
|
- | +1-3 | - | - |
| Gunnery Sergeant
|
- | +1-3 | - | - |
| Master Sergeant
|
- | - | - | - |
| Total | - |
+10-30 |
+1.3 |
- |
Predictable Potential:
| Rank | Attribute Gains | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| |
| Specialist
|
- | +10 | +1.3 | - |
| Lance Corporal
|
- | +2 | - | - |
| Corporal
|
- | +2 | - | - |
| Sergeant
|
- | +2 | - | - |
| Tech Sergeant
|
- | +2 | - | - |
| Gunnery Sergeant
|
- | +2 | - | - |
| Master Sergeant
|
- | - | - | - |
| Total | - |
+20 |
+1.3 |
- |
Tactical Advice
Jaegers are extreme glass cannons, having the highest potential damage output of any class in the game, MEC or not, but having little to no defensive perks to keep them alive. Hunter and the LCPL perks are the main reason for this; as long as you can keep sight on enemies, you can dish out massive damage from turn to turn. The lack of defensive abilities makes this easier said than done, however.
Sample Builds
Much like the Sniper class that they may have been augmented from, Jaegers are fairly one-dimensional in what they do and how they do it. Because of this, you have a ton of flexibility in what perks you choose at each rank, regardless of your LCPL choice.
Rapid Fire Jaeger
Jaegers that happen to take Rapid Fire are the ultimate in risk/reward; Rapid Fire's aim penalty and the Jaeger's general frailty make it difficult to use to its full potential, but it also unlocks the single highest per turn damage possible barring shenanigans with free actions. Because of the Rapid Fire aim penalty, extra aim from either items, close range, or flanks tends to be necessary to effectively hit targets. There will also be times where this build isn't ammo-efficient compared to other options, as its sheer damage output is only necessary against some enemies and you have to spend more ammo to get it.
Sample Rapid Fire Build: Rapid Fire -> Sharpshooter or Jetboot Module -> Aggression or Bring 'Em On -> Lock N' Load -> Lone Wolf -> Any
Recommended Equipment: Grenade Launcher, Flamethrower, Electropulse, Kinetic Strike Module, Light MEC Suit, Ammo-increasers, Aim-increasers, Damage-increasers
Notes:
- Because the Jaeger has no tank perks, heavy MEC suits may do more harm than good as they increase the likelihood that it will be shot.
- Grenade Launchers pair well with Hunter, giving the Jaeger an emergency Overwatch or Mind Control break due to Hunter's cloaking.
- Gravity Mines can perform a similar role, but the delayed explosion tends to put the Jaeger in danger.
- Kinetic Strike Module can be useful to have on hand when dealing with enemies with high DR, or when trying to save ammo when Hunter shots are inactive or unnecessary.
- Flamethrowers and Electropulses can cover your weakness to swarms of weaker enemies, and can help you save ammo in some situations as well.
- Just like Snipers, most choices are quite flexible:
- At CPL, Sharpshooter is a plain aim increase against biologicals, Impact pushes your absurd damage even further but may result in aim problems, and Jetboot Module lets you more easily get aim from height advantages, flanks, or proximity.
- At SGT, Bring 'Em On gives less direct damage but increases survivability and crit consistency, while Aggression is a flat crit damage increase that works well with multi-shot perks.
- At GSGT, Lone Wolf tends to work better for this build as you'll often be in the frontlines away from other soldiers and need its offensive bonuses, but the other defensive perks can always come in handy in a pinch.
- At MSGT, Extra Conditioning gives you the chance to nuke enemies with multiple shots, while Sprinter is a higher mobility increase to get you into close range or flanks.
CCS Jaeger
Jaegers with Close Combat Specialist trade massive damage on their turn for high damage over both the player and enemy turns, as well as potential crowd control. The frailty of Jaegers makes this difficult to utilize, but being able to dash into range of enemies and still attack them, shoot more than twice per turn without an aim penalty, and/or guard against any surprise close range flanks when positioned correctly is a huge boon. Hunter grants Opportunist as well, making these CCS shots the most powerful ones that XCOM can get its hands on.
Sample CCS Build: Close Combat Specialist -> Any -> Aggression or Bring 'Em On -> Lock N' Load -> Any -> Sprinter
Recommended Equipment: Restorative Mist, Grenade Launcher, Flamethrower, Kinetic Strike Module, Any MEC Suit, Ammo-increasers, Aim-increasers, Damage-increasers
Notes:
- Jaegers still have no tank perks so heavy MEC suits can be dangerous, but the ability to shrug off a hit or two may allow for more flexible positioning compared to the mobility of light MEC suits (and won't matter in either case if the enemies die before they get a chance to shoot).
- Because this build can act as a vanguard for your soldiers, Restorative Mist may be useful for keeping your soldiers' health up against small AoE damage.
- With CCS incentivizing close proximity to enemies, the Flamethrower may prove to be potent, particularly against swarms of melee enemies.
- Just like Snipers, most choices are quite flexible:
- At CPL, Sharpshooter is a plain aim increase against biologicals (mostly useful against Chryssalids and Floaters for this build) and Jetboot Module lets you position more freely to take advantage of Close Combat Specialist. Impact can still be chosen for the damage increase, but doesn't benefit close range reaction fire as much.
- At SGT, Bring 'Em On gives less direct damage but increases survivability and crit consistency, while Aggression is a flat crit damage increase that works well with multi-shot perks.
- At GSGT, Lone Wolf benefits aggressive positioning, Awareness primarily benefits defensive positioning (as close range bonuses will mitigate its advantage), and Repulsor is a mix of both, giving you a bit more leeway with how you can position as you can almost always safely tank one shot with it.
- Awareness can alternatively be obtained by a Cognitive Enhancer; in this case, taking one of the other perks allows you to get the best of both worlds.
- At MSGT, CCS shots can't take advantage of Extra Conditioning's free action chance, so the increased dash range and mobility of Sprinter will likely benefit this build more overall.
VPT Jaeger
Jaegers that take Vital Point Targeting trade raw damage output for mid-range accuracy and ammo-efficiency. While this build won't put out as much damage as either other build (especially against mechanical enemies), it can do so much more safely and more consistently.
Sample VPT Build: Vital Point Targeting -> Any -> Killer Instinct -> Lock N' Load -> Any -> Any
Recommended Equipment: Restorative Mist, Kinetic Strike Module, Light MEC Suit, Ammo-increasers, Aim-increasers, Damage-increasers, Defense-increasers
Notes:
- The added mobility and defense of light MEC suits lets a VPT Jaeger go for wider flanks more safely.
- Restorative Mist can be useful to carry on somebody, and because this build tends to prefer keeping its distance most other MEC secondaries aren't going to be effective.
- Kinetic Strike Module is particularly useful at times for this build, ensuring that you always are effective even against mechanical enemies. It can be risky to use, however, since you typically don't want to close in with this build.
- Just like Snipers, most choices are quite flexible:
- At CPL, Sharpshooter is a plain aim increase against biologicals (doubling down on your mechanical weakness), Impact gives added utility and a general damage increase, and Jetboot Module lets you take advantage of heights and flanks more effectively.
- At SGT, Killer Instinct pairs particularly well with other damage multipliers; stacking it, Hunter, and VPT together results in truly deadly shots against biological enemies.
- At GSGT, Lone Wolf gives you extra stats all around that are useful when flanking, Awareness almost guarantees that you won't be shot when combined with the defense of light MEC suits, and Repulsor is a one-time safety net.
- Awareness can alternatively be obtained by a Cognitive Enhancer; in this case, taking one of the other perks allows you to get the best of both worlds.
- At MSGT, Extra Conditioning gives you the chance to nuke enemies with multiple shots, while Sprinter is a plain mobility increase that lets you more effectively flank enemies.
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