S.H.I.V. (LWR)
The Super-Heavy Infantry Vehicle is a special unit that brings raw damage, durability, and a degree of utility to the field, thanks to their numerous upgrades and equipment options. All SHIVs can be used as partial cover. The basic SHIV is available from the beginning of the campaign. They cannot be rebuilt if destroyed.
XCOM starts with at least 1 SHIV, which accompanies your soldiers on the first mission.
For more information see the specifications on SHIV Units.
Big Sky (the Skyranger pilot) can control only 1 SHIV each turn. This means that if you bring multiple SHIVs on a mission only 1 can act each turn.
SHIVs do not accumulate fatigue.
Like other units, SHIVs must have their weapons replaced individually. All units start with the baseline Autocannon (with an unlimited quantity in stock, much like the other basic ballistic weapons), which can be upgraded for each tier of weapon. New weapons must be manufactured by Engineering, and they can be found in the same section as MEC armaments.
Bringing a SHIV to a mission isn't a waste of experience either, as the 1st SHIV alive at the end of any battle grants its mission experience to its squadmates.
SHIVs, like most mechanized units, have built-in damage reduction and are hardened, which makes them more durable. Much cheaper than MEC Troopers, and with 'abilities' swappable as equipable modules giving them a significant degree of flexibility, these units will prove to be a valuable asset to XCOM.
It is advisable to have at least a small pool of SHIVs in reserve, to fill any gaps when your Barracks list reads nearly entirely "Fatigue", and to help deal with smaller crashed UFOs that you still may want to gather materials from, as their raw damage and durability can potentially serve as a replacement for high-ranking soldiers.
SHIV Initial Abilities
Abilities that all SHIVs start with.
 Ram
If this unit moves at least 8 tiles in a mostly straight line towards the tile directly in front of an enemy, this unit will hit that enemy for x melee damage, where x is 35% of (Max HP - Enemy Max HP + Tiles Moved). |
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SHIV Upgrade Abilities
Abilities that can be unlocked via Foundry projects.
 Lock N' Load
Reloading any weapon costs only 1 AP. Dashing automatically reloads the active weapon. Granted by:
SHIV Advancements I |
 Repair Servos
Repairs damage sustained in battle: When damaged, gain servos equal to 45% of the damage sustained. Each servo can heal 1 HP. At end of turn, use half the servos available (minimum 1, if available). Granted by:
SHIV Advancements I |
 Sprinter
Grants +1.3 mobility and increases the movement bonus when dashing to +40% (from +20%). Granted by:
Advanced Servomotors |
 Damage Control
Grants an instance of 20% DR each time damage is received (they stack multiplicatively). If shredded, reduces shred to 35% at end of turn. Granted by:
SHIV Advancements II |
 Shredder
Primary weapons (Javelins, if this is a Rocketeer) Shred [Applies Shred equal to the damage dealt as a percent of the target's max HP; which increases subsequent damage the target receives by the amount of Shred] any unit they damage for the remainder of the battle. Granted by:
SHIV Advancements II |
SHIV Equipment Abilities
Abilities SHIVs can be granted if equipped with the appropriate equipment
.png){kind=small} Critical System Targeting
Shots against autopsied mechanical units deal +50% damage and gain +50 crit. Does not work with the Arc Rifle or Arc Pistol. Granted by:
Targeting Motor |
 Holo Rounds
Firing at a target during this unit's turn holos [Prevents concealment/stealth, incoming shots gain +10 aim and +1 penetration] them for 3 turns. Units with this perk gain double the aim and penetration. Granted by:
Holo Charger |
 Ready For Anything
At the end of each turn, if this unit did not move and is not at risk of triggering reaction fire, Overwatch activates. Granted by:
Adaptive Tracking Pod |
 Burst
Fire a +50 aim shot with -50% weapon damage. Requires 2 ammo. Granted by:
Smartshell Pod |
 Absorption Fields
Grants +30% DR. Granted by:
Shielding Pod |
 Reactive Targeting Sensors
Once per turn, if this unit is attacked by anything besides a grenade/MiNE: Return fire with a +40 aim reaction shot and then enter One For All (if able). [Basic reaction shots bypass half of cover def and cannot crit] Granted by:
AutoSentry Turret |
 Light 'Em Up
Standard shots gain +1 damage and +10 crit for every instance of damage their target took this turn and cost only 1 AP. Granted by:
Weapon Supercooler |
.png){kind=small} Tracker
This soldier passively detects and uncloaks aliens within 4 tiles through walls/obstacles. The heightened senses renders this soldier immune to strangulation.
Granted by:
Motion Tracker |