XCOM Base Location (EU2012)

In the beginning of the game you have to choose the location of your base. There are five possible options for the location of the XCOM base:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia (not available in the tutorial)
• South America (not available in the tutorial)
• Africa (not available in the tutorial)

North America

Placing the base in North America, you get a bonus Air and Space: "All aircraft and aircraft weapons cost 50% less to purchase, build and maintain".

Your base will be located in United States

• Helps all strategies a little, but generally less financially rewarding than the alternatives.
• However, not to be overlooked is the high income of the United States as your first satellite.

Europe

Placing the base in Europe, you get a bonus Expert Knowledge: "Laboratories and Workshops cost 50% less to build and maintain".

Your base will be located in Germany

• This is a useful bonus when pursuing a satellite rush strategy due to reducing the expense of the Workshops required.

Asia

Placing the base in Asia, you get a bonus Future Combat: "All projects in the Foundry and the Officer Training School cost 50% less".

Your base will be located in Japan

• This is a good starting bonus if going for an early Foundry and S.H.I.V.s, but otherwise best picked up later.

South America

Placing the base in South America, you get a bonus We Have Ways: "Autopsies and Interrogations are completed instantly".

Your base will be located in Brazil

• Not a good starting bonus in the original game, unless going hard for early captures.
• This bonus has become significantly better in Enemy Within due to autopsies giving access to Gene Mods.
• However, this is the easiest bonus to pick up later, due to only needing two satellites to cover South America.

Africa

Placing the base in Africa, you get a bonus All In: "Monthly XCOM funding increased by 30%".

Your base will be located in Nigeria

• This is generally held to be one of the best bonuses for any style of play.

Notes

• If you later cover an entire continent with satellites, then you also get that bonus even if your base is located elsewhere.
• The bonus takes effect immediately after you launch the satellites.

See Also

• Funding - for a list of the country/continent funding and bonuses.
• Continent Bonus Analysis - for a comparison of the different continent bonuses.
• Starting Funds - for a breakdown of the starting credits by difficulty level and continent.
• XCOM Headquarters