Arc Thrower (EU2012)

The Arc Thrower is a non-lethal sidearm designed to stun hostile targets. The mechanism seems to be most effective against weakened enemies.

The Arc Thrower is used to retrieve live aliens for interrogation. It is also the only way to retrieve intact weapons from X-COM missions, as alien weapons explode into fragments when aliens die. The Arc Thrower can only be used at close range, and can only be fired twice per mission. The Arc Thrower has a better chance of working if the target is low-health.

Stats

Arc Thrower

Required Research: Arc Thrower (Accessed via Xeno-Biology) Cost: §35, 5 Engineers Abilities: Stun: Attempts to stun the target alien (2x / mission). Foundry Upgrades: Improved Arc Thrower: Increased stun chance at 6 HP or below (up from 3). Repair SHIVs: Allows Arc Thrower to repair friendly SHIVs. Drone Hack: Take control of an enemy Drone for combat (similar to mind control).

Source: XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012)

Tips and tricks

• The Arc Thrower has a better chance of working if the target has 3 or fewer health remaining. (49% chance on 4hp target, 70/80/90% on 3/2/1hp)
• Foundry upgrade increases that threshold to 6. (49% on 7hp, 70/80/90 on 6/5/4hp and 95% chance on 3hp or lower)
• Given the close range, a Support class soldier with Sprinter is a fairly good candidate for packing the Arc Thrower.
• Alternatively, an Assault class soldier with Lightning Reflexes is another good candidate for the Arc Thrower as they can avoid the first overwatch shot of the target.
• To ensure you don't lose soldiers because of a failed stun attempt, try stunning the alien using at least two people in one turn or have another soldier with a clear line of sight that can take out the target if the attempt fails.
• Note that the Arc Thrower does not affect Chrysalids, Cyberdiscs or Sectopods, so you do not have to capture them to gain all the research topics.
• If you have a sniper with the Disabling Shot skill, you can make the stun much safer on the approach, and should the stun attempt fail the enemy will be unable to return fire on their next turn.
• Use of Suppression Fire is a good way to keep a wounded enemy immobile and without shooting, while your Arc Thrower soldier approaches.
• The weapons of aliens taken down with the Arc Thrower will not shatter into fragments. Instead, the weapon is recovered in working condition and will appear in the X-Com base inventory (although it still needs to be researched the before soldiers can use it).
• Stun, Repair Shiv, Drone Hack have separate charge from each other. You can use each of them twice per mission.