Biological Warfare (Apocalypse)

Biological Warfare can be considered the ultimate human-designed weapon to fight the aliens. Either this or the Devastator Cannon can be considered your "standard issue" alien-slaying weapon in the mid-to-late game.

Stats

X-COM Toxigun

Toxigun

The Toxigun is one of the most powerful weapons in the game, available upon the completion of Biological Warfare research. Not only do the toxins specifically target alien biologies, but Toxigun shots can pass through Personal Disrupter Shields without destroying them. Note, however, that the toxins are relatively harmless to human adversaries.

Size: 1 × 2 Weight: 5 ROF: 4.50 r/s Accuracy: 40% Manufacturer: X-COM Manufacturing Price: $1,200 Base Sale Price: $2,780 Maximum Weekly Stock: 8 Battlescape Score: 4

"An X-COM weapon designed to shoot high powered projectiles containing anti-Alien toxic fluids. It is designed to cause minimal harm to other targets and is not very good at penetrating armor."

Ammunition

Toxin A

Toxigun A-Clip

With the Toxigun comes Toxin A. While it is weak, it does have the ability to bypass (and thus capture) shields. Nevertheless, Toxin B is usually available right after researching Toxin A and is much more potent.

Size: 1 × 1 Weight: 1 Power: 50 Damage Type: Toxin A Ammo: 16 Range: 50m Manufacturer: X-COM Manufacturing Price: $200 Base Sale Price: $500 Maximum Weekly Stock: 16 Battlescape Score: 2

"Ammunition for Toxigun. It contains a lethal fast acting poison designed to target Alien life forms. It is not so effective against the more advanced bipedal Alien types."

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Toxin B

Toxigun B-Clip

Toxin B is a step up from Toxin A, but still not as potent as Toxin C. Takes 1-2 shots to kill Skeletoids or Anthropods.

Size: 1 × 1 Weight: 1 Power: 65 Damage Type: Toxin B Ammo: 16 Range: 50m Manufacturer: X-COM Manufacturing Price: $300 Base Sale Price: $700 Maximum Weekly Stock: 16 Battlescape Score: 2

"Ammunition for Toxigun. It contains a lethal fast acting poison designed to target Alien lifeforms. It effectively renders the earlier A-type toxin obsolete because it is more powerful and more effective against the higher Alien life forms."

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Toxin C

Toxigun C-Clip

Toxin C. This is the pinnacle of anti-alien warfare. A couple of shots will render even the hardiest Megaspawn dead at your feet. A great weapon, to be sure, but still lacks the ability to recharge. I use Devastator Cannons more often than this, but it is a good weapon nonetheless. NEVER use this weapon if you cannot mass-manufacture Toxin C. Otherwise your troops will end up without ammunition, which tends to put a damper on your success in battles.

Size: 1 × 1 Weight: 1 Power: 85 Damage Type: Toxin C Ammo: 16 Range: 50m Manufacturer: X-COM Manufacturing Price: $400 Base Sale Price: $900 Maximum Weekly Stock: 16 Battlescape Score: 2

"Ammunition for Toxigun. A fast acting poison which targets all Alien life forms with equally devastating effects. This toxin effectively supersedes the A or B types."

Comparison with the Devastator Cannon

Advantages for the Toxigun:

1. High rate of fire. A four-man squad dual-wielding these can unleash a fog of bullets.
   • Note: When paired in real-time combat and firing on full-auto, the rate of fire is so great that the secondary weapon barely gets used. An agent that does not have maxed firing accuracy should consider switching to a slower but more accurate firing mode. You will still enjoy the rapid rate of fire, but with much improved accuracy. This is less important for agents with maxed accuracy where firing accuracy is the same across the different firing modes.
2. Small and one-handed. There is no loss in accuracy when dual-wielded.
3. Ignores enemy shields (without damaging them! You'll never need to manufacture shields.)
4. Does more damage, especially Toxin-C... and especially vs shielded opponents. Basically, 1 shot from Toxin-B will kill anything other than a Psimorph and Megaspawn. And 2-3 shots from Toxin C will kill a megaspawn. Combined with the high rate of fire, this means that a toxigun can theoratically kill 10 aliens in the time that a devastator takes to kill 1 alien. (depending on alien type)
   • Note: When playing in real time, I once teleported behind a group of Megaspawns and Skeletoids and killed ALL of them with 2 agents, while they were in the process of turning around. They didn't have time to fire a single shot off. Toxin C is THAT powerful.
5. Hurts humans less than a machine gun... will pratically never penetrate Disruptor Armor. Thus, toxigun-equipped squads are your best choice for taking down Psimorphs and Micronoids. Even if the agents get mind controlled, they won't cause any serious damage to each other with a toxigun.
6. Hurts humans almost as much as a machine gun... you can bring this on raids against COS, and get as many free Personal Shields as you want! Note that toxin-A, toxin-B and toxin-C do around the same damage against humans.

Disadvantages compared to the Devastator Cannon:

1. Requires ammo; costs money to fire, and bring plenty of extra clips for long missions.
   1. Fortunately, you can manufacture the ammunition. No more worrying about Marsec or MegaPol running out!
   2. Unfortunately, you must manufacture the ammunition. One small workshop working full-time should produce more ammo than you use once you've built up your stocks. UNLESS you are using this against human opponents, in which case there is not enough ammo to go around.
2. Less accurate

See Also

• Biochemistry

• Agents Equipment