Engineering (EU2012)

Dr. Shen, XCOM's head of Engineering

Main Engineering

In XCOM Engineering you will manufacture items that improve your capacity to repel the alien invasion.

Dr. Shen

Dr. Shen is the Chief Engineer at the XCOM base. He will notify the Commander of any news related to Engineering, as well as providing scientific advice during combat missions.

Resources

Three types of resources are needed for manufacturing in XCOM:

• Engineers
• Credits (§)
• Alien Artifacts such as Elerium or Alien Alloys

Engineers available versus cost savings

If you have more Engineers than the minimum required, they provide a cost discount. The discount increases quickly at first, then slows. It never goes below 50% (see graph). Rounding down, the formula is:

• When the current number of engineers equals the minimum needed, the term in parentheses becomes "2", cancelling the 1/2.
  • At twice the number of engineers, it costs 75%. So with 10 engineers, a satellite (Base Cost §100) costs §75.
  • At five times the number of engineers, it costs 60%. With 25 engineers, the satellite costs §60.
  • At twenty times the number of engineers, it costs 52.38%. With 100 engineers, a satellite costs §52 (cost is rounded down).
  • The inflection point is at three times the number of engineers. It can be considered a milestone for where the discount has slowed.

Other resource costs (corpses, etc.) are not discounted.

• The North American continent bonus gives another 50% discount to aircraft and aircraft weapons.
• The Asian continent bonus gives another 50% discount to SHIVs.

Workshops and Bonuses

For information on the structure, see Workshop.

• 2 Workshops adjacent to one another will give a 7% discount on building items.
• For a 3*3 square with 9 workshops, you will get 12*7% = 84% discount on building stuff.
• 14 adjacent workshops is nearly the maximum with 98% [1].
• To win the war on XCOM's ever-limited budget, a collection of Workshops is a sound investment. The reduction of materials and cost to build items saves resources (plus the savings from having more Engineers) to build Satellite Uplinks/Nexus and satellites, which in turn gets you more credits per month.

The Foundry

The Foundry is one of two places you can research equipment upgrades.

Foundry Projects

Build/Buy Items

Build Items

Item	Description	Prerequisite	Cost	Build time
Medikit	Our field-deployable Medikit can temporarily treat a soldier's wounds through the use of nanosutures and high-potency stimulants.	5 Engineers	§25	Immediate
Nano-Fiber Vest	Made from a dense weave of nanotube fibers, this lightweight vest provides extra damage absorption to the wearer.	Research: Alien Materials 5 Engineers	§20	Immediate
S.C.O.P.E.	When equipped, this advanced targeting module integrates with XCOM's Active HUD system to offer a significant increase to our soldier's aim.	5 Engineers	Research:Weapon Fragments §20	Immediate
Arc Thrower	The Arc Thrower is a non-lethal sidearm designed to stun hostile targets. The mechanism seems to be most effective against weakened enemies.	Research: Arc Thrower 5 Engineers	§35 §10 on Easy difficulty	Immediate
Laser Pistol	The laser pistol relies on our latest advancements to provide a more powerful sidearm that does not require reloading in the field.	Research: Beam Weapons 10 Engineers	§10 10 Alloys	Immediate
Laser Rifle	The Laser Assault Rifle relies on our latest in optics technology to offer a substantial increase in output over the conventional X-9 rifle.	Research: Beam Weapons 12 Engineers	§25 5 Alloys	Immediate
Laser Sniper Rifle	The Laser Sniper Rifle provides a greater chance of inflicting critical damage to enemy targets. However, due to the unwieldy nature of this rifle, our soldiers will suffer a penalty when attempting to strike targets at close range.	Research: Precision Lasers 12 Engineers	§35 25 Alloys	Immediate
Scatter Laser	The Scatter Laser is capable of inflicting considerable damage; however, accuracy suffers greatly as the range to target increases.	Research: Precision Lasers 12 Engineers	§30 25 Alloys	Immediate
Heavy Laser	The Heavy Laser requires a supplementary power supply that makes it somewhat unwieldy in combat, but it is capable of dealing high amounts of damage.	Research: Heavy Lasers 12 Engineers	§30 25 Alloys	Immediate
Chitin Plating	Light plating made from the Chryssalid exoskeleton, this material provides additional protection and a significant reduction to melee damage sustained.	Research: Chryssalid Autopsy 15 Engineers	§85 15 Alloys 4 Chryssalid Corpse	Immediate
Combat Stims	This powerful stimulant cocktail derived from a chemical found in the glands of a Muton Berserker provides a temporary boost to several of our soldier's vital statistics.	Research: Berserker Autopsy 15 Engineers	§50 5 Alloys 1 Berserker Corpse	Immediate
Plasma Pistol	By discharging a lethal shot of ionized gas in an artificially generated magnetic field, this weapon performs far beyond the capabilities of any projectile based sidearm.	Research: Plasma Pistol 20 Engineers	§100 10 Elerium 20 Alloys	Immediate
Light Plasma Rifle	This lightweight rifle functions on the same principle as our other plasma weapon concepts - a jet of ionized gas discharged through a focused magnetic field. The lightweight frame greatly improves the overall accuracy of this weapon.	Research: Light Plasma Rifle 20 Engineers	§125 15 Elerium 20 Alloys Classic/Impossible (EW DLC): §180 30 Elerium, 30 Alloys	Immediate
Plasma Rifle	This modified assault rifle fires a jet of ionized gas through a focused magnetic field - an extremely effective plasma-based weapon.	Research: Plasma Rifle 20 Engineers	§200 20 Elerium 30 Alloys Classic/Impossible (EW DLC): §300 40 Elerium, 50 Alloys	Immediate
Plasma Sniper Rifle	By modifying our current power system to hold a greater charge, we've developed a Plasma Sniper Rifle capable of delivering an extremely powerful shot that will greatly increase the odds of inflicting critical damage to hostile targets.	Research: Plasma Sniper Rifle 25 Engineers	§250 25 Elerium 30 Alloys Classic/Impossible (EW DLC): §375 60 Elerium, 50 Alloys	Immediate
Heavy Plasma	The Heavy Plasma rifle uses an expanded power supply and cooling mechanism to allow for a much higher rate of fire than anything we've fielded previously.	Research: Heavy Plasma 25 Engineers	§250 30 Elerium 30 Alloys Classic/Impossible (EW DLC): §375 60 Elerium, 50 Alloys	Immediate
Alloy Cannon	By developing a firing mechanism capable of projecting machined shards of the alien alloy, we've created an extremely powerful weapon that has a devastating effect on anything caught in range. However, accuracy falls off quickly over greater distances.	Research: Alloy Cannon 25 Engineers	§250 20 Elerium 50 Alloys Classic/Impossible (EW DLC): §300 40 Elerium, 75 Alloys	Immediate
Blaster Launcher	By integrating components of the advanced alien navigation systems, we can fire self-guided rockets capable of navigating to the intended target without direct line-of-sight. Damage output has also been signifigantly improved through use of the alien fusion core.	Research: Guided Fusion Launcher 35 Engineers	§275 65 Elerium 50 Alloys 1 Fusion Core 2 UFO Flight Computer Classic/Impossible (EW DLC): §400 120 Elerium, 75 Alloys	Immediate
Skeleton Key	This device is the culmination of our research into the shard recovered from the alien Outsider. It should allow our troops to infiltrate the alien base and find out what's inside.	Research: Outsider Shard 10 Engineers	§25 10 Elerium 10 Alloys	Immediate
Mind Shield	Developed using the cybernetic implants we removed from the skull of the Ethereal alien species, this device should allow for a greater resistance to offensive psi attacks.	Research: Ethereal Autopsy 35 Engineers	§150 30 Elerium 10 Alloys 1 Ethereal Corpse	Immediate

Build Armor

Item	Description	Prerequisite	Cost	Build time
Carapace Armor	Our Carapace Armor was designed to offer substantially better protection against the alien plasma weaponry through the use of their alloys. Tests indicate a substantial survivability increase relative to conventional body armor.	Research: Carapace Armor 10 Engineers	§25 15 Alloys	Immediate
Skeleton Suit	The Skeleton Suit is our first attempt at combining medium-weight body armor with an integrated grappling hook for scaling objects in the field.	Research: Skeleton Suit 15 Engineers	§30 10 Alloys	Immediate
Titan Armor	This Titan Armor is among our heaviest designs, enhancing our soldier's protection from weapons fire, while also providing immunity to fire and toxins.	Research: Titan Armor 25 Engineers	§150 10 Elerium 35 Alloys	Immediate
Ghost Armor	By integrating a stealth field based on the phase-shifts observed in the hyperwave beacon, this suit makes it extremely difficult for the wearer to be detected in the field. It should be noted, the stealth system is only effective when used by a soldier in cover.	Research: Ghost Armor 40 Engineers	§250 50 Elerium 40 Alloys	Immediate
Archangel Armor	The Archangel suit combines our heavy armor set with a small propulsion system that allows for limited flight capabilities.	Research: Archangel Armor 35 Engineers	§200 35 Elerium 50 Alloys	Immediate
Psi Armor	Our most powerful armored suit, this equipment serves to amplify the wearer's psionic abilities through a system modeled after the alien's own cybernetic implants. However, it should be noted, this armor can only be equipped by a soldier found to have Psionic abilities.	Research: Psi Armor 30 Engineers	§400 40 Elerium 20 Alloys	Immediate

Vehicles

Item	Description	Prerequisite	Cost	Build time
Firestorm	The Firestorm is our highly advanced combat aircraft incorporating numerous advances gained from studying the technology found in the alien ships. Power and navigational systems in particular were adapted directly from the alien designs.	Research: New Fighter Craft 20 Engineers	§200 20 Elerium 40 Alloys 1 UFO Power Source 2 UFO Flight Computer	14 days
Satellite	An advanced reconnaissance satellite modified to detect the unique gravitational distortions caused by alien craft in flight.	5 Engineers	§100	20 days
SHIV	The Super Heavy Infantry Vehicle, or SHIV, is an advanced weapons platform that can be deployed in place of a human soldier. While extremely capable in most combat scenarios, any damage to the SHIV will require lengthy repairs.	Foundry: Heavy Weapons Platform 5 Engineers 1 Barracks Capacity	§100	7 days
Alloy SHIV	Integration of the alien alloy into the basic SHIV design results in a weapons platform that is both lighter and stronger than the original. The reinforced chassis allows for this SHIV to be used as a mobile cover position in the field.	Foundry: Heavy Weapons Platform 10 Engineers 1 Barracks Capacity	§150 40 Alloys	7 days
Hover SHIV	"Our latest modification to the S.H.I.V. vehicle involves the integration of a small pulse engine, allowing the entire platform to fly over rough terrain.	Research: New Fighter Craft Foundry: Heavy Weapons Platform 20 Engineers 1 Barracks Capacity	§200 40 Elerium 60 Alloys	7 days
Fusion Lance	The Fusion Lance is the most powerful anti-aircraft weapon currently available to XCOM. It should be capable of taking down any UFO engaged by the Firestorm.	Research: Fusion Lance 35 Engineers	§150 20 Elerium 30 Alloys	Immediate
EMP Cannon	The EMP cannon was developed in an effort to increase the chance of recovering functional alien technology from downed UFOs. Although the alien systems will be disabled, the EMP does not inflict physical damage to these components.	Research: EMP Cannon 30 Engineers	§200 20 Elerium 30 Alloys	Immediate
Plasma Cannon	The focused plasma cannon is an ideal anti-UFO weapon, combining high damage output with a long effective range.	Research: Plasma Cannon 20 Engineers	§100 20 Elerium 20 Alloys	Immediate
Laser Cannon	These super-cooled laser cannons can take down most alien craft, but they have a limited range, requiring the Interceptor to close in on hostile targets.	Research: Heavy Lasers 10 Engineers	§35 25 Alloys	Immediate
Phoenix Cannon	The Phoenix Cannon is capable of delivering massive burst damage, but its limited range puts the Interceptor at greater risk during combat.	Research: Experimental Warfare 5 Engineers	§35	Immediate
Defense Matrix (Dodge)	Activate this module during interception to provide an immediate, temporary boost to our unit's evasive ability. The matrix will burn out after one use. Floater adaptive reflex technology was surprisingly compatible with our satellite systems, allowing us to predict enemy firing solutions.	Research: Floater Autopsy 10 Engineers	§50 3 Floater Corpse	Immediate
UFO Tracking (Boost)	Activate this module during interception to provide an immediate, temporary boost to our unit's pursuit speed. The module will burn out after one use. Its technology lets us focus our satellites' computation resources on UFO pursuit, and might buy precious time to chase down even the fastest UFOs.	Research: Cyberdisc Autopsy 10 Engineers	§20 2 Cyberdisc Wreck	Immediate
Uplink Targeting (Aim)	Activate this module during interception to provide an immediate, temporary boost to our unit's accuracy. The module will burn out after one use. Its technology is based on Sectoid implants, and allows us to send a data pulse through our satellite network.	Research: Sectoid Autopsy 5 Engineers	§10 3 Sectoid Corpse	Immediate

Enemy Within DLC

Item	Description	Prerequisite	Cost	Build time
Needle Grenade	A variant on the Frag Grenade, this weapon does equivalent damage over a much larger area but the projectiles cannot damage cover. Thus units in cover related to the center of the blast area will be unaffected.	Research: Chryssalid Autopsy 7 Engineers	§40 5 Alloys 2 Chryssalid Corpses	Immediate
Flashbang Grenade	Enemy units inside the blast radius suffer significant Aim and movement penalties during their next turn. Robotic and advanced psionic enemies are immune.	Research: Experimental Warfare 5 Engineers	§35	Immediate
Gas Grenade	Our advanced research in alien physiology has allowed us to synthesize a modified version of the poison projected by the Thin Man, and containerize it in grenade form.	Research: Thin Man Autopsy 7 Engineers	§35 2 Thin Man Corpses	Immediate
Ghost Grenade	This grenade contains elerium-infused particles that, when diffused into our soldiers, causes them to become invisible. These particles will lose their elerium charge after a brief time, and competing energy sources - such as weapons fire - will disrupt them.	Research: Seeker Autopsy 10 Engineers	§200 25 Elerium 4 Seeker Wrecks	Immediate
Mimic Beacon	This device has been programmed to mimic the auditory cues the invaders appear to use in the field. It can be used to attract their attention to an area.	Research: Sectoid Commander Autopsy 5 Engineers	§50	Immediate
Reaper Rounds	Experimental ballistics have led to this specialized conventional weapon load. It can cause substantial extra damage to affected targets, but the additional casing elements make it less accurate at long range. The rounds will not work with pistols, though.	Research: Experimental Warfare 6 Engineers	§30	Immediate
Respirator Implant	We can fabricate a module that will automatically detect chemical and physical threats to a soldier's oxygen supply, and deploy uncomfortable but potentially life-saving oxygen tube shunts in a matter of seconds. This module will fit all of XCOM's armor designs.	Research: Seeker Autopsy 5 Engineers	§35	Immediate
Railgun	This high-powered, recoiless slugthrower can be fired in short bursts to devastating effect, although the sizes of its housing and power supply require it to be mounted on a MEC. Prior to our research on heavy lasers, we had no access to a small enough power source.	Research: Heavy Lasers 10 Engineers	§70 30 Alloys	Immediate
Particle Cannon	Applications of our heavy plasma technology permit the creation of a burst-style particle beam, capable of unprecedented focused energy output. Its heat dispersal would be highly dangerous to an unmodified soldier, but a MEC suit is capable of mounting the necessary systems.	Research: Heavy Plasma 40 Engineers	§325 40 Alloys 40 Elerium	Immediate
MEC-1 Warden	The Mechanized Exoskeletal Cybersuit, or MEC, has access to heavier primary weapons than unaugmented soldiers can use	Research: Meld Recombination 5 Engineers	§25 40 Meld	Immediate
MEC-2 Sentinel	The MEC-2 is capable of deploying a wider variety of weapons and devices than its predecessor	Research: UFO Power Source 10 Engineers	§§32 60 Meld	Immediate
MEC-3 Paladin	The MEC-3 is capable of deploying several powerful weapons and devices in addition to the main gun	Research: Titan Armor 25 Engineers	§106 100 Meld	Immediate

Build Facilities

Non-unique facilities require more manpower as more of the same are built. This increase does not apply to the power facilities. After researching Advanced Construction in the Foundry it is possible to build facilities in rush mode. It requires twice as much of money, Elerium and Alloys but shortens time by 50%. Unlike everything else that can be produced in Engineering, the price and item requirements do not lower based on how many Engineers you have.

Facilities

Facility	Description	Prerequisite	Cost	Monthly cost	Notes/Bonus	Build time
Access Lift	Access Lifts enable XCOM's subterranean base to expand deeper into the earth.	None	§50 2 Power	§10	Required to access a lower level.	5 days
Satellite Uplink	With the signal monitored by a team of engineers, each Satellite Uplink is capable of receiving transmissions from 2 XCOM satellites.Adjacency Bonus: +1 satellite capacity for every two uplinks constructed adjacent to one another.	5 Engineers After 2nd Uplink/Nexus, +10 for next Satellite Uplink, +15 for next Satellite Nexus	§150 (§100 EW DLC) 5 Power	§15	+1 Satellite capacity for every adjacent Uplink or Nexus	14 days
Satellite Nexus	With the signal monitored by a team of engineers, each Satellite Nexus is capable of receiving transmissions from 4 XCOM satellites. Adjacency Bonus: +1 satellite capacity for every two uplinks constructed adjacent to one another.	Research: Alien Nav Computer 5 Engineers After 2nd Uplink/Nexus, +10 for each Satellite Uplink, +15 for each Satellite Nexus	§300 (§250 EW DLC) 8 Power 25x Alloys 2x UFO Flight Computer	§26	+1 Satellite capacity for every adjacent Uplink or Nexus	21 days
Laboratory	Each laboratory increases research speed by 20%. Adjacency Bonus: 10% increase to research speed for every adjacent laboratory.	6 Scientists (2nd Lab requires 10, each next requires 5 more)	§125 3 Power	§24	+10% increase to research speed for every adjacent laboratory	10 days
Workshop	Each workshop adds 5 engineers to our staff. Adjacency Bonus: 7/10% refund on resources used when building vehicles, Foundry projects and facilities.	5 Engineers (2nd Workshop requires 15, each next requires 10 more)	§130 3 Power	§26	Each gives 5 additional engineers. 7% rebate on §, Alloys and Elerium (10% on the EW DLC).	10 days
The Foundry	Develop new combat items or improve current items in the Foundry.	Research: Experimental Warfare	§75 3 Power	§20	10% adjacency bonus on the EW DLC if next to Workshops/Foundry	10 days
Alien Containment	This facility will provide a secure environment to house the alien captives, allowing you to interrogate them in the Labs.	Research: Xeno-Biology	§85 5 Power	§18	Required to interrogate aliens.	7 days
Power Generator	Power Generators supply the power needed to run new facilities. Each generator supplies +6 power. Adjacency Bonus: + power for every adjacent power facility.	None	§60	§11	+2 power for every adjacent power facility.	5 days
Thermo Power Generator	Thermal Power Generators supply +20 power, but must be built over steam vents. Adjacency Bonus: + power for every adjacent power facility.	Steam Vent	§200	§23	+2 power for every adjacent power facility.	8 days
Elerium Generator	Elerium Power Generators supply +30 power. Adjacency Bonus: + power for every adjacent power facility.	Research: UFO Power Source	§275 40 Alloys 30 Elerium 2 UFO Power Source	§29	+2 power for every adjacent power facility.	14 days
Psionic Lab	This facility will allow us to discover and develop the latent psionic abilities of our soldiers. If they have any such capabilities, using them in the field will increase their strength.	Research: Sectoid Commander Autopsy/Interrogate Sectoid Commander	§200 3 Power 20 Elerium 20 Alloys	§30	Contains 3 slots where soldiers can be put for 10 days to discover whether they are gifted in psionic skills. Only 1 can be built.	14 days
Hyperwave Relay	Alien communications rely on a supra-dimensional wave which travels almost instantaneously. This relay should allow us to trace the source of these communications.	Research: Hyperwave Communication	§175 4 Power 10 Alloys 1 Hyperwave Beacon	§30	Reveals information on the type and number of aliens present in all detected UFOs.	14 days
Gollop Chamber	Once we build this facility, a psionically powerful soldier will be able to access the Ethereal's psychic net. Cannot remove this facility.	Research: Ethereal Device	§200 5 Power 1 Psi Link	§100	Required to advance in the game's Storyline.	14 days
Genetics Lab	This annex to the Research Labs will allow us to genetically modify our soldiers. This facility counts as a Laboratory for adjacency benefits.	Research: Meld Recombination	§50 3 Power	§20	EW DLC facility Contains 3 slots where Gene Mods can be implanted on soldiers. 10% adjacency bonus on the EW DLC with Workshops/Foundry	10 days
Cybernetics Lab	Here we will be able to build Mechanized Exoskeletal Cybersuits (MECs), and augment soldiers to wear them. This facility counts as a Workshop for adjacency benefits.	Research: Meld Recombination	§50 3 Power	§20	EW DLC facility Contains 3 slots to augment soldiers into MEC Troopers, also allows to build/repair MEC Suits. 10% adjacency bonus on the EW DLC with Labs.	10 days