Ethereal (EU2012)

For the original UFO: Enemy Unknown (1994) version, see Ethereal

For the version that appears in The Bureau, see Ethereal (Bureau)

The Ethereals are some of, if not the most powerful alien creatures you will ever encounter in the game. These ancient aliens are the true masterminds behind the alien invasion. They are humanoid in form and possess four arms. While they are physically quite frail the Ethereals have the greatest psionic abilities seen in the entire game, using them to obliterate the minds and bodies of your squad.

Dr. Vahlen identifies a specimen to be centuries old. Despite this Ethereals actually have a ton of health. (20 health points in total on Classic and below difficulties) Do not expect them to turn into a pile of dust when you shoot them.

You will only find Ethereals in UFO assaults or on the final mission. They prefer to send their underlings such as Mutons to do their dirty work.

Stats

1st Appearance	{{{appears}}}
HP	20/20/20/25
Aim	N/A
Defense	40
Will	120/120/145/155
Movement	12
Easy/Normal/Classic/Impossible

Abilities:

• Psi Lance: offensive Psi ability (9 damage) and that deals more damage if the target fails a will challenge.
• Mindfray: offensive psionic ability (5 damage) that causes damage and lowers will/mobility/aim.
• Can Mind Control.
• Psi Drain: drains up to 5 points worth of health from a friendly organic target. Can kill target (can be used on mind-linked targets such as mind controlled squaddie)
• Rift: powerful AoE attack that inflicts more damage if they fail a will challenge. It has the potential to do from 4 damage (if resisted) to 20+ (to S.H.I.V.s, since they have no will to resist.) Rift will persist on the map for one turn and damage anything that enters.
• Chance to reflect physical projectiles back at the attacker. The reflected attack deals reduced damage.
• Hardened: Hardened units receive extra protection against critical hits (-60% crit chance)
• High Will: resistant to psionic attacks.
• Ethereals explode upon death, dealing damage to all units within a fairly small radius.

Notes

• S.H.I.V.s can be one of the best units against these aliens since they can't be mind controlled by them.
• If killed during a successful mission an Ethereal Corpse will be recovered.
• If captured during a mission and interrogated afterwards they will provide a bonus reduction on all technology.

Trivia

• The Ethereals of The Bureau may be related to these with the others being the Ethereals that transcended.

See Also

• Uber Ethereal - Warning: Spoilers Ahead!