Mechtoid (EU2012)

The Mechtoid is a MEC developed by the aliens for the Sectoids that appears on Enemy Within DLC. The Mechtoid has an ability called Plasma Barrage which allows it to fire twice in a turn if it doesn't move and Sectoids (including Commanders) can mind merge with it and give it a 6 damage reducing shield. The Mechtoid won't die if the merger is killed, but it will lose the shield and take 4 damage.

Mechtoids can be fearful foes due to their resilience and firepower and will start appearing halfway through the game, with 1 or 2 Sectoids. After the Alien Base is assaulted you'll see them on the company of Sectoid Commanders, which turns them into a deadly combination of firepower and psionic powers.

Info

1st Appearance	June August (Marathon)
HP	16/20/22/24
Aim	60/70/80/80
Defense	10
Will	0
Movement	14
Easy/Normal/Classic/Impossible

Mechtoid Armaments

Weapon	Base Damage	Critical Damage	Critical Chance
Mechtoid Plasma Cannon	6-8	10 or 12	0

Mechtoid Abilities

Ability	Description
Plasma Barrage	Twin-linked plasma mini-cannons allow the Mechtoid two shots in the same turn.
Hardened	Confers extra protection against critical hits. Enemies suffer a -60% chance to inflict critical hits.

Notes

• Mechtoids will first appear in June (vanilla) or August (Marathon) with escorting Sectoids. Mechtoids with Sectoid Commanders will appear in July (vanilla) or October (Marathon).
• Mectoids can attack same target twice unlike Sectopods.
• Mechtoids are immune to the effects of the new Poison Grenade and to the Flamethrower.
• Sectoids and Sectoid Commanders can mind merge with Mechtoids that grants +6 HPs. The shield reduces all incoming weapons damage done to the Mechtoid by half.
• Killing the Sectoid that is mind merged with the Mechtoid cancels the shield and causes 3 damage to the mechanized alien.
• Recovered dead Mechtoids will give 2 alien artifacts: the Sectoid pilot's corpse and 1 Mechtoid Core.
  • Research of the Mech Core gives 2 new Foundry projects: Shaped Armor (adds 3 extra health to MECs and S.H.I.V.s) and Advanced Servomotors, which increases mobility for these 2 armored units.
• Killed Mechtoids will also grant 5 Meld.
• Mechtoids have -1 Damage on Easy, +2 Damage and +15 Critical Chance on Classic, and +4 Damage and +15 Critical Chance on Impossible difficulties.
• They are still vulnerable to Psi attacks, including Mind Control.
• Like how Berserkers are often fielded with Muton 'escorts', the Mechtoid will make regular appearances for the rest of a campaign, along with Sectoids and Sectoid Commanders, who will boost them with shields.
• Whichever way they are killed; they will crush any destructable cover/objects they fall on in their death throes.
• Their plasma cannon self-destructs into Weapon Fragments when they are killed, but do not recoverably "drop" if killed while under XCOM Mind Control, and they cannot be stunned at all: thus it is slightly more profitable to kill them with weapons fire.
• They do receive 7 points of damage from Mind Fray attacks from soldiers with the HEAT Ammo ability, as opposed to the usual 5.
• Even if your soldier is without HEAT, their lack of Will means they are guaranteed Mind fray victims, and should be prioritized as such: removing a portion of their move and aim tends to be a better choice than taking down one of their Sectoid escorts (which will often waste it's next turn linking with the Mechtoid anyways).