Perk List (LW2)

As with Long War 1, Long War 2 includes numerous changes to existing perks, as well as introducing new ones. This page provides a quick-reference on all perks currently relevant to gameplay, as well as a repository for wiki contributors.

Class Perks

Some of these abilities can also be learned in the Advanced Warfare Center.

Adaptive Aim

When Overdrive is active, Standard Shots do not incur recoil penalties.

Adaptive Aim eliminates the 15% Aim penalty for consecutive Standard Shots when Overdrive is active.

Available for: SPARK

Aid Protocol

Command your GREMLIN to move to a friendly target. It grants that target a bonus to Defense until the start of the next player turn.

Aid Protocol, if used with your first action, will not end your turn.
As Aid Protocol takes effect immediately, it can be used to defend against reaction fire from enemies.
More advanced GREMLIN models will increase the defensive bonus granted by Aid Protocol.

Available for: Specialist

Airdrop

The GREMLIN grants an explosive grenade to the targeted ally. Use twice per mission.

Grants an explosive grenade to the targeted ally.
Airdrop initially confers a frag grenade, but as XCOM's technology improves it will instead provide a more advanced device.
Activating Airdrop uses one action and does not end the soldier's turn.
Use twice per mission.

Available for: Specialist

Aggression

Gain +5 critical chance for each enemy you can see, up to a maximum of 30.

Gain +5 critical chance for each enemy you can see, up to a maximum of 30.
Units visible at squadsight ranges do confer bonus.

Available for: Assault, Ranger, Sharpshooter

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 2/3

Alpha Mike Foxtrot

You do 4 additional points of base damage and 2 additional points of crit damage with your primary weapon.

You do 4 additional points of base damage and 2 additional points of crit damage with your primary weapon.

Available for: Sharpshooter

Area Suppression

Fire a barrage that pins down multiple targets within a 4-tile radius, granting reaction fire against anyone that moves, and imposing a -25 penalty to all targets' aim until suppression is removed. Cannot be used when concealed.

Area Suppression cannot be used when the soldier is concealed.
Any unit that attempts to move will face reaction fire as long as the suppressing unit has ammo remaining.
Does not work with shotguns or sniper rifles.
Area Suppression costs 3 ammo points to use, plus one additional ammo for each reaction shot. It has no cooldown.
Area suppression will be canceled if the suppressing unit is damaged.
If multiple units suppress a target, the aim penalty will stack. (Note: This information is incorrect as LW2 inherits the properties of suppression not stacking in vanilla, despite vanilla game claiming suppression can stack as well)
Suppression restricts many of the target's abilities, including the use of rockets and grenades.

Available for: Gunner

Arc Pulser

Fire your Arc Thrower to incapacitate a target and damage mechanical enemies.

The Arc Thrower is effective anywhere in the soldier's sight range, doing no damage but stunning targets for their next turn if it hits.
Improved versions can extend the duration of the stun effect.
Requires one action and ends the soldier's turn when fired.
Can use every other turn.
Damage to mechanical units starts at 3 and increases as arc thrower technology improves.
Reduces enemy hack defense by 20.

Available for: Assault

Arsenal

The BIT can equip and fire heavy weapons.

Arsenal allows the SPARK to equip heavy weapons in their loadout.

Available for: SPARK

Biggest Booms

Your grenades and standard rockets can inflict critical damage (50% chance for +2 damage).

Grenades, standard rockets, and MEC micromissiles can inflict critical damage (50% chance for +2 damage).
Does not apply to non-damaging grenades or the Concussion Rocket or Bunker Buster abilities.

Available for: Grenadier, Technical

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 1

Blademaster

All sword attacks deal +1 extra damage and have +10 Aim.

Blademaster deals a bonus +1 damage on every successful melee attack.
Blademaster grants +10 Aim to melee attacks.

Available for: Shinobi

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 2

Bladestorm

Free sword attacks on any enemies that enter or attack from melee range.

If an enemy begins their turn in an adjacent tile, Bladestorm will trigger if that enemy tries to attack the soldier.
If an enemy does not begin their turn in an adjacent tile, then Bladestorm will trigger when that enemy moves into melee range.

Available for: Shinobi

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 2

Bluescreen Bombs

Your flashbang grenades now disorient robotic units and reduce their resistance to hacking.

Your flashbang grenades now disorient robotic units.
Your flashbang grenades also reduce robotic hack defense.

Available for: Grenadier

Body Shield

A targeted enemy receives -20 aim and -50 critical chance against the soldier.

A targeted enemy receives -20 aim and -50 critical chance against the soldier.

Available for: SPARK

Bombard

Launch the BIT to any visible location where it releases a powerful explosive blast. Advanced BITs do more damage.

Bombard can be fired at any location within squadsight.
Upgrading your BIT will lead to more Bombard damage.

Available for: SPARK

Bombardier

You may throw or launch grenades two additional tiles.

Your grenades have 2 tiles extra range.
This includes either launched or thrown grenades.

Available for: Grenadier

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 2/3

Boosted Cores

Explosive grenades do one additional damage.

Your grenades have extra explosives and do one additional damage but require special training to handle.
This also applies to grenade effects, like fire from incendiary weapons.

Available for: Grenadier

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 1

Both Barrels

Fire both barrels of sawed-off shotgun at nearby enemy, doing double damage.

Fire both barrels of sawed-off shotgun at nearby enemy, doing double damage.
Uses 2 ammo.
Uses one action, does not end turn.

Available for: Ranger

Bring 'Em On

Gain +1 damage on critical hits for every two enemies you can see, up to a maximum of +8.

Gain +1 damage on critical hits for every two enemies you can see, up to a maximum of +8.
Units visible at squadsight ranges do confer bonus.

Available for: Assault, Ranger

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 2/3

Bulwark

Gain a bonus point of Armor, and always provide high cover to all adjacent squadmates.

Bulwark adds one point of Armor.
Any squadmate standing adjacent to the SPARK will gain the high cover Defense bonus.

Available for: SPARK

Bunker Buster

Fire a special rocket that destroys buildings and other objects in the environment.

Fire a special rocket with a large area of effect that does moderate damage to enemies but huge damage to buildings, vehicles and other objects in the environment.
Requires both actions and usable only once per mission.

Available for: Technical

Burnout

Activating your Flamethrower leaves a small smoke cloud around your position, providing a defensive bonus.

When fired, your Flamethrower leaves a small smoke cloud around your position, providing a +20 defensive bonus to anyone within.

Available for: Technical

Capacitor Discharge

Send the GREMLIN to a location where it emits a substantial electric discharge, damaging and potentially stunning all nearby units. Robotic units take more damage.

Capacitor Discharge has one charge per mission.
Capacitor Discharge will deal more damage as you upgrade your GREMLIN.

Available for: Specialist

Center Mass

You do one additional point of base damage when using guns.

You do one additional point of base damage with your primary weapon, pistols or a sawed-off shotgun.

Available for: Grenadier, Gunner, Ranger, Sharpshooter

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 1/2

Chain Lightning

Fire your Arc Thrower at every visible enemy who is capable of being stunned. Five-turn cooldown.

Fire your Arc Thrower at every visible enemy who is capable of being stunned.
Requires one action and ends your turn.
Five-turn cooldown.
Can not be used from concealment.

Available for: Assault

Chain Shot

Take a shot with an aim penalty of -10. If you hit the target, you take another shot on the target automatically.

Chain Shot requires 2 ammo points, and has a 3 turn cooldown.
Chain Shot can be devastating against non-cover enemies, or when augmented with aim bonuses.

Available for: Grenadier, Gunner

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 2

Channeling Field

Every time you are targeted, part of the energy is channeled to your primary weapon. This energy is unleashed with your next Standard Shot.

Each point of energy channeled by Channeling Field increases the damage of the next primary weapon attack by 1.
The energy stored by channeling field is expended even if the next shot misses.

Available for: SPARK

Close and Personal

Confers +30 critical chance against adjacent targets. The bonus declines with distance from the target.

Confers +30 critical chance against adjacent targets.
Bonus reduced by 5% for each additional tile of distance from the target, down to 0% at 7 or more tiles.

Available for: Assault, Ranger

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 1

Close Combat Specialist

During enemy turns, fire a free reaction shot with your primary weapon at any visible enemy within four tiles who moves or fires. Will not trigger if soldier is concealed.

Will not trigger if soldier is concealed.
You may shoot at each enemy with this ability once per turn.
Each shot costs two points of ammo.

Available for: Assault

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 3

Close Encounters

Once per turn, gain a bonus action after taking a standard shot with your primary weapon at an enemy within four tiles. Close Encounters cannot be used after Run and Gun is activated.

Once per turn, gain a bonus action after taking a standard shot with your primary weapon at an enemy within four tiles.
Close Encounters cannot be used after Run and Gun is activated.
A red ring will mark the range of this ability.

Available for: Assault

Combat Awareness

Grants 15 defense and an armor point when in overwatch.

Gain 15 defense and an armor point when in overwatch.

Available for: SPARK

Combat Protocol

Send the GREMLIN to an enemy to jolt them, dealing guaranteed damage, which is increased against robotic enemies.

Combat Protocol has two charges per mission.
Upgrading your GREMLIN will lead to more damage per charge.

Available for: Specialist

Combat Engineer

Your explosives do significantly greater damage to cover objects and other things on the battlefield.

More powerful than Sapper by itself, Combat Engineer stacks with Sapper to maximize environmental damage, although either perk alone will still destroy many cover objects.
Combat Engineer also prevents environmental damage from falling off from the center of an explosion, meaning you will destroy objects in a larger area.

Available for: Grenadier

Combat Fitness

Gain 4 aim, 1 mobility, 2 HP, 4 will, and 4 dodge.

Combat Fitness provides 4 aim, 1 mobility, 2 HP, 4 will, and 4 dodge.

Available for: Gunner, Ranger

Available in the AWC: Offense/Defense Level 3

Combatives

You may parry melee attacks and counterattack with your combat knife. Also gain +10 dodge.

You are very likely to parry the first melee attack against you in a turn and counterattack with your combat knife.
Soldier also gains 10 dodge.

Available for: Gunner, Shinobi

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 2

Concussion Rocket

Fire a special rocket that does limited damage but has a chance to stun or disorient organic enemies within its area of effect and leaves a cloud of smoke.

One use per mission.
Stun and disorientation chances based on target's will score.
Requires one action and ends the soldier's turn.

Available for: Technical

Conceal

Immediately enter concealment once per mission.

Concealment can be entered at any location, but when done inside the detection radii of nearby enemies the soldier will be revealed when flanked.

Available for: Shinobi

Cool Under Pressure

You gain +10 Aim on Overwatch and other reaction shots, and they can critically hit.

You gain +10 Aim on Overwatch and other reaction shots, and they can critically hit.

Available for: Gunner, Ranger, Specialist, SPARK

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 2/3

Coup de Grâce

Sword attacks against unconscious, stunned, panicked or disoriented enemies have +50 aim, +50 crit and deal two points of additional base damage.

Sword attacks against unconscious, stunned, panicked or disoriented enemies have +50 aim, +50 crit and deal two points of additional base damage.

Available for: Shinobi

Covering Fire

Overwatch shots can now be triggered by any enemy action, not just movement. Targets of overwatch shots receive -10 aim for the rest of the turn whether or not the shot was triggered because of this ability.

If triggered by an enemy action, Covering Fire will trigger before the enemy action completes.
If triggered by an enemy in cover, Covering Fire will respect that cover with "to-hit" calculations.

Available for: Ranger, Specialist

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 1

Covert

Enemies have 25% smaller detection range against you.

Enemies have 25% smaller detection range against you, as denoted by red tiles surrounding enemies who are not alerted to your presence.
This ability also grants a small reduction in this soldier's impact on infiltration times.
Does not apply to ADVENT security towers.

Available for: Shinobi

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 1/2

Cutthroat

Your melee attacks against biological enemies ignore their armor, have a +15 critical chance, and do +2 critical damage.

Your melee attacks against biological enemies ignore their armor, have a +15 critical chance, and do +2 critical damage.

Available for: Shinobi

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 1

Cyclic Fire

Special Shot: Fire three shots at a target in a single attack. Requires both actions and all shots have aim penalties. Four-turn cooldown.

Special Shot: Fire three shots at a target in a single attack. Requires two actions and all shots have a -15 penalty to aim.
Requires 5 ammo.
Requires a burst-fire weapon; ability will not be available when a shotgun or sniper rifle is equipped as a primary weapon.

Available for: Gunner

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 3

Damage Control

After taking damage, gain two armor through the end of the next turn.

Your armor hardens temporarily after an impact. After taking damage, gain two armor through the end of the next turn.
Taking multiple hits on successive turns extends the timer.

Available for: SPARK

Damn Good Ground

Confers +10 aim and +10 defense against targets at a lower elevation.

Confers +10 aim and +10 defense against targets at a lower elevation.

Available for: Sharpshooter

Available in the AWC: Offense/Defense Level 1

Danger Zone

Area Suppression suppresses enemies in a 5-tile radius.

Area Suppression suppresses enemies in a 6-tile radius.

Available for: Gunner

Deadeye

Take a shot with a small aim penalty for a significant damage boost.

Deadeye reduces the overall hit chance of a shot by 15%, but increases the base damage of the shot by 50%.
Deadeye has a 2 turn cooldown.

Available for: Sharpshooter

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 2

Death From Above

Killing an enemy at a lower elevation with your primary weapon costs only a single action, and does not end your turn. Also grants a long-range accuracy bonus for sniper rifles.

Death From Above can combo well with pistol abilities or can simply make a soldier more mobile.
This ability also removes all squadsight-range aim penalties when using sniper rifles at any elevation.

Available for: Sharpshooter

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 3

Demolition

Unleash a volley of bullets at your target's cover, significantly damaging or destroying it. Deals no damage to your target.

Demolition requires 5 ammo points and has a 4 turn cooldown.
Demolition does increased environmental damage, and will destroy most cover objects.

Available for: Gunner

Dense Smoke

Your smoke grenades confer an additional 10 defense.

Your smoke grenades confer an additional 10 defense to those within the smoke, for a total of 30.

Available for: Grenadier

Double Tap

Fire a standard shot and gain a bonus shot or overwatch action.

Activate to fire a standard shot and gain a second action restricted to Standard Shot, Precision Shot, Deadeye, Kubikiri or Overwatch.
One-turn cooldown.

Available for: Sharpshooter

Electroshock

Your arc thrower disorients the target when it misses.

A miss with your Arc Thrower still disorients non-robotic targets.

Available for: Assault

Evasive

Start each mission with 100 bonus dodge. The bonus is removed after you take damage for the first time.

This ability will typically turn the first hit on a soldier into a graze, but being hit with undodgeable attacks will remove it without any bonus being applied.

Available for: Shinobi

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 2

Ever Vigilant

If you spend all of your actions on moves, you are granted an automatic overwatch shot at the end of the turn.

Ever Vigilant enables an extremely mobile style of play for the soldier.
Any action other than moving will invalidate Ever Vigilant.

Available for: Ranger, Specialist

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 1/2

Executioner

Confers +10 aim and +10 critical chance against targets at half or less of their original hit points.

Confers +10 aim and +10 critical chance against targets at half or less of their original hit points.

Available for: Ranger

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 1/2

Extra Conditioning

Run and Gun cooldown is reduced by one turn.

Run and Gun cooldown is reduced by one turn.

Available for: Assault

Field Medic

Equipped medikits have 2 extra charges.

If you have the Medical Protocol ability, your GREMLIN gains additional charges as well.

Available for: Specialist

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 2

Fire in the Hole

Your rockets are more accurate.

Your rockets are more likely to hit their intended point of impact, or at least close to it.
The maximum it can miss by is reduced by two tiles.

Available for: Technical

Firestorm

Once per battle, attack all units in a complete circle around the soldier's position. Also grants immunity to fire damage.

This will light fires and do fire damage to all enemies in a circle around the soldier's position, doing +3 bonus damage over regular Flamethrower attacks.
Firestorm also grants immunity to fire damage.
Requires one action point and will end the soldier's turn when used.
Usable once per battle.
It is not recommended the soldier uses Firestorm on rooftops.

Available for: Technical

Formidable

Your gear includes an extra layer of protection, granting two extra points of Ablative HP and 50% less damage from explosive attacks.

Formidable reduces explosive damage taken by 50%.
It grants two points of Ablative HP

Available for: Assault, Grenadier, Gunner, Ranger, Technical

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 2/3

Fortify

Activate to grant +20 defense until the beginning of the next turn. Does not cost an action. Has a 5-turn cooldown.

Activate to grant the soldier +20 defense until the beginning of the soldier's next turn.
Does not cost an action. Has a 5-turn cooldown.

Available for: Assault, Ranger, Technical

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 1/2

Ghostwalker

Activate this ability to reduce enemy detection range against you by 25% for the rest of your turn as well as the following turn. Four-turn cooldown.

Activate this ability to reduce enemy detection range against you by 25% for two turns (including the current turn), as denoted by red tiles surrounding enemies who are not alerted to your presence.
Four-turn cooldown.
Requires no actions to activate.
This ability also grants a small reduction in this soldier's impact on infiltration times.
Does not apply to ADVENT security towers.

Available for: Shinobi

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 1/2

Heavy Weapons

This soldier is trained to use the XCOM gauntlet, a combination Rocket Launcher and Flamethrower.

The XCOM gauntlet is an advanced device that carries both a mini-rocket launcher and a flamethrower.
The Rocket Launcher carries one rocket initially and that has a three-tile radius for its area of effect.
It may target anything in sight range.
Damage from rockets falls off from the point of impact.
The flamethrower is a short-range weapon that causes damage to multiple targets within a cone-shaped area of effect.
The flamethrower has two uses per battle. It does not damage mechanical units without upgrades.
Using either gautlet ability requires one action and ends your turn.

Available for: Technical

Holo Targeting

Holotarget your enemy to grant an aim bonus to all attacks on this target by you and your allies for the remainder of the turn.

Directed cannon-specific abilities, like Suppression, will grant Holo Targeting.
Any cannon abilities that target multiple units will not grant Holo Targeting.

Available for: Sharpshooter, SPARK

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 3

Javelin Rockets

The range of your rockets is increased by 6 tiles and you may hit targets beyond your visual range.

The range of your rockets is increased by 6 tiles and you may hit targets beyond your visual range.

Available for: Technical

Napalm-X

Your Flamethrower can now disorient or panic enemies.

Your Flamethrower can now disorient or panic enemies.
Enemy units must pass a will check to avoid negative effects.

Available for: Technical

Phosphorus

Your flamethrower can now damage mechanical units and shreds armor.

Your flamethrower can now damage mechanical units and shreds one point of armor from all targets.

Available for: Technical

Implacable

If you score one or more kills on your turn, you are granted a single bonus move.

The Fleche ability cannot be used after gaining a bonus move from Implacable.

Available for: Ranger

Quickburn

Activate so your next use of the flamethrower will not cost an action.

Activate so your next use of the flamethrower will not cost an action.
5-turn cooldown.

Available for: Technical

Rapid Fire

Fire twice in a row at an enemy. Each shot suffers an Aim penalty of -15. There is no cooldown on this ability.

Rapid Fire has no cooldown, making it a devastating ability for dealing ranged damage.

Available for: Assault, Ranger, Shinobi, Technical

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 3

Roust

Special Flamethrower shot that does limited damage but forces enemies to change their position.

Has a 33% chance to set enemies in the area of effect on fire and does limited damage.
The narrow jet of flame has less impact on the environment.
Units hit by the shot will be forced to move, often triggering overwatch fire.
One use per mission, but can gain an additional use with additional gear.

Available for: Technical

Run and Gun

Take an action after dashing.

Run and Gun allows soldiers to close the distance to their targets rapidly, or to easily take a flanking position.
Run and Gun has a 3 turn cooldown.

Available for: Assault

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 3

Rupture

A Rupture shot has a large bonus to crit chance and ensures that the target takes an additional +3 damage from all attacks in the future.

Rupture requires 3 ammo points and has a 3 turn cooldown.
Ruptured targets take 3 additional damage from every attack.

Available for: Gunner, Ranger

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 3

Salvo

Launching or throwing grenades, using heavy weapons or using the Gauntlet's Rocket Launcher with your first action will not end your turn.

Soldiers with the Salvo ability are prime candidates for heavy armor.

Available for: Grenadier, Technical

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 1/2

Shredder

Your primary weapon attacks shred armor.

A successful shot with a conventional weapon will shred 1 armor from the target.
More advanced weapons will shred more armor from targets.

Available for: Gunner, Technical, SPARK

Available in the AWC: Offense Level 1/2

Street Sweeper

Cone-based shotgun attack that does bonus damage to unarmored targets. Blocked by heavy cover.

Medium-range, cone-based shotgun attack.
Uses one action and 2 ammo, and has four-turn cooldown.
Does 3 bonus damage against unarmored targets within the spread pattern.
Cannot be used with non-shotgun weapons.
Allies can be injured by this attack.

Available for: Assault

Stun

Fire your Arc Thrower to incapacitate a target.

The Arc Thrower is effective anywhere in the soldier's sight range, doing no damage but stunning targets for their next turn if it hits.
Improved versions can extend the duration of the stun effect.
Requires one action and ends the soldier's turn when fired.
Can Use every other turn.
Ineffective against mechanized units without additional soldier training.

Available for: Assault

Stun Gunner

Your Arc Thrower now has a bonus to hit.

The bonus starts at +20 and increases with better Arc Thrower technology, to a maximum of +30.

Available for: Assault

Suppression

Fire a barrage that pins down a target, grants reaction fire against it if it moves, restricts the use of many abilities, and imposes a -25 penalty to the target's aim.

Suppression costs 2 ammo points to use, but has no cooldown.
Suppression will be canceled if the suppressing unit is damaged.
If multiple units suppress a target, the aim penalty will stack. (Note: This information is incorrect as LW2 inherits the properties of suppression not stacking in vanilla, despite vanilla game claiming suppression can stack as well)
May not be used if sniper rifle or shotgun-class weapons are equipped.
Suppression restricts many of the target's abilities, including the use of rockets and grenades.

Available for: Gunner, Ranger, Specialist, Technical

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 1/2

Tactical Sense

Gain 3 defense for each enemy you can see, up to a maximum of 15 defense.

Gain 3 defense for each living enemy you can see, up to a maximum of 15 defense.
Units visible at squadsight ranges do not confer bonus.

Available for: Ranger, Shinobi, Technical

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 3

Tandem Warheads

Your grenades and rockets do full damage to units to the maximum extent of their area of effect.

Your grenades and rockets do full damage to units to the maximum extent of their area of effect.
This doesn't apply to environmental damage.

Available for: Technical

Tradecraft

This soldier has significantly reduced infiltration times while on missions.

This soldier has significantly reduced infiltration times while on missions.

Available for: Shinobi

Available in the AWC: Defense Level 3

AWC Exclusive Perks

These abilities can only be obtained from the Advanced Warfare Center.

Offense

Deadshot

Bonus 10% chance to critically hit enemies.

Bonus 10% chance to critically hit enemies.

Level 1/2

Quick Study

Learn officer and AWC bonus abilities in half the time.

Learn officer and AWC bonus abilities in half the time.

Level 1

Steady Hands

If you did not move last turn, gain +10 Aim and +10 Critical chance.

The Steady Hands bonus does not stack over multiple turns.
Steady Hands doubles down on the need to find a high sniper's nest with good sightlines.

Level 1

Defense

Aim

Hunker Down now confers +20 Aim to the first shot on the following turn.

The bonus granted by Aim can apply to either a pistol or primary weapon shot.

Level 1/2

Deep Cover

If you did not attack this turn, hunker down automatically.

Non-offensive actions like Reload can still be performed without invalidating Deep Cover.

Level 1/2

Flashbanger

Grants 1 free flashbang item to your inventory.

Grants 1 free flashbang item to your inventory.

Level 1

Implacable

If you score one or more kills on your turn, you are granted a single bonus move.

The Fleche ability cannot be used after gaining a bonus move from Implacable.

Level 3

Infighter

Gain 25 dodge against attacks within four tiles.

Gain 25 dodge against attacks within four tiles.
Dodge bonus also applies to melee attacks.

Level 1/2

Quick Study

Learn officer and AWC bonus abilities in half the time.

Learn officer and AWC bonus abilities in half the time.

Level 1

Resilience

Enemy attacks against you suffer a -50 penalty to critical hit chances.

Enemy attacks against you suffer a -50 penalty to critical hit chances.

Level 1/2

Smoker

Grants one free smoke grenade item to your inventory.

Grants one free smoke grenade item to your inventory.

Level 1

Will to Survive

Enemy damage is reduced by 1 when in cover and attacked through that cover. Also grants 5 will.

Enemy damage is reduced by 1 when in cover and attacked through that cover.
Cover against explosives and other indirect attacks is calculated from the point of the explosion.
Armor piercing effects do not eliminate this bonus.
This unit also permanently gains 5 will.

Level 1/2

Pistol Perks

Clutch Shot

Once per mission, fire a pistol shot that cannot miss.

Once per mission, fire a pistol shot that cannot miss.

Faceoff

Fire once at every visible enemy with your pistol.

Faceoff is best augmented by an aggressive field position, granting a high chance to hit at multiple targets.
Faceoff cannot be used while in concealment
Faceoff has a 3 turn cooldown

Fan Fire

Fire the pistol three times at the same target.

Each shot in Fan Fire rolls a separate chance to hit.
Fan Fire can deal a devastating amount of damage if every shot hits.
Fan Fire has a 3 turn cooldown.

Gunslinger

Take a reaction shot with your pistol against any enemy that moves or attacks within 8 tiles and a wide cone of fire.

Range is eight tiles.
Three-turn cooldown.

Lightning Hands

Fire your pistol at a target. This attack does not cost an action.

Lightning Hands can combo well with two-action abilities, as it does not prevent their use in the same turn.
Lightning Hands has a 3 turn cooldown.

Quickdraw

Firing your pistol with your first action no longer ends your turn.

Quickdraw allows the soldier to spread their fire around to different targets in the same turn.

Return Fire

When targeted by enemy fire, automatically fire back with your pistol once per turn.

Return Fire will only trigger once per turn.
Return Fire can be triggered by melee attacks and Area of Effect attacks.
Return Fire will not trigger when targeted by Overwatch fire.

Officer Perks

These are perks available to Officers.

Air Controller

The Skyranger will arrive 2 turns sooner during evacuations.

The officer is skilled at directing allied air assets, allowing the Skyranger to arrive 2 turns sooner after evac flare is deployed.
Note that there is a minimum time that the Skyranger will take to arrive regardless of any bonuses.

Rank: Colonel

Collector

Any kills of a non-human enemy by the squad have a 33% chance to grant 1 intel point as long as the Officer is healthy.

Any kills of a non-human enemy by the squad have a 33% chance to grant 1 intel point as long as the Officer is healthy.

Rank: Major

Combined Arms

All allies within Command Range of the Officer do +1 damage with all successful attacks.

All allies within Command Range of the Officer do +1 damage with all successful attacks.
Command Range increases with each new Officer level.

Rank: Field Commander

Command

End your turn to grant a bonus action to any visible member of the squad. The number of charges is dependent on the officer's rank.

Requires one action and ends your turn.
Second and first lieutenants have one charge of the ability; captains and majors have two charges; lieutenant and full colonels have three charges, and field commanders have four charges.
Cannot be used on units on overwatch or suppressing another target.

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Commissar

Pistol shots against allies who have been mind-controlled by enemies have +50 to hit, cannot be dodged, and automatically kill the target if a hit occurs.

Pistol shots against allies who have been mind-controlled by enemies have +50 to hit, cannot be dodged, and automatically kill the target if a hit occurs.

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Defilade

Soldiers within Command Range of the Officer receive +5 bonus to defense value provided by cover.

Soldiers within Command Range of the Officer receive +5 bonus to defense value provided by cover.
Command Range increases with each new Officer level.

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Fire Discipline

All allies within Command Range of the Officer gain +10% to hit on reaction fire.

All allies within Command Range of the Officer gain +10% to hit on reaction fire.
Command Range increases with each new Officer level.

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Focus Fire

Spend an action to pinpoint a target and grant your squad cumulative Aim bonuses and 1 Armor Piercing on attacks against that target for the rest of the turn.

Spend an action to pinpoint a target and grant your squad cumulative aim bonuses and 1 armor piercing on attacks against that target for the rest of the turn.
Each successive direct weapon attack against the target in the same turn grants an additional +5 aim bonus.
3-turn cooldown.

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Get Some

Twice per mission, spend an action to grant all allies within Command Range a +20 bonus to Critical Hit chances for the remainder of the turn.

Spend an action to grant all friendly units within Command Range a +20 bonus to Critical Hit chances for the remainder of the turn.
Usable twice per mission.
Command Range increases with each new Officer level.

Rank: First Lieutenant

Incoming!

Activate this ability to grant everyone within command range four points of damage resistance against explosive attacks through the end of the next alien turn.

Activate this ability to grant all allies in command range four points of damage resistance against explosive attacks through the end of the next alien turn.
Requires no actions.
Five-turn cooldown.
Command Range increases with each new officer level.
Does not apply to panicked soldiers or units suppressing other targets.

Rank: First Lieutenant

Infiltrator

The officer's squad will infiltrate enemy targets more quickly.

The squad of an officer with this perk will be significantly stealthier than it otherwise would be and will have reduced infiltration times.

Rank: Colonel

Intervention

Activate this ability to spend 10 intel and gain two turns on the current mission timer. The number of charges is dependent on the officer's rank.

Activate this ability to spend 10 intel and gain two turns on the current mission timer.
Requires one action.
The number of charges is dependent on the officer's rank.
Will do nothing if there is no mission timer.
Intel cost can be influenced by events; the ability will not fire if XCOM has fewer than 10 intel.

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Jammer

Once per battle, delay the arrival of incoming enemy reinforcements by one turn.

Activate this ability to cause incoming enemy reinforcements to be delayed by one turn.
If no reinforcements are reported as inbound, it will instead delay future reinforcements.

Rank: Captain

Lead By Example

The Officer improves the Aim, Will and Hack of soldiers within Command Range by half the difference between soldier and Officer.

If the Officer's Aim, Will and/or Hack scores are higher than any soldier within Command Range, the soldier gains bonuses to those scores equal to half the difference between the Officer and the soldier.
Command Range increases with each new Officer level.

Rank: Major

Leadership

This officer provides bonuses to will, dodge and infiltration to soldiers who have previously served under his or her command. These bonuses scale up the more missions they go on together.

This officer provides bonuses to will, dodge and infiltration to soldiers who have previously served under his or her command. These bonuses scale up the more missions they go on together.

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Oscar Mike

Spend an action to give all allies within Command Range +5 Mobility for the remainder of the turn. Usable once per mission.

Spend an action to give all allies within Command Range +3 Mobility for the remainder of the turn.
Usable once per mission.
Command Range increases with each new Officer level.

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Scavenger

Mission rewards of supplies, Alien Alloys and Elerium increased by 30% after successful missions. Squad members have a chance of collecting extra Alien Alloys and Elerium from aliens.

If the Officer survives the mission and is conscious, mission rewards of supplies, Alien Alloys and Elerium are increased by 30 percent.
Squad may recover Alien Alloys and Elerium from dead aliens.

Rank: Field Commander

Trial By Fire

Any soldiers below the rank of sergeant will be automatically promoted after a successful mission with this officer.

This bonus only applies if the commanding officer has this perk, and it does not grant bonuses to other officers on the mission.

Rank: Captain

You'll Need This

Pass a spare pistol to a civilian ally.

Anytime you equip a pistol (of any technology level), you carry a spare conventional pistol that you can hand to any adjacent civilian ally who does not already have a pistol.
The spare pistol does not impose a weight penalty on this soldier, but the ally will incur a one-mobility penalty when receiving the sidearm.
Note: This ability will not appear in your Tactical ability icons unless you can use it.

Rank: Second Lieutenant

ADVENT Exclusive Perks

These perks are exclusive to ADVENT Units, so the player only has access to them when Mind Controlling or hacking them.

Bind and Crush

Bind and crush an adjacent humanoid enemy, dealing minor damage. Allied units can fire upon the immobilized target.

Available for: Viper

Counterattack

Chance to ignore melee damage and instantly respond with a melee strike, possibly stunning the attacker.

Available for: Muton

Execute

Mutons can perform a finishing move on an adjacent stunned enemy.

Available for: Muton

Poison Spit

Spit deadly poison at an area.

Available for: Viper

Tongue Pull

Grab a target with your tongue and pull them to melee range. Only humanoid targets can be pulled.

Available for: Viper

Perk List (LW2)

Class Perks

Adaptive Aim

Aid Protocol

Airdrop

Aggression

Alpha Mike Foxtrot

Area Suppression

Arc Pulser

Arsenal

Biggest Booms

Blademaster

Bladestorm

Bluescreen Bombs

Body Shield

Bombard

Bombardier

Boosted Cores

Both Barrels

Bring 'Em On

Bulwark

Bunker Buster

Burnout

Capacitor Discharge

Center Mass

Chain Lightning

Chain Shot

Channeling Field

Close and Personal

Close Combat Specialist

Close Encounters

Combat Awareness

Combat Protocol

Combat Engineer

Combat Fitness

Combatives

Concussion Rocket

Conceal

Cool Under Pressure

Coup de Grace

Covering Fire

Covert

Cutthroat

Cyclic Fire

Damage Control

Damn Good Ground

Danger Zone

Deadeye

Death From Above

Demolition

Dense Smoke

Double Tap

Electroshock

Evasive

Ever Vigilant

Executioner

Extra Conditioning

Field Medic

Fire in the Hole

Firestorm

Formidable

Fortify

Ghostwalker

Heavy Weapons

Holo Targeting

Javelin Rockets

Napalm-X

Phosphorus

Point Blank

Quickburn

Rapid Fire

Roust

Run and Gun

Rupture

Salvo

Shredder

Street Sweeper

Stun

Stun Gunner

Suppression