Research (LWR)

In General

The speed to research each technology is defined by:

Research Time (in hours) = [Tech Time * 72 * (3 + Difficulty Modifier) * (1 - Credit Bonus)] / [(50 + Scientists) * (1.5 ^ Number of Labs) * (1.1 ^ Number of Lab Adjacencies)]

Difficulty Modifier is 0 for Easy and 1 higher for each difficulty above Easy.

Credit Bonus is 50% for any credit (80% with the Ready for War Starting Bonus).

Tech Times can be found under Research Projects below.

Research Projects

Offensive Tech

These research projects study the potential uses of Alien Alloys, Elerium and Weapon Fragments, unlocking more advanced handheld and vehicle weapons.

Offensive Tech
Research	Credit type	Prerequisites	Cost					Unlocks
Research	Credit type					Other		Research	Foundry	Loadout	Other
Alien Weaponry	Weapons	-	-	-	5	-	20	Experimental Warfare Beam Lasers	High-Capacity Pistols SHIV Advancements I	SCOPE Marksman Scope	-
Beam Lasers	Laser Weapons Weapons	Alien Weaponry	15	40	25	-	35	Advanced Beam Lasers	XCOM Security I Enhanced Lasers	Laser Carbine Laser Rifle Laser Battle Rifle Laser SMG Laser Scattershot Laser Pistol Laser Autocannon (SHIV)	-
Advanced Beam Lasers	Laser Weapons Weapons	Beam Lasers Drone Autopsy	-	-	-	-	10	Pulse Lasers	-	Laser Autorifle Scatter Gatler Laser Strike Rifle Laser Sniper Rifle Laser Lance (MEC)	Laser Cannon (Aerospace)
Gauss Weapons	Gauss Weapons Weapons	Alien Materials Experimental Warfare	110	15	80	-	200	Advanced Gauss Weapons	Rail Pistols Phoenix Coilguns	Gauss Carbine Gauss Rifle Gauss Battle Rifle Gauss Alloy Cannon Gauss SMG Gauss Autopistol Gauss Sentry Gun (SHIV)	-
Advanced Gauss Weapons	Gauss Weapons	Gauss Weapons Floater Interrogation	-	-	-	-	20	EMP Weapons	Quenchguns	Gauss Autorifle Guass Machine Gun Gauss Strike Rifle Gauss Long Rifle Recoilless Rifle Gauss Railgun (MEC) Gravity Mine Launcher (MEC) Prediction Computer	-
EMP Weapons	Weapons	Advanced Gauss Weapons	30	30	75	-	150	Light Plasma Weapons Fusion Weapons	-	Electro Pulse (MEC)	EMP Cannon (Aerospace)
Pulse Lasers	Laser Weapons Weapons	Advanced Beam Lasers Alien Power Systems Cyberdisk Autopsy	15	55	80	-	300	Advanced Pulse Lasers	-	Pulse Carbine Pulse Rifle Pulse Battle Rifle Pulse Scattershot Pulse Pistol Pulse SMG Pulse Autocannon (SHIV)	-
Advanced Pulse Lasers	Laser Weapons Weapons	Pulse Lasers	-	-	-	-	30	Light Plasma Weapons	Supercapacitors	Pulse Autoblaster Pulse Gatler Pulse Strike Rifle Pulse Sniper Rifle Pulse Lance (MEC)	-
Compact Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Light Plasma Weapons	8	16	40	-	80	-	Reflex Pistols	Plasma Pistol Plasma Mauler	-
Light Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Muton Elite Interrogation EMP Weapons Advanced Pulse Lasers	30	220	225	-	400	Compact Plasma Weapons Standard Plasma Weapons	Condensed Plasma	Plasma SMG Plasma Carbine	-
Standard Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Light Plasma Weapons	20	30	40	-	220	Heavy Plasma Weapons Precision Plasma Weapons Vehicular Plasma Weapons	-	Plasma Rifle Plasma Battle Rifle Plasma Reflex Cannon	-
Heavy Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Standard Plasma Weapons	20	35	40	-	220	-	-	Plasma Novagun Plasma Dragon Plasma Particle Cannon (MEC)	-
Precision Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Standard Plasma Weapons	20	35	40	-	220	-	-	Plasma Strike Rifle Plasma Sniper Rifle	-
Vehicular Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Standard Plasma Weapons	20	35	40	-	220	-	-	Plasma Autocannon (SHIV)	Plasma Cannon (Aerospace)
Fusion Weapons	Weapons	EMP Weapons	40	40	225	1 Fusion Core (not consumed)	350	-	-	Blaster Launcher	Fusion Lance (Aerospace)

Defensive Tech

These research projects study the potential uses of Alien Alloys and Elerium, unlocking more advanced Body Armor, MEC Suits and SHIVs.

Defensive Tech
Research	Credit type	Prerequisites	Cost					Unlocks
Research	Credit type							Research	Foundry	Loadout	Other
Alien Materials	-	-	4	4	10	4	20	Elerium Advanced Aerospace Concepts All UFO Analyses Alien Biocybernetics Improved Body Armor Gauss Weapons	Alien Nucleonics Alien Metallurgy Improved Salvage Advanced Scavenging Enhanced Ballistics Aircraft Boosters	Alloy Plating Ammo - Shredder Ammo - Breaching Heavy Mags Alloy Bipod Phoenix Cannon
Improved Body Armor	Armor	Alien Materials	8	-	-	-	40	Advanced Body Armor	XCOM Security II	Phalanx Armor Aurora Armor Reinforced Plating Ammo - Armor Piercing	-
Advanced Body Armor	Armor	Improved Body Armor Chryssalid Autopsy	6	-	-	-	50	Mobile Power Armor	Mechanized Defenses	Kestrel Armor Carapace Armor	-
Mobile Power Armor	Armor	Advanced Body Armor Elerium	60	10	-	-	80	MEC Mark 2 Advanced Power Armor	-	Banshee Armor Aegis Armor	-
Advanced Power Armor	Armor	Mobile Power Armor Berserker Interrogation Alien Power Systems	20	80	-	-	600	MEC Mark 3: Light MEC Mark 3: Heavy Antigrav Systems Stealth Systems	-	Corsair Armor Titan Armor Core Plating (requires Mechanized Defenses)	-
MEC Mark 2	Armor	Alien Biocybernetics Mobile Power Armor	60	40	180	12	75	MEC Mark 3: Light MEC Mark 3: Heavy	-	LMEC2 (Valiant) HMEC2 (Defender)	-
MEC Mark 3: Heavy	Armor	Advanced Power Armor Improved Combat Exoskeletons	240	10	460	4	250	-	-	HMEC3 (Dauntless) UHMEC3 (Devastator)	-
MEC Mark 3: Light	Armor	Advanced Power Armor Improved Combat Exoskeletons	20	80	320	4	250	-	-	LMEC3 (Vindicator) ULMEC3 (Vanguard)	-
Antigrav Systems	Aerospace	Advanced Power Armor Heavy Floater Autopsy Alien Propulsion	5	20	-	-	100	-	Advanced Flight	Seraph Armor Archangel Armor The Thumper (MEC)	Hover SHIV
Stealth Systems	-	Advanced Power Armor Alien Communications	-	20	-	-	100	-	Stealth Satellites	Ghost Armor	-
Mind and Machine	Psionics	Alien Biocybernetics Alien Command and Control	10	15	-	2	30	-	-	Vortex Armor	-

Alien Autopsies

Alien Corpses that have been returned from successful missions can be autopsied for further analysis, once the required research projects have been completed. Note that autopsies require and consume multiple corpses, as listed below.

In addition to the listed unlocked items, autopsies also unlock the ability to inspect aliens on the battlefield and see their perks by targeting them and pressing F1.

Alien Autopsies
Research	Prerequisites	Cost		Unlocks
Research		Corpses		Research	Foundry	Loadout	Other
Sectoid Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Sectoid Corpse	5	Sectoid Interrogation	-	-	-
Thin Man Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Thin Man Corpse	20	Thin Man Interrogation	-	Restorative Mist (MEC)	-
Floater Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Floater Corpse	15	Floater Interrogation			Aim Booster (Aerospace) Ammo - Flak
Muton Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Muton Corpse	25	Muton Interrogation	Ammo Conservation Alien Grenades	-	-
Berserker Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Berserker Corpse	30	Berserker Interrogation	Shaped Armor	Combat Stims	-
Sectoid Commander Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Sectoid Commander Corpse	45	Sectoid Commander Interrogation	-	Psi Frayer	-
Muton Elite Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Muton Elite Corpse	40	Muton Elite Interrogation	Improved Medikit	-	-
Heavy Floater Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Heavy Floater Corpse	40	Heavy Floater Interrogation	Advanced Repair	-	-
Ethereal Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Ethereal Corpse	50	Ethereal Interrogation	-	-	-
Drone Autopsy	Alien Circuitry	1 Drone Wrecks	5	Advanced Beam Lasers	-	Holo Charger (SHIV)	-
Seeker Autopsy	Alien Circuitry	1 Seeker Wrecks	15	-	UFO Countermeasures	Respirator Implant Chameleon Vest Shadow Device	-
Chryssalid Autopsy	Xenobiology	1 Chryssalid Corpse	30	Advanced Body Armor	-	Chitin Plating	Muscle Fiber Density Adaptive Bone Marrow (Gene Mods)
Cyberdisc Autopsy	Alien Circuitry	1 Cyberdisc Wreck	15	Pulse Lasers	SHIV Advancements II	Retaliatory Sensor (SHIV)	Dodge Booster (Aerospace)
Mechtoid Autopsy	Alien Circuitry	1 Mechtoid Core	30	-	Advanced Servomotors	Psi Retaliator Alloy SHIV	-
Sectopod Autopsy	Alien Circuitry	1 Sectopod Wreck	45	-	-	Battle Computer (MEC/SHIV) Weapon Supercooler (SHIV)	-

Alien Interrogations

Alien captives that have been captured with an Stun Rifle and housed in the Alien Containment can be interrogated once the autopsy project for that species has been completed.

All interrogations unlock certain research credits, which increases the research speed of all future research projects and Foundry projects that match the credit type.

Alien Interrogations
Research	Prerequisites	Cost		Unlocks		Research Credits
Research		Captives		Research	Other	Research	Foundry
Sectoid Interrogation	Sectoid Autopsy	1 Sectoid	30	Xenopsionics Elerium	-	Cybernetics: Xenogenetics Alien Biocybernetics	Cybernetics: Advanced Repair Advanced Servomotors Advanced Surgery Improved Medikit Jellied Elerium MEC Warfare Systems
Thin Man Interrogation	Thin Man Autopsy	1 Thin Man	140	Experimental Warfare	-	Laser Weapons: Beam Lasers Advanced Beam Lasers Pulse Lasers Advanced Pulse Lasers	Laser Weapons: Aircraft Boosters Enhanced Lasers Supercapacitators
Floater Interrogation	Floater Autopsy	1 Floater	140	Advanced Gauss Weapons	-	Aerospace: UFO Analysis: (all) Advanced Aerospace Concepts Alien Propulsion Antigrav Systems	Aerospace: Advanced Flight Aircraft Boosters Armored Fighters Cooling Coils Elerium Afterburners Improved Avionics UFO Countermeasures UFO Tracking
Muton Interrogation	Muton Autopsy	1 Muton	190	-	Tactical Rigging (Foundry Project) Secondary Heart Adrenal Neurosympathy (Gene Mods) Shielding Pod (SHIV)	Gauss Weapons: Gauss Weapons Advanced Gauss Weapons	Gauss Weapons: Mag Pistols Phoenix Coilguns Quenchguns Rail Pistols
Berserker Interrogation	Berserker Autopsy	1 Berserker	240	Advanced Power Armor	Neural Damping Smart Macrophages (Gene Mods)	Armor: Improved Body Armor Advanced Body Armor Mobile Power Armor Advanced Power Armor Improved Combat Exoskeletons Heavy Combat Exoskeletons Mobile Combat Exoskeletons	Armor: Armored Fighters Shaped Armor Mechanized Unit Defenses Tactical Rigging
Sectoid Commander Interrogation	Sectoid Commander Autopsy	1 Sectoid Commander	270	Alien Command and Control	Inner Fire Telekinetic Field Psychokinetic Strike (Psi Powers)	Psionics: Xenopsionics Alien Operations Alien Communications Alien Command and Control Mind and Machine	Psionics: Psi Warfare Systems
Muton Elite Interrogation	Muton Elite Autopsy	1 Muton Elite	280	Light Plasma Weapons	Adrenaline Surge Iron Skin (Gene Mods)	Weapons: All Laser Weapon Research All Gauss Weapon Research All Plasma Weapon Research Alien Weaponry EMP Weapons Fusion Weapons	Weapons: All Laser Weapon Projects All Gauss Weapon Projects All Plasma Weapon Projects Ammo Conservation Enhanced Ballistics SCOPE Upgrade SHIV Suppression
Heavy Floater Interrogation	Heavy Floater Autopsy	1 Heavy Floater	260		Cooling Coils (Foundry Project)	Plasma Weapons: Plasma Weapons Advanced Plasma Weapons Compact Plasma Weapons Heavy Plasma Weapons Precision Plasma Weapons Vehicular Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons: Enhanced Plasma Reflex Pistols
Ethereal Interrogation	Ethereal Autopsy	1 Ethereal	340	Alien Command and Control	Psi Mastery (Psi Power)	All Research	All Projects

Main Tech

Main Tech
Research	Credit type	Prerequisites		Cost						Unlocks
Research	Credit type		Items					Other		Research	Facility	Loadout	Other
Alien Circuitry	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2 UFO Power Sources	30	Alien Power Systems Alien Biocybernetics All Robotic Autopsies	-	Arc Rifle Arc Pistol Satellite Nexus (Facility)	-
Xenobiology	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4 Sectoid Corpses	15	Xenoneurology Xenogenetics All Biologic Autopsies	Alien Containment	Stun Rifle AR Targeter	-
Xenogenetics	Cybernetics	Xenobiology	-	-	-	-	10	-	35	Alien Biocybernetics	Genetics Lab	-	Predictive Tracking Advanced Perception (Gene Mods)
Xenoneurology	-	Xenobiology	-	-	-	10	-	4 Sectoid Corpses	10	Xenopsionics Alien Communications	-	-	-
Alien Communications	-	Xenopsionics	Alien Base Assault Complete	-	10	-	-	-	30	Stealth Systems	Hyperwave Relay	Mimic Beacon	-
Xenopsionics	Psionics	Xenoneurology Sectoid Interrogation	-	-	50	-	-	4 UFO Power Sources	25	Alien Operations	Psionic Labs	-	Mindfray Neural Feedback Psi Panic Psi Inspire Mind Merge (Psi Powers) Psi Warfare Systems (Foundry Project)
Alien Operations	Psionics	Xenopsionics	Outsider Shard	-	-	-	-	-	20	-	-	-	Skeleton Key
Alien Biocybernetics	Cybernetics	Xenogenetics Alien Materials Alien Circuitry	-	5	30	50	20	-	60	Mind and Machine MEC Mark 2	-	MEC-1 Minigun Incinerator Module Neural Scope	Advanced Surgery MEC Warfare Systems (Foundry Projects)
Experimental Warfare	-	Alien Weaponry Thin Man Interrogation	-	-	-	20	-	-	50	Advanced Aerospace Concepts Gauss Weapons	Beam Strengthening New Combat Systems	Smartshell Pod Adaptive Tracking Pod (SHIV)	-
Elerium	-	Alien Materials Sectoid Interrogation	Hyperwave Beacon (from Alien base assault)	-	10	-	-	-	10	Alien Power Systems Mobile Power Armor	Jellied Elerium	Elerium Turbos (SHIV)	-
Alien Power Systems	-	Alien Circuitry Elerium	-	-	20	-	-	8 UFO Power Sources	100	Alien Propulsion Advanced Power Armor Pulse Lasers	Elerium Batteries UFO Tracking	Elerium Generator (Facility)	-
Advanced Aerospace Concepts	Aerospace	Alien Materials Experimental Warfare	-	10	-	50	-	-	65	Alien Propulsion	Armored Fighters Improved Avionics	-	-
Alien Propulsion	Aerospace	Alien Power Systems Advanced Aerospace Concepts	-	60	20	20	-	8 UFO Power Sources	60	Antigrav Systems	Elerium Afterburners	Firestorm (Aerospace)	Interceptor Cost -25%
Alien Command and Control	Psionics	Ethereal Interrogation	Ethereal Device	10	15	-	-	-	30	Mind and Machine	Gollop Chamber	-	-

UFO Analysis

Once a UFO has crashed or landed and then is successfully assaulted, it can be analyzed as a research project. Once the research project has completed, ships gain 30% damage bonus against all UFOs of the same type. Also, once UFO Scanners Foundry project is completed, analyzed UFO's display damage during Air Combat.

All UFO Analysis have the Aerospace credit type. Once a Floater has been interrogated, the speed at which UFOs are analyzed increases by 25%.

UFO Analysis
Research	Credit type	Prerequisites		Cost			Unlocks
Research	Credit type		Other				Other
UFO Analysis: Small UFOs	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Small UFO Destroyed in Air or Small UFO Successfully Raided	5	5	500	30% Increased Fire Rate vs Small UFOs Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Small UFOs
UFO Analysis: Medium UFOs	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Medium UFO Destroyed in Air or Medium UFO Successfully Raided	10	10	500	30% Increased Fire Rate vs Medium UFOs Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Medium UFOs
UFO Analysis: Large UFOs	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Large UFO Destroyed in Air or Large UFO Successfully Raided	15	15	500	30% Increased Fire Rate vs Large UFOs Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Large UFOs
UFO Analysis: Very Large UFOs	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Very Large UFO Destroyed in Air or Very Large UFO Successfully Raided	20	20	500	30% Increased Fire Rate vs Very Large UFOs Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Very Large UFOs

Comprehensive Tech Tree

Alt Tech Trees

Core: Offense: Defense: Autopsy: Interrogation:

Research Archives

Here you can view a list of and summaries of all completed research projects.

Gene Labs

Modify the genes of up to 2 soldiers with Meld to install Gene Mods.

More information on Gene Mods can be found here: Gene Mods

Research Credits

Various technologies will offer research credits that will speed up research and foundry projects in broad categories.

Each research credit reduces the time to complete research and foundry projects in it's category by 50% (80% if the "Ready For War" start bonus is active).