Research (LWR)

In General

The speed to research each technology is defined by:

Research Time (in hours) = [Tech Time * 72 * (6 + Difficulty Modifier) * (1 - Credit Bonus)] / [(50 + Scientists) * (1 + 0.3 * Number of Labs + 0.1 * Number of Lab Adjacencies)]

Difficulty Modifier is 0 for Normal up to 3 for Impossible.

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

Tech Times can be found in the Research Projects image 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.

Laser and Gauss Weapons (Long War)
Research	Credit type	Prerequisites	Cost					Unlocks
Research	Credit type							Research	Foundry	Loadout	Other
Alien Weaponry	Weapons	-	-	-	5	-	20	Experimental Warfare Beam Lasers	High-Capacity Pistols SHIV Advancements I	SCOPE Marksman Scope	Weapon Fragments (Council Request for Engineers)
Beam Lasers	Laser Weapons Weapons	Alien Weaponry	4	-	40	-	35	Advanced Beam Lasers	XCOM Security: Guns Enhanced Lasers	Laser Carbine Laser Rifle Laser Battle Rifle Laser SMG Laser Scattershot Laser Pistol Heater Laser Autocannon (SHIV)	Laser Rifles (Council Request for Soldiers)
Advanced Beam Lasers	Laser Weapons Weapons	Beam Lasers Drone Autopsy	10	-	60	-	70	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	50	10	200	-	80	Advanced Gauss Weapons	Rail Pistols Phoenix Coilguns	Gauss Carbine Gauss Rifle Gauss Battle Rifle Gauss Alloy Cannon Gauss SMG Gauss Autopistol Grenade Launcher (MEC) Gauss Sentry Gun (SHIV)	-
Advanced Gauss Weapons	Gauss Weapons	Gauss Weapons Floater Interrogation	30	10	60	-	90	EMP Weapons	Quenchguns	Gauss Autorifle Guass Machine Gun Gauss Strike Rifle Gauss Long Rifle Recoilless Rifle Gauss Railgun (MEC) Miniature Nuclear Explosive (MiNE) Launcher (MEC)	-
EMP Weapons	Weapons	Advanced Gauss Weapons	30	30	350	-	350	-	-	Electro Pulse (MEC)	EMP Cannon (Aerospace)
Pulse Lasers	Laser Weapons Weapons	Advanced Beam Lasers Alien Power Systems Cyberdisk Autopsy	10	50	200	-	80	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	10	30	60	-	90	-	Supercapacitors	Pulse Autoblaster Pulse Gatler Pulse Strike Rifle Pulse Sniper Rifle Pulse Lance (MEC)	-
Compact Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Light Plasma Weapons 1 Alien Pistol	8	16	80	-	210	-	Reflex Pistols	Plasma Pistol Plasma Mauler	Alien Pistols (Council Request for Soldiers / Scientists / Credits)
Light Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Muton Elite Interrogation Alien Power Systems Alien Biocybernetics 1 Alien Carbine	30	220	450	-	500	Compact Plasma Weapons Standard Plasma Weapons	Condensed Plasma	Plasma SMG Plasma Carbine	Alien Carbines (Council Request for Soldiers / Scientists)
Standard Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Light Plasma Weapons 1 Alien Rifle	20	30	80	-	270	Heavy Plasma Weapons Precision Plasma Weapons Vehicular Plasma Weapons	-	Plasma Rifle Plasma Battle Rifle Plasma Reflex Cannon	Alien Rifle (Council Request for Soldiers / Scientists)
Heavy Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Standard Plasma Weapons 1 Alien Heavy Weapon	20	35	80	-	270	Fusion Weapons	-	Plasma Novagun Plasma Dragon Plasma Particle Cannon (MEC)	Alien Heavy Weapon (Council Request for Soldiers / Engineers)
Precision Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Standard Plasma Weapons	20	35	80	-	270	-	-	Plasma Strike Rifle Plasma Sniper Rifle	-
Vehicular Plasma Weapons	Plasma Weapons Weapons	Standard Plasma Weapons	20	35	80	-	270	-	-	Plasma Autocannon (SHIV)	Plasma Cannon (Aerospace)
Fusion Weapons	Weapons	Heavy Plasma Weapons EMP Weapons 1 Fusion Core (not consumed)	40	240	550	-	550	-	-	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.

Armor, MECs, and SHIVs (Long War)
Research	Credit type	Prerequisites	Cost					Unlocks
Research	Credit type							Research	Foundry	Loadout	Other
Alien Materials	-	-	4	4	10	1	20	Elerium Advanced Aerospace Concepts UFO Analysis: (all) Alien Biocybernetics Improved Body Armor Gauss Weapons	Alien Nucleonics Alien Metallurgy Improved Salvage Enhanced Ballistics Aircraft Boosters	Alloy Plating Ammo - Shredder Ammo - Breaching Ammo Module Alloy Bipod Phoenix Cannon	Alien Alloys / Elerium / Meld (Council Request for Credits / Scientists / Engineers)
Improved Body Armor	Armor	Alien Materials	8	-	-	-	40	Advanced Body Armor	XCOM Security: Armor	Phalanx Armor Aurora Armor Reinforced Plating Ammo - 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	20	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	-	-	180	MEC Mark 3: Light MEC Mark 3: Heavy Antigrav Systems Stealth Systems	-	Corsair Armor Titan Armor Walker Servos Core Armoring	-
MEC Mark 2	Armor	Alien Biocybernetics Mobile Power Armor	10	40	70	10	75	MEC Mark 3: Light MEC Mark 3: Heavy	-	LMEC2 (Valiant) HMEC2 (Defender)	-
MEC Mark 3: Heavy	Armor	Advanced Power Armor Improved Combat Exoskeletons	120	10	180	5	90	-	-	HMEC3 (Dauntless) UHMEC3 (Devastator)	-
MEC Mark 3: Light	Armor	Advanced Power Armor Improved Combat Exoskeletons	20	80	180	5	90	-	-	LMEC3 (Vindicator) ULMEC3 (Vanguard)	-
Antigrav Systems	Aerospace	Advanced Power Armor Heavy Floater Interrogation 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	Shadow 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, and often also unlock related Council requests.

Alien Autopsies (Long War)
Research	Prerequisites	Cost		Unlocks
Research		Corpses		Research	Foundry	Loadout	Other	Council Request
Sectoid Autopsy	Xenobiology	5 Sectoids	5	Sectoid Interrogation	-	-	-	-
Thin Man Autopsy	Xenobiology	10 Thin Men	20	Thin Man Interrogation	Improved Medikit	Restorative Mist (MEC)	-	Thin Man Corpses (Soldiers / Scientists / Engineers)
Floater Autopsy	Xenobiology	10 Floaters	15	Floater Interrogation	Shaped Armor	Kinetic Strike Module (MEC)	Aim Booster (Aerospace) Ammo - Flak	Floater Corpses (Soldiers / Engineers)
Muton Autopsy	Xenobiology	10 Mutons	25	Muton Interrogation	Ammo Conservation Alien Grenades	-	-	Muton Corpses (Soldiers / Scientists / Engineers)
Berserker Autopsy	Xenobiology	5 Berserkers	30	Berserker Interrogation		Combat Stims	-	Berserker Corpses (Soldiers / Credits / Scientists)
Sectoid Commander Autopsy	Xenobiology	3 Sectoid Commanders	45	Sectoid Commander Interrogation	-	Psi Frayer	-	Sectoid Commander Corpses (Soldiers / Scientists / Engineers) Alien Entertainment (Panic Reduction)
Heavy Floater Autopsy	Xenobiology	5 Heavy Floaters	40	Heavy Floater Interrogation	Advanced Repair	-	-	Heavy Floater Corpses (Soldiers / Scientists / Engineers)
Muton Elite Autopsy	Xenobiology	5 Muton Elites	40	Muton Elite Interrogation	-	-	-	Muton Elite Corpses (Soldiers / Scientists)
Ethereal Autopsy	Xenobiology	3 Ethereals	50	Ethereal Interrogation	-	-	-	Ethereal Corpses (Soldiers and maybe Scientists)
Drone Autopsy	Alien Computers	5 Drones	5	Advanced Beam Lasers	-	Holo Charger (SHIV)	-	Drone Wrecks (Engineers)
Seeker Autopsy	Alien Computers	5 Seekers	15	-	UFO Countermeasures	Respirator Implant Extrasensory Vest Elerium Emitter	-	Seeker Wrecks (Engineers / Credits)
Chryssalid Autopsy	Xenobiology	5 Chryssalids	30	Advanced Body Armor	-	Chitin Plating	Muscle Fiber Density Adaptive Bone Marrow (Gene Mods)	Chryssalid Carcasses (Credits / Scientists)
Cyberdisc Autopsy	Alien Computers	3 Cyberdiscs	15	Pulse Lasers	SHIV Advancements II	Autosentry Turret (SHIV)	Dodge Booster (Aerospace)	Cyberdisc Wrecks (Credits and Soldiers / Engineers)
Mechtoid Autopsy	Alien Computers	3 Mechtoid Cores	30	-	Advanced Servomotors	Psi Retaliator Alloy SHIV	-	Mechtoid Cores (Soldiers / Scientists and Engineers)
Sectopod Autopsy	Alien Computers	3 Sectopods	45	-	-	Battle Computer (MEC/SHIV) Weapon Supercooler (SHIV)	-	Sectopod Wrecks (Credits and Engineers)

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 by 25%, and often also unlock related Council requests.

Alien Interrogations (Long War)
Research	Prerequisites	Cost		Unlocks			Research Credits
Research		Captives		Research	Other	Council Request	Research	Foundry
Sectoid Interrogation	Sectoid Autopsy	1 Sectoid	15	Xenopsionics Elerium	Tactical Rigging (Foundry Project)	Sectoid Captive (Soldiers / Scientists)	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	70	Experimental Warfare	-	Thin Man Captive (Soldiers / Scientists / Credits)	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	70	Advanced Gauss Weapons	-	Floater Captive (Engineers)	Aerospace: UFO Analysis: (all) Advanced Aerospace Concepts Alien Propulsion Antigrav Systems	Aerospace: Advanced Flight Aircraft Boosters Armored Fighters Elerium Afterburners Improved Avionics Penetrator Weapons Super Skyranger UFO Countermeasures UFO Tracking Wingtip Sparrowhawks
Muton Interrogation	Muton Autopsy	1 Muton	95	-	Secondary Heart Adrenal Neurosympathy (Gene Mods) Shielding Pod (SHIV)	Muton Captive (Soldiers and maybe Scientists)	Gauss Weapons: Gauss Weapons Advanced Gauss Weapons	Gauss Weapons: Mag Pistols Phoenix Coilguns Quenchguns Rail Pistols Wingtip Sparrowhawks
Berserker Interrogation	Berserker Autopsy	1 Berserker	120	Advanced Power Armor	Neural Damping Smart Macrophages (Gene Mods)	Berserker Captive (Soldiers and maybe Scientists)	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	135	Alien Command and Control	Inner Fire Telekinetic Field Psychokinetic Strike (Psi Powers)	Sectoid Commander Captive (Panic Reduction and Soldiers / Scientists)	Psionics: Xenopsionics Alien Operations Alien Command and Control Mind and Machine	Psionics: Psi Warfare Systems
Heavy Floater Interrogation	Heavy Floater Autopsy	1 Heavy Floater	130	Antigrav Systems	-	Heavy Floater Captive (Engineers and Scientists / Soldiers)	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
Muton Elite Interrogation	Muton Elite Autopsy	1 Muton Elite	140	Light Plasma Weapons	Adrenaline Surge Iron Skin (Gene Mods)	Muton Elite Captive (Soldiers and maybe Scientists)	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
Ethereal Interrogation	Ethereal Autopsy	1 Ethereal	170	-	Psi Mastery (Psi Power)	Ethereal Captive (Scientists and Soldiers / Engineers)	All Research	All Projects

Main Tech

Xenology (Long War)
Research	Credit type	Prerequisites		Cost						Unlocks
Research	Credit type		Items					Other		Research	Facility	Loadout	Other
Alien Computers	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2 UFO Flight Computers	30	Alien Power Systems Alien Biocybernetics All Robotic Autopsies	-	Arc Rifle Satellite Nexus (Facility)	UFO Flight Computers (Council Request for Engineers / Credits / Soldiers)
Xenobiology	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5 Sectoid Corpses	15	Xenoneurology Xenogenetics All Biologic Autopsies	Alien Containment	Targeting Module	Sectoid Corpses (Council Request for Scientists)
Xenogenetics	Cybernetics	Xenobiology	-	-	-	-	10	-	35	Alien Biocybernetics	Genetics Lab	-	Predictive Tracking Advanced Perception (Gene Mods)
Xenoneurology	-	Xenobiology	-	-	-	10	-	5 Sectoid Corpses	25	Xenopsionics Alien Communications	-	Stun Rifle	-
Alien Communications	-	Xenoneurology	Hyperwave Beacon (from Alien base assault)	-	10	-	-	-	30	Stealth Systems	Hyperwave Relay	Mimic Beacon	-
Xenopsionics	Psionics	Xenoneurology Sectoid Interrogation	-	-	-	-	5	-	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 Computers	-	5	30	50	20	-	60	Mind and Machine Light Plasma Weapons MEC Mark 2	-	MEC-1 Minigun Incinerator Module Neural Gunlink	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 Computers Elerium	-	-	20	-	-	6 UFO Power Sources	100	Alien Propulsion Advanced Power Armor Pulse Lasers Light Plasma Weapons	Elerium Batteries UFO Tracking	Elerium Generator (Facility)	UFO Power Sources (Council Request for Credits / Soldiers / Scientists / Engineers)
Advanced Aerospace Concepts	Aerospace	Alien Materials Experimental Warfare	-	10	-	50	-	-	65	Alien Propulsion	Armored Fighters Improved Avionics Penetrator Weapons	-	-
Alien Propulsion	Aerospace	Alien Power Systems Advanced Aerospace Concepts	-	10	20	20	-	6 UFO Power Sources	60	Antigrav Systems	Elerium Afterburners	Firestorm (Aerospace)	-
Alien Command and Control	Psionics	Ethereal Autopsy	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 (Long War)
Research	Credit type	Prerequisites		Cost			Unlocks
Research	Credit type		Other				Other
UFO Analysis: Scout	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Scout Crash Site or Scout Landing Site mission completed	20	2	400	30% Bonus Damage to Scouts Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Scouts
UFO Analysis: Fighter	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Fighter Crash Site mission completed	20	2	300	30% Bonus Damage to Fighters Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Fighters
UFO Analysis: Raider	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Raider Crash Site or Raider Landing Site mission completed	40	4	600	30% Bonus Damage to Raiders Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Raiders
UFO Analysis: Destroyer	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Destroyer Crash Site mission completed	40	4	600	30% Bonus Damage to Destroyers Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Destroyers
UFO Analysis: Abductor	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Abductor Crash Site or Abductor Landing Site mission completed	160	8	800	30% Bonus Damage to Abductors Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Abductors
UFO Analysis: Harvester	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Harvester Crash Site or Harvester Landing Site mission completed	160	8	800	30% Bonus Damage to Harvesters Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Harvesters
UFO Analysis: Transport	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Transport Crash Site or Transport Landing Site mission completed	240	8	900	30% Bonus Damage to Transports Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Transports
UFO Analysis: Terror Ship	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Terror Ship Crash Site or Terror Ship Landing Site mission completed	240	8	900	30% Bonus Damage to Terror Ships Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Terror Ships
UFO Analysis: Assault Carrier	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Assault Carrier Crash Site or Assault Carrier Landing Site mission completed	480	12	1000	30% Bonus Damage to Assault Carriers Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Assault Carriers
UFO Analysis: Battleship	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Battleship Crash Site mission completed	480	12	1000	30% Bonus Damage to Battleships Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Battleships
UFO Analysis: Overseer	Aerospace	Alien Materials	Overseer Crash Site mission completed	40	12	700	30% Bonus Damage to Overseers Salvage 30% more alloys and elerium from Overseers

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).