Rocketeer (LWR)

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Rocketeer

The Rocketeer class is similar to vanilla. Their signature ability is Fire Rocket.

Primary Weapon: Assault Rifles, Battle Rifles, Carbines, SMGs.

Secondary Weapon: Rocket Launcher.

Class-Limited items: Rocket Launcher, Extra Rocket, Javelin Rocket.

Abilities

Rank	Ability
Specialist	Fire Rocket Grants the ability to use and equip a rocket launcher. Rocket scatter is unaffected by aim but decreases by 4% per HP above average. Firing a rocket with less than 2 AP triples scatter. 2 turn cooldown.
Lance Corporal	Light 'Em Up Standard shots cost only 1 AP and gain both +5 aim and +1 damage for each instance of damage their target took this turn.		Smoke and Mirrors Using a support grenade costs only 1 AP and does not trigger reaction shots. Equipped support grenades receive an additional use.		Grenadier Using a destructive grenade deals +1 damage and costs only 1 AP. Equipped destructive grenades receive an additional use. Grants 1.3 mobility.
Corporal	Holo Rounds Firing at a target during this unit's turn holos [Prevents concealment/stealth, incoming shots gain +20 aim and +1 penetration] them for 3 turns.		Danger Zone Suppression affects (with half suppressive fire damage) targets in a 2.5 tile radius around the primary target.		Packmaster Equipped medikits, grenades, and mists receive an additional use. Grants +1 ammo to non-arc primary weapons. Grants +1 HP to healing from Restorative Mists.
Sergeant	Penetrator The primary weapon gains +2 penetration.		Sapper Explosives deal +1 damage and double environmental damage. Grants +20% throw range.		Tinker Concussion and psi grenades add 25 shred to their targets.
Tech Sergeant	Shock and Awe Rocket launchers and extra equipped rockets gain an additional use. Reduces scatter by 30%. Slayer All weapons and equipment deal bonus % weapon damage equal to the target's current HP.
Gunnery Sergeant	HEAT Warheads Explosives gain +6 penetration and double the application of any shred.		Fragmentation Explosives critically hit exposed targets, dealing 150% damage.		Tandem Warheads Explosives employed by this soldier do full damage at the extent of their area of effect (instead of 50%).
Master Sergeant	Bring 'Em On Grants additional shot damage equal to half the number of enemies in sight. Grants additional aim and graze chance equal to 5x the number of enemies in sight.			Extra Conditioning Grants +3 armor HP, +0.6 mobility, 10% throw range, and a 10% chance for all end-in-idle actions to cost 0 AP.

Stat Progression

Rank	Attribute Gains
Specialist	+0-1 (50%)	+4-12	-	+3-9
Lance Corporal	+0-1 (42%)	+1-3	-	+1-3
Corporal	+0-1 (42%)	+1-3	-	+1-3
Sergeant	+0-1 (42%)	+1-3	-	-
Tech Sergeant	+0-1 (42%)	+0-2	-	-
Gunnery Sergeant	+0-1 (41%)	-	-	-
Master Sergeant	+0-1 (41%)	-	-	-
Total	+0-7	+5-15	-	+5-15

Predictable Potential:

Rank	Attribute Gains
Specialist	+1	+8	-	+6
Lance Corporal	+1	+2	-	+2
Corporal	+1	+2	-	+2
Sergeant	-	+2	-	-
Tech Sergeant	-	+1	-	-
Gunnery Sergeant	-	-	-	-
Master Sergeant	-	-	-	-
Total	+3	+15	-	+10

Tactical Advice

Role: Crowd Control / Cover Destruction / Offensive Support

The Rocketeer's tactical role is best described as a support weapon. It is a slow and unwieldy class, but carries invaluable armament big enough to bring a FUBAR scenario under control given enough time. Their starting Fire Rocket perk grants a single rocket with a two turn cooldown between firing, and their other perks generally focus on adding a secondary supportive role to the Rocketeer between firing. It's always best for Rocketeers to fire with a steadied weapon, but firing with two AP in a pinch is still effective if the target area is at mid-range. Keep in mind that rocket scatter decreases by 4% per HP above average. Rocketeers should operate towards the rear of the squad, safe from any flanks or incoming fire.

Rocketeers do not benefit from a high aim stat and generally stay still to fire their weapon. Given that the rocketeer's armament can literally blow up an aggressor's position, positioning and therefore mobility is also generally unnecessary for this class, aside from a clear line of firing to the target.

Note that if you are playing without Red Fog, then the Rocketeer's tactical potential will be considerably stunted.

Sample Builds

Light 'Em Up Rocketeer

The LeU Rocketeer is a hybrid build packing the useful long range explosive prowess of the class with some added fire support capabilities. The combination of Light 'Em Up and Holo Rounds - which allows tagging two targets or focusing down one target - is a valuable addition to any squad. This is especially true early on when XCOM aim values are quite low and straight shooting is unreliable. When rockets are on cooldown, this build plays much like an Infantry, but with a focus on utility and penetration instead of raw damage output and noticeably less mobility.

Sample Light 'Em Up Build: Light 'Em Up -> Holo Rounds -> Penetrator -> Shock And Awe -> Any -> Bring 'Em On

Light 'Em Up

Holo Rounds

Penetrator

Shock and Awe

HEAT Warheads Fragmentation Tandem Warheads

Bring 'Em On

Recommended Weapons: Assault rifle, Battle Rifle, Arc rifle
Recommended Equipment: Ammo-increasers, Aim-increasers, Javelin Rocket, Special ammo.

Notes:

• Access to Light 'Em Up makes the Arc rifle a viable option for a large burst of damage against hard to crack Mechs. Keep in mind however that this choice prevents the Rocketeer from defending himself in close combat, especially against bios, as the class doesn't have access to secondary weapons.
• The GSGT perk is flexible for pretty much every Rocketeer build:
  • Heat Warheads is the utility option, doubling the chance of disorienting. It's also helpful when cover DR comes into play.
  • Fragmentation is great for Javelins and gives your regular rockets the potential to nuke enemies. It's unreliable, however.
  • Tandem Warheads is the crowd control option, giving a modest increase in damage that's especially noticeable in crowds with aliens at the edge of the blast.
• None of the traditional soldier upgrade paths are a particularly significant increase in power for this build, but this also means any of them are fine to invest in.

Smoke and Mirrors Rocketeer

The S&M Rocketeer bundles rockets and reaction immune support grenades in an efficient if somewhat slow package. This lack of mobility is however mitigated by the longest support grenades throws in the game thanks to a high HP growth and Tinker. Consequently, this build can use Concussion and Acid grenades from extended ranges to safely debuff dangerous targets. Early access to Packmaster allows up to 6 of these throws for some good staying power in longer missions. Finally, rockets are always a good fallback if the use of support grenades isn't optimal during a turn.

Sample Smoke and Mirrors Build: Smoke and Mirrors -> Packmaster -> Tinker -> Shock And Awe -> Any -> Sprinter

Smoke and Mirrors

Packmaster

Tinker

Shock and Awe

HEAT Warheads Fragmentation Tandem Warheads

Extra Conditioning

Recommended Weapons: Carbine, Arc Rifle
Recommended Equipment: Concussion grenades/Psi grenades(psi), Acid grenades, Smoke grenades, Javelin, Mobility-increasers, Psi Frayer.

Notes:

• Like the previous build, any GSGT perk will do the job: HEAT Warheads for utility, Fragmentation for damage (especially on Javelins), and Tandem Warheads for crowd control (especially on regular rockets).
• Psi is a strong choice to add some more team support or single target debuffing. Psi also unlocks the use of Psi grenades and Psi Frayer for some more exotic support options.
• Smoke grenades can be used better by other classes, but are equally effective against Overwatch and still profit from the extended range of the build.

Grenadier Rocketeer

The Grenadier Rocketeer foregoes any notion of a hybrid build to bring a withering array of explosive ordnance to the battlefield. With long range throws and access to boosted rockets, this build can deliver destruction at any range and will leave many an alien exposed, disoriented, or dead in the aftermath. The low mobility of the class is however worsened by the heavy weight of explosive equipment. Moreover, this build is left with no useful options once that equipment runs out and is thus a good candidate for Psi training or Officer training.

Sample Grenadier Build: Grenadier -> Danger Zone -> Sapper -> Shock and Awe -> Any -> Extra Conditioning

Grenadier

Danger Zone

Sapper

Shock and Awe

HEAT Warheads Fragmentation Tandem Warheads

Extra Conditioning

Recommended Weapons: Carbine, Arc Rifle
Recommended Equipment: HE grenades, AP grenades, Alien/Plasma grenades, Mobility-increasers, Javelin, Shaped Charges, Psi Frayer.

Note:

• Just like on the other builds, the GSGT perk is a choice between the utility of HEAT Warheads, the raw damage of Fragmentation, and the crowd control of Tandem Warheads.
• Any field of improvements will work well with this build, but Psi and Officers provide the most benefit due to their abilities that work independent of grenade count.

See also

Long War Rebalance: Soldiers
	Soldiers Assault Infantry Rocketeer Gunner Sniper Scout Medic Engineer
	MEC Troopers Marauder Goliath Jaeger Shogun
	Officers Psionics Gene Mods S.H.I.V.s