Terror Units
Each species of Alien has a counterpart species that it brings along for especially demanding missions where more assault power is required-- most famously the Terror Missions launched against major cities. These creatures are called terror units, and bring a new destructiveness to the battle. Only the Mutons break this pattern, using two different species of terror unit simultaneously.
For an overview and comparisons between see Overviews of Aliens. For information on the vital statistics of aliens, see Alien Stats.
When Do Terror Units Show Up?
Terror units show up on all of the major, city-raiding alien terror missions, as their name implies. However, they will not be present in minor Alien Terror missions-- any that doesn't involve a Terror Ship. In addition, they will be present on Alien Base Assaults, Base Defense, as well as any mission that utilizes a Terror Ship or Battleship.
Terror units will never be present on any small UFO, medium UFO, or Supply Ship.
Terror Unit Types
- Cyberdisc - the Sectoid's terror unit.
- Reaper - the Floater's terror unit.
- Chryssalid - the Snakeman's terror unit.
- Zombie - an intermediate stage of the Chryssalid.
- Celatid - One of the Muton's two terror unit types.
- Silacoid - One of the Muton's two terror unit types.
- Sectopod - The Ethereal's terror unit.
Notes
- The presence of terror units significantly changes a battle. For example: by themselves, Snakemen far less frightening Mutons. Snakemen have far less moblity and poorer combat skills. However, the addition of the Chryssalid makes a Snakeman terror mission into a nightmare. The Mutons' weak Celatids and Silacoids make Muton terror missions seem much more relaxed by comparison.
- On any mission where the Sectoids have their Cyberdisc terror unit, they will also have a Leader capable of Psionics.
- However, not all missions with Sectoid Psionics will have Cyberdiscs.