The makers of XCOM 2 are sharing loads of gameplay details in the weeks and months leading to XCOM 2’s Feb. 5, 2016 release date. The latest information we have on XCOM 2’s gameplay comes via a YouTube exclusive from ChristopherOdd . Watch the video of ChristopherOdd playing through all of the Psi Operative Class’s skills below:
The Psionic Operative class has the ranks of Initiate, Acolyte, Adept, Disciple, Mystic, Warlock and Magus. Leveling up this class involves time spent in a Psi Lab. It takes 5 days to train as a Psi Op initially, and additional training ordered for your soldier can be interrupted in order to take that soldier into combat. There are 14 psionic abilities available and your soldier can learn them all, though doing so may not be feasible -- or at least, reasonable. The abilities are randomized in batches of three as your Psi Op levels up.
There are two ability trees, the telepath tree and the resonant tree, as well as two starting skills, Psi Operative and Stasis. Stasis completely stuns the target for 1 turn, but renders them immune to any damage or attack.
The skills in each tree break down as follows:
Telepath Tree
Insanity: Debilitating telepathic attack that can inflict different negative conditions, including mental control of the target. Chance of success determined by attacker’s Psi stat vs target’s Will stat.
Soul Fire / Soul Steal: Does guaranteed psionic damage to organic enemies in a range of 4 to 6 tiles; ignores cover and armor. / Deals damage to an enemy and returns half of that as replenished health.
Solace: Passive ability that surrounds your Psi-Op with an aura that extinguishes or blocks any mental impairment for themselves or any squadmate within a 4-tile radius. Cleanses mental impairments of already-afflicted squadmates if you pass by them.
Schism: Stacks with Insanity and guarantees that Insanity will do a small amount of damage. The enemy will also take +2 damage from all future attacks.
Fuse: If an enemy is carrying explosives, they can be remotely detonated. No cooldown!
Null Lance: Project a beam of psionic energy that damages every target it passes through. (5-turn cooldown)
Resonant Tree:
Inspire: Grants a bonus action immediately to a nearby squadmate. (3-turn cooldown; squadmate must be within sight radius, but line of sight is not required)
Stasis Shield: Completely stuns the target for 1 turn, but renders them immune to any damage or attack, and can be cast on allies.
Sustain: If Psi Op would be killed, they are put into Stasis for one turn and their health is reduced to 1 HP. This can only be used once per mission and status effects such as Poison or Burning may still affect them afterwards.
Fortress: Psi Op is immune to fire, poison, acid, and explosive damage.
Domination: Permanently mind control an enemy. Only one successful Domination can be performed per mission, dependent on your Psi stat vs the Will of the target. (4-turn cooldown with an unsuccessful attempt)
Void Rift: Generate an exploding field of Psionic energy that damages everything within. Organic enemies have a chance to suffer Insanity. (5-turn cooldown)
Interested in more XCOM 2 information? Read up on the robust mod support Firaxis has promised, the City Center, Wilderness, and Small Town environments , the terrifying new enemies you’ll face, and the new core characters who will help humanity reclaim their planet. And don’t forget to read up on the XCOM 2 Digital Deluxe edition and season pass here .
You can place your pre-order for XCOM 2 on the game's Steam page here. XCOM 2 is available to play Feb. 5, 2016.
