Ethereal on Base Defense Mission

[KaiserKlein]

Going through Enemy Within for the first time, and I encountered and as the title states, I encountered an Etheral on the XCOM base defense mission. I'm playing on normal mode, and I have seen playthroughs of Enemy Within on normal (and even impossible) with Ethereals not appearing on the base defense mission. Just wondering if it is linked to some in-game event like research or something, or if it is a bug.

[hghwolf]

My understanding is that it`s based on your progress andwhat aliens you have encountered: Where are you progresswise ?

[KaiserKlein]

everything exept muton elites, sectopods, and ethereals

[Grinch]

Apparently there's a chance of Ethereals spawning instead of Sectoid Commanders with Enemy Within, according to the games' Wiki anyway.

[Rabidnid]

I've had the same thing.

[garytay]

depends on how soon you beat the alien base in the game

[cRaZy eYes]

Doesn't sound like a bug. It sounds like a desperate attempt by the aliens. And an opportunity or you.

[Stardustfire]

Its not a progress thing, only a Time thing. if u encounter a Etherreal in normal base attack u must be really very very very very very very...... late with u Alien Base Assault before.
Even in Classic it only happens onetimes to me that i get a etherreal in Base Assault (impossible is a complete other story, there Etherreal looks granted to me no matter how fast u reach that point)

[KaiserKlein]

Ok, thats what I thought. I did have almost all things researched, including the alloy cannon, so I guess sending a mostly muton platoon for death in a one-time-assault would've been bad planning for the aliens

[Old Ben]

Depends on how long you delay the alien base attack and keep improving your tech. I have had not only Etherals, but also elite mutons and sectopods on base defense when I delayed a long time.

[Stardustfire]

Sectopods and Elite Mutis are normal deploy stuff in classic.