Which do you research first: weapons or armor?

[Snowstorm]

Just wondering.
I chose weapons in my first (and failed) playthrough, as I let the doom counter tick due to bad strategy.
Never saw plated armor.

[Rockfire ✘]

Magnetic, good scouting and pod activation should tided you over until you get plated. You could also go plated/proving grounds ammo route if you have the resources.

[Bradley Cooper | Erosdaiou]

having the capability to have better armor is something you get at the beginning of the game 0cra at first it s just an object you put like grenade but it will unlock the plated ones who are real armors you can easily make good armor and also weapon in a playthrough :)

[Coyote]

It depends entirely on your playstyle really.
I go with predator armor for the extra item slot.. That alone gives more of an advantage through more tactical options rather then just simply doing more damage with your guns...

More options are always better sounding to me if rng is involved in the combat of a game.

Unless you are a filthy save scummer... Then i guess damage output would be better because you can just re-roll and choose different targets if you miss.
Your soldiers will miss... alot.

[Cyber Von Cyberus]

personnaly i always go with the armor first, as having you soldier not instantly die from the most basic ADVENT trooper has prooven to be quite effective

[Rockfire ✘]

The only issue on relying on more armor to save you is you've put yourself in a bad situation in the first place. Most pods can be taken out in the turn you encounter them, thus having more stopping power means your more likely to wipe them out before they start shooting back at you.

The game even cheats in your favour in the lower difficulties, so missing a shot is either becasue you tested your luck (bad positioning) or generally unlucky and miss a 90+ shot.

https://www.reddit.com/r/XCOM2/comments/45u81x/yes_xcom_2s_rng_cheats_in_your_favor_heres_how/

[Cyber Von Cyberus]

yes but still getting hit while my soldiers were in cover happened quite a few times to me, and at the start of the game and usually means the soldier who was hit is out of play

[Rockfire ✘]

Thats why you kill the pod before they get to shoot back or avoid the engagement all together if you know you can't win. In a game of RNG mitigating risk is your top priority, use only full cover, blue move only.. etc.

[Snowstorm]

Originally posted by Rockfire ✘:

The only issue on relying on more armor to save you is you've put yourself in a bad situation in the first place. Most pods can be taken out in the turn you encounter them, thus having more stopping power means your more likely to wipe them out before they start shooting back at you.

The game even cheats in your favour in the lower difficulties, so missing a shot is either becasue you tested your luck (bad positioning) or generally unlucky and miss a 90+ shot.

https://www.reddit.com/r/XCOM2/comments/45u81x/yes_xcom_2s_rng_cheats_in_your_favor_heres_how/

I'm using a mod that removes hidden aim assists, since they take out the challenge.
And I'm using 6 soldiers without upgrades thanks to the LW toolbox.
So the alive member modifiers aren't going into play.

[Rockfire ✘]

6 soliders should make early game commander a breeze though, since it was balanced around 4.

Originally posted by 0cra_tr0per:

I'm using a mod that removes hidden aim assists, since they take out the challenge.

Nice, should prepare you nicely whenever you decide to take on legendary.

[Exarch_Alpha]

Weapons. Weapons kill on the first or second hits if you are doing things right, which means the extra hit points become way less relevant. Meanwhile, a shot soldier can be a panicked soldier or bleeding soldier.

[twopointfour]

I always go weapons because they can't kill you if you kill them first

[talemore]

Them removed hp-armor and replaced it with armor mitigation who can't sponge a single hit so why bother with armor when you get hp-armor for free every time your soldiers level up.

[SamBC]

Armour does give you HP. It just doesn't give you HP that you can lose without taking an injury after the battle.

[Snowstorm]

Originally posted by talemore:

Them removed hp-armor and replaced it with armor mitigation who can't sponge a single hit so why bother with armor when you get hp-armor for free every time your soldiers level up.

That's only in a specific mod I'm not using.

[Cahos Rahne Veloza]

Weapons first is a definite must.