War of the Chosen Legend Ironman COMPLETED + TIPS!

[Twitch.tv/KAEN_SG]

Did it legit with no console/gameplay mods (even for gamebreaking bugs like untargetable bodies, being seen through closed doors, etc)

The entire campaign was livestreamed on http://twitch.tv/Kaen_SG

Skip to 7 hours and 12mins if you want to watch the final story missions
(Don't watch the ending cinematics if you don't want to spoiler yourself)
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/172322487

Victory Screen Final Stats
https://clips.twitch.tv/EnchantingHotPartridgeGivePLZ

The run was done blind (other than knowledge gained from 4 previous failed runs, 90% of the WotC content was experienced for the first time)


My Quick tips for those still struggling.

1. If any research breakthroughs appear that offer you +1 weapon damage on ANY weapon, TAKE IT NOW!!! The bonus applies for the entire game.

2. Reapers are the most powerful Heroes. At Major rank they can SOLO a Chosen/Alien Ruler.

3. Templars are extremely risky to play and playing them aggressively can get squads wiped.

4. Psi Ops are still rediculously Overpowered

5. Shredstorm Cannon is still rediculously Overpowered

6. SPARK are incredibly useful now... I only built 1 spark but he ended the game with 105 aim... SPARK + Shredstorm + Ability that gives +2 damage/bigger cone == GGWP. I was struggling with resources the entire game but I would have built a 2nd Spark when I realised how useful/powerful they were if I could afford to. :(

7. Grenadiers are super strong in the early game but their strength tapers off in the mid-game when Shredstorms/EXOsuits are available and their weak base aim hurts their selection. Especially when you start picking up Shredder on other core classes.

8. Shredder is a Superb ability, prioritize taking it. I had a Reaper/Skirmisher/Ranger/Specialistx3 with the Shredder ability unlocked and life was good.

9. I lost all my storyline hero units (2 of them were some of my highest ranked soldiers when they died) but doing covert actions got them replaced later in the game. I still got 3 Hero units to Colonel before the endgame so don't give up if your best soldiers die to Bugs/RNG... it's a recoverable situation.

10. Bluescreen rounds are super useful, I bring 2-4 on EVERY mission once it is available. (Rush for this tech once it is possible)

11. Suggested Build Order. GTS -> Ring -> Resistance Radio. I went with something else on the 3rd building and it almost cost me the campaign while I was dealing with imminent alien victory many times. Proving Grounds would be a stronger pick if you are comfortable being under incredible pressure from the avatar project.

12. There are still some horrible game-breaking possibly campaign ending bugs (eg. bodies/corpses that cannot be carried, random pods activating which have zero LOS possibility). I consider it the Ironman tax. I paid the tax and survived so you can too!

[David]

Congrats. They need to fix that Soldiers Lost stat (31!), I had 0 before WotC so it wasn't broken then.

My 0 deaths ironman save got borked, got to start over :/

[Roderick]

Congratulations!
I just finished on normal to see everything new. Legendary is my next goal. You'r my idol! xD

[Ruinous]

Congrats! I'm about 3/4s through my own Legendary / Ironman. I've also experienced the unable to pick up bleeding out soldiers. I have had to alt-f4 scum my way past a mission which repeatedly kept crashing, something buggy about Lost interacting with the Assassin was causing the crash but I got past it by changing up what I was doing. But wth, I don't think anyone would blame me for that ;)

I went Ring > GTS. I felt getting those covert ops going asap was the priority, as the ops can give the level ups to get those squad size increases quicker. I had some marvelous luck with hacking, got a x2 scan speed reward twice during missions and for a brief window of time there was an overlap between the two where I could get a strategy layer reward in 2 days of scanning. Didn't last long like that, but it sure helped.

Nearing a dozen dead and two failed missions :D (and it took me 9 gatecrashers to get into my groove again ;p)

[Saya]

2. Not agree about reaper. I found skirmisher more useful, coz he can give 1 action point to 2 soldiers.

3. If fortress perk proc - put hp pcs and you have running scout/tank/lafesaver with his teleport perks. If fortress+bladestorm proc - he is a god of melee war. High risk - high reward, just dont melee mutons.

10. I prefer AP rounds. AP + hazmat vest, except specialists with hazmat+medkit and grenadiers with hazmat+ap+frost.

11. Its platinum BO. Then power plant and proving grounds.

12. Yeah, like save and reload every turn on last mission, so crushed objects wouldnot kill perfomance if you PC isnt great.

And my little tip - acid grenades is your little friends in early/mid game.

[SunDrippedDevil]

Well done!

[Chro]

Congrats commander, i'm almost in the end of my commander/ironman campaign and it was one hell of a ride, in my opinion i think the reaper is the best of the 3 special units i mainly use her for scout and tag the enemies across the map so i can watch their movements and plan accordingly, also when you combo her claymore with a grenade it can wipe out most pods or damage them badly, not to mention the skill that lets you trigger explosive stuff across the map

[Ellie]

Congrats, finished my Legend Tinman campaign last week. Was an interesting experience to say the least.

[Doing gens, you?]

gj dude, that's one hell of an achievement

[Twitch.tv/KAEN_SG]

Thanks guys! It was a rough ride but I made it! :)

[Casey]

What of research order?

[MysticalPotato]

Disagree with the Templar evaluation. They are not risky, they're pretty darn good if you play them right.

[Negotiator7]

I watched a bit of it and i have to say i feel its total chese using reapers with banish like that. I'm almost thru my legend camapin and have not needed to use something that op. I do however use some of my troops with 15% chance to excecute. When i got to fighting sectapoids i was bringing 4+ mimic beacons every battle. I didn't even have psy opps built at that time.

Also seems you are running a lot of mods.

[Wintermute]

Time to do it with grim horizons :P

Seriously though, has anybody finished such run?

[Tiasmoon]

Nearing the end of mine, 12 Dark Events active. Been pretty interesting so far.

Templar start, no Repeater, no Mimic Beacons, No Advanced Heavy Weapons (but that one is mostly cuz I forget they exist), no Squad Sight abuse or endless exp farming, a Dog ate my FrostBomb (or well it was a Stunlancer+Andromedon technically) and with the Chosen alive, no Psi Ops or Skirmisher Stun abuse.

That's just my prefered limitations. I don't like using the broken stuff.
I didnt have Explosive damage fall-off or Beta Strike tho, so there's that.

Missions do become a bit exhausting near the end.

Originally posted by Negotiator7:

sectapoids i was bringing 4+ mimic beacons every battle. I didn't even have psy opps built at that time.

Also seems you are running a lot of mods.

Sectopods are definately the biggest threat. Well them and Andromedons.

[Negotiator7]

When i started fighting sectopods i had to hack and take control of them and still do now to make sure i can finish them off. I'm atually playing on trying it full iron man after done with my current campain. But i do feel reapers are just way to cheesy if used for killing every hard target.