LOL "Hunt XCOM" as the very first Dark Event?

[Uncle Nastyfingers]

Seriously? This can be a thing? If I fail the OP that counters this, or don't even get given the opportunity to do it since I have only one territory, I assume that is the end of the campaign. The game literally just started, it's ♥♥♥♥ing March lol.

[Fringehunter7719]

It's not necessarily that bad, the Dark event won't trigger for several weeks, and after it triggers you have about another month before the UFO interception, so the actual mission should take place in May, even if you fail to counter it.

The mission can be tricky in May, but it's doable if you play sensibly and don't advance recklessly - you get the benefit of up to 10 soldiers whether or not you have bought the squad size upgrades and the enemies you face will scale to Force level the same as on any other mission.

It's probably not ideal to have it so early, but if you prepare for the mission it can actually reward a huge amount of bonus kills and experience across a lot of troops.

[Uncle Nastyfingers]

Originally posted by Fringehunter7719:

It's not necessarily that bad, the Dark event won't trigger for several weeks, and after it triggers you have about another month before the UFO interception, so the actual mission should take place in May, even if you fail to counter it.

The mission can be tricky in May, but it's doable if you play sensibly and don't advance recklessly - you get the benefit of up to 10 soldiers whether or not you have bought the squad size upgrades and the enemies you face will scale to Force level the same as on any other mission.

It's probably not ideal to have it so early, but if you prepare for the mission it can actually reward a huge amount of bonus kills and experience across a lot of troops.

I dunno man, I am on L/I/HG/PE, and I'm not a master player. I nailed the first three missions and figured something had to be the reason things were going so well. Open the first set of Dark Events and was like yep, called it. Hunt XCOM and Stiletto Rounds.

[Fringehunter7719]

Yeah, I've done L/I/GH/PE a few times, hunt XCOM isn't that big a deal, and if you have the opportunity to cancel it anyway? Doesn't really seem that drastic to me.

Just make sure you've got a healthy supply of grenadiers by May and play the usual sensible Avenger defence strategy of just holding position for 4ish turns while the initial pods come to you and your first few reinforcements join the fray and you'll be fine.

[ElanaAhova]

@Fresh. a) The dark event only lasts one month - so, if, on strategic map, you are careful, you may avoid the attack. Use your mouse wheel to pull your view of the globe up and away. See the furthest you can - maybe avoid the ufo until its month long hunt expires. I did it once. Worth a shot.
IF you do get grounded, FringeHunter's advice is solid. And don't get spooked. Also, Commander doesn't release all your defending squadies at once. Over time, he sends 'reinforcements. So keep to defensive positions around the ramp. Make the alien scum suffer your overwatch. Keep your squad alive and your numbers will increase. Bide your time. As I recall, there is no countdown on this mission. Save going for the jammer for later, until:
1) You have all your reinforcements, a squad of 10, I think. 2) The Alien Scum send their toughest troops early on. Survive that, kill 'em from your barracades.
3) After a while, aliens scum will air drop reinforcements. Flairs will mark where they will drop next turn. Set up an overwatch nightmare for the uninvited drop ins. Welcome to earth, BANG.
4a) When you see the pattern of reinforcements dropping in, and you can now handle them, divide your 10 member squad into two forces. Main one (and any wounded troops that need to stay back in ramp), defend the ramp, and nail any drop ins near the ramp. [In my experience, the drop ins are always near the ramp. And pretty predictable.]
4b) Take your second, smaller squad, with a > scout < and scout out the jammer. It will be defended. My experience, usually 3 alien scum, (has 2 snakes). Paitence, creep up, get best position, ignore the jammer (temptation) kill, stun, whatever, the alien scum. Then jammer.
5) Carefully bring jammer busting squad back to ramp. Alien reforcements will still be dropping. Join the fun at the ramp. All clear, Avenger take off. Hope this helps. Don't get spooked, paitence. You will win, Commander.

[Uncle Nastyfingers]

Appreciate the advice guys, I countered the Dark Event though. I am now hopeful I will get a chance to counter Stiletto Rounds before it goes live. I haven't had that one go live before but I hear it is rough.

Speaking of that, are you guaranteed a chance to counter the first two Dark Events that come up in March?

[ElanaAhova]

My understanding, and experience, so far, is that dark events are countered by a mission. You get a choice of sending a squad to counter one of the (max of 3) dark events. You can't counter a dark event that is hidden. Must spend intel to reveal it. (Yes, stiletto rounds are NASTY.) So, you can counter only one impending dark event. Not sure if covert missions affect this? Anyone know about this?

[Fringehunter7719]

Dark events are countered by guerilla ops, depending on the exact timing you either get 1 or 2 regular opportunities (usually 2, it actually helps to tackle one of the older ones instead of one that's just appeared on GH) to counter them between when they appear and when they activate. Sometimes you can get a bonus opportunity if you happen to get a resistance rumour that offers a guerilla op as a reward.

Stiletto rounds tend to be pretty mild, especially on GH it's one of the ones I would be happier to see go through, it only applies to ADVENT forces, and only to ranged attacks, so unless you're getting hit by a trooper or officer and would have survived with exactly 1 HP (or you don't bring medikits, in which case, consider starting) then it usually makes no difference whatsoever as healing the damage also removes the debuff.

You cannot get the option to counter more guerilla ops than you have regions under XCOM control, which is a good reason to contact 2 or possibly 3 regions very early in a campaign. You can, however, counter hidden dark events, you just won't know what it was until you successfully counter (or if you don't counter, until it activates).

You cannot counter dark events by resistance ops.

[Colonel Inviegle]

Those missions are easy to beat and great opportunities for a lot of XP.

Here's what I do:

Wait for the first raid on the ramp with everyone in overwatch and you'll decimate them pretty quickly sending out a Ranger in conceal on the flanks--- WAY out, and work your way around to the rear, usually from the left hand side of the map. Always have a ranger in phantom BTW.

Once you kill off the first main assault move your most armored team of 3 into the center within range of people on overwatch and heal gremlins. Any second assault, or rear guard, will focus on that team while the ranger works his way around to the beacon and caps it solo pretty easily.

From then on just keep overwatching the 3 man team, and have the ranger make a mad dash back toward the ramp capping people with his slash attack.

The may take a lot of wounds as they get wounded and healed over and over, but so what-- mad XP and loot.

Good luck.

[Fringehunter7719]

The other thing I should have mentioned the other day is that completing the hunt the avenger encounter, as well as yielding a lot of free progress to soldier rank ups opens up the possibility of UFO raids instead of supply raids. These tend to be more rewarding, as they contain a hacking reward in addition to the more traditional supplies, some of these are extremely powerful.

[Azure]

i'd rather it comes earlier than later

[red255]

yeah its not that hard (though it does generate a good deal of roster fatigue)

you get 10 guys vs the world and maybe 4 turrets. you just need to squadsight the relay and shoot it till it dies then bug out.

I''m not sure what all your gameplay abbreviations are, Legendary ironman, grim horizons, Physical education? whats PE?

regardless the ufo comes it triggers a mission, not a big deal of a mission if you have a couple snipers.

if you aren't a pro player, Legendary ironman might be bad times. you gotta accept your licks and losses.

but with grim horizons the hunt mission is no big deal because its one and done. it attacks it triggers a mission, then afterwards half your supply raids are landed UFO missions. which are better than regular supply raids because there is a hack reward.

[.:SeeD Squall:.]

i got this on my first month too ,i managed to survive but took me a while ,sad part is i killed 75 enemys :(

[ElanaAhova]

Originally posted by .:SeeD Squall:.:

i got this on my first month too ,i managed to survive but took me a while ,sad part is i killed 75 enemys :(

Sad pat? Happy part, lots of experience, and training points. Any of your squad get two or more promotions? Happy days - die alien scum!