Is there any way I can beat the first Advent blacksite mission?

[Punk Rubber Riley]

I'm trying to beat this one mission as part of an objective I have to do, and the game keeps kicking my ass!!! I tried taking down every enemy on the map, but it seems completely hopeless, there are way to many enemies and the fact that there's additional backup and a chosen assassin that shows up does not help! I feel like the only way to finish this mission properly is to somehow stealth my way and steal the blacksite vial, and then somehow get all of my squadmates to the pickup area without being spotted. I just don't know what to do! Am In seriously not ready for this mission or what?

[ZumZoom]

You're probably not ready. Should try it after getting magnetic weapons and plated armor.

[chaos]

that mission can be delayed forever as long as you don't need the avatar progress reduction from clearing it. for your own sanity, do the chosen base assault and kill the chosen guarding the region permanently before attempting any of the 3 story missions. each chosen guards one of the three and the others won't appear if that one is dead, eg if assassin is guarding the blacksite and you get rid of her, beforehand warlock and hunter won't show up and the mission will be easier.

[Bobloblaw]

It should be a relatively simple and safe mission as long as you are not significantly delayed on upgrading weapons and gear.

There is no countdown on this mission you can move as slow as you like. You should have at least one reaper available to you at this point. You should have a sniper and bluescreen rounds along with at least mag weapons and plated armor (although the armor isn't necessary), at least the 5 soldier upgrade and it also helps to have a specialist with revive / extra healing uses.

Use the reaper to scout ahead and find each pod and turrets. Get your bluescreen round sniper up high (should be a cliff or tall building at the beginning) and use the sniper to eliminate turrets from as far as possible. Engage one pod at a time and try not to pull more than one pod. Use your reaper to find the assassin and do not pull her if you are fighting a pod. Try to 5v1 her and use the medic heals to keep everyone topped off to avoid being one shot.

So yeah just move slow and use the reaper to give you all the info you need to approach the mission cautiously. I would say a reaper, medic, sniper and explosives grenadier + another damage dealer is a good squad to take. If you don't have an explosives guy with extra nade charges take 2 damage dealers like ranger and heavy gunner.

[mk11]

Unless you have delayed matters significantly you won't have bluescreen rounds.

If you take a reaper there are usually excellent situations for remote start. Sometimes you can eliminate the best part of two pods and a turret with one strike.

You can take your time on the mission and have to evacuate so go wild with explosives. Blowing out the back wall can allow you to grab the vial and dash to the evacuation point if you haven't eliminated all enemies and don't want to fight the reinforcements.

[megansweden]

I have never done this mission without squad size 6 and mag weapons/plate armor at the very least. I always keep it banked as an emergency stop for the avatar project.

The only times I have been able to force myself to "rush" it was when I played with a mod that gatelocked the Chosen hunt missions to various golden path milestones. So you can't put off the golden path objectives if you want to hunt the Chosen. And even then I didn't do it until I had 6 soldiers and tier 2 weapons/armor.

[MrT]

I like to go in with atleast mag weapons but ballistics is possible.

Like you said. I'll aim to just stealth to the end of the map. I'll usually setup on high ground outside/close to evac. My reaper or phantom hopefully right on the vile. Take the vile. Grenade the wall and cover him to extract...

Generally does the job. Might stick around for experience.

[Bobloblaw]

Originally posted by mk11:

Unless you have delayed matters significantly you won't have bluescreen rounds.

If you take a reaper there are usually excellent situations for remote start. Sometimes you can eliminate the best part of two pods and a turret with one strike.

I guess but it shouldn't matter, it changes it to 2 shots instead of one for sniper to eliminate turrets out of their range.

But yeah between remote start and claymore the reaper should give you at least 2 nearly free pods along with all the turrets for free. As long as you keep her stealthed the whole time.

I usually just punch a hole in the wall of the big building and waltz her in to scout in there as well. I believe grabbing the vial reveals you though so probably best to clear as much out as possible before then.

Also OP if you are really struggling with the assassin. If you let her daze one of your soldiers and then don't revive them she might come back, kidnap them and leave. It's a better outcome than having her kill several soldiers and/or losing the mission.

[joebruce185]

Yes.

Putting it off until you have more and better gear may be your most viable option. I would not recommend hunting down the chosen before taking down the blacksite, but to each their own.

Bring a ranger with phantom or a reaper, and keep that concealment as long as possible. You may lose it vs the assassin, but when and if you lose concealment, play like old Xcom and just overwatch creep forward.
Edit: not advocating you stealth the mission; I recommend fighting your way through.

When the assassin appears, fall back a bit and wait for her to come. Deal with her without moving up, you are in no rush. Fighting her alone should not be too hard, especially if you have her hero adversary in mission. Once she is dead, turtle your way through the rest.

There will always be at least one pod in the objective building, and another patrolling behind it. Reinforcement drop happens when you grab the objective, so clear the map and position your soldiers near the evac first. Move smart. Good luck, commander.

[Punk Rubber Riley]

Thanks for the advice, but unfortunately I'm probably going to stop playing! I'm to far behind in stopping the avatar project, plus I blew all of my supplies and intel when I probably shouldnt've! I'm such a loser! Even when I give things my all it's never enough, I can never seem to get the right win/loss ratio in life and in the meta of life that I personally feel comfortable with! It all feels so hopeless! Recently, I've been feeling like if I lose at something, especially if I'm losing multiple times, I'll just ruminate over it to the point where my intrusive thoughts take over and just put stuff into my head that just isn't true! It also never feels like enough! I just want to keep winning and winning. It feels good after all, at least I think so anyway , I don't know! Sorry for using you people as therapists, I didn't mean to, I just feel super bummed and burnt out on losing and other people losing in general! !

[mk11]

Being near the wire on stopping the avatar project is the normal state of affairs during the mid-game.

[sick duck]

I am at june 2036 which is 15 month into the campaign if memory serves... still haven't done the blacksite. Suck it Bradford.

[wicked lester]

Ha, I have the Shadow Chamber and have Plasma weapons and haven't done the Blacksite.

[pmcmull]

The timeline on the avatar project is not so urgent as it sounds. If you keep playing you will see. After the squares on the timeline are gone then it goes into countdown mode. If you defeat ANY of the alien sites, the time will back up. Plus some other bonuses when killing certain other characters. Keeping it vague here.
Not sure if you are playing the base game or WOTC but go after missions or locations that give you supplies or intel. It is important to keep your experienced troops alive as much as possible. Saves at the start of missions can help. To give you a second chance if the mission goes bad.

[Ohio9]

Another thing: Always bring a reaper and sniper on blacksite missions. There's no turn limit, so let your reaper scout the entire map and enable your sniper to blow away the enemies from long range. With the right moves, you can clear most of the level before any enemies ever see you.