How does insanity work?

[Sméagol]

I'm just getting used to the psi operatives.. I created them late game, and barely used the one I have (also gave it the icarus armor and the bolt gun). I just mind controlled my first gatekeeper. Anyway, they're fun.

But.. I'd like to know how insanity exactly works, what status effects are possible, and what the chances are of targets getting one or even more effects.

I used a void rift on a codex and sectoid, the sectoid got damage first, then it got mind controlled. I was pretty pleased, until that same sectoid also received a "ruptured" effect, killing it immediately. So apparently it can get more than one effect through insanity.

[Aseran]

Insanity has 3 effects, only one of which can be applied per attack:

1. Mind control them for about 2 turns
2. Induce panic, which results in the target wasting a turn by immediately taking action (moving and hunkering down, or shooting a random target allied or not)
3. Disorientation resulting in lowered movement aim, and cannot use abilites, except mele attacks

I don't know the exact likelyhood but from my experiance I'd say panic and disorienting is more common then mind control.

If your Psi-Op has Schism then on a successful attack, 2-4 dmg will be applied on top of the randomly chosen regular effect along with a dmg increasing debuff, so even if the effect was mind control, the target will take dmg, be more vulnerable and/or possibly die.

If you want your targets intact after mind control, then I suggest you stick to using Domination.

[Bullett00th]

By default Insanity inflicts a random negative mental effect on the target, which, if I recall correctly include disorient, panic and mind control.

Later on you train Schism, which is an upgrade to Insanity. Schism gives Insanity a little damage and adds a guaranteed Rupture effect to it, meaning they will get more damage from all upcoming attacks.

Finally the Void Rift is an AOE ability that does direct psi damage AND has a chance to cause insanity. This means the following:

1) All targets within the Void Rift will receive psi damage.
2) SOME targets affected by the Void Rift MAY receive Insanity.
3) ALL targets affected by Insanity WILL receive a negative psi effect (disorient, panic or mind control)
4) IF you have Schism trained, ALL targets affected by Insanity WILL receive extra damage AND get the Rupture effect.


So as you can see, many of the Psi Operative's offensive abilities compliment each other, making them very powerful units when fully trained.

[Sméagol]

So the rupture effect was guaranteed with schism trained. That answers that question!

Thanks Aseran and Bullettooth!