XCOM 2: First Month Walkthrough on Legendary Vanilla Difficulty

The quality over quantity approach to push XCOM beyond their limits for brutal efficiency! The sections focus to create the strongest foundation by masterfully handling the first month!

Note: The same knowledge can be applied to lesser difficulties.

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https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3254190466

I enjoy helping others by writing about technical topics to a higher standard and provide key findings for a higher chance of success!

The guide is for everyone, but much friendlier to new players. Everything will be explained to be on the same level as those who are the most experienced. The writing will be easy to follow with plenty of screenshots for those who are too lazy to read everything!

Every aspect on this difficulty has enhanced hardships that include stronger enemies, doubled research and building requirements, and more expensive cost of facilities/equipment.

The only benefit is having a delayed implementation of the next enemy tier with the exception of those being present in the main mission by the Avatar Project.

The structure of contents is organized in chronological order for smoother flow when elaborating on each important event.

Each mission contains basic details of an approximate time/date of its occurrence, total number of enemies, and reward. Technical information about combat tactics arefully elaborated on how to flawlessly deal with increasingly dangerous enemies.

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The initial tasks are to research Modular Weapon and build Guerrilla Tactics School.
If a favorable resistance rumor does not appear after viewing Geoscape, load an earlier save on the last turn of the first mission.

Note: Rumors that reward recruits should be avoided unless it is the only available event to scan.

Several hours of precious time are wasted when the Avenger travels back and forth between two locations on Geoscape. The preferred method is to stay and complete the scan whenever possible.

If there is an ongoing threat, the important point of interest can only be finished when requiring <1 day, but still has a chance risk to dismiss a critical mission.

Note: Longer distances require more wasted time to travel.

The Smart Shopper guide fully elaborates on the optimal uses of PCS and Weapon Upgrades.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3232797806
Note: Any weapon upgrades that are of stock grade has more value of being sold off than used because they have same resell value of superior quality ones.

Each save serves as a strategic checkpoint before critical events that transpire within a few hours. They include Dark Counter/VIP missions for better rewards or Monthly Debrief to generate more Scientists/Engineers to hire.

For Ironman, only one single active campaign is advised instead of having multiples to avoid save dysfunctions. Both the Profile and Save files are needed to bypass the limitation, in case of a redo.

Their location is: C:\Users\<userid>\Documents\My Games\XCOM2\XComGame\SaveData

Note: Save files have occasional errors and merits the need of backups anyways due to the recent patches.

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The Jack Of All Trades who gathers as much rewards from electronics and skullmining later.
Battle Medic is the secondary role to heal injured soldiers during battle.
The Haywire Protocol is mandatory to take control of any mechanical units, such as Turrets, MEC, or Sectopod.

Note: This class will be the highest DPS later on in mid-late game with the Guardian ability.

The Great Mobile Equalizer in the early game that stabilizes the increasing enemy difficulty.
Shredder softens up the armor of next tier enemy unit(s) to bring their strength down.
The Heavy Gunner expertise makes enemy engagement more manageable to the squad’s current level of firepower.

The Long-Range Powerhouse who inflict crippling or lethal damages at great distances.
Deadeye gives a chance to instantly kill any high HP enemies like Viper, Officer, or Sectoid.
Long Watch extends the Overwatch range for easier participation in ambushing enemy reinforcement drop(s)!

Note: Such combination of Sniper abilities allow ambushes to be initiated from afar to have the targeted enemy pod to charge into the squad’s line of fire.

The Reconnaissance who locates enemy pods and spot for the Sniper to initiate a brutal ambush.
Phantom allows concealment during Retaliation to rescue civilians without alerting the enemy.
Additional task is to safely recover loot without exposing self to danger or attracting further enemy attention.

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In a few days, the GTS will be finished and begin training a second Grenadier.
The Grenadier is preferred as the effective early DPS and armor shredding until plasma weaponry is researched.

The Resist Comms research increases the maximum contacts without constructing a new facility.
When there is no worthwhile Rumor to scan, begin scanning the region with the Advent Blacksite.

The monthly report must be redone until it indicates that 2 Doctors can be hired at Resist HQ.
The Scientist should be hired first after completing the supply drop scan before the Engineer.

Note: The doctor title is used for both Scientists and Engineers in the monthly report.

The most dangerous Dark Events are described below and is safe to have only one of them.

The Counter Dark Event mission will always remove one for each month.

Note: A strategic save is needed to have a better roll and find out the hidden ones without wasting Intel!

The Resistance HQ visit must be postponed until the Advent begins their Retaliation.
Failure to pay heed will result in resetting all progress that includes excavation, research, and etc.
The Retaliation site must be visited first prior to the Resistance HQ to purchase another Scientist.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3274596303
The alternative guide when dealing with the Viper’s early debut:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3292713406

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3292709684

After the first month is up, the Avatar Project will be initiated and immediately go to 3 red ticks!
Its progress will always go up by one tick on its own and additional ones from new Advent facilities.

It is best to clear any facility as soon as possible after making contact with its respective region.

Once the second Grenadier finishes training, the next one needs to be Specialist.
Such reason is for double Intel rewards when using Skullmining in mid-late game. However, tech score development requires many missions and better if done earlier.

Note: The best time to increase Squad Size I is when the second Grenadier finished training from GTS to avoid deploying a Rookie.

The earlier commencement of such mission is strongly encouraged to obtain 125 supplies!
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The chances of success are high, as long as there are 5 soldiers deployed with the required ranks to possess the mandatory abilities.

Note: This mission can be repeated indefinitely for loot and XP, as long as the Vial was not taken.

Soldiers will gain unlimited experience but at a reduced rate because of the failed mission.
The repeated missions will be a test of endurance and patience instead to make the next consecutive months much easier.

April will have a very strong start with having enough resources to start building the second facility of Resist Comms!

The Magnetic Weapons research should be near completion with Guass weapons being focused next.

Stay tuned for more exciting guides on Legendary difficulty missions!

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