XCOM 2
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Fifth Vanilla Mission: Turret Edition On Legendary Difficulty
By Laguna Queen and 5 collaborators
Flawlessly complete the first Counter Dark event!
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Introduction
The sections describe how to deal with the harder version of counter Dark Event for better experience and reward gains!

Note: A new challenge presents itself in this mission as the heavily-armored Turret emplacements guard the mission's objective.

Please click here for the Smart Shopper guide:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3232797806
Please click here for the Advanced Warfare guide:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2803040578
Please click here for the Legendary Ranger guide:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3269083608
Why are you writing this guide?
I enjoy helping others by writing about technical topics to a higher standard and provide key findings for a higher chance of success!

Who is the intended audience?
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!
Prologue
The first Counter Dark Event mission is another standard mission to wipe out all enemy units.

Resuming from either of the fourth vanilla mission guides:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3274596303
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3292713406
Rolling for Better Mission Type
The reward will always be ~150 supplies, if a Scientist was unavailable at Resist HQ this month.
The preferred mission is to roll for an Advent Facility or Train because of a higher reward chance to get something else besides Facility Lead and bonus experience from turret destruction.

Note: A save is needed before such mission is generated to have the option of rerolling for a better reward.
Facility Lead Is The Worst Reward
The Specialist must select the alternative reward if Facility Lead is an option. Such "reward" consumes both research time and Intel when the Alien facility can be accessed after making regional contact.
Before Starting Mission
The research must be switched temporarily to Plated Armor in case of Insight reward.
The fresh new project will benefit the most from the reward and progress will be much closer to Plasma weaponry!

Note: The most time-consuming project must be selected, if there is insufficient Alien Alloy for Plated Armor research.
Varying Intel Reports
The randomized number of enemies will depend on how well-fortified the Advent facility/train is.

Time: 8 pm March 28 or 4 am March 29
Pod #
Enemies
1
2 Troopers
2
Sectoid & 2 Troopers
3
Officer & 2 Troopers
Miscellaneous
1-2 Turrets

Note: The Viper can still generate on these type of missions but will be in 2-enemy pod.
What is Different Now?
The Sniper now has Deadeye that does substantial damage to single targets with an aim penalty.
The Grenadier's shredder ability will be useful against the turret's heavy armor.
Know Thy Surroundings
The first objective is to scan surroundings for higher ground to setup an ambush on the first pod.
Starting positions may vary and can ideally start on a building's rooftop that has interconnecting pathways to the main objective.
1st Pod: Brutal Ambush
The entire squad except the Ranger will take up higher ground positions close to the enemy pod.
Exercise some caution when moving to the far end of the ledge to avoid detection.
The Grenadier will be on Overwatch while the Sniper waits because the enemy pod size is only 2.
The Specialist will initiate with a grenade because he has the lowest DPS and the enemy is conveniently positioned ideally within its range.
2nd Pod
The next enemy can travel towards the squad and take up positions near an explosive tank.
Such object cannot be manually attacked unless an enemy is near its blast radius.
The remaining Sectoid is relatively harmless and can be easily taken care of in the next turn.
The Ranger will begin scouting the other side of the train for the next pod to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Explosive Object
Any soldier who needs more experience can take the shot.

The Ranger can alternately be used to make the attack, if the next promotion is close.

Note: The explosion will not be lethal to any high health enemies.
The New Enemy: Advent Turret
The stationary turret has heavy armor that reduces almost all attack damage to just 1!
Only a Specialist with Haywire Protocol have the hacking power to take control of them.
These mechanical enemies are usually deployed in pairs and serve as a double-edge sword that can be used against Advent.

Note: Experience is only gained from its destruction when the enemy takes back control.
3rd Pod
The Turret control will most likely locate and trigger the last enemy pod.
They will react only to the Turret and get into unusual, exposed battle formations.
The Turret must only soften up high HP enemies for soldiers to gain XP with their Coup de Grâce.

If the Sniper is in a good position, one of the enemies can be picked off from afar.

Turret: Free Decoy
The enemy will attack the Turret, which will serve as a decoy to absorb all of their damage!

The remaining troopers will not be a threat as they already returned fire.

Their pending elimination can be done with a grenade when they are grouped close enough.
Hacking Manipulation
The Specialist must access the objective due to having higher tech score.

Both the rewards grants more resources and straightforward on which is the better tier to hack.
Each reward type must be read carefully because the benefit does not always reflect the hacking difficulty.

Note: The higher tier reward is obtainable through RNG as a different result is produced every other turn or change in order of actions.
Back at HQ
Immediately switch research back to Magnetic Weapons to complete that project first!
Gauss Weapons will be available to research soon, depending on previous Insight rewards.

Note: Do not purchase the Magnetic rifles and only the Mag Cannon because of it is more cost-effective!
First Purchase of GTS Combat Tactics
There will now be enough supplies to purchase Squad Size I from Guerrilla Tactics School!
If there is still leftover income, purchase the Vulture because of compounding benefits in long run!
The extra free loot means acquiring more invaluable weapon upgrades and even Elerium cores!
The Advent Blacksite
The first Resistance Contact should be completed before the start of next mission.
The assumption is that there were no worthwhile points of interest to scan beforehand.
The Advent Blacksite will now be accessible, and it is highly recommended to be done immediately for the 125 supplies to build facilities and save up to buy more Engineer/Scientist from Resist HQ!
Epilogue
The same early goal remains to keep soldiers healthy to achieve rapid promotions for more abilities and earlier squad size increase.

The Magnetic Weapons research should be completed soon in the next month, but Mag Cannon (Gauss Weapons Research) is a much more cost-effective weapon to purchase than the Magnetic Rifle.

Stay tuned for more exciting guides on Legendary difficulty missions!

Please show support for the guide through Awards!!!

Click here to do the Advent Blacksite Assault!
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3394765907
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Copyright Notice
This guide was written by Laguna Queen et al. (2025) on Steam, and not to be republished without crediting the authors and gaining their permission. We can be reached through the the guide comment section below.

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Try reading the guides for other games:
Here are other detailed guides that are not only comprehensive but tailors different themes and challenges:

For Frostpunk,
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2793028492
For Warhammer 3,
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2782133378
For Crying Sun,
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1871229945
For Company of Heroes 2,
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2806468945
For Dead in Vinland,
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1996086549
For Infectonator : Survivors,
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=742714265
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2 Comments
Mou bu 28 Feb @ 3:15pm 
Thanks again. Mission/resource manipulation is a very valuable tip. I was always afraid to get on the train because of the turrets. But if you change your mindset and overcome the fear, you can, as a consequence, gain a huge advantage! It's a match-changer.
Kae717 17 Jan @ 4:13pm 
great guide! :cryingsunspirate: