XCOM: Enemy Unknown

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

74 ratings
When you are trapped by Overwatch
By Dakkon
What should you do when your soldier is trapped by enemy using Overwatch?
   
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Trapped!


An issue I always had as a new player and one I still have playing Longwar on high difficulty is losing soldiers to being "pinned" into a bad spot by enemy overwatch. Many of the tactical options offered here are only available later in the game so in a new game you may have to avoid alltogether. Here are just a few things you can do to help save that solider in trouble.


Take steps to reduce the enemy % hit chance:

-"Dashing" will reduce chance for overwatch fire to hit slightly
-A smoke grenade thrown on soldier's position before he attemps to flee
-If your squad has moves left, focus the overwatch enemy first as a dead enemy hit % is zero
-It may be a better tactical decision to hunker down and hope the impending death volley all miss

Let another soldier draw the overwatch fire:

-"Lightning reflexes" greatly reduces risk of fleeing if available (Scouts have it in Long War mod)
-A healthy and/or heavily armored nearby ally could run first and accept the risk of being hit instead

Take distance, positioning, and enemy perks into account:

-Take a moment to view the enemy bonuses and it'll reveal special modifiers (Ex. Blood Call)
-If you are standing closer to the overwatch enemy, it is likely they have a greater chance to hit
-Be certain overwatch is even an issue, sometimes due to the way you take to run it wont trigger
-Suppressing fire (not overwatch) takes a reaction shot regardless of the direction you flee

Avoidance:

-A well placed flashbang grenade can allow your soldier to avoid overwatch fire
-A nearby ally can lay down suppressing fire on overwatch enemy first before running
-Be wary of soldiers with low will who may be panicked in a very bad spot and be unpredictable.
-Have a friendly knock enemy out of overwatch using "disabling shot" or explosives
-Advance slowly through unexplored map, it can be tedious but it can pay off
-Be extra careful running through doors or around corners blindly
-Expect enemy overwatch if they already discovered you but are out of line of sight
-If dealing with enemy suppressing fire, keep in mind that any damage to them will end it
-In Long War mod, always check enemy perks as they often have covering fire and be surprising

And also!...:

-Using a grappling hook does not trigger Overwatch. (Thanks to SciFi311)

-One step move will not trigger overwatch fire. Make 2 one-step move to cover
-If your move only has 1 tile in line-of-sight of the enemy, it will not trigger overwatch.
-Running "along" low cover will still trigger overwatch fire, but the cover will be taken into account for the miss chance. (Thanks to OsoMoore)
26 Comments
nickgantz57 29 Jun, 2023 @ 5:45am 
love the fact ur using Jurassic park in x com
Doctor G 21 Dec, 2021 @ 9:38pm 
save works also, since this is fake and not real life
Sabaithal 30 Aug, 2020 @ 12:27pm 
Not sure about vanilla, but with long war, suppressing the target on overwatch effectively disables it, allowing other units to move freely. It makes SHIVs excellent scouts because of that, they can immediately lock down a mechoid or cyberdisk they stumble into.
Absolute_Dakka 17 Dec, 2017 @ 7:27am 
Assault team members can also use the 'Flush' ability to force enemies on Overwatch or using suppression to move, which ends those abilities (and exposes the enemy to your own overwatches)
ARTORIUS909 13 Dec, 2017 @ 2:08am 
lol
Wormus Neuraxus Divinitus 5 May, 2017 @ 4:57pm 
the jurassic park meme tho, bout fell out the chair
Dakkon  [author] 1 Jan, 2016 @ 8:09pm 
Lightning reflexes is great however remember than some people play with randomized perks and on Long War mod where that perk might be less useful than the other one thats offered up.


For those thinking a lot of this is common sense are probably veterans of the vanilla game or have yet to try an iron man game or a LW game on high difficulty. Learning any one of these you might not have known before might save your game. I find that the people who say this stuff is not worth knowing are the same people playing on easy and/or save scumming (which is fine if you are having fun).

Anyway, thanks for those who have shown support so far for my humble guide here. Feel free to use any of this in your own guides as its all about the betterment of the gaming community one helpful hint at a time.
Yeet'em Up 1 Jan, 2016 @ 4:45pm 
Lightning Reflexes is the perk of the gods. Laugh at the Thin-Mints as you weave beyond their futile attempts to hit you.

In other words, I like it. Works well for certain enemies. ^_^ Like enemies that get free overwatches. I never knew that you could take small steps, tho.

Also, great thumbnail. Make me chuckle for a solid minute. :)
[Jacket] 31 Dec, 2015 @ 1:05pm 
Apparently not you Jesus.
Fuzzyballs01 ꦙ 31 Dec, 2015 @ 3:40am 
a guide for idiots, great
who even needs a guide for this type of shit