1) If you have have increased enemy squad size, you better have 8-man squads in the early months.

2) Run all the rookies to the back so they can ambush dropships. They are no use in the front for damage, and will all get 1-shotted anyways.

3) Get Vengeance perk so when rookies die, your squad gets a buff.

4) Lots of medkits (2-3 on different soldiers).

5) 1 Sniper only. It gets up close and dirty really fast. Gunslinger might be good, though I didn't have one to try.

6) Gas grenades and flashbangs > frags. You need big AOE.

7) At least 1 blade-master ranger. So many many lancers.

8) Reload the map until you spawn on higher ground and not on top of 3 pods. This is probably the most frustrating thing because a bad spawn will pretty much wipe you out in 2 turns.

Also use the temporary rookies as meat shields when necessary. I know it sounds bad but they make excellent mimic beacons.

They are only good as meat shields in the early game, when your soldiers are no less squishy. Once you have T2 armor, it's better to tuck them in the back so their deaths don't start a panic train.

Rookies are "expendable" Delay the first pods with them high cover&Hunker down (a shame really/Do try and save one though) -only the 4 first pods are difficult after that they come in like reinforcement. -Always fight in the corner of the map. - Take 2 "triple medkit users" along. - movement is key. -Get in corner / high cover (elevated/undestroyable?) position and destroy future cover for reinforments. -Shoot the rabbits running on the plains :)