It's now been just over a week since XCOM Chimera Squad launched on PC, and we've now had the chance to mull over its content and features, which helped us prepare this Chimera Squad reinforcements guide. Our goal here is to provide you with key information on central gameplay systems and features! We're talking console commands, epic weapons, gear items, and other such novelties.

We will attempt to explain how Chimera Squad works, essentially. Think of this guide as a mini-wiki that goes into substantial detail on some "problem" features. We're hoping you'll come out the other way a more informed player! Without further ado, let's get started.

How to:

XCOM Chimera Squad Console Commands

chimera squad reinforcements

Console commands are the bread-and-butter of every XCOM game. Well, not really, but cheats do come in handy every once in a while. This goes doubly so if you're not that keen on resource and crisis management. We don't blame you: XCOM is too awesome to pass up on, even for those who don't want to fiddle with Intel, Elerium, Credits, and other stuff.

How to enable Console Commands / Cheats in XCOM Chimera Squad?

If you want to use the following cheats in Chimera Squad, you'll first need to add a specific command line parameter via Steam. You can do so by right-clicking on Chimera Squad's Steam entry and selecting the 'Properties' option, low in the menu. There, check the 'General' tab, and look for the 'Set launch options...' feature. You will then officially become an advanced user, as per Steam's warning.

In the field that opens up, add '-allowconsole' without quotations. Simple as that. Now, turn on Chimera Squad and load your last overworld save back at the HQ. Try hitting the tilde button on your keyboard, just above TAB. If the console opens up, you've completed this step correctly, good work!

All of the following console commands are written in the console you now have access to. Just pick the one you want from the list below, write it into Chimera's console, and hit enter!

Chimera Squad Console Commands list

You may or may not be disappointed with the fact that Chimera Squad doesn't have all that many console commands. Here's the full list that we know of:

We'll update this list with new entries as we discover them, so check in from time to time!

How do XCOM Chimera Squad Reinforcements work?

One of the features you gain access to early on are Squad reinforcements - Androids! These little buggers are neat and fully customizable, though they have no abilities of their own. Essentially, they're little more than a stand-in for actual Agents when push comes to shove.

Though enemy forces (i.e. Commando units) often spawn-in their own reinforcements, this is a completely different mechanic compared to Chimera Squad reinforcements. Since this XCOM is far more focused and contained than its predecessor, the game uses its enemy reinforcement feature to keep players on their toes.

In some cases, you'll have to fend off several waves of enemy reinforcements one after another. Other times, perhaps you'll be too slow and some enemies will escape to the next encounter. This, too, can trigger their troop reinforcements. The system is quite flexible in this regard. Sadly, Chimera Squad Android reinforcements are far less interesting.

How to deploy an Android in Chimera Squad?

As it currently stands, the only way to deploy an android in Chimera Squad is to have one of your Agents taken down between encounters. If that were to happen, one of your buddy boy robot dudes will jump in and take their place.

That way, you won't be stuck with an entirely empty slot, though, again androids are little more than mobile weapon platforms. Expect for them to shoot, take cover, and harass enemies, but they have no abilities to speak of. Perhaps XCOM 3 will be more interesting in this regard!

What are XCOM Chimera Squad's best agents?

chimera squad reinforcements

Chimera Squad isn't the most difficult XCOM we've ever played, but certain situations will definitely make for a considerable challenge. In those cases, you're absolutely going to need to know which Agents are best, and which are - simply enough - not.

Some skill and ability sets are simply better than others, so we've turned to the community for a fair analysis of which are the best Agents in Chimera Squad! Huge kudos to Reddit user thefluffyburrito for their take on this.

Terminal

Healers are always the bread-and-butter of any good and self-sufficient XCOM squad, and Chimera is no different. One problem, though, is that Terminal is the sole medic of the group! This alone makes her completely indispensable on difficult operations.

However, her Pin Down and Cooperation skills make Terminal even more of a utility! Using Pin Down will, for example, crash a problematic enemy's turn order, giving you more time to react to them, or even take them out completely. Cooperation, on the other hand, will grant any non-impaired ally a bonus action whenever needed.

We mustn't overlook the fact that Terminal can also fully heal herself between encounters with Resilience, as well as to use her Gremlin Stabilize in case one of your agents gets downed far away.

Cherub

Another support character, Cherub is an utter powerhouse when it comes to tanking damage and directing fire away from other Agents. Not only will his Kinetic Shield nullify 100% of the damage it takes, but it will also grant Cherub a melee charge for a future close-quarters takedown. Don't forget that Kinetic Shield charges ignore armor. A big boon, especially later on in the campaign.

Phalanx will also come in handy when it comes to high-risk insertions. This ability can negate all of the damage enemies dish out to Agents dropping in through a single breach point. Completely invaluable if you're playing aggressively! Guard will embellish your defenses in a pinch, too, as well as keeping Cherub as safe as an Agent could be.

Blueblood

It's difficult to understate just how powerful Blueblood can get, when used correctly. The marksman Agent of Chimera Squad will, with proper skills and upgrades, quickly ramp up to become an incredibly vicious fighter. Ammo types are crucial here: since Blueblood can reliably fire at multiple targets, he's very potent in dishing out status effects and debuffs.

The first order of business here will be obtaining Dragon and Poison Ammo to outfit Blueblood with. Then, you'll need to go for Lancer Shot to deal with key targets that are in cover, Ever Vigilant to always stay in Overwatch, and Phase Lance to straight-up ruin enemies through cover and disregarding line-of-sight.

Training will also be a good thing to invest in, as Blueblood can unlock the ability to reload his hand cannon for free.

Claymore

xcom chimera squad agents

Claymore really does come with a full package. In one Agent, you're getting very useful breaching capabilities (explosives), a free grenade regen between encounters, and a downright incredible array of different area-of-effect attacks, it's hard to single out an ability that's more useful than the rest.

Sticky Grenade will, however, not only force troublesome enemies out of cover, but it will also detonate for a neat little AoE surrounding the panicking target. Heavy Shrapnel will, on the other hand, make Claymore's starting Shrapnel Bomb do damage through any cover. Combine this with his final Barrage ability, which upgrades both Shrapnel Bomb and Sticky Grenade's damage output. Further, it lets Claymore use more than one Shrapnel Bomb per turn!

This all combines to make Claymore a force to be reckoned with. A must-have when it comes to demolition tasks, too.

For a great overview of how other Agents fare, do check out this comprehensive Reddit guide!

XCOM Chimera Squad Epic Weapons - How to get them?

Though there were unique weapons in XCOM 2, Chimera Squad places a way bigger emphasis on them. Since there's no proper armament research for players to chase - aside from passive damage bonuses - Firaxis needed to do something with gear to make it more interesting. Epic weapons are their current solution to this problem!

As best we know, Chimera Squad Epic weapons are best-in-slot equipment that greatly improves any given Agent's killing potential. You're not only getting a substantial boost to their damage output, but also a bonus ability, as Epic weapons come with those, too.

How to get Epic Weapons in Chimera Squad?

Two ways of going about this business! First is obviously to unlock the Scavenger Market early on and keep checking it for Epic items. This is easy and quick, and you really should make a habit of it. Second is far more difficult, as it consists of going to missions that reward Epic weapons. The catch? Enemies hold these items, and you'll have to kill/subdue them if you wish to unlock said armament. The problem is that missions don't specify which weapons are: all you get is the weapon class!

XCOM Chimera Squad Epic Weapons List

chimera squad reinforcements

Epic Assault Rifles

Epic Shotguns

Epic Submachine Guns

Epic Pistols

Some of Epic Weapons' abilities can only be used once per mission, so time your bursts carefully. Others are on a 3-turn cooldown, and we've noted those appropriately.

Gameplay Tips and Solutions for Chimera Squad

How to increase squad size?

Though XCOM games feature squad size upgrades as players progress through the campaign, Chimera Squad is different in this regard. Aside from the android stand-ins we mentioned before, you cannot increase your squad size in Chimera. You will always have to pick only 4 of your Agents to take on a any single mission, so plan accordingly.

How to recruit Agents?

Agents are recruited on a more-or-less fixed timeline: every once in a while, you'll have the option to accept a new Agent to your roster. Until you've exhausted your options, you'll always get to choose between three different Agents!

Further, troops are often added for hiring following the successful conclusion of an Investigation, so be sure to focus on those. Other than that, you'll just have to progress through Chimera Squad's campaign and make your pick until everyone's on board.

What are the XCOM Chimera Squad minimum requirements?

Thinking about getting Chimera Squad, but you're still a bit concerned about the minimum requirements? Well, if you could run XCOM 2 normally, Chimera Squad should perform just fine. Even better, in fact, as it's a smaller and more confined game than its sprawling predecessor! Here are the minimum requirements:

Conclusion

We hope you find what you were looking for in our guide! It is rather long and exhaustive, but sometimes, you just need to go into detail, right? Expect further additions to this guide as we move forward: you never know what other interesting tidbits we might come across in playing Chimera Squad!

Don't forget that you can get XCOM: Chimera Squad and all of its predecessors right here at 2Game! Just follow the links down below, and have fun. We know we will.

It’s now been just over a week since XCOM Chimera Squad launched on PC, and we’ve now had the chance to mull over its content and features, which helped us prepare this Chimera Squad reinforcements guide. Our goal here is to provide you with key information on central gameplay systems and features! We’re talking console commands, epic weapons, gear items, […]