Although the series’ trademark turn-based tactical combat is still its main focus, XCOM: Chimera Squad departs from past entries by introducing premade characters with unique backgrounds, personalities and playstyles.
To better acquaint you with the agents you’ll control, here are all 11 characters that make up XCOM’s Chimera Squad alongside their strengths.
XCOM: Chimera Squad Characters
Set after the events of XCOM 2, XCOM: Chimera Squad aims to tell a story that focuses on the collaboration between humans and aliens, the 11 agents that make up the military outfit highlighting the diversity found in City 31’s society.
These are the backgrounds and specializations of XCOM: Chimera Squad’s characters:
Axiom - Muton Breaker
Specialization: High Damage
After being born and trained on an invasion ship, Axiom was part of the first wave of alien invaders that took Earth by storm. During the period of alien rule, he was the bodyguard of several high-value targets; after it, he ended up playing a vital role in containing a chryssalid outbreak that led to him joining XCOM. In combat, Axiom uses rage to become stronger, easily smashes cover, can panic enemies during a Breach, and perform a devastating quake attack, damaging all nearby enemies in the process. Beed brute force on your team? Axiom’s your pick.
Blueblood - Human Gunslinger
Specialization: Precision Shooting, Multiple Shots
Blueblood grew up in City 31, apprenticing with his father’s detective agency before going on to join City 31’s police department. In combat, Blueblood excels at precision shooting and firing multiple shots, his Lancer Pistol being able to ignore line-of-sight penalties and enemy cover bonuses.
Cherub - Hybrid Warden
Specialization: Shields, Protecting Allies, Tank
A clone that received ADVENT training but not its indoctrination, his lack of sympathies for the aliens’ collaborators led to XCOM enlisting him on a trial basis. In combat, Cherub lifts the morale of allies through his positive attitude and enthusiasm and protects them using shields.
Claymore - Human Demo Expert
Specialization: Explosives, AOE, Breaching
Claymore spent his childhood running between refugee camps and city outskirts while learning the workings of explosive devices, thanks to his parents’ background. In combat, he excels at dealing heavy area damage, removing obstacles and allowing the squad to breach dangerous facilities, all through the great power of explosions.
Godmother - Human Ranger
Specialization: Offense, Stealth, Ambush
A shotgun-wielding perfectionist, Godmother has a knack for destroying and flushing opponents from cover while also being able to put hit chances aside and land guaranteed shots. She’s also able to increase her chances at dealing critical strikes, while being quite adept at dodging incoming shots thanks to her training.
Patchwork - Human Operator
Specialization: Utility, Electric Disruption
Patchwork went through her share of rough spots, losing her parents, suffering three amputations and being used as a tool for propaganda after ADVENT fitted her with prosthetic limbs. Intelligent and with an excellent understanding of technology, she excels in combat against robotic foes, thanks to her preference for deadly electric shocks, while also being an expert hacker.
Shelter - Human Psion
Specialization: Psionics, Ally Buffs, Mental Attacks
After being separated from his family, Shelter ended up in a facility for human-born psions, ADVENT forcing him to harm others using his abilities before he managed to flee. In combat, he uses his powers defensively, buffing allies, relocating both friend and foe, and create identical psionic clones.
Terminal - Human Medic
Specialization: Healing, Support
After losing her family in the invasion, Terminal was adopted by a doctor which led to her developing an interest in medicine. In combat, her main role is that of healing allies and keeping them in the fight, however, she’s no stranger to using guns, should the situation require it.
Torque - Viper Inquisitor
Specialization: Enemy/Ally Repositioning, Poison
Initially a tracker for the alien occupation, Torque got in XCOM’s good graces by offering to train its units to counter ADVENT tactics. In combat, Torque excels at repositioning both friendly and hostile units using her tongue, poisoning opponents for sustained damage or binding enemies, thus stopping them from taking actions.
Verge - Sectoid Envoy
Specialization: Psionics, Enemy Manipulation
During the occupation, Verge acted as a puppeteer, mind-controlling high ranking human officials to convince the population that the aliens wanted the best for them. This process, however, ended up with him developing empathy for humans, which led to him aiding resistance groups. In combat, he uses his powers offensively, disabling enemies and influencing their mental states. He can also use telekinesis to pull enemies out of cover and make them easier targets for allies.
XCOM: Chimera Squad launches on April 24 on PC, via Steam. Here’s everything we know about it.
