XCOM 2 Worst Dark Events

Dark Events in XCOM 2 represent one of the game’s most punishing and dynamic challenges. These alien-led operations act as randomized obstacles that drastically increase mission difficulty, slow down your progress, or push the Avatar Project closer to completion. Not all Dark Events are created equal, and some can derail even the most carefully managed campaign. Understanding which Dark Events are the most dangerous and why can help you prioritize which threats to counter and which to risk ignoring. This knowledge is essential for maintaining control over the battlefield and your long-term strategy.

What Are Dark Events?

The Strategic Layer’s Unpredictable Threats

Dark Events are enemy operations that activate periodically on the Geoscape, each offering unique penalties or boosts to alien forces. After a short warning period, one or more of these events will activate unless you intervene. Players are often given a choice to counter one of several upcoming Dark Events through Guerilla Ops, but the others may go into effect if ignored.

The random nature of these events means you won’t always know what’s coming. However, some Dark Events are far more dangerous than others, especially on higher difficulties or in combination with other challenges. Let’s take a look at the worst Dark Events in XCOM 2 and what makes them so threatening.

Most Devastating Dark Events

1. Alien Infiltrator

This Dark Event is one of the most frustrating to deal with. It causes Faceless aliens enemies that disguise themselves as human civilians to appear more frequently in missions. This is especially dangerous during Retaliation missions or civilian rescues, where distinguishing between allies and enemies becomes impossible until it’s too late.

• Why it’s bad: Ambushes by Faceless can kill soldiers or civilians instantly, and their surprise transformations often come at critical moments in a mission.
• Countering strategy: Bring scanning protocol abilities or battle scanners to reveal hidden threats, and prioritize Faceless detection when possible.

2. Rapid Response

Rapid Response causes ADVENT to send reinforcements much more frequently during missions. This can overwhelm your squad with endless waves of enemies, turning manageable firefights into drawn-out battles that drain health, ammo, and time.

• Why it’s bad: Missions become harder to complete within time limits, and your squad may take unnecessary damage due to nonstop pressure.
• Countering strategy: Play aggressively to complete objectives quickly, and bring utility items like flashbangs or explosives to control incoming groups.

3. Viper Rounds

This event equips ADVENT forces with poison-tipped ammunition. While poison doesn’t always deal high damage, it disables healing, impairs movement, and causes status effects that linger. On higher difficulties, it’s a recipe for disaster.

• Why it’s bad: Poison can disable soldiers for several turns, stack with other damage, and disrupt planned strategies mid-mission.
• Countering strategy: Equip medkits (which grant poison immunity) and prioritize enemies with poison attacks early in each engagement.

4. Show of Force

This Dark Event boosts the number of elite enemy units in missions. Expect to face tougher, more advanced troops more often, including Mutons, Sectoids, and even robotic units.

• Why it’s bad: Heavily armed enemies with higher health and damage can wipe out underleveled squads and destroy cover with ease.
• Countering strategy: Upgrade your weapons and armor quickly, and bring abilities that counter specific threats, such as Bluescreen Rounds for robots.

5. High Alert

High Alert removes concealment from your squad at the start of each mission, making it impossible to begin with stealth. For builds that rely on Reapers, Rangers, or Sharpshooters using concealed positioning, this can be a serious blow.

• Why it’s bad: Losing concealment removes tactical flexibility and increases mission risk, especially for sabotage or timed objectives.
• Countering strategy: Adjust tactics toward direct engagements and avoid over-relying on stealth classes during this period.

6. Hunt XCOM

Hunt XCOM results in UFOs actively seeking and chasing your Avenger ship. If caught, a forced defense mission will trigger, potentially leading to game over if your squad is unprepared.

• Why it’s bad: Losing the Avenger means campaign failure. If you’re caught off guard, this event can end your run prematurely.
• Countering strategy: Keep a mobile Avenger, don’t stay in one region too long, and always have a strong squad ready for defense missions.

7. Rural Checkpoints

This event reduces the income generated from resistance havens, sometimes by a significant amount. It’s not as flashy as some other Dark Events, but it slowly chokes your economy and limits your ability to expand, purchase gear, or recruit troops.

• Why it’s bad: Less income means slower progress in research, equipment, and expansion all essential for late-game survival.
• Countering strategy: Establish more radio relays and prioritize high-income regions to offset the penalty. Also, complete Supply Raids when possible.

8. Firewalls

This cyber-attack event makes hacking terminals and objectives significantly harder. Specialists and units that rely on hacking will see much lower success rates, limiting their utility during missions where hacking is essential.

• Why it’s bad: Failed hacks can trigger reinforcements or lose valuable bonuses, putting your squad in unnecessary danger.
• Countering strategy: Only attempt hacks with high success chances and avoid taking unnecessary hacking risks during this period.

How to Prioritize Which Dark Events to Counter

Evaluating the Threat Level

When faced with multiple Dark Events, ask yourself which one poses the most immediate or long-term threat to your campaign. Does it directly affect your soldiers in combat? Will it slow down your resources or increase Avatar progress? Use that to determine your choice.

Consider Your Squad Composition

If your squad relies heavily on stealth, counter High Alert. If you’re about to launch a major offensive and can’t afford elite enemies, take out Show of Force. Match your counteractions to your weaknesses at that time in the campaign.

Tips to Survive the Worst Dark Events

• Always have a balanced squad: Diversity in roles makes it easier to adapt when specific Dark Events strike.
• Stockpile supplies: This gives you flexibility when Rural Checkpoints or other resource-sapping events activate.
• Build Resistance Comms early: Expanding your network lets you respond to more Guerilla Ops, giving you a better chance to prevent the worst events.
• Upgrade early: Having stronger weapons and armor minimizes the impact of elite enemies or poison effects.

Some Dark Events in XCOM 2 are mild annoyances, while others can sabotage your entire strategy. Events like Rapid Response, High Alert, Show of Force, and Hunt XCOM stand out as some of the most devastating, often punishing unprepared squads or forcing you into difficult positions. By knowing which events are the most dangerous and how to react to them, you give yourself a better chance at surviving even the harshest campaign settings. Always stay alert, keep your squads flexible, and never underestimate the power of a well-timed Dark Event to change everything.