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* DecapitatedArmy: [[spoiler:The death of their leader, the Alien Brain, causes the entire command structure of the alien forces to dissolve and immediately ends the invasion.]]
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* KeystoneArmy: [[spoiler:The death of their leader, the Alien Brain, causes the entire command structure of the alien forces to dissolve and immediately ends the invasion.]]
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* KeystoneArmy: [[spoiler:The death of their leader, the Alien Brain, causes the entire command structure of the alien forces to dissolve and immediately ends the invasion.]]
* MascotMook: One of the first and easiest aliens you encounter, but a Sectoid's face is visible on the cover of the game and they have since become the series mascot.
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* MechaMooks
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* ArmlessBiped
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* FangsAreEvil
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* RedEyesTakeWarning
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* ReptilesAreAbhorrent
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* AcidAttack
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* TheDragon: The entire Ethereal race serve as this [[spoiler:to the [[BigBad Alien Brain]].]]
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* TheDragon: CoDragons: The entire Ethereal race serve as this [[spoiler:to the [[BigBad Alien Brain]].]]
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* ChickenWalker: Don't make of it if you value your life.
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* ChickenWalker: Don't make fun of it if you value your life.
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* SlowLaser: Both their weapon and vulnerability, even though it's said by the UFOpedia to be a ''plasma'' weapon. We can assume that it's really just a different type of laser that's green, leading to your scientists mistaking it for plasma.
* WalkingTank
* WalkingTank
to:
* SlowLaser: Both their weapon and vulnerability, even though it's said by the UFOpedia [=UFOpedia=] to be a ''plasma'' weapon. We can assume that it's really just a different type of laser that's green, leading to your scientists mistaking it for plasma.
*WalkingTankWalkingTank: A massive tank-like machine on two legs, as well as the most dangerous non-psionic unit the aliens have to offer.
*
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[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/x_com_alienbrain.png]]
%%[[caption-width-right:300:some caption text]]
%%[[caption-width-right:300:some caption text]]
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* NonActionBigBad: It is no doubt a devious strategist, considering [[NintendoHard how difficult trying to stop the alien invasion is]], but the Alien Brain has absolutely no methods of defending itself from your soldiers should you managed to reach it.
to:
* NonActionBigBad: It is no doubt a devious strategist, considering [[NintendoHard how difficult trying to stop the alien invasion is]], but the Alien Brain has absolutely no methods of defending itself from your soldiers should you managed manage to reach it.
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[[folder:X-COM]]
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!!Tropes that apply to X-COM as a whole
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[[/folder]]
[[folder:Aliens]]
The main faction, out for control of the Earth and the extermination of the human race.
!!Tropes applying to all aliens:
[[folder:Aliens]]
The main faction, out for control of the Earth and the extermination of the human race.
!!Tropes applying to all aliens:
to:
[[folder:Aliens]]
!Aliens
The main enemy faction, out for control of the Earth and the extermination of the human
!!Tropes applying to all aliens:
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!!Sectoids
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[[folder:Sectoids]]
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!!Cyberdiscs
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[[folder:Cyberdiscs]]
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!!Floaters
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[[folder:Floaters]]
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!!Reapers
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[[folder:Reapers]]
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!!Snakemen
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[[folder:Snakemen]]
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!! Chryssalids
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[[folder:Chryssalids]]
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!!Muton
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[[folder:Muton]]
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!!Celatid
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[[folder:Celatid]]
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!!Silacoid
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[[folder:Silacoid]]
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!!Ethereals
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[[folder:Ethereals]]
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!!Sectopods
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[[folder:Sectopods]]
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!![[spoiler:The Alien Brain]]
[[spoiler:The true leader of the alien forces, a gigantic brain-like OrganicTechnology piece who controls the entire invasion.]]
[[spoiler:The true leader of the alien forces, a gigantic brain-like OrganicTechnology piece who controls the entire invasion.]]
to:
[[folder:The Alien
[[spoiler:The
!The Alien Brain
The true leader of the alien forces, a gigantic brain-like OrganicTechnology piece who controls the entire invasion.
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* AbusivePrecursors:[[spoiler: During its attempt to reason with you, it claims that the aliens created humanity.]]
%%* BigBad
* BigNo: [[spoiler:A rare written example. The alien brain tries to talk you out of killing it via a computer screen at its base. The screen displays an enormous-font "NO" just as the brain is incinerated.]]
%%* BrainMonster
* DirtyCoward: [[spoiler:When you engage it, it attempts to talk you out of shooting it by claiming [[AbusivePrecursors that the aliens created humanity]] and that WeCanRuleTogether. [[ShutUpHannibal Your troops hear it out, then shoot it]].]]
%%* FinalBoss
* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively makes it the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man.]]
%%* BigBad
* BigNo: [[spoiler:A rare written example. The alien brain tries to talk you out of killing it via a computer screen at its base. The screen displays an enormous-font "NO" just as the brain is incinerated.]]
%%* BrainMonster
* DirtyCoward: [[spoiler:When you engage it, it attempts to talk you out of shooting it by claiming [[AbusivePrecursors that the aliens created humanity]] and that WeCanRuleTogether. [[ShutUpHannibal Your troops hear it out, then shoot it]].]]
%%* FinalBoss
* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively makes it the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man.]]
to:
* AbusivePrecursors:[[spoiler: AbusivePrecursors: During its attempt to reason with you, it claims that the aliens created humanity.]]
%%* BigBad
humanity.
* BigBad: It controls the alien forces. Its death results in humanity's victory against the alien threat.
* BigNo:[[spoiler:A A rare written example. The alien brain tries to talk you out of killing it via a computer screen at its base. The screen displays an enormous-font "NO" just as the brain is incinerated.]]
%%* BrainMonster
incinerated.
* BrainMonster: A brain big enough to take up four spaces.
* DirtyCoward:[[spoiler:When When you engage it, it attempts to talk you out of shooting it by claiming [[AbusivePrecursors that the aliens created humanity]] and that WeCanRuleTogether. [[ShutUpHannibal Your troops hear it out, then shoot it]].]]
%%* FinalBoss
it]].
* FinalBoss: {{ZigZagged|Trope}}. It is technically the final enemy you have to kill to win the game, but it has no means of defending itself beyond the aliens guarding it.
* TheManBehindTheMan:[[spoiler:To To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively makes it the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man.]]Man.
* NonActionBigBad: It is no doubt a devious strategist, considering [[NintendoHard how difficult trying to stop the alien invasion is]], but the Alien Brain has absolutely no methods of defending itself from your soldiers should you managed to reach it.
%%* BigBad
* BigBad: It controls the alien forces. Its death results in humanity's victory against the alien threat.
* BigNo:
%%* BrainMonster
* BrainMonster: A brain big enough to take up four spaces.
* DirtyCoward:
%%* FinalBoss
* FinalBoss: {{ZigZagged|Trope}}. It is technically the final enemy you have to kill to win the game, but it has no means of defending itself beyond the aliens guarding it.
* TheManBehindTheMan:
* NonActionBigBad: It is no doubt a devious strategist, considering [[NintendoHard how difficult trying to stop the alien invasion is]], but the Alien Brain has absolutely no methods of defending itself from your soldiers should you managed to reach it.
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* WeCanRuleTogether: [[spoiler:Offers this to your soldiers. [[ShutUpHannibal Who have none of it]].]]
* ZeroEffortBoss: [[spoiler:Despite the sheer size of the brain, it doesn't have any psychic powers or weapons, and once all its guards are killed, it's defenceless. [[InstantWinCondition Just shoot one of the four tiles it takes up with a Heavy Plasma, and you win]].]]
* ZeroEffortBoss: [[spoiler:Despite the sheer size of the brain, it doesn't have any psychic powers or weapons, and once all its guards are killed, it's defenceless. [[InstantWinCondition Just shoot one of the four tiles it takes up with a Heavy Plasma, and you win]].]]
to:
* WeCanRuleTogether: [[spoiler:Offers Offers this to your soldiers. soldiers, [[ShutUpHannibal Who who have none of it]].]]
it]].
* ZeroEffortBoss:[[spoiler:Despite Despite the sheer size of the brain, it doesn't have any psychic powers or weapons, and once all its guards are killed, it's defenceless. [[InstantWinCondition You don't even have to fight its guards. Just shoot one of the four tiles it takes up with a Heavy Plasma, and you win]].]]
* ZeroEffortBoss:
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According to the in-game research results, they have "a primitive intelligence".
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* NonMaliciousMonster: Like Reapers, they're just animals acting on instinct. [[GoldfishPoopGang And they're not even that good at that.]]
to:
* NonMaliciousMonster: Like Reapers, they're just animals acting on instinct. [[GoldfishPoopGang And they're not even that good at that.]]They are primitive creatures forced to work for the aliens via control implants.
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* ShoutOut: Their appearance and physiology appear to be inspired by the Horta from ''Franchise/StarTrek''.
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* AlienLunch: They consume some type of slurry made out of animal and [[ToServeMan human]] parts.
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* AliensAreBastards: They started a unprovoked war against humanity [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence seemingly for just existing]], [[AlienAbduction abduct]], [[ColdBloodedTorture experiment on]] and even [[ToServeMan eat human civilians]], destroy cities, attack animals ... and they do all this seemingly ForTheEvulz.
to:
* AliensAreBastards: They started a an unprovoked war against humanity [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence seemingly for just existing]], [[AlienAbduction abduct]], [[ColdBloodedTorture experiment on]] and even [[ToServeMan eat human civilians]], destroy cities, attack animals ... and they do all this seemingly ForTheEvulz.
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* InsufficientlyAdvancedAlien: They may be much more advanced than humanity in terms of technology, but their advanced ships are very easy for human technology to bring down, their tech can be easily reverse engineered by a bunch of idiots in a underground burrow, and they don't seem to have any knowledge of shielding tech and can be easily blasted away by human firepower.
to:
* InsufficientlyAdvancedAlien: They may be much more advanced than humanity in terms of technology, but their advanced ships are very easy for human technology to bring down, their tech can be easily reverse engineered by a bunch of idiots in a an underground burrow, and they don't seem to have any knowledge of shielding tech and can be easily blasted away by human firepower.
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The assigned Terror Unit of the Sectoids. Essentially a miniature FlyingSaucer that serves as their version of your tanks, with a plasma cannon weapon and a explosive self-destruct when "killed".
to:
The assigned Terror Unit of the Sectoids. Essentially a miniature FlyingSaucer that serves as their version of your tanks, with a plasma cannon weapon and a an explosive self-destruct when "killed".
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* [[spoiler:AbusivePrecursors: During its attempt to reason with you, it claims that the aliens created humanity.]]
* [[spoiler:BigBad]]
* [[spoiler:BigNo: A rare written example. The alien brain tries to talk you out of killing it via a computer screen at its base. The screen displays an enormous-font "NO" just as the brain is incinerated.]]
* [[spoiler:BrainMonster]]
* [[spoiler:DirtyCoward: When you engage it, it attempts to talk you out of shooting it by claiming [[AbusivePrecursors that the aliens created humanity]] and that WeCanRuleTogether. [[ShutUpHannibal Your troops hear it out, then shoot it]].]]
* [[spoiler:FinalBoss]]
* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively make it the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man.]]
* [[spoiler:BigBad]]
* [[spoiler:BigNo: A rare written example. The alien brain tries to talk you out of killing it via a computer screen at its base. The screen displays an enormous-font "NO" just as the brain is incinerated.]]
* [[spoiler:BrainMonster]]
* [[spoiler:DirtyCoward: When you engage it, it attempts to talk you out of shooting it by claiming [[AbusivePrecursors that the aliens created humanity]] and that WeCanRuleTogether. [[ShutUpHannibal Your troops hear it out, then shoot it]].]]
* [[spoiler:FinalBoss]]
* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively make it the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man.]]
to:
* [[spoiler:AbusivePrecursors: AbusivePrecursors:[[spoiler: During its attempt to reason with you, it claims that the aliens created humanity.]]
%%* BigBad
*[[spoiler:BigBad]]
* [[spoiler:BigNo: ABigNo: [[spoiler:A rare written example. The alien brain tries to talk you out of killing it via a computer screen at its base. The screen displays an enormous-font "NO" just as the brain is incinerated.]]
%%* BrainMonster
*[[spoiler:BrainMonster]]
* [[spoiler:DirtyCoward: WhenDirtyCoward: [[spoiler:When you engage it, it attempts to talk you out of shooting it by claiming [[AbusivePrecursors that the aliens created humanity]] and that WeCanRuleTogether. [[ShutUpHannibal Your troops hear it out, then shoot it]].]]
%%* FinalBoss
*[[spoiler:FinalBoss]]
* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: ToTheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively make makes it the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man.]]
%%* BigBad
*
* [[spoiler:BigNo: A
%%* BrainMonster
*
* [[spoiler:DirtyCoward: When
%%* FinalBoss
*
* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To
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* [[spoiler:WeCanRuleTogether: Offers this to your soldiers. [[ShutUpHannibal Who have none of it]].]]
* [[spoiler:ZeroEffortBoss: Despite the sheer size of the brain, it doesn't have any psychic powers or weapons, and once all its guards are killed it's defenceless. [[InstantWinCondition Just shoot one of the four tiles it takes up with a Heavy Plasma, and you win]].]]
* [[spoiler:ZeroEffortBoss: Despite the sheer size of the brain, it doesn't have any psychic powers or weapons, and once all its guards are killed it's defenceless. [[InstantWinCondition Just shoot one of the four tiles it takes up with a Heavy Plasma, and you win]].]]
to:
* [[spoiler:WeCanRuleTogether: Offers WeCanRuleTogether: [[spoiler:Offers this to your soldiers. [[ShutUpHannibal Who have none of it]].]]
*[[spoiler:ZeroEffortBoss: Despite ZeroEffortBoss: [[spoiler:Despite the sheer size of the brain, it doesn't have any psychic powers or weapons, and once all its guards are killed killed, it's defenceless. [[InstantWinCondition Just shoot one of the four tiles it takes up with a Heavy Plasma, and you win]].]]
*
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Up To Eleven is a defunct trope
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* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively make it [[UpToEleven the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man]].]]
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* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively make it [[UpToEleven the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man]].Man.]]
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* AchillesHeel: Explosive weapons - [[RealityEnsues their furry hides are very flammable, after all]].
to:
* AchillesHeel: Explosive weapons - [[RealityEnsues their furry hides are very flammable, after all]].all.
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* MultinationalTeam: While not as overt as with the rebooted games, the sheer variety of names that soldiers are randomly generated with, ranging from various different cultures, implies that X-COM draws its recruits from around the world.
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* ATeamFiring: Rookies in particular are prone to firing off shots that hit anything but their intended target. Even with a highly trained and experienced Commander, there are no guarantees of landing a hit.
* DestructiveSavior: Potentially during terror missions. X-COM can swoop in and save the day, but stray shots can leave buildings with holes, dead civilians, and destroyed fuel pumps, leaving the surrounding area in ruins.
* DestructiveSavior: Potentially during terror missions. X-COM can swoop in and save the day, but stray shots can leave buildings with holes, dead civilians, and destroyed fuel pumps, leaving the surrounding area in ruins.
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[[folder:Aliens]]
The main faction, out for control of the Earth and the extermination of the human race.
!!Tropes applying to all aliens:
The main faction, out for control of the Earth and the extermination of the human race.
!!Tropes applying to all aliens:
to:
The main faction, out
An organisation funded by multiple nations, X-COM stands for
!!Tropes
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* RedshirtArmy: X-COM has a notorious high fatality rate, since the game's mechanics allow for them to be taken out in a single shot if unlucky.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Aliens]]
The main faction, out for control of the Earth and the extermination of the human race.
!!Tropes applying to all aliens:
----
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Aliens]]
The main faction, out for control of the Earth and the extermination of the human race.
!!Tropes applying to all aliens:
----
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* FantasticDrug: Sort of. Some UFOs have weird rooms with walls that look like they're covered by shifting blue or orange clouds and have strange silver orbs with red cores. These rooms are revealed to be a form of alien entertainment that stimulate certain sensory regions of the brain. They are described as being similar to hallucinogenic drugs.
to:
* FantasticDrug: Sort of. Some UFOs [=UFOs=] have weird rooms with walls that look like they're covered by shifting blue or orange clouds and have strange silver orbs with red cores. These rooms are revealed to be a form of alien entertainment that stimulate certain sensory regions of the brain. They are described as being similar to hallucinogenic drugs.
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Frickin' Laser Beams entry amended in accordance with this Trope Repair Shop Thread
.
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* FrickinLaserBeams: Both their weapon and vulnerability, even though it's said by the UFOpedia to be a ''plasma'' weapon. We can assume that it's really just a different type of laser that's green, leading to your scientists mistaking it for plasma.
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* SlowLaser: Both their weapon and vulnerability, even though it's said by the UFOpedia to be a ''plasma'' weapon. We can assume that it's really just a different type of laser that's green, leading to your scientists mistaking it for plasma.
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* Weaksauce Weakness: They're a complete terror, especially in the earliest parts of the game, with 120+ action points and the ability to shred your soldiers in one or two attacks and use the corpses to spawn more Chryssalids... and then you get Flying Armor. Suddenly, these dreaded creatures and their claws are reduced to targets, as your troops can hover outside their range and pelt them with plasma.
to:
* Weaksauce Weakness: WeaksauceWeakness: They're a complete terror, especially in the earliest parts of the game, with 120+ action points and the ability to shred your soldiers in one or two attacks and use the corpses to spawn more Chryssalids... and then you get Flying Armor. Suddenly, these dreaded creatures and their claws are reduced to targets, as your troops can hover outside their range and pelt them with plasma.
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* AlienBlood: They bleed ''silver'', although it appears as [[InvertedTrope red]] during the AlienAutopsy screen.
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----
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!! Chryssalid
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawed horrors can OneHitKill a civilian or unarmoured soldier and turn them into a zombie, which upon death bursts open into a new Chryssalid. They're also fast, and can sneak up from the shadows with ease. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Have fun!]]
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawed horrors can OneHitKill a civilian or unarmoured soldier and turn them into a zombie, which upon death bursts open into a new Chryssalid. They're also fast, and can sneak up from the shadows with ease. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Have fun!]]
to:
!! Chryssalid
Chryssalids
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawedhorrors horrors are the assigned terror unit of the Snakemen and can OneHitKill a civilian or unarmoured soldier and turn soldier, turning them into a zombie, zombie which upon death bursts open into a new Chryssalid. They're also fast, and can sneak up from the shadows with ease. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Have fun!]]fun!]]
----
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawed
----
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!!Muton
The most powerful of the alien races, resembling purple-skinned human-like beings with light green bodysuits. They're [[DumbMuscle immensely strong and tough, but not very bright, and will tend to forget about your soldiers after a few turns]].
----
* AlienBlood: They bleed orange.
* {{Cyborg}}: Like many of the other races, they have cybernetic implants
* DumbMuscle: They may be dumb, but ''boy'' are they tough.
* HeavilyArmoredMook: They can typically survive two Heavy Plasma shots at point-blank range.
* HeroicBuild: Inverted - they have traditional extremely muscular G.I. Joe-size bodies common of a action hero, but they are villainous.
* HumanAliens: They look very human - the main differences are their purple skin, lack of noses, and huge builds.
* InformedAttribute: The examination of a live specimen claims that they are intelligent, but then contradicts itself by talking about how they need telepathic commands to survive.
* MasterOfAll: With the exception of PsychicPowers, which they lack, they're strong, tough, fast, use powerful weapons, can kill any soldier in one melee hit, and have some resistance to psionic attacks.
* PurpleIsPowerful: They have purple skin.
* WallpaperCamouflage: Their green suits allow them to blend in with vegetation, [[https://www.ufopaedia.org/images/0/0f/Mutblending.png especially in jungle environments]].
!!Celatid
The assigned terror unit of the Mutons, a bizarre creature that looks somewhat like a giant flying kidney that can spit a [[AcidAttack acidic substance]] that is the most powerful non-explosive weapon in the game.
----
* AcidAttack
* AlienBlood: They bleed blue.
* BeastOfBattle: The AlienAutopsy done on the Celatid shows that it ''doesn't even have a brain''.
* ExplosiveBreeder: The scientific analysis determines that they can clone themselves at a rapid rate. [[InformedAttribute This doesn't appear in-game, mainly because of how overpowered it would be.]]
* {{Flight}}: Like the Floaters.
* PsychicPowers: They appear to have some kind of ability to detect human brainwaves, which allows them to hone in on their targets.
* StarfishAliens: Basically giant flying kidneys hovering above some kind of grotesque pod (at least in the image shown when analysing a live specimen) that can spit corrosive venom and detect human brainwaves.
!!Silacoid
These weird purple rock-like creatures are essentially like pets to the Mutons. While they're the least dangerous alien lifeform, they can generate enough heat to melt rocks, and can use this on your soldiers.
----
* BlobMonster: Purple blobs with brown rock formations along their bodies.
* GoldfishPoopGang: Easy to outrun, only have a melee attack, and basically serve as target practise. [[SubvertedTrope Unless they get in close enough.]]
* MightyGlacier: They're very tough and immune to fire, but can't move very fast.
* NonMaliciousMonster: Like Reapers, they're just animals acting on instinct. [[GoldfishPoopGang And they're not even that good at that.]]
* SiliconBasedLife: As their name implies.
!!Ethereals
The apparent masterminds of the invasion, resembling mysterious, faceless cloaked mages with vast PsychicPowers and plasma [[HandCannon Hand Cannons]]. They only appear later in the game, and often only for the most important missions, such as building bases or retaliating against X-COM.
----
* BlackCloak: Well, saffron cloak. But just as intimidating.
* BodyHorror: [[https://www.ufopaedia.org/images/e/e1/Etherealautopsy.png Without their cloaks]], we get to see that their bodies are essentially just ''withering away'' - they're described as being "physically retarded", their muscles are severely atrophied and seem unusable, their organs, including their eyes, don't seem to function at all, and your scientists are at a loss as to how they're even alive at all.
* TheDragon: The entire Ethereal race serve as this [[spoiler:to the [[BigBad Alien Brain]].]]
* MindRape: Their speciality, although they also carry around a handgun.
* PsychicPowers: ''FAR'' more so than the Sectoids, being able to easily cause anyone who doesn't have sufficient protection to panic or fall under their control.
* PowerFloats: Unlike the Floaters or Celatids, they seem to be capable of flying under their own power.
* SquishyWizard: Their bodies have atrophied so much that their self-sustaining functions have to be governed by their immense PsychicPowers. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Which does not prevent them from having the best armour values and second best hit point totals among the non-terror unit aliens.]] [[FridgeBrilliance Their huge cloaks present a considerably larger profile than their actual bodies... hitting the cloak is not necessarily hitting the Ethereal.]] [[OrganDodge Plus, there isn't much to damage in their actual bodies.]] However, [[AttackItsWeakPoint their brains still need an ample supply of blood, and if they lose too much blood because of serious injuries, they die.]]
!!Sectopods
The assigned terror unit of the Ethereals, a gigantic chicken-legged MiniMecha that is a absolute terror to deal with. They possess laser weaponry and can be remote-controlled by a Ethereal.
* AchillesHeel: They may be resistant to plasma weaponry, but they actually take nearly double damage from the weaker laser weaponry. If you're prediciting that you may be encountering one on a mission, it might be a good idea to dust off your old Heavy Lasers unless you've got some [[InfinityPlusOneSword Blaster Launchers]].
* BossInMookClothing: A tank-sized robot that is virtually immune to conventional fire, resistant to plasma, and has a extremely dangerous laser weapon. And they're the Ethereal's terror units.
* ChickenWalker: Don't make of it if you value your life.
* EvilCounterpart: To your Tanks.
* FrickinLaserBeams: Both their weapon and vulnerability, even though it's said by the UFOpedia to be a ''plasma'' weapon. We can assume that it's really just a different type of laser that's green, leading to your scientists mistaking it for plasma.
* GiantMook: About the size of your Tanks, and possibly even more dangerous.
* MotionCaptureMecha: Every Sectopod is built not only for self-sufficient commands and operation, but also for psionic manipulation -- an Ethereal can control a Sectopod as if it were it's own body from miles away.
* WalkingTank
!![[spoiler:The Alien Brain]]
[[spoiler:The true leader of the alien forces, a gigantic brain-like OrganicTechnology piece who controls the entire invasion.]]
----
* [[spoiler:AbusivePrecursors: During its attempt to reason with you, it claims that the aliens created humanity.]]
* [[spoiler:BigBad]]
* [[spoiler:BigNo: A rare written example. The alien brain tries to talk you out of killing it via a computer screen at its base. The screen displays an enormous-font "NO" just as the brain is incinerated.]]
* [[spoiler:BrainMonster]]
* [[spoiler:DirtyCoward: When you engage it, it attempts to talk you out of shooting it by claiming [[AbusivePrecursors that the aliens created humanity]] and that WeCanRuleTogether. [[ShutUpHannibal Your troops hear it out, then shoot it]].]]
* [[spoiler:FinalBoss]]
* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively make it [[UpToEleven the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man]].]]
* WalkingSpoiler: In case you couldn't already tell.
* [[spoiler:WeCanRuleTogether: Offers this to your soldiers. [[ShutUpHannibal Who have none of it]].]]
* [[spoiler:ZeroEffortBoss: Despite the sheer size of the brain, it doesn't have any psychic powers or weapons, and once all its guards are killed it's defenceless. [[InstantWinCondition Just shoot one of the four tiles it takes up with a Heavy Plasma, and you win]].]]
The most powerful of the alien races, resembling purple-skinned human-like beings with light green bodysuits. They're [[DumbMuscle immensely strong and tough, but not very bright, and will tend to forget about your soldiers after a few turns]].
----
* AlienBlood: They bleed orange.
* {{Cyborg}}: Like many of the other races, they have cybernetic implants
* DumbMuscle: They may be dumb, but ''boy'' are they tough.
* HeavilyArmoredMook: They can typically survive two Heavy Plasma shots at point-blank range.
* HeroicBuild: Inverted - they have traditional extremely muscular G.I. Joe-size bodies common of a action hero, but they are villainous.
* HumanAliens: They look very human - the main differences are their purple skin, lack of noses, and huge builds.
* InformedAttribute: The examination of a live specimen claims that they are intelligent, but then contradicts itself by talking about how they need telepathic commands to survive.
* MasterOfAll: With the exception of PsychicPowers, which they lack, they're strong, tough, fast, use powerful weapons, can kill any soldier in one melee hit, and have some resistance to psionic attacks.
* PurpleIsPowerful: They have purple skin.
* WallpaperCamouflage: Their green suits allow them to blend in with vegetation, [[https://www.ufopaedia.org/images/0/0f/Mutblending.png especially in jungle environments]].
!!Celatid
The assigned terror unit of the Mutons, a bizarre creature that looks somewhat like a giant flying kidney that can spit a [[AcidAttack acidic substance]] that is the most powerful non-explosive weapon in the game.
----
* AcidAttack
* AlienBlood: They bleed blue.
* BeastOfBattle: The AlienAutopsy done on the Celatid shows that it ''doesn't even have a brain''.
* ExplosiveBreeder: The scientific analysis determines that they can clone themselves at a rapid rate. [[InformedAttribute This doesn't appear in-game, mainly because of how overpowered it would be.]]
* {{Flight}}: Like the Floaters.
* PsychicPowers: They appear to have some kind of ability to detect human brainwaves, which allows them to hone in on their targets.
* StarfishAliens: Basically giant flying kidneys hovering above some kind of grotesque pod (at least in the image shown when analysing a live specimen) that can spit corrosive venom and detect human brainwaves.
!!Silacoid
These weird purple rock-like creatures are essentially like pets to the Mutons. While they're the least dangerous alien lifeform, they can generate enough heat to melt rocks, and can use this on your soldiers.
----
* BlobMonster: Purple blobs with brown rock formations along their bodies.
* GoldfishPoopGang: Easy to outrun, only have a melee attack, and basically serve as target practise. [[SubvertedTrope Unless they get in close enough.]]
* MightyGlacier: They're very tough and immune to fire, but can't move very fast.
* NonMaliciousMonster: Like Reapers, they're just animals acting on instinct. [[GoldfishPoopGang And they're not even that good at that.]]
* SiliconBasedLife: As their name implies.
!!Ethereals
The apparent masterminds of the invasion, resembling mysterious, faceless cloaked mages with vast PsychicPowers and plasma [[HandCannon Hand Cannons]]. They only appear later in the game, and often only for the most important missions, such as building bases or retaliating against X-COM.
----
* BlackCloak: Well, saffron cloak. But just as intimidating.
* BodyHorror: [[https://www.ufopaedia.org/images/e/e1/Etherealautopsy.png Without their cloaks]], we get to see that their bodies are essentially just ''withering away'' - they're described as being "physically retarded", their muscles are severely atrophied and seem unusable, their organs, including their eyes, don't seem to function at all, and your scientists are at a loss as to how they're even alive at all.
* TheDragon: The entire Ethereal race serve as this [[spoiler:to the [[BigBad Alien Brain]].]]
* MindRape: Their speciality, although they also carry around a handgun.
* PsychicPowers: ''FAR'' more so than the Sectoids, being able to easily cause anyone who doesn't have sufficient protection to panic or fall under their control.
* PowerFloats: Unlike the Floaters or Celatids, they seem to be capable of flying under their own power.
* SquishyWizard: Their bodies have atrophied so much that their self-sustaining functions have to be governed by their immense PsychicPowers. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Which does not prevent them from having the best armour values and second best hit point totals among the non-terror unit aliens.]] [[FridgeBrilliance Their huge cloaks present a considerably larger profile than their actual bodies... hitting the cloak is not necessarily hitting the Ethereal.]] [[OrganDodge Plus, there isn't much to damage in their actual bodies.]] However, [[AttackItsWeakPoint their brains still need an ample supply of blood, and if they lose too much blood because of serious injuries, they die.]]
!!Sectopods
The assigned terror unit of the Ethereals, a gigantic chicken-legged MiniMecha that is a absolute terror to deal with. They possess laser weaponry and can be remote-controlled by a Ethereal.
* AchillesHeel: They may be resistant to plasma weaponry, but they actually take nearly double damage from the weaker laser weaponry. If you're prediciting that you may be encountering one on a mission, it might be a good idea to dust off your old Heavy Lasers unless you've got some [[InfinityPlusOneSword Blaster Launchers]].
* BossInMookClothing: A tank-sized robot that is virtually immune to conventional fire, resistant to plasma, and has a extremely dangerous laser weapon. And they're the Ethereal's terror units.
* ChickenWalker: Don't make of it if you value your life.
* EvilCounterpart: To your Tanks.
* FrickinLaserBeams: Both their weapon and vulnerability, even though it's said by the UFOpedia to be a ''plasma'' weapon. We can assume that it's really just a different type of laser that's green, leading to your scientists mistaking it for plasma.
* GiantMook: About the size of your Tanks, and possibly even more dangerous.
* MotionCaptureMecha: Every Sectopod is built not only for self-sufficient commands and operation, but also for psionic manipulation -- an Ethereal can control a Sectopod as if it were it's own body from miles away.
* WalkingTank
!![[spoiler:The Alien Brain]]
[[spoiler:The true leader of the alien forces, a gigantic brain-like OrganicTechnology piece who controls the entire invasion.]]
----
* [[spoiler:AbusivePrecursors: During its attempt to reason with you, it claims that the aliens created humanity.]]
* [[spoiler:BigBad]]
* [[spoiler:BigNo: A rare written example. The alien brain tries to talk you out of killing it via a computer screen at its base. The screen displays an enormous-font "NO" just as the brain is incinerated.]]
* [[spoiler:BrainMonster]]
* [[spoiler:DirtyCoward: When you engage it, it attempts to talk you out of shooting it by claiming [[AbusivePrecursors that the aliens created humanity]] and that WeCanRuleTogether. [[ShutUpHannibal Your troops hear it out, then shoot it]].]]
* [[spoiler:FinalBoss]]
* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To the Ethereals, who are in turn this to the other races. This effectively make it [[UpToEleven the Man Behind the Man Behind the Man]].]]
* WalkingSpoiler: In case you couldn't already tell.
* [[spoiler:WeCanRuleTogether: Offers this to your soldiers. [[ShutUpHannibal Who have none of it]].]]
* [[spoiler:ZeroEffortBoss: Despite the sheer size of the brain, it doesn't have any psychic powers or weapons, and once all its guards are killed it's defenceless. [[InstantWinCondition Just shoot one of the four tiles it takes up with a Heavy Plasma, and you win]].]]
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* PowerPincers: Used to hold their victims for zombification or slash through armour.
* ShoutOut: The Chryssalids are based around the mutant that appears on the old Penguin cover art for [[Literature/TheChrysalids John Wyndham's similarly named novel]] ([[CoversAlwaysLie though not in the novel itself]]).
* ShoutOut: The Chryssalids are based around the mutant that appears on the old Penguin cover art for [[Literature/TheChrysalids John Wyndham's similarly named novel]] ([[CoversAlwaysLie though not in the novel itself]]).
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* Weaksauce Weakness: They're a complete terror, especially in the earliest parts of the game, with 120+ action points and the ability to shred your soldiers in one or two attacks and use the corpses to spawn more Chryssalids... and then you get Flying Armor. Suddenly, these dreaded creatures and their claws are reduced to targets, as your troops can hover outside their range and pelt them with plasma.
* XenomorphXerox: Downplayed, but they still have something of a Xenomorph-like appearance, with shiny metallic skin, sharp claws, and animalistic sadism.
* XenomorphXerox: Downplayed, but they still have something of a Xenomorph-like appearance, with shiny metallic skin, sharp claws, and animalistic sadism.
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!! Crysallid
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawed horrors can OneHitKill a civilian or unarmoured soldier and turn them into a zombie, which upon death bursts open into a new Crysallid. They're also fast, and can sneak up from the shadows with ease. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Have fun!]]
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawed horrors can OneHitKill a civilian or unarmoured soldier and turn them into a zombie, which upon death bursts open into a new Crysallid. They're also fast, and can sneak up from the shadows with ease. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Have fun!]]
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!! Crysallid
Chryssalid
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawed horrors can OneHitKill a civilian or unarmoured soldier and turn them into a zombie, which upon death bursts open into a newCrysallid.Chryssalid. They're also fast, and can sneak up from the shadows with ease. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Have fun!]]fun!]]
* AchillesHeel: Flying units - they cannot hit them if they're two levels above them. Once you manage to procure some Flying Armour, you can just hover two levels above them and [[CatharsisFactor use them for target practise]].
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawed horrors can OneHitKill a civilian or unarmoured soldier and turn them into a zombie, which upon death bursts open into a new
* AchillesHeel: Flying units - they cannot hit them if they're two levels above them. Once you manage to procure some Flying Armour, you can just hover two levels above them and [[CatharsisFactor use them for target practise]].
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* BodyHorror: They induce this upon anyone they can get their claws on.
* ChestBurster: Any Zombie that's shot dead will burst open into a new Chryssalid. With full time units. [[OhCrap And a clear view of you]].
* DarkIsEvil: They have dark grey skin, hide in the shadows, and are arguably the most dangerous enemy in the game.
* ChestBurster: Any Zombie that's shot dead will burst open into a new Chryssalid. With full time units. [[OhCrap And a clear view of you]].
* DarkIsEvil: They have dark grey skin, hide in the shadows, and are arguably the most dangerous enemy in the game.
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* ItCanThink: Unlike the Reaper, Chryssalids are clearly intelligent and taking sadistic joy in hunting down and zombifying your soldiers.
* SlasherSmile: Perpetually, and [[DemonicSpiders understandable why]].
* ZombieApocalypse: If they're not taken out fast enough, they'll start one of these.
* SlasherSmile: Perpetually, and [[DemonicSpiders understandable why]].
* ZombieApocalypse: If they're not taken out fast enough, they'll start one of these.
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* TruelySingleParent: Snakemen reproduce asexually, with each one carrying fifty or so little green eggs in their body at all times. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Despite your scientists warning that they could use this to populate the Earth, they never actually lay these eggs in battle, probably because they're too busy blasting your soldiers.]]
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* TruelySingleParent: TrulySingleParent: Snakemen reproduce asexually, with each one carrying fifty or so little green eggs in their body at all times. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Despite your scientists warning that they could use this to populate the Earth, they never actually lay these eggs in battle, probably because they're too busy blasting your soldiers.]]]]
!! Crysallid
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawed horrors can OneHitKill a civilian or unarmoured soldier and turn them into a zombie, which upon death bursts open into a new Crysallid. They're also fast, and can sneak up from the shadows with ease. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Have fun!]]
* AlienBlood: Green. [[RunningGag Again.]]
* HumanoidAbomination
!! Crysallid
THE worst type of alien to be up against. Looking something like a silver humanoid lobster, these clawed horrors can OneHitKill a civilian or unarmoured soldier and turn them into a zombie, which upon death bursts open into a new Crysallid. They're also fast, and can sneak up from the shadows with ease. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Have fun!]]
* AlienBlood: Green. [[RunningGag Again.]]
* HumanoidAbomination
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* AlienBlood: Yet another alien with green blood.
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* SlasherSmile: Constantly. Then again, they don't have lips.
* TruelySingleParent: Snakemen reproduce asexually, with each one carrying fifty or so little green eggs in their body at all times. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Despite your scientists warning that they could use this to populate the Earth, they never actually lay these eggs in battle, probably because they're too busy blasting your soldiers.]]
* TruelySingleParent: Snakemen reproduce asexually, with each one carrying fifty or so little green eggs in their body at all times. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Despite your scientists warning that they could use this to populate the Earth, they never actually lay these eggs in battle, probably because they're too busy blasting your soldiers.]]
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!!Snakemen
A more advanced foot soldier, resembling a semi-humanoid snake with a large tail-like foot in place of legs. More dangerous than the Sectoid or Floater, but still manageable, unlike their pets...
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* BizarreAlienBiology: They appear to have a naga-like tail, but in actuality it's a "foot". That also contains all their vital organs.
* DumbMuscle: As noted when "interrogating" one, they're animalistic and predatory, obviously operating under orders from a higher intelligence.
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent
A more advanced foot soldier, resembling a semi-humanoid snake with a large tail-like foot in place of legs. More dangerous than the Sectoid or Floater, but still manageable, unlike their pets...
----
* BizarreAlienBiology: They appear to have a naga-like tail, but in actuality it's a "foot". That also contains all their vital organs.
* DumbMuscle: As noted when "interrogating" one, they're animalistic and predatory, obviously operating under orders from a higher intelligence.
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent
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* AliensAreBastards: They started a unprovoked war against humanity [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistance seemingly for just existing]], [[AlienAbduction abduct]], [[ColdBloodedTorture experiment on]] and even [[ToServeMan eat human civilians]], destroy cities, attack animals ... and they do all this seemingly ForTheEvulz.
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* AliensAreBastards: They started a unprovoked war against humanity [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistance [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence seemingly for just existing]], [[AlienAbduction abduct]], [[ColdBloodedTorture experiment on]] and even [[ToServeMan eat human civilians]], destroy cities, attack animals ... and they do all this seemingly ForTheEvulz.
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* TheGommba: Usually the first type of alien encountered (unless you come across Floaters first), have low health and stamina but decent accuracy, and are only really dangerous in groups ... unless they have PsychicPowers. Then they become a NIGHTMARE.
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* TheGommba: TheGoomba: Usually the first type of alien encountered (unless you come across Floaters first), have low health and stamina but decent accuracy, and are only really dangerous in groups ... unless they have PsychicPowers. Then they become a NIGHTMARE.
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* FlyingSaucer: A MiniMooks version of this.
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* FlyingSaucer: A MiniMooks MiniMook version of this.
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* AliensAreBastards: They started a unprovoked war against humanity [[FeelingThreatenedByTheirExistance seemingly for just existing]], [[AlienAbduction abduct]], [[ColdBloodedTorture experiment on]] and even [[ToServeMan eat human civilians]], destroy cities, attack animals ... and they do all this seemingly ForTheEvulz.
to:
* AliensAreBastards: They started a unprovoked war against humanity [[FeelingThreatenedByTheirExistance [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistance seemingly for just existing]], [[AlienAbduction abduct]], [[ColdBloodedTorture experiment on]] and even [[ToServeMan eat human civilians]], destroy cities, attack animals ... and they do all this seemingly ForTheEvulz.
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* SpareBodyParts: The AlienAutopsy done on a Reaper corpse shows them to have two brains and two hearts.
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* SpareBodyParts: The AlienAutopsy done on a Reaper corpse shows them to have two brains and two hearts.hearts.
[[/folder]]
[[/folder]]
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[[folder:Aliens]]
The main faction, out for control of the Earth and the extermination of the human race.
!!Tropes applying to all aliens:
----
* AliensAreBastards: They started a unprovoked war against humanity [[FeelingThreatenedByTheirExistance seemingly for just existing]], [[AlienAbduction abduct]], [[ColdBloodedTorture experiment on]] and even [[ToServeMan eat human civilians]], destroy cities, attack animals ... and they do all this seemingly ForTheEvulz.
* TheAestheticsOfTechnology: Their technology is sleek, shiny and spotless.
* AlienAbduction: Some of them, namely the Floaters and Sectoids, practice this. They even have a specialised UFO called the "Abductor".
* AlienLunch: They consume some type of slurry made out of animal and [[ToServeMan human]] parts.
* AliensStealCattle: They do this on occasion. It's NOT PlayedForLaughs like you would expect, though.
* FantasticDrug: Sort of. Some UFOs have weird rooms with walls that look like they're covered by shifting blue or orange clouds and have strange silver orbs with red cores. These rooms are revealed to be a form of alien entertainment that stimulate certain sensory regions of the brain. They are described as being similar to hallucinogenic drugs.
* FlyingSaucer: Their main method of transportation.
* InsufficientlyAdvancedAlien: They may be much more advanced than humanity in terms of technology, but their advanced ships are very easy for human technology to bring down, their tech can be easily reverse engineered by a bunch of idiots in a underground burrow, and they don't seem to have any knowledge of shielding tech and can be easily blasted away by human firepower.
* KillAllHumans: Their main mission.
!!Sectoids
Typically the very first type of alien seen by the player, little humanoid creatures modelled after the standard Grey. They're good shots and some have PsychicPowers, but they're quite easy to bring down with one or two direct hits from a pistol or rifle.
----
* AlienBlood: They bleed green.
* BlackEyesOfEvil: Part of their TheGreys image.
* CloneArmy: The Sectoids are theorised to be all clones of the same DNA, meaning that you're fighting copies of the same Sectoid over and over.
* TheGommba: Usually the first type of alien encountered (unless you come across Floaters first), have low health and stamina but decent accuracy, and are only really dangerous in groups ... unless they have PsychicPowers. Then they become a NIGHTMARE.
* TheGreys: They tick all the boxes - small, grey, slim, large round black eyes, and tend to abduct and mutilate cattle.
* MindRape: Sectoid Leaders and Commanders can perform this, causing soldiers to [[HeroicBSOD panic]], [[FreakOut go berserk]], or [[BrainwashedAndCrazy fall under alien control]].
* PsychicPowers: High-ranking Sectoids are capable of this, causing troops to panic and even fall under MindControl. Just one Sectoid Leader will completely throw your squad off balance if there are any weak links in your team's psychic resistance chain, although capturing one alive may be worth it, as it lets you develop some PsychicPowers of your own.
!!Cyberdiscs
The assigned Terror Unit of the Sectoids. Essentially a miniature FlyingSaucer that serves as their version of your tanks, with a plasma cannon weapon and a explosive self-destruct when "killed".
----
* AchillesHeel: Stun weapons - rather than being shut down and taken alive, they'll automatically explode if shot by a stun bomb.
* ActionBomb: [[DefeatEqualsExplosion When defeated, they explode]] with enough force to kill anything in the blast radius.
* FlyingSaucer: A MiniMooks version of this.
* LightningBruiser: Cyberdiscs are heavily armed, fairly durable and can fly quite far.
* MechanicalMonster: It and the Sectopod are the only true robotic enemies in the game.
* MechaMooks
* SinisterGeometry: It's basically a reflective chrome disc. That flies. And shoots plasma.
!!Floaters
Only just above Sectoids in terms of threat level, Floaters are pink humanoids with red capes who have a mechanical sphere in place of legs. It lets them fly.
----
* AlienBlood: PURPLE blood.
* BewareTheSillyOnes: They make look quite silly, with their pink bodies and capes, but they're still capable of dropping any of your men with a single lucky shot.
* BodyHorror: Their cybernetic enhancements are visible in the form of a giant gaping hole in their chests, not to mention their anti-grav ball-feet, which are very clearly unnatural.
* {{Cyborg}}: The AlienAutopsy performed on a Floater's body shows that the sphere on their bodies is in fact connected to a life support system that takes over the functions of the heart, lungs and digestive system. Capturing a live one will let you see that this system is visible from the outside of their bodies.
* {{Flight}}: Via anti-gravity circuits in their {{Cyborg}} bodies.
* TheGoomba: They have a little more health than the Sectoids, but are still quite easy to take out. Their weapons aren't even as powerful as a Sectoid's - they're just able to do more damage in groups by flying around and having snipers pick off your soldiers.
!!Reapers
The assigned Terror Unit of the Floaters. They basically look like large, furry, weird-looking animal-like creatures with powerful jaws.
----
* AchillesHeel: Explosive weapons - [[RealityEnsues their furry hides are very flammable, after all]].
* AlienBlood: Like Sectoids, they bleed green.
* ArmlessBiped
* CartoonCreature: Albeit a very ugly and evil-looking one.
* FakeUltimateMook: They're large and intimidating, but they can only attack in melee and can't fit through most of the doors on the level. [[StoneWall They have a lot of health and can tank half a clip of rifle shots]], but their size makes them a relatively easy target for your troops. They're also very vulnerable to explosive damage. [[NintendoHard X-COM being X-COM though]], Reapers are still relatively dangerous for an example of this trope, particularly in the early game - its melee attack is a pretty much guaranteed OneHitKill before you research actual armour, and unlike the alien ranged weapons, [[AlwaysAccurateAttack there isn't a possibility of it missing]].
* FangsAreEvil
* GiantMook: A Reaper is roughly the size of a Tank, and is just as dangerous.
* NonMaliciousMonster: Unlike the Crysallid or the robotic enemies, it's just a animal acting on its predatory instincts.
* RedEyesTakeWarning
* SpareBodyParts: The AlienAutopsy done on a Reaper corpse shows them to have two brains and two hearts.
The main faction, out for control of the Earth and the extermination of the human race.
!!Tropes applying to all aliens:
----
* AliensAreBastards: They started a unprovoked war against humanity [[FeelingThreatenedByTheirExistance seemingly for just existing]], [[AlienAbduction abduct]], [[ColdBloodedTorture experiment on]] and even [[ToServeMan eat human civilians]], destroy cities, attack animals ... and they do all this seemingly ForTheEvulz.
* TheAestheticsOfTechnology: Their technology is sleek, shiny and spotless.
* AlienAbduction: Some of them, namely the Floaters and Sectoids, practice this. They even have a specialised UFO called the "Abductor".
* AlienLunch: They consume some type of slurry made out of animal and [[ToServeMan human]] parts.
* AliensStealCattle: They do this on occasion. It's NOT PlayedForLaughs like you would expect, though.
* FantasticDrug: Sort of. Some UFOs have weird rooms with walls that look like they're covered by shifting blue or orange clouds and have strange silver orbs with red cores. These rooms are revealed to be a form of alien entertainment that stimulate certain sensory regions of the brain. They are described as being similar to hallucinogenic drugs.
* FlyingSaucer: Their main method of transportation.
* InsufficientlyAdvancedAlien: They may be much more advanced than humanity in terms of technology, but their advanced ships are very easy for human technology to bring down, their tech can be easily reverse engineered by a bunch of idiots in a underground burrow, and they don't seem to have any knowledge of shielding tech and can be easily blasted away by human firepower.
* KillAllHumans: Their main mission.
!!Sectoids
Typically the very first type of alien seen by the player, little humanoid creatures modelled after the standard Grey. They're good shots and some have PsychicPowers, but they're quite easy to bring down with one or two direct hits from a pistol or rifle.
----
* AlienBlood: They bleed green.
* BlackEyesOfEvil: Part of their TheGreys image.
* CloneArmy: The Sectoids are theorised to be all clones of the same DNA, meaning that you're fighting copies of the same Sectoid over and over.
* TheGommba: Usually the first type of alien encountered (unless you come across Floaters first), have low health and stamina but decent accuracy, and are only really dangerous in groups ... unless they have PsychicPowers. Then they become a NIGHTMARE.
* TheGreys: They tick all the boxes - small, grey, slim, large round black eyes, and tend to abduct and mutilate cattle.
* MindRape: Sectoid Leaders and Commanders can perform this, causing soldiers to [[HeroicBSOD panic]], [[FreakOut go berserk]], or [[BrainwashedAndCrazy fall under alien control]].
* PsychicPowers: High-ranking Sectoids are capable of this, causing troops to panic and even fall under MindControl. Just one Sectoid Leader will completely throw your squad off balance if there are any weak links in your team's psychic resistance chain, although capturing one alive may be worth it, as it lets you develop some PsychicPowers of your own.
!!Cyberdiscs
The assigned Terror Unit of the Sectoids. Essentially a miniature FlyingSaucer that serves as their version of your tanks, with a plasma cannon weapon and a explosive self-destruct when "killed".
----
* AchillesHeel: Stun weapons - rather than being shut down and taken alive, they'll automatically explode if shot by a stun bomb.
* ActionBomb: [[DefeatEqualsExplosion When defeated, they explode]] with enough force to kill anything in the blast radius.
* FlyingSaucer: A MiniMooks version of this.
* LightningBruiser: Cyberdiscs are heavily armed, fairly durable and can fly quite far.
* MechanicalMonster: It and the Sectopod are the only true robotic enemies in the game.
* MechaMooks
* SinisterGeometry: It's basically a reflective chrome disc. That flies. And shoots plasma.
!!Floaters
Only just above Sectoids in terms of threat level, Floaters are pink humanoids with red capes who have a mechanical sphere in place of legs. It lets them fly.
----
* AlienBlood: PURPLE blood.
* BewareTheSillyOnes: They make look quite silly, with their pink bodies and capes, but they're still capable of dropping any of your men with a single lucky shot.
* BodyHorror: Their cybernetic enhancements are visible in the form of a giant gaping hole in their chests, not to mention their anti-grav ball-feet, which are very clearly unnatural.
* {{Cyborg}}: The AlienAutopsy performed on a Floater's body shows that the sphere on their bodies is in fact connected to a life support system that takes over the functions of the heart, lungs and digestive system. Capturing a live one will let you see that this system is visible from the outside of their bodies.
* {{Flight}}: Via anti-gravity circuits in their {{Cyborg}} bodies.
* TheGoomba: They have a little more health than the Sectoids, but are still quite easy to take out. Their weapons aren't even as powerful as a Sectoid's - they're just able to do more damage in groups by flying around and having snipers pick off your soldiers.
!!Reapers
The assigned Terror Unit of the Floaters. They basically look like large, furry, weird-looking animal-like creatures with powerful jaws.
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* AchillesHeel: Explosive weapons - [[RealityEnsues their furry hides are very flammable, after all]].
* AlienBlood: Like Sectoids, they bleed green.
* ArmlessBiped
* CartoonCreature: Albeit a very ugly and evil-looking one.
* FakeUltimateMook: They're large and intimidating, but they can only attack in melee and can't fit through most of the doors on the level. [[StoneWall They have a lot of health and can tank half a clip of rifle shots]], but their size makes them a relatively easy target for your troops. They're also very vulnerable to explosive damage. [[NintendoHard X-COM being X-COM though]], Reapers are still relatively dangerous for an example of this trope, particularly in the early game - its melee attack is a pretty much guaranteed OneHitKill before you research actual armour, and unlike the alien ranged weapons, [[AlwaysAccurateAttack there isn't a possibility of it missing]].
* FangsAreEvil
* GiantMook: A Reaper is roughly the size of a Tank, and is just as dangerous.
* NonMaliciousMonster: Unlike the Crysallid or the robotic enemies, it's just a animal acting on its predatory instincts.
* RedEyesTakeWarning
* SpareBodyParts: The AlienAutopsy done on a Reaper corpse shows them to have two brains and two hearts.
