Long War 2 features a massive roster of (plus SPARKs). Here is a breakdown of each, along with sample effective builds for the early to mid-game.
In vanilla XCOM, you are the underdog who eventually becomes a super-soldier factory. In Long War 2, you are always outnumbered. You cannot fight the aliens head-on. You must pick fights you can win, retreat when outmatched, and use guerilla tactics (concealment, explosives, and evac) to survive.
LWOTC expands the soldier classes, requiring you to build specialized teams rather than generalists. Core Combat Classes xcom 2 long war guide
Moving a soldier into unexplored territory on your final action risks triggering an enemy pod, giving them a free turn to attack you.
Build the Guerilla Tactics School (GTS) immediately. Officers provide the "Command" ability, giving a soldier an extra action that can salvage a botched turn. Long War 2 features a massive roster of (plus SPARKs)
When you discover a mission, it will have an expiration timer (e.g., "7 days remaining"). You must launch a squad to the site immediately to .
Unlocks vital autopsy reports and the Advanced Warfare Center (AWC). In Long War 2, you are always outnumbered
Focus on sword perks (Fleche, Whirlwind). Exceptional for high guaranteed melee damage, but risky due to activating unseen pods. Specialist
Before we discuss tactics, you must unlearn the vanilla mindset.