Meet the XCOM 2 Ranger Class

IGN has published an article focused on one of the new classes in XCOM 2, the Ranger, which offers an interesting and tantalizing glimpse of the kind of abilities and progression we’ll have at our disposal in Firaxis’ sequel to the 2012 turn-based reboot. A short excerpt, just to get you started:

The Ranger is largely built for close-range combat, hefting a shotgun or assault rifle as a primary weapon. But the Ranger’s signature tool will obviously be the machete sword, which introduces melee combat to XCOM. These weapons allow you to upgrade your Ranger for either pure damage dealing or as a fast-moving, agile scout who can move quickly and quietly through rough terrain and even scale walls.

“One of the things I love doing when I have [the Specialist and the Ranger] together in my playthroughs is I will put the Gremlin on my Ranger so my Ranger’s buffed and protected as I go out and scout,” said XCOM 2 Lead Producer Garth DeAngelis. “And then, if I can catch an enemy off guard, I go slice things up real quick.”

While a stealth approach allows you the first shot, the Ranger doesn’t do backstabbing or throat-cutting style kills. “It’s hardcore melee combat,” DeAngelis clarified. “We talked a little bit about the backstabbing stuff, but we led with the melee.”