RULES REFERENCE

STOP!
ACTIONS (XCOM & ALIEN)
The app provides a randomized series of actions for the
This Rules Reference does not teach players how to
players to perform. XCOM actions are presented in blue
play XCOM: The Board Game. It is recommended that
text displayed in a blue box.
players first play the tutorial available in the XCOM:
the Board Game app. Then use this Rules Reference or XCOM actions are optional.
the Rules section of the app as needed while playing If an XCOM action is displayed in a yellow box, that
the game. action has been scrambled by UFOs in orbit. A
scrambled action happens earlier in the timed phase
than normal.
USING THIS REFERENCE When the timer is reduced to zero during an XCOM
This Rules Reference provides players with detailed rules action, a new action will appear on the screen and the
and clarifications listed in alphabetical order by topic. current player must IMMEDIATELY stop performing the
previous action.
All information presented in this reference is also available
in the Rules section of the app. Alien actions are presented in red text displayed in a
red box.
Alien actions are mandatory and must be performed.
When the timer reaches zero during an alien action,
a blinking warning will appear along with the word
EXPIRED. The next action will not appear until the
FANTASY Central Officer has tapped DONE to complete the
FLIGHT action. When time expires, it halves the amount of
GAMES time the players have to complete the next XCOM
action, and it will drain any remaining pause time
1994-2015 Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. and its subsidiaries. 2015 Fantasy Flight Publishing, until the action is completed.
Inc. XCOM, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Firaxis Games, the Firaxis Games logo, 2K, the 2K Games logo and
Take-Two Interactive Software are all trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Take-Two Interactive
Software, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc.,
Related Links: Communications Interface, Scrambled
registered in the United States and/or foreign countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Actions, Timed Phase
Play is a trademark of Google Inc. Fantasy Flight Supply is a trademark of Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc.
Fantasy Flight Games and the FFG logo are registered trademarks of Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. All
rights reserved to their respective owners. Fantasy Flight Games is located at 1995 West County Road
B2, Roseville, MN, 55113, USA and can be reached by telephone at 651-639-1905. Actual components
may vary from those shown. Made in China. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT A TOY. NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY
PERSONS 13 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER.

RULES REFERENCE [1]

ASSETS ASSET CARD ANATOMY
Asset cards are components distributed to players during
setup.
Each card contains the name, icon, and color of the
role to which it corresponds. Each asset card is given to
the player who was assigned that role.
Assets with the A symbol can be used any time during
the timed phase, regardless of which action is being
resolved.
Assets with the H symbol can be used any time during
the resolution phase UNTIL cards are refreshed. Players
can use an asset after rolling dice and before applying
the results, but they cannot modify the number of dice
being rolled.
The app assigns the Commander an asset based on the
location of the home base. This asset can only be used
while the continent with the home base is in the yellow
area of the panic track. Return the other continent- A. Role Icon
related assets to the box. B. Title
To resolve the effects of an asset, a player must pay the C. Phase Icon
cost that is presented in bold on the card. D. Card Type & Role
Place X here indicates that to use the card ability, E. Rules Text
a player must place the number and type of units
specified by the card onto the card. The placed units Related Links: Assets, Player Roles, Timed Phase
must be taken from the reserve, not from another card
or the board. ASSIGN
Exhaust this indicates that to use the card ability, Players can assign units to spaces on the board, such as
a player must exhaust the card by turning it 90 the base defense space, and to cards, such as missions or
clockwise. A card must be refreshed before a player can enemies.
use its exhaust ability again. When a player assigns a unit, he or she physically
Discard X salvage indicates that to use the card ability, moves that component to the corresponding space or
a player must discard the amount of salvage specified card.
by the card. Assigned units remain on the space or card they are
Related Links: Asset Card Anatomy, Assign, Exhausted, assigned to until the end of the resolution phase when
Player Roles, Refresh the app instructs players to return units to the reserve.
Related Links: Tasks/Rolling Dice, Units

[2] RULES REFERENCE

 3. The Squad Leader resolves the effects based on the
BASE DEFENSE results of his roll:
The Squad Leader is responsible for all effects relating to
For each success, he or she places one success token
base defense tasks.
on the enemy card.
Each enemy card in the base is a distinct task. If there are success tokens on the enemy equal to
ENEMY IN THE BASE! or greater than its health (the number in the upper
The Squad Leader draws the top card of the enemy deck corner of the card), the enemy is killed and its card is
and places it faceup on an empty enemy space in the base given to the Chief Scientist as salvage.
when instructed by the app. If a loss is rolled (the result of the alien die is less
than or equal to the current threat), each soldier
DEFEND THE BASE assigned to the enemy is killed and placed in the
The Squad Leader assigns soldiers to defend the base when recruitment pool.
instructed by the app. 4. If one or more soldiers assigned to the base are not
Soldiers assigned to the base are placed on the base killed, the Squad Leader may roll again, returning to
defense space. There is no limit to the number of step 1.
soldiers that can be assigned to the base defense space.
The Squad Leader may choose to resolve any base
RESOLVE BASE DEFENSE defense task any number of times and in any order.
The Squad Leader attacks each enemy in the order of his A base defense task does not need to be completed
choice when instructed by the app. Unlike other tasks, before the Squad Leader resolves a new one, and
threat does NOT reset to 1 between base defense tasks. he or she can go back and resolve a previous base
Follow these steps: defense task that remains incomplete.

1. The Squad Leader attacks an enemy by assigning The Squad Leader may assign the same soldiers or
soldiers from the base defense space to the skill icons different soldiers to the same base defense task or to
on any enemy card in the base. a different base defense task for each roll.
Damage to the base is tracked with the base damage
To be assigned to a skill icon, a soldier must have a token. After resolving all base defense tasks, the Squad
matching skill icon on its reserve card. Leader applies one damage to the base for each enemy in
The number of soldiers that can attack an enemy is the base that has not been killed. Then he or she discards
limited by the number of skill icons on that enemys each enemy in the base.
card. Only one soldier can be assigned to each skill When the base damage token advances to a red space
icon. on the damage track, the Squad Leader resolves the
2. The Squad Leader rolls one XCOM die for each soldier critical damage effect on the invasion plan card.
assigned to an enemy card. When the base damage token advances to the orange
He or she rolls one additional XCOM die for each space on the damage track, the XCOM base has been
soldier that is assigned to a specialized skill icon if overrun and the players lose the game!
that soldier has the same specialized skill icon on his Related Links: Assign, Elite, Enemy, Invasion Plan, Salvage,
or her reserve card. Soldiers, Squad Leader, Tasks/Rolling Dice
Any effect that allows the Squad Leader to reroll dice
may be used now.

RULES REFERENCE [3]

BUDGET & CREDITS RECRUIT SOLDIERS AND BUILD
Credit tokens represent XCOMs funding for all of its INTERCEPTORS
exploits. Each round the Commander gains credits from If there was a budget surplus, the Commander can recruit
the app to form his budget for the round. soldiers and build Interceptors from the recruitment pool
The Commander uses credits to pay for each unit assigned by spending the extra credits when instructed by the app.
to the board. Then all remaining credits are returned to the supply.

Each unit (Interceptor, satellite, scientist, and soldier) For each credit spent, the Commander can recruit one
costs one credit from the XCOM budget when it is soldier or build one Interceptor.
assigned to the board. The credits to pay for these The Commander can split credits between Interceptors
costs are not spent until the resolution phase. and soldiers.
XCOM BUDGET Recruited soldiers and Interceptors are placed on their
reserve cards and are immediately available for use.
The Commander gains the number of credits as indicated
by the app. Related Links: Commander, Interceptors, Panic, Units
Each continent in the red level of the panic track CENTRAL OFFICER
reduces the number of credits in the XCOM budget
each round. This reduction is calculated by the app. The Central Officer is responsible
for controlling the app and relaying
EMERGENCY FUNDING AVAILABLE instructions and information from the
The Commander may take any number of credits from the app to the other players.
Emergency Funding asset when instructed by the app. The Central Officer:
After they are removed from the card, these credits are Communicates the instructions provided by the app to
added to the XCOM budget and can be replaced only by the other players.
card effects. There is no limit to the number of credits Communicates forecasts provided by the app to the
that the Emergency Funding card can contain. other players. Whenever the red scanner button lights
AUDIT THE BUDGET up, the Central Officer can tap it to see a UFO forecast.
When the app instructs the Commander to audit the Can pause the current action.
budget, he or she spends one credit from the XCOM budget Spawns UFOs in orbit and continents when instructed
for each unit assigned to the board. by the app.
Units assigned to reserve, asset, or tech cards do not Moves UFOs from orbit to continents when instructed
count against the XCOM budget. by the app.
If the number of assigned units exceeds the Commanders Assigns satellites to the orbital defense task when
budget, there is a deficit. The Commander must increase instructed by the app.
panic in the highest panicked continent on the panic track
for each credit he or she is short.
The Central Officer resolves the orbital defense task
when instructed by the app.
If multiple continents are tied as the most panicked, Related Links: Assign, Communications Interface, Forecasts,
the Commander chooses one of them to increase.
Orbital Defense, Pause, Player Roles, Satellites, Tasks/Rolling
Continents that have fallen into panic cannot be
Dice, UFOs
increased and are not taken into account when
determining the continent with the highest panic level.
If a continent falls into panic and there is still a deficit
to account for, the Commander increases the new,
most-panicked continent on the panic track until the
deficit is made up.

[4] RULES REFERENCE

CHIEF SCIENTIST
The Chief Scientist is responsible for
researching alien technology and upgrading
the XCOM defense force.
The Chief Scientist:
Draws from the tech deck until he or she has six cards
in hand when instructed by the app.
Assigns tech and scientists to the three research spaces
when instructed by the app.
Resolves the three research tasks, left to right, when
instructed by the app.
Related Links: Assign, Player Roles, Research, Salvage,
Scientists, Tech

COMMANDER
The Commander is responsible for
formulating an overall strategy and
maintaining the XCOM defense forces
finances.
The Commander:
Gains credits when instructed by the app. He or she
uses these credits to track how much each player
spends.
Can take credits from the Emergency Funding asset
card when instructed by the app.
Assigns Interceptors to the global defense tasks when
instructed by the app.
Draws two crisis cards and chooses one to add to the
crisis pool.
Can recruit soldiers and build Interceptors when
instructed by the app.
Resolves all crisis cards in the crisis pool.
Resolves all global defense tasks in the order of his
choice when instructed by the app.
Related Links: Assign, Budget & Credits, Crises, Global
Defense, Interceptors, Panic, Player Roles

RULES REFERENCE [5]

 H. The Pause button. The Central Officer can tap this
COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE button to pause the timer if a player needs more
time to complete an action. The amount of time that
the game can be paused is finite on all but the easy
difficulty setting. The pause button contains its own
embedded timer which indicates how much pause time
the Central Officer has remaining.
Related Links: Actions (XCOM & Alien), Central Officer,
Forecasts, Pause, Scrambled Actions, Timed Phase

COMPONENT LIMITATIONS
There are a variety of tokens that represent budget, panic,
base damage, and other effects.
Elite tokens are limited by the number of included
tokens. There can never be more than four elite soldiers
at a time.
Credit and success tokens are not limited by the
number of included tokens. If players run out of
credit and/or success tokens, use another token as a
substitute.
Units are limited by the number of included tokens and
A. The initial XCOM budget. This is how many credits the plastic figures.
Commander gains at the beginning of the round. UFOs are limited by the number of included plastic
B. UFO scanner. When this lights up, the Central Officer figures. If all UFOs are on the board, ignore UFO spawns
can tap it to view a forecast of incoming UFO targets. until more UFOs are removed from the board and
The more UFOs there are in orbit, the fewer forecasts become available.
there are each round.
CRISES
C. The timer. This is a timer that indicates how much time
players have to perform the current action. Crisis cards represent catastrophic events caused by the
alien invasion. They are shuffled together to form the crisis
D. The current action. This displays the name of the deck during game setup.
action and the name and icon of the role responsible
for performing the action. During a game of XCOM, the CRISIS!
Central Officer can tap this action to pause the game When the app instructs the Commander to choose a crisis,
and view instructions about how to perform he or she draws the top two cards of the crisis deck, adds
that action. one faceup to the crisis pool, and discards the other.
E. The DONE button. After the current action is
completed, the Central Officer taps this button to
RESOLVE CRISES
proceed to the next action. When the app instructs the Commander to resolve the
crisis task, each crisis in the crisis pool is resolved from the
F. Task history. Here the Central Officer can view all of
top of the stack to the bottom.
the tasks for the round.
G. The Menu button. Tap this to bring up the Main
Each crisis card is discarded after it is resolved.
Discarded cards are placed on the bottom of their deck
Menu. Tapping this button will pause the game.
at the end of the resolution phase.
Pausing the game in this way will not subtract from
your pause time. Related Links: Assign, Commander, Crisis Card Anatomy

[6] RULES REFERENCE

CRISIS CARD ANATOMY ENEMY IN THE BASE!
When instructed by the app, the Squad Leader draws the
top card of the enemy deck and places it faceup on an
empty enemy space in the base.
He or she places each enemy on a separate space.
Related Links: Assign, Base Defense, Chief Scientist, Enemy
Card Anatomy, Mission, Salvage, Skill Icons, Squad Leader

ENEMY CARD ANATOMY

A. Rules Text
B. Flavor Text

ELITE
Elite tokens represent a soldiers training and experience.
The Commander can make a soldier elite by using the
Officer Training asset card.
The Squad Leader rolls one additional die when A. Health
resolving a task for each soldier with an elite token that B. Skill Icons
is assigned to that task. C. Title
If an elite soldier is killed, that soldier loses its elite D. Rules Text
status.
Related Links: Enemy, Skill Icons
The number of elite soldiers is limited by the number
of elite tokens. There cannot be more than four elite
soldiers at a time, and a new elite soldier cannot be
EXHAUSTED
made if all of the elite tokens are currently assigned to An exhausted satellite or scientist is flipped facedown and
soldiers. cannot be assigned to tasks or cards until refreshed.
Related Links: Soldiers, Squad Leader, Tasks/Rolling Dice An exhausted card is turned 90 clockwise and cannot be
used until refreshed.
ENEMY Satellites, scientists, assets, and tech are refreshed at the
Enemy cards represent the specific invading alien threats. end of the resolution phase when instructed by the app.
Certain enemy cards are shuffled together to form the Related Links: Assets, Refresh, Satellites, Scientists, Tech
enemy deck during game setup.
When there are success tokens on the enemy card equal to
or greater than its health, the enemy is killed.
When an enemy is killed, the Chief Scientist gains that
enemy card facedown as salvage.
When the Squad Leader assigns a mission to the mission
space, he or she draws and places one enemy card
facedown on each enemy space on that mission.

RULES REFERENCE [7]

FINAL MISSION RESOLVE GLOBAL DEFENSE
The final mission is on the back of the invasion plan card. The Commander resolves each global defense task in the
order of his choice when instructed by the app, following
The Squad Leader flips the invasion plan card to the side these steps:
containing the final mission when instructed by the app.
1. The Commander rolls one XCOM die for each
The final mission has a high chance of being unlocked Interceptor assigned to the task.
sooner for each mission the Squad Leader completes.
When the final mission is completed, the players win Any effects that allow the Commander to reroll dice
the game. may be used now.

Each final mission has special rules for each of its non- 2. The Commander resolves the effects based on his or
enemy tasks which increases its difficulty. her roll.

Follow all normal rules of mission resolution when For each success, he or she destroys one UFO in that
resolving the final mission. continent.
The Commander must spend one credit from the XCOM If a loss is rolled, each Interceptor assigned to the
budget for each soldier assigned to the final mission. task is destroyed and placed in the recruitment pool.
Remember that successes and losses are resolved
The Squad Leader can assign soldiers to the final mission
simultaneously, so Interceptors and UFOs can be
and the regular mission during the same round.
destroyed at the same time.
Related Links: Invasion Plan, Invasion Plan Card Anatomy,
3. If the Interceptors assigned to the task are not
Mission
defeated, the Commander may roll again, returning to
FORECASTS step 1.

Forecasts represent intelligence about the alien invasion. After resolving all global defense tasks, the Commander
increases panic in each continent by one for each UFO still
The Central Officer can tap the red scanner button to on that continent.
pick up UFO contacts early. These UFOs will be placed
on the board later in the round. Related Links: Assign, Commander, Interceptors, Loss,
Panic, Tasks/Rolling Dice, UFOs
Related Links: Central Officer, UFOs

GLOBAL DEFENSE INTERCEPTORS

Interceptors represent the aerial forces of the XCOM
The Commander is responsible for all effects relating to
defense force.
global defense tasks.
The six continents on the game board are distinct When not assigned to tasks or cards, Interceptors are
placed on their corresponding reserve card.
global defense tasks. Threat resets to 1 after each
global defense task. When an Interceptor is destroyed, it is placed in the
recruitment pool.
DEPLOY INTERCEPTORS
The Commander assigns Interceptors to the various
The Commander assigns up to three Interceptors to each continents when instructed by the app.
continent when instructed by the app. All Interceptors are
assigned during the same XCOM action.
The Commander may spend credits to build
Interceptors when instructed by the app, adding them
to their reserve.
Related Links: Assign, Chief Scientist, Commander, Global
Defense, Units

[8] RULES REFERENCE

INVASION PLAN LOSS
The invasion plan card represents the nature of the alien A loss occurs whenever the result of the alien die is less
invasion. One invasion plan is chosen by the app during than or equal to the threat during the resolution of a task.
game setup. A loss has the following consequences:
When the base damage token advances to a red space Soldiers assigned to the task are killed (placed in the
on the damage track, the Squad Leader resolves the recruitment pool).
critical damage effect on the invasion plan. Interceptors assigned to the task are destroyed (placed
The Squad Leader flips the invasion plan to the side in the recruitment pool).
with the final mission when instructed by the app. Scientists and satellites are exhausted (flipped over).
Related Links: Final Mission, Invasion Plan Card Anatomy Related Links: Base Defense, Global Defense, Mission,
Orbital Defense, Research, Threat
INVASION PLAN CARD ANATOMY
MISSION
Missions represent the exploits of the XCOM defense force.
Each mission has three separate tasks on it,
represented by icons or enemy spaces.
CHOOSE MISSION
When the app instructs the Squad Leader to choose a
mission, he or she draws two mission cards from the
mission deck and assigns one of them to the mission
space. The other mission is discarded.
A. Title When the Squad Leader assigns a mission to the
B. Critical Damage Effect mission space, he or she draws and places one enemy
card on each empty enemy space on that mission card.
FINAL MISSION CARD ANATOMY If there is already an active mission when this action
occurs, the Squad Leader can choose to keep the
previously chosen mission or replace it with a new one.
If the previously chosen mission is replaced, discard it
and return all soldiers assigned to it to their reserve. If
the previously chosen mission remains, both of the new
mission cards drawn are discarded.
DEPLOY SQUAD TO MISSION
The Squad Leader assigns up to four soldiers to the mission
when instructed by the app.
The Squad Leader flips each enemy on the mission
faceup before assigning soldiers to the mission.
A. Title
There cannot be more than four soldiers assigned to
B. Critical Damage Effect the mission.
C. Reward If a mission is not completed, the Squad Leader can
D. Mission Tasks (With Rules Text) assign more soldiers to it during the next round.
E. Enemy Tasks
Related Links: Base Defense, Final Mission, Invasion Plan,
Tasks/Rolling Dice

RULES REFERENCE [9]

RESOLVE MISSION MISSION CARD ANATOMY
The Squad Leader resolves the mission when instructed by
the app. Each mission has three separate tasks on it that
are completed from left to right. Unlike most other tasks,
threat does NOT reset to 1 between mission tasks. Follow
these steps to resolve the mission:
1. The Squad Leader assigns soldiers to the left most
incomplete task.
To be assigned to a skill icon, a soldier must have a
matching skill icon on its reserve card.
The number of soldiers that can attempt a task is
limited by the number of skill icons on the task. Only
one soldier can be assigned to each skill icon.
A. Title
2. The Squad Leader rolls one XCOM die for each soldier
B. Rewards
assigned to the task. Any effects that allow the Squad
Leader to reroll dice may be used now. C. Continent Icon
He or she rolls one additional XCOM die for each D. Enemy Tasks
soldier that is assigned to a specialized skill icon and E. Mission Tasks
has the same specialized icon on its reserve card.
If he or she rolls one or more successes on a non- ORBITAL DEFENSE
enemy task, that task is completed. The Central Officer is responsible for all effects related to
For each success rolled on an enemy task, he or she the orbital defense task.
places one success token on the enemy card.
DEPLOY SATELLITES
If there are success tokens on the enemy equal to or
greater than its health, the enemy is killed and the The Central Officer assigns up to three satellites to orbit
enemy card is given to the Chief Scientist as salvage. when instructed by the app.
If a loss is rolled, each soldier assigned to the task is RESOLVE ORBITAL DEFENSE
killed and placed in the recruitment pool. The Central Officer resolves the orbital defense task when
Completed tasks are marked with a success token to instructed by the app, following these steps:
track a players progress, and progress on a mission 1. The Central Officer rolls one XCOM die for each satellite
carries over from round to round. assigned to the task. Any effects that allow the Central
3. If one or more soldiers assigned to the mission are not Officer to reroll dice may be used now.
killed, the Squad Leader may roll again, returning to
step 1. For each success, he or she destroys one UFO in orbit.
Unlike most other tasks, threat does not reset to 1 If a loss is rolled, each satellite assigned to the task is
between mission tasks. exhausted (flipped over).
When a mission is completed, the Squad Leader 2. If the satellites assigned to the task are not exhausted,
resolves the missions two reward effects before the Central Officer may roll again, returning to step 1.
setting the mission card aside. After resolving the orbital defense task, for each UFO
Soldiers assigned to a completed mission immediately in orbit, increase panic in the continent with the
return to their reserve. lowest panic by one. If there is a tie, the Commander
If the mission is not completed, keep any success tokens chooses the continent in which panic increases.
and soldiers on it for the next round. Resolve each UFO one at a time.
Related Links: Assign, Enemy, Invasion Plan, Mission Card
Anatomy, Skill Icons, Soldiers, Squad Leader, Tasks/Rolling
Dice

[10] RULES REFERENCE

UFOS IN ORBIT PLAYER ROLES
The Central Officer inputs the number of UFOs in orbit Each player takes on a particular asymmetric role and has
when instructed by the app. certain responsibilities to go along with that role.
UFOs in orbit will move to other continents at the start The four roles are Central Officer, Chief Scientist,
of the next round. Commander, and Squad Leader.
UFOs left in orbit can also jam communications, When playing with four players, each player takes on a
changing the order that actions appear during the next single role.
round.
When there are fewer than four players, one or more
Related Links: Assign, Central Officer, Forecasts, Satellites, players take on multiple roles as decided by the group.
Tasks/Rolling Dice, UFOs
It is recommended to have one player be both the
PANIC Commander and the Chief Scientist and the other
player be the Central Officer and the Squad Leader in a
The panic track represents the worldwide panic being two-player game.
caused by the alien invasion.
In a three-player game, it is recommended that one
Each continent has its own panic token. Place these tokens player is both the Central Officer and the Commander.
on the spaces on the panic track indicated by the app
during setup. If a player is playing solo, he or she must be all four
roles!
There are three sections to the panic track: the yellow
section, the red section, and the orange space at the end Related Links: Central Officer, Chief Scientist, Commander,
of the track. Squad Leader

To increase panic in a continent, move its panic token PAUSE

one space on the panic track toward the orange space.
Pause time is a resource that is managed through the app.
To reduce panic in a continent, move its panic token Pause time is unlimited on the easy difficulty setting.
one space on the panic track away from the orange
space. The Central Officer can tap the Pause button to gain
extra time to resolve the current action.
When a continent reaches the orange space, it has fallen
into panic. Its panic level cannot be increased, and its Pause time is a limited resource on every difficulty
panic level can ONLY be reduced by mission effects (not except easy.
tech). For each XCOM action ended early, a small amount of
If two or more continents have fallen into panic when time is added to the Central Officers pause resource.
updating the panic levels in the app, the players lose the If an alien action is not completed before it hits 0, it will
game. drain pause time until it is marked as completed by the
If a continent has fallen into panic when updating the Central Officer.
panic levels in the app, all UFOs in that continent are Pause time not used during the round is added to the extra
added to orbit. time given at the end of the timed phase.
Related Links: Global Defense, Loss, Orbital Defense Related Links: Central Officer, Communications Interface

RULES REFERENCE [11]

REFRESH RESEARCH
Exhausted cards and tokens cannot be used until they are The three research spaces on the game board are separate
refreshed. research tasks. Research is used to gain the abilities of
Cards are refreshed by being turned 90 degrees tech cards.
counterclockwise. NEW TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE
Tokens are refreshed by turning them to their face-up When instructed by the app, the Chief Scientist draws
side. cards from the tech deck until he or she has six cards in
REFRESH UNITS AND CARDS hand.

Refresh all cards when instructed by the app. ASSIGN RESEARCH I, II, III
Refresh all tokens that are in their reserve (not on the The Chief Scientist assigns a tech card and up to three
board) when instructed by the app. scientists to each research task when instructed by the
Related Links: Exhausted app.
If there is already a tech assigned to a research task
from the last round, the Chief Scientist can choose
to leave it there or replace it. A replaced tech card is
discarded (create a space next to the tech deck for a
discard pile).
RESOLVE RESEARCH
The Chief Scientist resolves each research task from left to
right when instructed by the app, following these steps:
1. The Chief Scientist rolls one XCOM die for each scientist
assigned to the task.
Any effects that allow the Chief Scientist to reroll dice
may be used now.
For each success, he or she places one success token
on the tech.
If there are success tokens on the tech equal to or
greater than its research cost, the tech is researched.
A researched tech is given to the player role listed on
the card.
If a card is not researched, that card and any success
tokens on it remain on the board and the Chief
Scientist can attempt to research it again the next
round.
If the roll is a loss, each scientist assigned to the task
is exhausted.
2. If the scientists assigned to the task are not exhausted,
the Chief Scientist may roll again, returning to step 1.
Threat resets to 1 after each task.
Related Links: Assign, Chief Scientist, Exhausted, Scientists,
Tasks/Rolling Dice, Tech

[12] RULES REFERENCE

RESERVE CARD ANATOMY RETURN UNITS TO THEIR
RESERVE
When instructed by the app, all units assigned to a task or
placed on a card are returned to their reserve, except for
soldiers assigned to the mission.
Exhausted satellites and scientists are NOT refreshed. They
remain exhausted and cannot be used during the next
round.
Related Links: Reserve Card Anatomy, Units

ROUND OVERVIEW
A. Role Icon
B. Title
WAS A MISSION COMPLETED THIS
C. Card Type, Role & Rules Text
ROUND?
The app asks the Central Officer if a mission was
SOLDIER RESERVE CARD ANATOMY completed. Completing missions drives back the alien
invasion, and each one that is completed helps XCOM get
closer to unlocking the final mission.
Even if no missions are ever completed, the final mission
will eventually be unlocked by the app.
SUMMARY
The app asks the Central Officer to input the panic level of
each continent. Move each continent into the three colored
columns based on its current space on the panic track.
Each continent that increases into the red has a chance to
A. Role Icon reduce the amount of funding that XCOM receives during
B. Title the next round.
C. Card Type, Role & Rules Text Related Links: Mission, Panic
D. Skill Icons
SALVAGE
Related Links: Player Roles, Return Units To Their Reserve,
When an enemy is defeated, the Chief Scientist gains that
Units
card facedown as salvage.
RESOLUTION PHASE Salvage can be discarded to trigger the abilities on several
different asset and tech cards.
The resolution phase occurs after the timed phase each
round. Discarded salvage is discarded face up like other enemy
cards.
During the resolution phase, the app provides a series
of steps for the players to resolve. Related Links: Assign, Chief Scientist, Enemy, Research,
Scientists
Assets with the H symbol can be used any time during
the resolution phase.
Related Links: Timed Phase

RULES REFERENCE [13]

SATELLITES SCRAMBLED ACTIONS
Satellites represent the XCOM defense forces orbital XCOM actions that appear in yellow during the timed
communications and intelligence gathering. phase have been scrambled by the aliens. This means that
When not assigned to tasks or cards, satellites are the action has appeared at a different time than normal
placed on the satellites reserve. during the round.

When a satellite is exhausted, it is flipped facedown. The more UFOs left in orbit, the more likely actions are
It cannot be assigned to a task or card until it is to be scrambled.
refreshed. Related Links: Actions (XCOM & Alien), Communications
The Central Officer assigns satellites to the orbital Interface
defense task when instructed by the app.
SKILL ICONS
The Central Officer rolls one XCOM die for each satellite
assigned to orbital defense when instructed by the app. There are four different skill icons. Each soldier type has
two skill icons that can be used to match the icons on
Related Links: Assign, Central Officer, Exhausted, Orbital enemy cards and mission tasks.
Defense, Units

SCIENTISTS
Scientists represent XCOMs research and development and
engineering staff.
When not assigned to tasks or cards, scientists are A. Positioning
placed on the scientist reserve. B. Critical
When a scientist is exhausted, it is flipped facedown. C. Firepower
It cannot be assigned to a task or card until it is
refreshed. D. Teamwork

The Chief Scientist assigns scientists to the three Gold bordered skill icons are SPECIALIZED. If a soldier is
research tasks when instructed by the app. assigned to a specialized skill icon and has a matching
specialized skill icon on its reserve card, the Squad Leader
The Chief Scientist rolls one XCOM die for each scientist rolls one additional XCOM dice during the resolution of
assigned to a research task when instructed by the app. that task.
Related Links: Assign, Chief Scientist, Exhausted, Research, Related Links: Mission, Soldiers, Squad Leader
Units

[14] RULES REFERENCE

SOLDIERS SQUAD LEADER
Soldiers represent XCOMs ground forces. The Squad Leader is responsible for
There are four types of soldiers: assault, heavy, sniper, and controlling XCOMs ground forces,
support. defending the XCOM base, and completing
missions.
The Squad Leader:
Assigns soldiers to the base defense space and the
mission card when instructed by the app.
Places enemy cards on the base when instructed by the
app.
Chooses a mission when instructed by the app. If a new
mission is chosen, enemy cards are placed facedown on
A. Assault that mission.
B. Heavy Resolves the base defense and mission tasks when
instructed by the app.
C. Sniper
Related Links: Assign, Base Defense, Final Mission, Mission,
D. Support Player Roles, Soldiers
Each soldier type has two skill icons that can be used to
match the icons on enemy cards and mission tasks. SYMBOLS
When not assigned to tasks or cards, soldiers are placed on Symbols are used as shorthand on cards to refer to units
their respective reserves. and tokens.
Each soldier has two skill icons on its reserve. E: Success token
Each soldier has one specialized skill icon on its reserve, G: Interceptor
indicated by the gold frame. I: Scientist
When a soldier is killed, it is placed in the recruitment pool. J: Credit
The Squad Leader assigns up to four soldiers to the mission K: Satellite
card and any number of soldiers to the base defense space
when instructed by the app. H: Resolution phase

The Commander may recruit one soldier for each unspent A: Timed phase
credit when instructed by the app.
Recruited soldiers are immediately added to the soldier
reserve card.
Related Links: Assign, Base Defense, Mission, Reserve Card
Anatomy, Skill Icons, Squad Leader, Units

RULES REFERENCE [15]

TASKS/ROLLING DICE TECH
There are many different tasks in the game. Each task is Tech cards represent alien and XCOM technologies used by
associated with a specific type of unit that is assigned to a the XCOM defense force. Tech cards are shuffled together
specific space on the board. to form the tech deck during game setup.
Whenever a player rolls dice, he or she rolls the alien die Each tech indicates which player role the card is given to.
and a number of XCOM dice equal to the number of units Each tech has a timing clause and symbol that indicates
assigned to the task. If the result of the alien die is less during which phase its ability can be used.
than or equal to threat, the roll is a LOSS and the units
assigned to that task are exhausted or destroyed. A abilities can be used at any time during the timed
phase.
Each XCOM die has two success symbols on it (E).
Successes have different effects depending on the task. H abilities can be used at any time during the
resolution phase.
XCOM dice are not limited by the four included in the
game, and may be used multiple times per roll if the Each tech may use a number of symbols as shorthand.
number of dice needed is greater than four. Related Links: Chief Scientist, Research, Symbols, Tech Card
A player cannot roll an additional die if he or she is not Anatomy
already rolling at least one die.
TECH CARD ANATOMY
A player can choose to not roll any dice on a task, even
if there are units assigned to it. Any effects related to
the task still resolve (e.g. enemies dealing damage to
the base, UFOs causing panic).
Tech cards can be used before the dice results are
applied, but the dice results must still be applied.
Here is the complete list of tasks: research I, research II,
and research III; orbital defense; each continent during
global defense; each enemy in the base, each of the three
parts of the mission.
An ENEMY TASK is any time an enemy is being attacked,
whether or not that enemy is in the base or on the
mission.
Units assigned to cards are not assigned to a task and do
not cost credits from the XCOM budget.
Related Links: Base Defense, Global Defense, Mission,
Orbital Defense, Research, Threat A. Research Cost
B. Title
C. Phase Icon
D. Card Type & Role
E. Rules Text
Related Links: Player Roles, Resolution Phase, Tech, Timed
Phase

[16] RULES REFERENCE

THREAT UFOS DETECTED!
Threat tracks the level of alien resistance to each XCOM The Central Officer spawns UFOs on the six continents and
action. The Central Officer is responsible for tracking orbit when instructed by the app.
threat. To spawn a UFO, the Central Officer takes a UFO from
During the first roll on a task, threat is at 1. the invasion force and places it in the indicated space.
If the result of the alien die is less than or equal to threat, If there are no UFOs left in the invasion force, ignore
the roll is a loss and the units assigned to that task are the UFO spawn.
exhausted or destroyed. The Central Officer and Commander assign satellites and
After a rolls effects are applied, threat automatically Interceptors to destroy UFOs on the board.
increases by one (to a maximum of five), making it more UFOs that are not destroyed cause panic.
likely to roll a loss. Related Links: Central Officer, Commander,
Threat cannot increase above 5. Players can still Communications Interface, Global Defense, Orbital
push and roll again at threat 5, until all units are Defense, Panic
destroyed/exhausted or until the players wishes to stop.
Related Links: Tasks/Rolling Dice UNITS
There are four different units in the game: Interceptors,
TIMED PHASE satellites, scientists, and soldiers.
Each round starts with the timed phase. During the timed Players assign units in their reserve to the game board
phase, the app provides a list of actions to be performed when instructed by the app.
by the players. The Commander must spend one credit from his or her
END OF ROUND budget for each unit assigned to a task when instructed
by the app.
At the end of the timed phase, any remaining pause time
can be used as a final chance to use asset and tech cards Related Links: Budget & Credits, Interceptors, Satellites,
during this phase. The Central Officer can end the timed Soldiers
phase early by tapping the Done button.
Related Links: Actions (XCOM & Alien), Resolution Phase
WIN/LOSS CONDITIONS
The app tracks victory conditions and will inform players
UFOS when the game is over.
UFOs represent the alien threat invading Earth. The players win the game if they complete the final
mission. The final mission is on the back of the invasion
Keep UFOs that have not been spawned off the board, plan.
but near the Central Officer. These UFOs are known as
the invasion force. The Squad Leader flips the invasion plan to its final
mission side when instructed by the app.
When a UFO is destroyed, it is removed from the board
and added back to the invasion force. A destroyed UFO The players lose the game if two continents fall into panic
can be spawned again when instructed by the app. by advancing into the orange space on the panic track.
The players lose the game if the base damage token
UFOS DESCENDING FROM ORBIT! advances into the orange space on the base damage track.
The Central Officer moves the number of UFOs shown from
Related Links: Base Defense, Final Mission, Global Defense,
Orbit to the indicated space(s).
Invasion Plan, Mission, Orbital Defense, Panic

RULES REFERENCE [17]