The ADVENT Shieldbearer is an ADVENT enemy encountered in XCOM 2. They serve as support troops for both ADVENT and Aliens.
“ | Our resistance contacts had heard rumors ADVENT might be rolling out a heavy infantry armor system. Looks pretty tough. | ” |
–Central upon encountering the first Shieldbearer. |
Description[]
Shieldbearers wear a white and black suit of what appears to be powered armor with a series of silver sockets on the back and a bundle of wires running from the back of the torso to the arms. The suit is marked with red lights on the legs and elbows. Shieldbearer helmets are large with two pieces of plating on the sides of the helmet. Covering the shoulders of the armor is the bulky white pauldrons, which are larger than those of all other ADVENT units. The most notable feature of these pauldrons is the large red ADVENT logo stamped on the left pauldron, which is shaped like a rectangle. Like all ADVENT soldiers, the only visible human feature is the Shieldbearer's mouth.
Deployment[]
They are first deployed in mid-May, appearing at the same time as ADVENT Advanced Officers. As time goes on, they receive one upgrade: ADVENT Elite Shieldbearers are deployed in mid-July, appearing at the same time as ADVENT Elite Officers.
Abilities[]
- Energy Shield: The ADVENT Shieldbearer deploys its shield generator, which confers a 3 (5 for Elites) HP shield which lasts for 3 turns (all shields collapse even if the ADVENT Shieldbearer is alive) to the ADVENT Shieldbearer and all nearby allies in a 10 tile radius (15 meters). Limited to one use. Shields will instantly collapse when hit by EMP Grenades, EMP Bombs and Bluescreen Rounds. A unit's shields receive damage before its armor and health do, so shredding attacks must remove the entire shield before they can impact the armor. All shielded units gain an individual shield, but if the ADVENT Shieldbearer should die, all shields created by it will go down.
Behavior[]
Like the ADVENT Stun Lancer preferring to use their lance rather than their rifle, Shieldbearers will almost always use their Energy Shield (after getting into cover) instead of shooting at an XCOM unit. But if there were no other ADVENT or alien allies nearby, they will most likely attack the XCOM soldier instead of using their shield for themselves.
Tips[]
- Depending on the situation it might be better taking out the ADVENT Shieldbearer rather than taking down several other shields.
- Alternatively, if the squad can kill all enemies around the Shieldbearer before they use Energy Shield, they should do so - a Shield without a metaphorical "sword" is mostly neutralized.
- Using a Psi Operative's Domination ability (or getting lucky with Insanity) to mind control a Shieldbearer before it can activate its Energy Shield both denies the enemy this defense and can allow the shield to be used to protect the XCOM squad, allowing for more reckless and risky tactics.
See Also[]
XCOM 2 Enemies | |
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ADVENT | ADVENT Officer • ADVENT General • ADVENT MECs • ADVENT Purifier • ADVENT Priest • ADVENT Shieldbearer • ADVENT Stun Lancer • ADVENT Trooper • ADVENT Turret |
Aliens | Andromedon • Archon • Avatar • Berserker • Chryssalid • Codex • Faceless • Gatekeeper • Muton • Sectoid • Sectopod • Spectre • Viper |
Bosses | Archon King • Berserker Queen • Viper King • Julian • The Assassin • The Hunter • The Warlock |
Other | Psi Zombie • The Lost |