Dark Events are a game mechanic in the single player campaign of XCOM 2 that represents the aliens' progress toward completion of their Avatar Project or counter-insurgency activities efforts aimed at disrupting XCOM's activities.
Usually the aliens can be working towards up to 3 Dark Events, each with an individual timer [explanation needed]. However, a Chosen can plan to initiate an additional - 4th - Dark Event, which can be countered by a Covert Action of a corresponding Resistance Faction (if such covert action is available). Which Dark Events are currently active can be viewed on the global map under the Dark Events button at the top, along with estimated timers until next Avatar facility construction and next Resistance Strike crackdown.
Dark Events can be countered by Guerilla Ops, of which only one is offered per month. Choosing which ones you will have to let go and which one you can't stand seeing fire can be just as important as the reward offered for each individual Guerilla Op. However, the Gang Warfare Resistance Rumor provides opportunity to launch another Guerilla Op upon completing the scanning, however, there is no choice of what Dark Event can be countered, and the mission location will be the same as the scanning location (nevertheless, it is possible to know/recall what Dark Event would be countered upon completing the mission, if the Guerrilla Ops mission selection was available prior)[explanation needed]. If 2 out of 3 Dark Events are countered in the current month, the regular amount of Dark Events will appear in the following month.
Upcoming Dark Events[]
After each monthly debriefing, the commander is informed about Dark Events currently being prepared. If an event has successfully been triggered, it will be replaced with a Hidden Event in the upcoming month. The commander is given a chance to invest 20-30 Intel to reveal the Hidden Event type (the cost can be paid at any point until the event is set in motion; the Intel cost is subject to any active Intel-cost penalties).
| Dark Event | Description | Quote | Effect | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Alien scientists make great strides on the Avatar project, instantly adding # to the progress meter. | "I'm afraid they are not just experimenting anymore. They are excelling."
- Dr. Tygan |
Adds # of progress to the Avatar Project | |
 |
Alien scientists make a huge amount of progress on the Avatar project, instantly adding # to the progress meter. | "The level of efficiency at which our enemies are able to operate is truly terrifying."
- Dr. Tygan |
Adds # of progress to the Avatar Project | |
 |
A UFO hunts the Avenger. | "If they keep imprisoning and torturing people, eventually someone's gonna talk."
- Chief Engineer Shen |
Launches a UFO to hunt XCOM | |
 |
ADVENT cracks down on Resistance recruitment, increasing the cost of recruits by #% for a month. | "XCOM is nothing without the fighting spirit of willing men and women."
- Central Officer Bradford |
Increases the cost of recruits by #% for a month | 1 month |
 |
ADVENT stifles the movement of Resistance resources, decreasing the supplies of the next supply drop by #%. | "Looks like ADVENT isn't content to just sit behind their city walls anymore."
- Central Officer Bradford |
Decreases the supplies given at the next Resistance supply drop by #% | |
 |
ADVENT invests in improving their battle gear, adding armor to some of their soldiers in the field for a month. | "ADVENT scientists seem to have taken note of our own soldiers' advances and strive not to be outdone."
- Dr. Tygan |
Gives ADVENT units extra armor. | 1 month |
 |
The Aliens increase the strength of their encryption, increasing all intel costs by #% for a month. | "The Aliens have come to realize the power of information and seek to safeguard it from prying eyes."
- Dr. Tygan |
Increases all intel costs by #% | 1 month |
 |
The Aliens find a mole within the Resistance, reducing the Retaliation counter by #. | "What do you do when the people you're trying to protect, that my dad died to protect, turn against you?"
- Chief Engineer Shen |
Reduces the retaliation counter by # | |
 |
The Aliens step up their construction efforts, reducing the Alien Facility counter by #. | "If the aliens go any faster, well... this whole thing could get out of hand pretty quickly."
- Chief Engineer Shen |
Reduces the Alien Facility counter by # | |
 |
The Aliens hide in ambush among the populace, placing hidden Faceless aliens on most missions for a month. | "It all used to be so simple... See your enemy. Know your enemy. Shoot your enemy."
- Central Officer Bradford |
Places hidden Faceless aliens on each mission | 1 month |
 |
The Aliens seek to overrun XCOM, placing extra Chryssalids on most missions for a month. | "All the threats we face are fiendish in their own right, but these... these creatures are truly the stuff of nightmares."
- Dr. Tygan |
Places extra Chryssalids on each mission | 1 month |
 |
The Aliens improve their threat response procedures, guaranteeing reinforcements on all Guerrilla Ops for a month. | "The last thing we need is more ADVENT dropping in on top of us."
- Central Officer Bradford |
Guarantees reinforcements on all Guerrilla Ops. | 1 month |
 |
The Aliens are on high alert, making it harder for XCOM to catch them unaware. | "Things are going to get a lot tougher if we can't even sneak up on the bastards."
- Central Officer Bradford |
Increases detection radii of all enemies | |
 |
The Aliens try to snuff out XCOM through brute strength, adding more enemies to every mission for a month. | "We were already outnumbered. Now it's worse."
- Central Officer Bradford |
Increases number of enemies on each mission for a month | 1 month |
 |
ADVENT incorporates Viper poison into their weaponry, giving some ADVENT soldiers poisonous rounds for a month. | "It takes all we have to keep up with enemy weaponry as it is, without them causing our troops to asphyxiate."
- Dr. Tygan |
ADVENT are equipped with poisonous rounds | 1 month |
| War of the Chosen exclusive Dark Events | ||||
 |
The Aliens scramble the Avenger's radio signals, greatly increasing all scanning times for six weeks. | "They're hitting us with massive amounts of interference, and they're not being subtle about it."
- Chief Engineer Shen |
Scanning times are greatly increased. | 6 weeks |
 |
The Chosen double their efforts to hunt the Commander, seeking to capture XCOM soldiers at every opportunity. | "The Chosen are getting more aggressive about taking our people captive, maybe it's time we restarted our own interrogation program."
- Central Officer Bradford |
The Chosen always attempt to capture soldiers. | |
 |
Some ADVENT soldiers are equipped with rounds that cause the "Bleeding" status effect. | "I guess I should get started on a few more Medikits."
- Chief Engineer Shen |
Some ADVENT soldiers are equipped with rounds that cause the "Bleeding" status effect. | |
 |
Overwatch shots will always miss ADVENT Troopers. | "My memory may be fuzzy, but do they seem a little faster to you?"
- Central Officer Bradford |
Overwatch shots will always miss ADVENT Troopers. | |
 |
ADVENT Troopers will carry more explosives. | "Dr. Vahlen sure wouldn't be happy about ADVENT's reckless use of explosives."
- Central Officer Bradford |
ADVENT Troopers will carry more explosives. | |
 |
ADVENT units have a chance to enter overwatch after being revealed. | "Something's got them spooked, they're even jumpier than usual."
- Central Officer Bradford |
ADVENT units have a chance to enter overwatch after being revealed. | |
 |
Missed shots on ADVENT Officers and Priests will trigger return fire. | "Sounds like ADVENT's upper echelon is tired of us taking potshots at 'em. Try not to miss."
- Central Officer Bradford |
Missed shots on ADVENT Officers and Priests will trigger return fire. | |
 |
ADVENT Stun Lancers have a chance to move after performing a melee attack. | "The Chosen's tactics are beginning to influence the Elders' other forces. Perhaps in the same way the Commander once did."
- Dr. Tygan |
ADVENT Stun Lancers have a chance to move after performing a melee attack. | |
 |
All ADVENT soldiers are completely immune to environmental hazards like poison, fire, and ice. | "So ADVENT has an armored hazard suit? I should probably look into that."
- Chief Engineer Shen |
All ADVENT soldiers are completely immune to environmental hazards like poison, fire, and ice. | |
 |
Some ADVENT troops will begin carrying blinding grenades. | "No, your sunglasses won't protect your eyes from the flash."
- Chief Engineer Shen |
Some ADVENT troops will begin carrying blinding grenades. | |
 |
All ADVENT soldiers now have a chance to reanimate as Psionic zombies after they die. | "Even in death, their control chips leave them susceptible to the power of Psionics."
- Dr. Tygan |
All ADVENT soldiers now have a chance to reanimate as Psionic zombies after they die. | |
 |
The Black Market is closed for 6 weeks. | "Word is the Black Market's gone underground for a while... real underground."
- Central Officer Bradford |
The Black Market is closed for 6 weeks. | 6 weeks |
 |
XCOM will not be concealed at the start of missions. | "ADVENT is stepping up their sweeps, doesn't look like we'll be sneaking in any time soon."
- Central Officer Bradford |
XCOM will not be concealed at the start of missions. | |
 |
A Lost swarm may occur on any mission. | "For years humanity was entertained by colorful stories of aliens and zombies. Not so humorous anymore, is it?"
- Dr. Tygan |
A Lost swarm may occur on any mission. | |
 |
Enemy tech and Psionic defense are doubled. | "They're running some sort of new security protocol, it's a lot like the Psionic encryption we saw used in the Codex."
- Chief Engineer Shen |
Enemy tech and Psionic defense are doubled. | |
 |
XCOM soldiers will suffer greater losses to their will in combat. | "Looks like ADVENT is doubling up their propaganda effort, they're probably not happy about the stuff we've been putting out lately."
- Chief Engineer Shen |
XCOM soldiers will suffer greater losses to their will in combat. | |
 |
There is a risk of ambush on all Covert Actions. | "ADVENT has their goons hiding in every bush from here to the furthest city center. They must really be getting worried about the strength of our alliance."
- Central Officer Bradford |
There is a risk of ambush on all Covert Actions. | |
 |
There is a risk of capture on all Covert Actions. | "ADVENT will use any means of extracting information from our soldiers; the moral and ethical concerns of humanity are entirely lost on those under the Elders' spell."
- Dr. Tygan |
There is a risk of capture on all Covert Actions. | |
 |
The Chosen no longer suffer from any weaknesses. | "Just as quickly as we come to understand the vulnerabilities of these Chosen, the Elders' move to make our efforts futile."
- Dr. Tygan |
The Chosen no longer suffer from any weaknesses. | |
 |
The Chosen are much more likely to appear in combat. | "The Chosen were persistent before, but now it's just getting ridiculous."
- Chief Engineer Shen |
The Chosen are much more likely to appear in combat. | |
 |
When any Chosen gains information about XCOM, a portion is passed along to the Assassin as well. | "Sibling rivalry or not, the Chosen aren't going to do us any favors if it means impressing their masters."
- Central Officer Bradford |
When any Chosen gains information about XCOM, a portion is passed along to the Assassin as well. | |
 |
When any Chosen gains information about XCOM, a portion is passed along to the Hunter as well. | "Sibling rivalry or not, the Chosen aren't going to do us any favors if it means impressing their masters."
- Central Officer Bradford |
When any Chosen gains information about XCOM, a portion is passed along to the Hunter as well. | |
 |
When any Chosen gains information about XCOM, a portion is passed along to the Warlock as well. | "Sibling rivalry or not, the Chosen aren't going to do us any favors if it means impressing their masters."
- Central Officer Bradford |
When any Chosen gains information about XCOM, a portion is passed along to the Warlock as well. | |