In XCOM 2, survivability and efficiency in combat often hinge on how well you equip your soldiers for the battlefield. Among the various ammo upgrades available, Talon Rounds stand out as a powerful choice for soldiers who rely on critical hits to maximize their damage output. These specialized rounds offer a flat boost to crit chance and additional crit damage, making them especially valuable for sharpshooters, rangers, and anyone focusing on aggressive offense. Understanding how and when to use Talon Rounds can turn good soldiers into elite damage dealers and help you overcome some of the game’s most dangerous threats.
What Are Talon Rounds?
Overview and In-Game Description
Talon Rounds are a type of specialized ammo in XCOM 2. Once equipped, they provide two key bonuses:
- +10% critical hit chance to all attacks made with conventional weapons.
- +1 bonus critical hit damage when a crit occurs.
These bonuses make Talon Rounds ideal for soldiers who already have a high base critical chance or access to abilities that guarantee or increase critical hit potential. They are particularly effective in ambush situations or when dealing with enemies who have high health and armor.
How to Acquire Talon Rounds
To craft Talon Rounds, you need to build the Proving Ground facility in your Avenger ship. After that, the project can be queued at the cost of supplies and time. Like other experimental ammo types, the project is randomized unless you use the Advanced Explosives upgrade from the Resistance Ring, which allows targeted projects.
Best Classes to Use Talon Rounds
Sharpshooter (Gunslinger Build)
The Gunslinger path for Sharpshooters benefits greatly from Talon Rounds. With abilities like Quickdraw, Lightning Hands, and Fan Fire, the Gunslinger can shoot multiple times in a single turn. Every shot benefits from the increased crit chance, and the extra crit damage can finish off even elite enemies. Since pistols have naturally high aim and are used frequently in quick bursts, Talon Rounds stack well with this style.
Ranger (Assault Focus)
Rangers who get up close and personal with Shotguns love Talon Rounds. Shotguns already have a high crit chance at close range, and skills like Run and Gun, Rapid Fire, and Reaper turn these soldiers into melee-range powerhouses. Talon Rounds push that crit potential even further, letting Rangers regularly eliminate high-value targets in one move.
Specialist (Combat Hacker or Combat Medic)
Though not the primary user of Talon Rounds, Specialists can still benefit, especially if you lean into overwatch-heavy builds or lean on standard rifles in fights. However, they tend to perform better with other utility-based upgrades like Bluescreen Rounds for robotic enemies.
Skirmisher (Mid-Range Combatants)
Skirmishers wield their Bullpup rifles in a very aggressive, mobile way. Talon Rounds can increase their kill potential when flanking enemies, especially when combined with Reflex and Justice to maintain offensive momentum.
Reaper (Selective Use)
Reapers typically favor stealth and precision over crit chance, but if you’re using Elena in a more aggressive build or when stealth is no longer a factor, Talon Rounds can offer her extra burst potential. Still, most players opt for Dragon or Tracer Rounds for utility instead.
Strategic Value of Talon Rounds
Early to Mid-Game Power Spike
When you’re still dealing with Advent Troopers, Stun Lancers, and Sectoids, Talon Rounds give your team a powerful offensive edge. With low armor and health pools, these enemies can often be taken down in one well-placed critical hit. This helps you conserve actions and minimize risk during encounters.
Synergy with Weapon Upgrades
Combining Talon Rounds with weapon mods like Laser Sight or Hair Trigger can significantly amplify the damage potential of a soldier. Laser Sights increase crit chance based on proximity, which pairs beautifully with Rangers and Skirmishers. Superior Laser Sights plus Talon Rounds can easily push critical hit chances above 80% at close range.
Ideal Situations
- Ambush setups against groups of Advent soldiers.
- Chained attacks like Reaper, Fan Fire, or Rapid Fire.
- When engaging high-value targets like Sectopods, Gatekeepers, or the Chosen.
Best Missions to Equip Talon Rounds
Chosen Stronghold Assaults
These missions often involve prolonged fights against strong enemies. Having soldiers equipped with Talon Rounds ensures that every shot counts. Crit-focused Rangers and Sharpshooters can eliminate the Chosen faster and reduce overall mission danger.
Retaliation Missions
When saving civilians, you need to eliminate enemies quickly. Talon Rounds support aggressive plays where taking out aliens in one turn prevents them from harming non-combatants.
Supply Raids and Guerrilla Ops
During raids, you’re often racing against timers or enemy reinforcements. Talon Rounds give you the firepower to win these missions before things spiral out of control.
How to Use Talon Rounds Effectively
Focus on Positioning
Because crit chance is affected by range and line of sight, Talon Rounds are best when paired with good flanking tactics. Always seek to attack from the sides or behind enemies, especially with Rangers and Skirmishers.
Pair With Crit-Based Abilities
- Reaper (Ranger ability): Makes consecutive kills possible. Talon Rounds increase the likelihood that every hit is lethal.
- Fan Fire (Sharpshooter ability): Multiple shots in one turn can each crit, meaning a high crit build can wipe a target completely.
- Rapid Fire: Two consecutive shots with crit potential, ideal for high-damage finishes.
Crit Mods Stack
Don’t forget that you can combine Talon Rounds with PCS (Personal Combat Sims) that increase crit chance, such as Perception. With the right build, your soldier can achieve nearly guaranteed critical hits, especially in flanking or close-range conditions.
Comparing Talon Rounds to Other Ammo Types
Dragon Rounds
Deals burn damage over time. Great for enemies vulnerable to fire, but less useful against robots or immune enemies. Talon Rounds are better for pure burst damage.
Bluescreen Rounds
Provides massive bonus damage against robotic enemies like MECs or Sectopods. If your mission has many mechanical targets, Bluescreen may be a better fit than Talon.
Tracer Rounds
Increases aim by +10. Useful for rookies or soldiers with lower base accuracy. However, for experienced units with high aim and crit potential, Talon Rounds are superior in damage output.
AP Rounds
Ignores enemy armor. If you’re facing heavily armored enemies, AP Rounds might outperform Talon Rounds in raw damage. But Talon still holds its own through critical damage regardless of armor.
Talon Rounds are a fantastic addition to your squad’s arsenal in XCOM 2, offering a critical edge literally on the battlefield. Whether you equip them on Rangers who charge into the fray or Gunslingers who pepper enemies with precision shots, the extra crit chance and damage they provide often make the difference between a clean kill and a lingering threat. While not ideal for every mission type or soldier class, when used strategically, Talon Rounds amplify your offensive power and support aggressive tactics. In a game where every shot counts, they’re one of the best experimental ammo choices you can make.