The best XCOM 2 mods start with two tools that almost every other mod leans on, the X2WOTCCommunityHighlander and the community’s Alternative Mod Launcher (AML), and build out from there into speed fixes, better tactical information, new soldier classes and full campaign overhauls like Long War of the Chosen and Covert Infiltration. The 30 below are all Steam Workshop mods for XCOM 2 with the War of the Chosen expansion, grouped by what they change.
Every mod was checked against its own Steam Workshop page on September 21, 2026, including its last update date and the mods it lists as required. “Current version” here means War of the Chosen on PC, which Firaxis has not patched in years, so the mods below do not break from game updates the way mods do in newer games. The standard setup is simple: install AML from its official GitHub releases page and launch the game through it instead of the 2K launcher, then subscribe to the Highlander before anything else. AML flags missing requirements and class conflicts before you load a save, which is why nearly every mod page below assumes you use it.
Essentials: The Mods Everything Else Needs
1. X2WOTCCommunityHighlander
The Highlander replaces a large part of the game’s code so other mods can hook into it without fighting each other, and it fixes a long list of bugs along the way. On its own it does not change how the game plays. With more than 800,000 subscribers it is the most used War of the Chosen mod on the Workshop, and version 1.31.0 was uploaded in March 2026. Its page says you should see its name and version in the lower right of the main menu once it is running. If you own the Alien Hunters DLC, its page asks you to add the separate Alien Hunters Highlander plugin too. Creator: X2CommunityCore. Download: X2WOTCCommunityHighlander on Steam Workshop.
2. Mod Config Menu
Mod Config Menu (MCM) is a shared settings screen that other mods plug into, so you can change their options in game instead of editing config files. Plenty of mods on this list require it, including Long War of the Chosen and Covert Infiltration. It was last updated in May 2020, and its author notes that the final update fixed a bug where some mods failed to save their settings. Creator: guby. Download: Mod Config Menu on Steam Workshop.
3. robojumper’s Squad Select
A squad select screen rebuilt from scratch that handles any number of soldiers, shows health, abilities, stats, armor and equipment at a glance, and is fully controller compatible. It includes its own squad size setting, which is why so many overhauls require it. Its page warns about one known issue: do not click the Geoscape shortcut on armory screens opened from squad select, because it can lock the game up. Last updated November 2021. Creator: robojumper. Download: robojumper’s Squad Select on Steam Workshop.
4. Better Second Wave Mod Support
A small framework that lets several mods add their own Second Wave options without clashing over the same menu text, and allows some options to be changed mid campaign. It adds no options by itself. You install it because big mods need it: both Long War of the Chosen and Covert Infiltration list it as required. Its last update was in 2018, and it still sits among the Workshop’s most subscribed War of the Chosen mods. Creator: -bg-. Download: Better Second Wave Mod Support on Steam Workshop.
5. Community Promotion Screen
This replaces the standard promotion screen with a reworked version of the Faction Hero promotion screen that War of the Chosen introduced, so you can see a soldier’s whole ability tree at once. It adds MCM support and an optional ability tagging feature for planning builds ahead of time. Long War of the Chosen requires it. Its page lists Musashi’s RPG Overhaul as incompatible, since that mod brings its own promotion screen. Creator: X2CommunityCore. Download: Community Promotion Screen on Steam Workshop.
Speed and Quality of Life
6. Stop Wasting My Time
Removes the one to two second pauses after shots, kills, grenades and moving into cover, cuts enemies pointing at nothing, and drops some unskippable Bradford warnings. The Avenger also flies faster across the globe. Every change is cosmetic, per its page, so it will not affect balance. It has not needed an update since 2017, and with over 600,000 subscribers it is one of the most installed mods in the game. Creator: BlueRaja. Download: Stop Wasting My Time on Steam Workshop.
7. Instant Avenger Menus
The same author’s companion to Stop Wasting My Time, built for the base of operations instead of the battlefield. Moving between Avenger rooms becomes instant, the hologlobe dissolve animation is gone, Avatar Project updates barely pause, and loadout customization responds immediately. Its page says the gain is biggest on lower frame rates and that it is fully compatible with Stop Wasting My Time. Creator: BlueRaja. Download: Instant Avenger Menus on Steam Workshop.
8. Evac All
Adds a single action that evacuates every soldier standing in the evac zone at once, instead of clicking through each one. It is one of the simplest mods on this list and one of the most popular, with more than 570,000 subscribers. Its author notes the mod has not changed since 2022 and that when it stops working for someone, the cause is almost always a conflict with another mod. Make sure you use the War of the Chosen version, not the original. Creator: tracktwo. Download: Evac All on Steam Workshop.
9. Detailed Soldier Lists
Adds real information to the soldier list: stats, will and the gains soldiers pick up on covert actions, with time shown in hours instead of days once it gets short. Hovering a soldier lights up their bondmate’s icon, and combat intelligence is color coded. The layout comes from Long War 2. Its page says a vanilla-looking list means a class override problem. Musashi’s RPG Overhaul lists it as incompatible. Creator: -bg-. Download: Detailed Soldier Lists on Steam Workshop.
10. Cost-Based Ability Colors
Colors each ability button by what it costs to use, so you can see at a glance which actions end your turn and which leave a move left over. This War of the Chosen update of infectedm’s original improves support for mod-added abilities and free reloads, and it was updated in December 2025. Its page includes the settings change needed to run it alongside Long War of the Chosen. Creator: shiremct. Download: Cost-Based Ability Colors on Steam Workshop.
Tactical Information
11. Yet Another F1
Brings back the Enemy Unknown style unit information screen. Press F1, or click the left stick on a controller, to see a unit’s stats, equipment, abilities, passives, buffs and debuffs. It works on your soldiers and on whatever enemy you are targeting, and you can cycle through units with the screen open. Long War of the Chosen lists it as required. Its page notes AML may be needed to enable it for War of the Chosen. Creator: robojumper. Download: Yet Another F1 on Steam Workshop.
12. Gotcha Again
Upgrades the line of sight indicators you see while previewing a move. Enemies you will be able to shoot get the red reticle, enemies you will flank get a yellow one, and squadsight shots and Gremlin hacks outside normal sight range get their own icons. Objective arrows change too, so you know before moving whether you can hack or shoot the target. It is the War of the Chosen version, made with the original author’s permission. Creator: Chaser324. Download: Gotcha Again on Steam Workshop.
13. WOTC Extended Information
A War of the Chosen rewrite of the classic Perfect Information mod. It shows hit, crit and dodge chances in the damage popups during combat, puts graze chance and crit damage in the shot panel, previews minimum damage, and shows hack chances when targeting hackable enemies or objectives. Last updated January 2018. Its page warns that Mac and Linux players may see performance issues its authors could not fix. Creator: sebkulu. Download: WOTC Extended Information on Steam Workshop.
14. Show Tech Rewards
Shows what every Research, Proving Ground and Shadow Chamber project unlocks before you commit to it, including projects added by other mods: techs, facilities, items and schematics. Unlocks that need something else first are marked as partial, and Proving Ground’s random rewards are marked as possible. It is especially useful in modded campaigns where the tech tree grows past what you remember. Its page marks the Highlander as required. Creator: TeslaRage. Download: Show Tech Rewards on Steam Workshop.
Campaign Overhauls
15. Long War of the Chosen
A port of Pavonis Interactive’s Long War 2 to War of the Chosen, and the biggest overhaul in the game. You recruit rebels in regional havens, use them to find missions, infiltrate those missions with several squads at once, and watch ADVENT strengthen regions in response. It adds eight soldier classes with three ability choices per rank, officers and new enemies. Its page says to disable frame rate smoothing and to start with only the required mods. Updated March 2026. If squad building is your favorite part, our Star Wars Zero Company best squad guide applies the same thinking to a newer tactics game. Creator: LongWarOfTheChosen team. Needs: Highlander, Mod Config Menu, robojumper’s Squad Select, Yet Another F1, Community Promotion Screen, Better Second Wave Mod Support, Revert Overwatch Rules Change and Accurate Situation Report. Download: Long War of the Chosen on Steam Workshop.
16. Covert Infiltration
A strategy layer overhaul that stops well short of Long War’s scale. Many missions must be infiltrated first, so the squad is away for a while, and longer preparation earns better SitReps and a lower chance of a Chosen showing up. Missions come in linked activity chains, you can run several covert actions at once, and XCOM starts with 16 soldiers. Tactical missions are barely touched, so modded classes and enemies work. Last updated July 2022. Creator: WOTCStrategyOverhaul team. Needs: Highlander, Mod Config Menu, robojumper’s Squad Select, Prototype Armoury, Better Second Wave Mod Support and four smaller listed mods. Download: Covert Infiltration on Steam Workshop.
17. Prototype Armoury
Weapons and armor are built one at a time instead of unlocked in infinite supply by a schematic, which makes every upgrade tier a real resource decision. Tactical Legacy Pack gear returns as rare prototypes, and weapon mods can always be swapped without being destroyed. It was split out of Covert Infiltration and is required by it, but it also works on its own. Its page says it cannot be added or removed mid campaign. Creator: WOTCStrategyOverhaul team. Download: Prototype Armoury on Steam Workshop.
18. Musashi’s RPG Overhaul
Replaces the standard classes with one soldier class that picks from 14 specializations of seven ranks each, 98 abilities in total, and can carry any primary and secondary weapon combination. Stats can be raised with ability points and plugin mods add more specializations. Its page still labels it an open beta, last updated June 2020, and lists Detailed Soldier Lists as incompatible. Creator: Musashi. Download: Musashi’s RPG Overhaul on Steam Workshop.
19. A Better ADVENT
DerBK’s enemy overhaul for War of the Chosen reworks and expands the aliens and ADVENT troops you face, so late campaigns stop feeling solved. It needs no other mods and no DLC. Its page answers the most common question up front: AML’s climb wall conflict warning is harmless and appears with several enemy mods. The author keeps a full FAQ on the Workshop. Last updated December 2019. Creator: DerBK. Download: A Better ADVENT on Steam Workshop.
20. Additional Mission Types Redux
Adds new mission types that fill gaps the expansion left, including an Emergency Extraction council mission where a faction operative joins your squad, and a Rescue Haven Survivors retaliation that works like a Long War 2 escort mission. It was last updated in June 2022. If you also run Covert Infiltration, note that its page warns modded missions may not always spawn under its reworked mission system. Creator: RealityMachina. Download: Additional Mission Types Redux on Steam Workshop.
Classes, Weapons and Abilities
21. LW2 Classes and Perks
Ports Long War 2’s eight classes into a normal War of the Chosen campaign: Assault, Grenadier, Gunner, Ranger, Sharpshooter, Shinobi, Specialist and Technical, plus the Brigadier rank. It also adds new abilities for Psi Operatives, SPARKs and pistols. It is the way to get Long War’s soldiers without the rest of the overhaul. Its author says it is meant for new campaigns only. Last updated May 2019. Creator: Favid. Download: LW2 Classes and Perks on Steam Workshop.
22. Proficiency Class Pack
Six new classes, including Assault Infantry, Field Medic and Marine, each with built-in proficiencies that grow automatically as the soldier ranks up. Together they cover every role of the four base classes, which it disables by default. Most values are adjustable in config. It is still maintained, with an update in June 2026. Creator: shiremct. Needs: Highlander, Community Promotion Screen and LW2 Secondary Weapons. Download: Proficiency Class Pack on Steam Workshop.
23. Choose My Class
When a rookie is promoted, you pick their class from a random set of three instead of getting one assigned, a middle ground between the base game’s no choice and Commander’s Choice’s any choice. Its page compares it to promotions in Enemy Unknown. The number of options is configurable, and it pairs well with big class packs. Updated June 2026. Creator: shiremct. Download: Choose My Class on Steam Workshop.
24. LW2 Secondary Weapons
Brings Long War 2’s secondary weapons, like the sawed-off shotgun and combat knife, into War of the Chosen for use with custom classes. This version gives every item three tiers and adds ability tags, and many class mods, including the Proficiency Class Pack, build on it. It needs the Highlander so the weapons actually appear on soldiers. Last updated October 2022. Creator: shiremct. Needs: Highlander. Download: LW2 Secondary Weapons on Steam Workshop.
25. Primary Secondaries
Creates primary versions of every pistol and melee weapon in the game, including ones added by other mods, with dedicated animations. Primary pistols get a six round clip, +1 mobility and a small damage bump, and an empty secondary slot grants a mobility bonus. It is how you build a sword-only Ranger or a gunslinger. Its page flags Reduce Armory Clutter as incompatible. Creator: Musashi. Needs: Highlander. Download: Primary Secondaries on Steam Workshop.
26. Ballistic Shields
Adds three tiers of ballistic shields as secondary items for Rangers, Specialists and several modded classes, plus SPARK shields since a 2021 update. Shields give shield points and half cover to nearby allies, and Shield Wall replaces Hunker Down with full cover that works outside cover. There is also a disorienting shield bash. Pair it with Primary Secondaries for sword and board soldiers. Creator: Musashi. Download: Ballistic Shields on Steam Workshop.
27. Mitzruti’s Perk Pack
A library of more than 800 abilities, from melee and pistol skills to psionics and grenades, that many class mods draw on. Some can also appear as random training center abilities, which its page explains how to switch off. It is still updated, most recently in July 2026. Its notes include specific advice for running it with Long War of the Chosen. Creator: Mitzruti. Download: Mitzruti’s Perk Pack on Steam Workshop.
28. Iridar’s SPARK Arsenal
Turns SPARKs from a side unit into a full build of their own, with heavy cannons, incinerators, ordnance launchers, an auxiliary weapon slot with special shells and new heavy weapons. SPARKs can also hack without a BIT. Updated May 2026. Creator: Iridar. Needs: Highlander v1.21 or higher and the Shen’s Last Gift DLC (its page says Alien Hunters is probably required too). Download: Iridar’s SPARK Arsenal on Steam Workshop.
Soldier Customization
29. Capnbubs Accessories
One of the oldest and most subscribed cosmetic mods, with more than 350,000 subscribers, adding a big set of helmets, props and accessories its author set out to make as polished as official DLC. She notes she no longer has time to maintain it, but it still loads. Its FAQ says black props mean you also have the non-expansion version subscribed. Creator: capnbubs (Evie). Download: Capnbubs Accessories on Steam Workshop.
30. Unrestricted Customization Redux
An expanded copy of ToxicFrog’s Unrestricted Customization, made with permission, that lifts the base game’s limits on which customization options each soldier can use. Its author declared it final on May 16, 2026, and says the current upload works but will get no more fixes. Its page lists a few incompatible cosmetic mods, so check it before mixing. If you like building a squad of personal characters, it pairs well with Choose My Class. Creator: RustyDios. Download: Unrestricted Customization Redux on Steam Workshop.
How We Chose These Mods
We started from the Workshop’s most subscribed War of the Chosen mods and kept the ones players treat as essentials, then added the overhauls and class mods the community builds campaigns around. Every mod here was checked on its own Steam Workshop page on September 21, 2026 for its last update, its required mods and any compatibility warnings. We left out mods for the original XCOM 2 without the expansion, including the old Long War 2, since Long War of the Chosen replaces it. Subscribe only through the Workshop pages linked above: re-upload sites spread outdated and sometimes malicious copies.
Watch for conflicts. Overhauls like Long War of the Chosen, Covert Infiltration and Musashi’s RPG Overhaul each rewrite big parts of the game, so run one of them, not all three, and let AML check your list before you start a campaign. If you want more Firaxis-style tactics after this, our Star Wars Zero Company guides cover the new game from Bit Reactor, a studio founded by former Firaxis developers, starting with its Advantage system and how permadeath and Beskar mode work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular XCOM 2 mod? The X2WOTCCommunityHighlander, with more than 800,000 Workshop subscribers. It is also a requirement for most larger War of the Chosen mods, so it is the first thing to install.
Are XCOM 2 mods safe to download? Yes, when you subscribe through the official Steam Workshop pages. Avoid re-upload sites and unofficial mod packs, which can carry outdated or tampered files.
Why did my XCOM 2 mods stop working? War of the Chosen no longer gets regular patches, so when mods break it is usually a conflict between two mods, not a game update. Mod authors point players to AML’s conflict warnings and to disabling mods one at a time to find the culprit.
Can I add mods to an existing campaign? Small interface and speed mods usually can be added mid campaign. Overhauls and class mods like Long War of the Chosen, Prototype Armoury and LW2 Classes and Perks say on their pages that they are meant for new campaigns.
Do XCOM 2 mods work on console? No. Workshop mods are for the PC version only; the console editions do not support them.