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 100 below are Steam Workshop mods for XCOM 2, nearly all of them for the War of the Chosen expansion, grouped by what they change.
This list assumes 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. Unless an entry says otherwise, each mod needs War of the Chosen; the few built for the original XCOM 2 without the expansion say so. 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.
6. Iridar’s Template Master
A framework that lets other mods create and edit item, weapon, armor, tech and soldier class templates without each one shipping its own code. Its page says that if you are installing it because another mod asks for it, you do not need to do anything else, and that it is safe to add or remove mid campaign, although removing it can break templates another mod created through it. Musashi’s Mods Fixes, the next entry, needs it for one of its Ballistic Shields fixes. Last updated February 2025. Creator: Iridar. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander (any version, its page says). Download: Iridar’s Template Master on Steam Workshop.
7. Musashi’s Mods Fixes
Iridar’s repair pack for Musashi’s most popular mods: RPG Overhaul, True Primary Secondaries, Ability To Slot Reassignment, Ballistic Shields, Dual Wield Melee, Augmentations and Mod Everything Reloaded. Its page says anyone running at least one of them should subscribe to avoid game-breaking bugs, including the infamous duplicate abilities bug, and that it simply does nothing if you use none of them. With more than 200,000 current subscribers, it is one of the most installed fixes for modded campaigns. Last updated April 2024. Creator: Iridar. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander. Its page says Ability To Slot Reassignment is not a hard requirement, but the game logs a lot of warnings without it. Download: Musashi’s Mods Fixes on Steam Workshop.
8. Missing Packages Fix + Resource
Its page explains that War of the Chosen does not load some effects and development packages the base game used, which breaks mods that rely on particle effects, including many new alien and weapon mods. This mod loads them back in, and its page says any mod that uses particle systems needs it. It also carries fixes for a few specific cosmetic mods. With more than 250,000 current subscribers it is one of the most installed fixes on the Workshop. Last updated September 2017. Creator: E3245. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Missing Packages Fix + Resource on Steam Workshop.
9. Reward Decks Refresher
When a mod adds items to the Proving Ground’s experimental projects, the game builds that reward list only once, so items from mods you add mid campaign never show up, and items from mods you remove can leave a project finishing with nothing. This small fix refreshes the reward decks so the list matches your current mods, per its page. Iridar’s Rocket Launchers 2.0 page says you need it if you add that mod to a campaign in progress. It was uploaded in 2016 and has not needed an update since. Creator: -bg-. Needs: nothing else. It was made before War of the Chosen, and its page says it works with the expansion (as of October 21, 2026). Download: Reward Decks Refresher on Steam Workshop.
10. Weapon Fixes
Fixes a handful of weapon bugs that matter more once mods are involved: expanded magazines not counting under the Insider Knowledge order until the weapon has been used, Saturation Fire ignoring ammo effects, stock damage not applying on missed shots from abilities like Rapid Fire and Kill Zone, and the conventional Vektor Rifle’s typical cost being set to two actions. Its page recommends it for anyone using pistol upgrade mods such as Primary Secondaries, and Iridar’s Dual Wielded Pistols page calls it highly recommended. Some of the changes can be reverted in Mod Config Menu. Last updated January 2020. Creator: Mr. Nice. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Weapon Fixes on Steam Workshop.
11. Less Overwatch Lock Ups!
A bug fix aimed at the soft locks where the game freezes on a single moment during complicated overwatch and reaction fire, or when an enemy’s movement reveals a soldier. It gives several of the game’s waiting actions a 60 second time out, so a stuck turn is more likely to free itself, and its page explains how to clear a hang by hand with the X2DebugVisualizer console command. Its author is clear that it cuts these hangs down rather than promising to end every one. Last updated August 2018. Creator: Mr. Nice. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Less Overwatch Lock Ups! on Steam Workshop.
12. Custom Soldiers Evac Zone Fix
Avenger Defense, the final mission, Chosen Strongholds and Lost and Abandoned handle soldiers built on mod-added character templates properly with this installed, per its page, instead of breaking or leaving them behind. That matters as soon as you recruit modded units, such as the playable species that RealityMachina’s own Allies Unknown framework supports. Its page asks players to report anything that becomes evacuable when it should not. Last updated September 2017. Creator: RealityMachina. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Custom Soldiers Evac Zone Fix on Steam Workshop.
Speed and Quality of Life
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. Free Camera Rotation
Sets the default camera angle to 45 degrees and lets you rotate freely while holding Q and E, zoom with T and G, tilt with the bracket keys and steer the camera with Alt and the mouse; Ctrl and F1 resets the view. It was made for the original XCOM 2 in 2016, and its page quotes players confirming that it works with War of the Chosen, with only a harmless warning in the mod launcher. More than 280,000 players are still subscribed. Creator: wasteland_ghost. Needs: nothing else. It was built for the base game and last updated in May 2016; its page reports it working with War of the Chosen (as of October 21, 2026). Download: Free Camera Rotation on Steam Workshop.
19. Overwatch All/Others
Adds one button that puts every soldier with actions left on overwatch, or every soldier except the selected one. Its page points out that it saves time even with Stop Wasting My Time installed, because it skips the pause at the end of each unit’s turn. Sharpshooters fall back from Long Watch to sniper rifle overwatch to pistol overwatch. It was inspired by Evac All, and the War of the Chosen upload is separate from the base game one. Creator: whoknew. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Overwatch All/Others on Steam Workshop.
20. Blackmarket Usage
Shows what each item on the Black Market sell screen is still used for, so you know whether to keep those ADVENT Trooper corpses. It reads the data from the game as it runs, so modded items and costs show up too, and a Mod Config Menu option decides whether it reveals uses from research you have not reached yet. robojumper and BlueRaja contributed fixes and the Mod Config Menu support. Creator: dave. Needs: nothing else. It was built for the base game and last updated in February 2017, and its page says it works fine in War of the Chosen (as of October 21, 2026). Download: Blackmarket Usage on Steam Workshop.
21. Better Grappling!
Fixes grapple points that light up but cannot be clicked with a mouse, a problem its page says is worst on the final mission; controller players never had it. As a side effect, SPARKs and soldiers in Icarus Armor can also jump to those spots, and grenades can target them. Its page warns that it overrides XComTacticalHUD, so it conflicts with any other mod that does the same. Last updated August 2018. Creator: Mr. Nice. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Better Grappling! on Steam Workshop.
22. Free Reload Anytime
Turns the free reload from an Auto-Loader weapon upgrade into its own reload action, so you can save it for a turn when you have actions to spare instead of spending it automatically. Its page warns that it will not work if you enable it on a tactical save: start a new mission with it active. Last updated November 2021. Creator: -bg-. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Free Reload Anytime on Steam Workshop.
23. Hours Instead of Days
Adds the remaining time to each mission in the site list at the bottom of the Geoscape, and shows scan time in hours once it drops below a threshold, 48 hours by default. Its page suggests also changing MissionAboutToExpireHours in your config so the expiry warning stops popping up every time you scan. It overrides UIScanButton, so mods that change the same button may conflict. Last updated September 2017. Creator: -bg-. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Hours Instead of Days on Steam Workshop.
Tactical Information and Interface
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. Accurate Situation Report
Fixes the SitRep details screen, which its page calls utterly broken for missions with more than one SitRep. With it, the screen shows every SitRep instead of only the last, marks each as positive or negative, lists every side effect and nests them under the right SitRep, with mouse and controller scrolling. It was split out of Covert Infiltration, Long War of the Chosen lists it as required, and its page says it can be added or removed at any time. Creator: WOTCStrategyOverhaul team. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander. Download: Accurate Situation Report on Steam Workshop.
29. New Target Icons
Adds 30 new target icons, drawn to match the originals, for base game, War of the Chosen and modded enemies, including the Chosen, Long War drones, Celatids and Pathfinders. robojumper wrote the code behind it. Its page says to use only one target icons mod at a time. More than 235,000 players are subscribed. Creator: dot. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: New Target Icons on Steam Workshop.
30. Additional Icons
A War of the Chosen port of Grimy’s Additional Icons that adds five optional icons to unit flags: a loot indicator, the damage range of the unit’s primary weapon, and its aim, mobility and health. Each one can be switched off in its INI, and the loot icon can be set to appear only on scanned enemies. Its page warns that it overrides UIUnitFlag, so it conflicts with mods like Show Health Values, but not with Gotcha Again. Creator: Alketi (port of Grimy’s original). Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Additional Icons on Steam Workshop.
31. Show More Buff Details
Expands the buff and debuff tooltips in combat so you can see when each temporary effect ends and which stat bonuses each buff or perk is granting. Its page sums it up as no more guessing when an effect will end. It overrides the two tooltip classes it changes. Creator: -bg-. Needs: nothing else. It was made in 2016 and last updated in May 2018, and its page says it works with War of the Chosen (as of October 21, 2026). Download: Show More Buff Details on Steam Workshop.
32. Enhanced AoE Preview
Shows the real damage preview on every target inside a grenade or other area attack, the same way a single target shot does. Area abilities that deal no damage, such as a flashbang, still light up the health bars of everything they will hit, so you can see at a glance who is inside the blast. A separate version exists for the base game. Creator: Harwin. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Enhanced AoE Preview on Steam Workshop.
33. TacticalUI KillCounter
Adds simple counters to the combat HUD: enemies killed, enemies remaining or the total, and how many are currently active. By default the remaining count only appears once you have built the Shadow Chamber, and each counter can be changed in Mod Config Menu. It counts the Lost too, and it is open source. Creator: Luminger. Needs: nothing else. Its page says the one upload works on every XCOM 2 version, base game and War of the Chosen, despite the launcher’s warning icon (as of October 21, 2026). Download: TacticalUI KillCounter on Steam Workshop.
34. Quick Soldier Info
Adds a row of icons to the top right of the combat screen for each soldier, showing name, health and armor, will, status effects and actions left. It is configurable in game through Mod Config Menu, and its page lists no overrides or known incompatibilities. Portraits can show the XCOM emblem after loading a tactical save, a known issue its page explains. Creator: -bg-. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Quick Soldier Info on Steam Workshop.
35. Show Enemies and Terrain on Mission Planning
Shows the enemy types and numbers your Shadow Chamber detected right on the mission planning screen, so you do not have to go back to the Geoscape to check. Mod Config Menu options add enemy icons, any detected Chosen, the map’s plot and biome, and the arrival time, so you know whether you are landing at night. By default it needs the Shadow Chamber, but a setting shows enemies without it. Creator: sebkulu. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Show Enemies and Terrain on Mission Planning on Steam Workshop.
36. Color Coded Bonds
Gives each soldier bond its own color in most of the screens where bonds appear, so you can tell bonds apart at a glance. Its page notes that Firaxis’ interface code keeps it from working everywhere, but says it works everywhere it matters. More than 170,000 players are subscribed. Creator: robojumper. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Color Coded Bonds on Steam Workshop.
37. Stats on New Promotion Screen
Adds each soldier’s stats to the newer promotion screen, which otherwise leaves them off. Its page says it works with RPG Overhaul and any class mod that uses the Brigadier rank, and that it is most useful with Not Created Equal style mods where soldiers’ stats differ. The Community Promotion Screen page lists it as compatible. Last updated May 2019. Creator: Astral Descend. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Stats on New Promotion Screen on Steam Workshop.
38. Nice Mission Debriefing
Adds a debriefing screen after each mission with per-soldier stats (kills, damage dealt, shot and overwatch accuracy, tiles moved, loot and headshots), plus awards and one MVP. You open it from the View Mission Debriefing button on the mission summary, and a photobooth picture can sit next to each soldier’s stats. Its page says it overrides no classes. Updated February 2025. Creator: atamize. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Nice Mission Debriefing on Steam Workshop.
Campaign Overhauls, Enemies and Missions
39. 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.
40. Long War 2
Pavonis Interactive’s original overhaul, with more than 330,000 players still subscribed. It turns the campaign into a guerrilla war that runs 100 to 120 missions on average, per its page, with infiltration across several squads, resistance havens to manage, nine soldier classes, laser and coil weapon tiers, dozens of new enemies and an ADVENT strategic AI that counters your moves. It is a total conversion built for the original XCOM 2, so it will not work alongside other total conversions. If you play War of the Chosen, Long War of the Chosen above is the community’s port. Creator: Pavonis Interactive. Needs: XCOM 2 without War of the Chosen. Its page was last updated in September 2017 and it remains a base game mod (as of October 21, 2026). Download: Long War 2 on Steam Workshop.
41. 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.
42. 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.
43. 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.
44. 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.
45. A Better Chosen
DerBK’s companion to A Better ADVENT reworks the Chosen’s AI and perks so they stay interesting without breaking the game’s power curve. The Chosen no longer always go for Extract Knowledge on a dazed soldier, gain more knowledge from extractions and captures, wear down your soldiers’ Will and pick up new traits, and the Warlock gets the biggest rework, with new abilities that harass you between his attacks. Its page lists no required mods or DLC. Last updated June 2020. Creator: DerBK. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: A Better Chosen on Steam Workshop.
46. 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.
47. The MOCX Initiative
Adds MOCX, a human strike force with its own classes, ranks and PCSes that fights on the aliens’ side. MOCX squads come in as a SitRep on many missions and ADVENT calls them in once XCOM is revealed, but their roster is limited: they can run out of soldiers for the month, and covert actions with the factions can eventually shut them down for good. It is still maintained, with an update in April 2026, and its page notes that the launcher’s conflict warning with A Better ADVENT and World War L is a false positive. Creator: RealityMachina. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander. Download: The MOCX Initiative on Steam Workshop.
48. WorldWarLost
Team CreativeXenos’ mod turns the Lost into something closer to a zombie apocalypse, with new looks, new mechanics and a tougher Lost Brute that starts at 10 HP and reaches 26 HP late in the campaign, per its page. It is meant to make mid and late game Lost encounters deadlier, works in an existing campaign and supports Mod Config Menu for adjusting how the Lost look. Its page lists a few conflicts, including Additional Enemy Perks. Last updated November 2022. Creator: Team CreativeXenos (uploaded by ObelixDk). Needs: War of the Chosen and Mod Config Menu; its Workshop page also lists the Resistance Warrior Pack and Tactical Legacy Pack DLC as required. Download: WorldWarLost on Steam Workshop.
49. Grimy’s Loot Mod
Adds Diablo-style loot to the campaign: lockboxes that you open with research, holding weapons and armor already fitted with randomized upgrades. Its page lists hundreds of new upgrades across primary weapons, armor, pistols, swords, Gremlins, psi amps and grenade launchers, with epic and legendary tiers held back until the mid and late game. Its page lists Configure Upgrade Slots as incompatible. Last updated December 2017. Creator: Ginger (rewriting Grimy’s original). Needs: War of the Chosen, Mod Config Menu and Mod Everything Reloaded. Download: Grimy’s Loot Mod on Steam Workshop.
Strategy and Soldier Progression
50. More Squad Size Upgrades
Adds Squad Size III and Squad Size IV upgrades, for up to eight soldiers per mission. Per its page, Squad Size III costs 125 supplies and needs a Major, and Squad Size IV costs 200 supplies and needs a Colonel, all adjustable in Mod Config Menu. With robojumper’s Squad Select, set its Squad Select UI option to Compatibility Mode. More than 149,000 players are subscribed. Creator: BlueRaja. Needs: War of the Chosen (a separate upload covers the base game). Download: More Squad Size Upgrades on Steam Workshop.
51. Commander’s Choice
Lets you pick the class of any rookie who has earned a promotion, from a Commander’s Choice button in the Armory. It supports custom classes as long as rookies can be promoted into them, but not Psi Operatives or SPARKs. It is the full-control alternative to Choose My Class, below. Updated July 2023. Creator: sq_paradox. Needs: nothing else. One upload covers both games: its page says it works with War of the Chosen and the base game, and that any incompatibility flag can be ignored. Download: Commander’s Choice on Steam Workshop.
52. All Soldiers Gain XP
Gives soldiers waiting in the barracks a share of the bonus XP that everyone on a mission earns, 50 percent by default, so losing your best squad does not leave you with a barracks full of rookies. Mod Config Menu settings decide whether rookies and wounded, training or covert soldiers get it, and whether soldiers can rank up outside a mission. Creator: BlueRaja. Needs: War of the Chosen (a separate upload covers the base game). Download: All Soldiers Gain XP on Steam Workshop.
53. Hack Plus
Successful hacks raise the hacker’s Hack stat by 3 to 5 points and failed hacks by 1, so your hackers improve with practice. BlueRaja recompiled codem01’s original for War of the Chosen because it appeared abandoned, and its page credits codem01 for the idea. Creator: BlueRaja (original by codem01). Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Hack Plus on Steam Workshop.
54. Increase Combat Intelligence for Everyone
Lets faction heroes (Reapers, Skirmishers and Templars) go on the covert actions that raise Combat Intelligence, which the game normally keeps them off. Its page points out the irony: hero classes are the soldiers who need those extra ability points most. Creator: robojumper. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Increase Combat Intelligence for Everyone on Steam Workshop.
55. Point-Based Not Created Equal
Adds a Second Wave option that randomizes each new soldier’s stats, balanced around a configurable pool of points, so recruits differ without anyone rolling a super soldier for free. You enable it when starting a campaign; with Better Second Wave Mod Support you can switch it mid campaign, and the change applies only to soldiers created afterward. Its page says it overrides no classes and works with faction heroes, reward soldiers and Beta Strike. Last updated May 2019. Creator: shiremct. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Point-Based Not Created Equal on Steam Workshop.
56. More Traits
Adds positive traits and more negative ones, including traits cut from War of the Chosen and reworked abilities from the old Potentials mod. Per its page, positive traits only come from a soldier recovering from a negative trait naturally, by going on enough missions without being injured, with the Infirmary built but its remove-all-traits option left unused. The full trait list is in its Discussions tab. Last updated February 2020. Creator: RealityMachina. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander. Download: More Traits on Steam Workshop.
57. Recruit Multiple Heroes From All
The game only offers a second hero from the first faction you met. With this mod, any faction offers its extra hero once you have enough influence with it. Its page also passes along a config tip for allowing more than two heroes per faction. Creator: RealityMachina. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Recruit Multiple Heroes From All on Steam Workshop.
58. WOTC Flawless
Finishing a mission with no deaths and no damage taken earns an extra reward on top of the usual Flawless rating: resources, with a chance of common or rare items. Terror missions can also reward a new rookie. The loot tables and chances are editable in its config, and its page lists the defaults as a 20 percent chance of an item and 5 percent for a rare one. Last updated February 2019. Creator: krj12. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: WOTC Flawless on Steam Workshop.
59. More Nations and Names
Combines More Nations Mod and Immersive Names into one mod, adding 166 nationalities and flags, most with their own name lists, plus much larger and more accurate name lists for the vanilla countries. It still gets attention: version 1.61, uploaded in January 2026, cleaned up unreadable characters in 41 names. Its page says to unsubscribe from either original first and that it can replace them mid campaign. Creator: DaggaRoosta. Needs: War of the Chosen (a separate upload covers the base game and Long War 2). Download: More Nations and Names on Steam Workshop.
Battlefield Rules
60. Revert Overwatch Rules Change
Restores the overwatch rules of the original XCOM 2 and Long War 2. Soldiers can again take one-tile moves, break line of sight around cover and step onto the very edge of an enemy’s sight without triggering overwatch, and Suppression and Kill Zone go back to the old method too. Long War of the Chosen lists it as required, and with more than 250,000 current subscribers it is one of the most used rule changes in the game. Creator: Charmed. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Revert Overwatch Rules Change on Steam Workshop.
61. Simple True Concealment
Mission timers no longer tick while your squad stays concealed; they start when concealment breaks. Its page lists the turn counts after that: six turns for Recover Item, Hack Workstation and Destroy Enemy Device, and 11 for Neutralize Target and Rescue VIP. It uses features built into War of the Chosen, disables the now redundant Infiltrate resistance order, and its page says it was confirmed in 2023 to work with Long War of the Chosen. Creator: kregano. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Simple True Concealment on Steam Workshop.
62. Fair Lost Targeting
Lowers the share of the Lost that go after XCOM instead of ADVENT to 50 percent, from 70 percent in the base game. Its page explains that range and threat still shape who the Lost attack, so it is not a strict even split, and the value can be edited. It can be added mid campaign but takes effect from your next mission. Creator: NotSoLoneWolf. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Fair Lost Targeting on Steam Workshop.
63. Civilians Revamped
Civilians, hostile ones and hidden Faceless now react to the fighting: they run when soldiers or enemies close in, move at 15 mobility instead of 12, have 3 HP and lose the Easy to Hit ability that made them free kills. Hidden Faceless are coded as humans, so they blend in and get shot at like any other civilian, per its page. Last updated February 2021. Creator: MrShadow. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Civilians Revamped on Steam Workshop.
64. Stabilize Me
Lets any soldier stabilize a squadmate who is bleeding out, as long as the wounded soldier is carrying a Medkit. It is a fixed-up version of Sgt. Nutcracker’s original with an animation added, and SPARKs cannot stabilize, by design. Its page says it works mid campaign but not mid mission, and pairs it with a carry unit fix for a rare base game bug that can stop you picking up a downed soldier. Creator: dot. Needs: War of the Chosen and Carry Unit Fix, which its Workshop page lists as required. Download: Stabilize Me on Steam Workshop.
Classes, Weapons and Abilities
65. 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.
66. 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.
67. 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.
68. 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.
69. 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.
70. 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.
71. 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.
72. 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.
73. Vest Slot
Gives every soldier a dedicated vest slot, so vests get their own place in the loadout. You, or other mods, can lock the slot behind abilities in its INI. Its page lists Tons of Utility Items as incompatible, because that mod overrides the armory screen. Augmentations, below, depends on it. Last updated May 2020. Creator: Musashi. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander. Download: Vest Slot on Steam Workshop.
74. Dual Wield Melee
With a melee weapon in both the primary slot (through Primary Secondaries) and the secondary slot, soldiers switch to dual wielding: two slashes per attack, the second at half damage. Its page lists more than 250 custom animations, photobooth support, and default support for Rangers, the Samurai class, Long War of the Chosen’s Shinobi and RPG Overhaul soldiers. Skirmisher claws and Templar gauntlets do not count, since they are already dual weapons. Creator: Musashi. Needs: War of the Chosen, the Highlander, Primary Secondaries and Musashi’s Mods Fixes. Download: Dual Wield Melee on Steam Workshop.
75. Mod Everything Reloaded
Lets weapon attachments go on items other than primary weapons: secondary weapons, armor, heavy weapons and utility items. Its page stresses that it adds no slots and no attachments itself; it is a meta mod that other mods build on, and Iridar’s Dual Wielded Pistols page names it as one way to put upgrades on a secondary pistol. Do not run it alongside the original Mod Everything. Creator: Musashi. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Mod Everything Reloaded on Steam Workshop.
76. Stealth Overhaul
A meta mod that gives several of Musashi’s mods a shared stealth system: when a concealed soldier uses a stealth ability, they get a chance to stay hidden. A kill halves the chance of being revealed, an unseen kill drops it to a flat 10 percent, and the whole squad shares one running concealment value, per its page. The Katana Pack’s ninjato silent takedowns need it. Last updated July 2018. Creator: Musashi. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander. Download: Stealth Overhaul on Steam Workshop.
77. Dual Wielded Pistols 2.0
Lets soldiers carry and fire two pistols at once, with new animations and support for most shooting abilities, such as Rapid Fire, Chain Shot, Kill Zone, Fan Fire and Faceoff, which fire both guns and apply damage from each. Out of the box it works for five base classes and the three faction heroes, offhand shots take a 20 point aim penalty, and dual autopistols are not supported. Its page says it is safe to add or remove mid campaign. Updated January 2025. Creator: Iridar. Needs: War of the Chosen, the Highlander, True Primary Secondaries and Musashi’s Mods Fixes (its page says the original Primary Secondaries also works). Download: Dual Wielded Pistols 2.0 on Steam Workshop.
78. Iridar’s Akimbo Class
A full soldier class built around Dual Wielded Pistols, with two and a half skill trees of custom perks, some found nowhere else. Its page describes it as a damage carry that plays like a Ranger without concealment and with more range, and that leans on support from other classes. The lore: an exiled Reaper trains your soldiers in return for shelter on the Avenger. It can be added mid campaign. Creator: Iridar. Needs: War of the Chosen, the Highlander, Community Promotion Screen, Dual Wielded Pistols 2.0, Musashi’s Mods Fixes and True Primary Secondaries (its page says the original Primary Secondaries also works). Download: Iridar’s Akimbo Class on Steam Workshop.
79. Rocket Launchers 2.0
Adds rocket launchers as a secondary weapon, an alternative to the grenade launcher, with rockets carried in utility slots and shown on the soldier’s back. There are three launcher tiers and, per its page, three standard rockets plus seventeen exotic ones, most unlocked through the Proving Ground, and soldiers can hand rockets to each other to form rocket crews. Most rockets scatter, more so when fired with only one action left. Updated March 2026. Creator: Iridar. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander v18.0 or newer. Its page adds Reward Decks Refresher if you add it to a campaign in progress, and Open Class Weapon Restrictions if you want mod-added classes to use it. Download: Rocket Launchers 2.0 on Steam Workshop.
80. Combat Knives
Adds a combat knife as a secondary weapon and a throwing knife for the grenade slot, each in three tiers. Combat knives grant a silent takedown, plus extra mobility and a smaller detection radius; each throwing knife gives two throws with a 30 percent chance of being revealed that drops to 15 percent on a kill and zero if no enemy sees it, per its page. It is also the secondary weapon for Musashi’s SpecOps class. Creator: Musashi. Needs: War of the Chosen, the Highlander and Stealth Overhaul. Download: Combat Knives on Steam Workshop.
81. Katana Pack Reloaded
Adds katanas, wakizashis and ninjatos in every tier, unlocked when you buy the matching vanilla sword tier at no extra cost. Config switches can make them purely cosmetic if you want the look without new stats. Ninjato silent takedowns need the Stealth Overhaul above, and its page says it works on existing saves. More than 120,000 players are subscribed. Creator: Musashi. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander. Download: Katana Pack Reloaded on Steam Workshop.
82. Extended Perk Pack
Favid’s library of new perks for class mods to draw on. Installed alone it changes nothing, per its page: the perks only appear once a class mod, or your own XComClassData.ini edits, use them, and a linked spreadsheet lists every one. It needs only the Highlander to load, though some perks need other mods to work. Last updated February 2020. Creator: Favid. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander. Download: Extended Perk Pack on Steam Workshop.
83. Cinematic Rapid Fire
Gives Rapid Fire and Chain Shot back the cinematic camera an old patch took away, and extends it to the Reaper’s Banish, the Dual Strike bond ability and kills on the Lost. Soldiers also comment on each shot. Mod Config Menu controls the voice lines, flyovers and camera style, and its page says it overrides no classes. Last updated August 2019. Creator: Mr. Nice. Needs: War of the Chosen (a separate upload covers the base game). Download: Cinematic Rapid Fire on Steam Workshop.
84. Beam Grenade Launcher
Adds a third, beam tier grenade launcher with its own model that fires guided grenades using the Blaster Launcher’s targeting, which reaches targets out of direct line of sight. Per its page it unlocks after Plasma Rifles and costs one Blaster Launcher on top of the usual resources, and config files can change both. Its author made it because the game has only two launcher tiers, and the magnetic one clashed with beam tier gear. Last updated November 2017. Creator: InternetExploder. Needs: nothing else. Its page says it is compatible with War of the Chosen, and its FAQ says it also works with the base game and Long War 2. Download: Beam Grenade Launcher on Steam Workshop.
85. Augmentations
Research Hybrid Materials and you can build cybernetic body parts in the Proving Ground and fit them to soldiers, with new tintable cosmetics for each replaced part. Augmented soldiers heal faster, but a gravely wounded soldier may need a part replaced before they can heal at all, a mechanic its page says you can switch off. A cybernetic torso grants a vest slot, which is why it needs Vest Slot. Its page says it is safe to add mid campaign. Creator: Musashi. Needs: War of the Chosen, the Highlander, Vest Slot and Musashi’s Mods Fixes. Download: Augmentations on Steam Workshop.
86. More Psi Abilities
Adds five psi abilities, among them Phase Walk (a teleport), Psi Reanimation (raise a corpse as a zombie) and Null Ward (psionic shields for nearby allies), and rebuilds the Psi Operative tree around paired choices. To make room, Soul Steal, Schism, Fortress, Fuse and Inspire leave the tree, and only newly promoted soldiers get the new abilities. Its page says it conflicts with other mods that change the Psi Operative tree, such as LW2 Classes and Perks. Creator: Iridar. Needs: War of the Chosen and the Highlander. Download: More Psi Abilities on Steam Workshop.
87. Mechatronic Warfare
A total SPARK overhaul that aims to make SPARKs worth building whether you field one or ten. Most of the old skill tree is replaced with 15 new and 5 reworked abilities, Repair and a new Reboot ability are available from Squaddie, and autocannons shred by default, per its page. Mods that replace the SPARK class itself are incompatible. Last updated August 2021. Creator: NotSoLoneWolf. Needs: War of the Chosen, the Shen’s Last Gift DLC, the Highlander and Community Promotion Screen. Download: Mechatronic Warfare on Steam Workshop.
Soldier Customization
88. 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.
89. 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.
90. Empty WOTC Deco Slots for XCOM Soldiers
War of the Chosen added new decoration slots, but regular soldiers have no empty option for them. This adds invisible choices to those slots on every armor, plus empty shoulder pieces for some armors, and many cosmetic mods list it as required. Its page notes the menus may not appear until another mod adds items to them. With more than 425,000 current subscribers, it is one of the most installed cosmetic mods for the expansion. Creator: Mr Kablamm0fish. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Empty WOTC Deco Slots for XCOM Soldiers on Steam Workshop.
91. WOTC Female Hair Pack
118 tintable hairstyles with physics for female soldiers, from short cuts and bandanas to ponytails and braids, made by Kexx with Astery. It is one of the most subscribed cosmetic mods in the game, with more than 365,000 current subscribers. Last updated March 2024. Creator: Kexx. Needs: War of the Chosen (its page says it is for the expansion only). Download: WOTC Female Hair Pack on Steam Workshop.
92. WOTC Male Hair Pack
The companion pack for male soldiers: 64 hairstyles and beards, all tintable and with physics, per its page. Its FAQ says there will be no version for the base game, because the two games need separate modding tools. More than 280,000 players are subscribed. Last updated May 2019. Creator: Kexx. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: WOTC Male Hair Pack on Steam Workshop.
93. Full Character Customization From Start
Unlocks every customization option at every rank, so you no longer have to promote soldiers to unlock attitudes, some hairstyles and armor patterns. Its page says it is save compatible, does not disable achievements and works with War of the Chosen. It also notes one side effect: the mission where the Avenger crashes can feature any random character instead of only veterans. Creator: Dukhat. Needs: nothing else. It was made for the base game in 2016 and never updated, and its page says it works with War of the Chosen (as of October 21, 2026). Download: Full Character Customization From Start on Steam Workshop.
94. Alien Hunters Armor Customization
Lets soldiers wear the Icarus, R.A.G.E. or Serpent armor from the Alien Hunters DLC with any cosmetic torso and still have the armors’ abilities display properly, which normally breaks once you change their look. Unrestricted Customization lists it as required, but its page says you do not need it if you do not own Alien Hunters. Safe to add or remove mid campaign, per its page. Creator: Iridar. Needs: War of the Chosen, the Alien Hunters DLC and the Highlander. Download: Alien Hunters Armor Customization on Steam Workshop.
95. Invisible Parts For Hero Units
Adds invisible options to the Reaper, Skirmisher and Templar armor slots, so you can hide hero accessories under full-body cosmetic mods. Its page points players customizing regular soldiers to Empty WOTC Deco Slots instead, and notes that Templar gauntlets and Skirmisher ripjacks are weapons, so they cannot be hidden this way. Creator: nekoworkshop. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Invisible Parts For Hero Units on Steam Workshop.
96. Custom Face Paints
Twenty handmade face paints, found under Props, plus a collar option for helmets. Its page says it is fully compatible with War of the Chosen, and it adds an extra None option for players who do not own the Resistance Warrior Pack. Creator: Replika. Needs: nothing else. It was made for the base game in 2016, and its page says it is fully compatible with War of the Chosen (as of October 21, 2026). Download: Custom Face Paints on Steam Workshop.
97. Stenchfury Modular Helmets
A set of sci-fi helmets split into interchangeable head, upper face and lower face parts, so you can mix shells, visors and masks into your own designs. Its author built them to sit well with both the game’s own gear and Capnbubs Accessories, though the page admits some clipping is unavoidable with a helmet split into three parts. The same author’s Stenchfury Modular Armors pairs with it. Last updated August 2017. Creator: Stenchfury. Needs: War of the Chosen (a separate upload covers the base game). Download: Stenchfury Modular Helmets on Steam Workshop.
98. Free the Hood
Adds more customization options built from the game’s own assets, including ski mask and balaclava face props, with Tactical Legacy Pack support. Its page says it is made for players with every DLC and explains which config section to delete for DLC you do not own, and a separate add-on covers Capnbubs Accessories. Its author warns that some combinations clip, especially masks without a proper helmet. Creator: Lex. Needs: War of the Chosen (a separate upload covers the base game). Download: Free the Hood on Steam Workshop.
99. Military Camouflage Patterns
Adds 69 real-world camouflage patterns, from Multicam and MARPAT to Flecktarn and the Swedish M90, plus two fictional ones. Its page asks War of the Chosen players to unsubscribe from the base game version, and warns that colors look much brighter in the expansion, recommending a color mod; One Million Colours, next, is the most popular. Creator: Bistritean. Needs: War of the Chosen. Download: Military Camouflage Patterns on Steam Workshop.
100. One Million Colours
Expands the color picker for soldier props from a short palette to a configurable range of up to a million colors, with sliders. Its page warns that changing its config later scrambles colors you already saved, and that adding all million colors costs about four seconds of loading time. Creator: -bg-. Needs: War of the Chosen players also need its separate WOTC plugin, and SPARK colors need another plugin, per its page. Download: One Million Colours on Steam Workshop.
How We Chose These Mods
We started from the XCOM 2 Workshop’s most subscribed mods, ranked by Steam’s own subscriber counts, and kept the ones players treat as essentials, then added the overhauls, enemy mods, class mods and cosmetics the community builds campaigns around. We checked the original 30 on their Steam Workshop pages on September 21, 2026, and all 100 on October 21, 2026, for their last update, their required mods and any compatibility warnings. We skipped near-duplicates, such as the base game uploads of mods that also have a War of the Chosen version, and cosmetic packs built from other games’ characters. Long War 2 and a few other loved mods made for the original XCOM 2 are included and marked as such; Long War of the Chosen is the expansion’s version of Long War. 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. Smaller mods can clash too: Additional Icons and Show Health Values both change the same unit flag, and Grimy’s Loot Mod does not work with Configure Upgrade Slots. 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, and our Star Wars Zero Company review covers how it plays. For Firaxis’ other big series, our Civilization 6 mods list follows the same rules.
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.
Does Long War 2 work with War of the Chosen? No. Long War 2 was built for the original XCOM 2, and its Workshop page has not been updated since September 2017. To play Long War in the expansion, use Long War of the Chosen, the community port that brings its havens, infiltration and classes to War of the Chosen.
What are the most popular cosmetic mods for XCOM 2? Empty WOTC Deco Slots, Kexx’s Female and Male Hair Packs and Capnbubs Accessories have the most subscribers, and Unrestricted Customization Redux lifts the game’s limits on which parts each soldier can wear. Most cosmetic mods need War of the Chosen, and many list Empty WOTC Deco Slots as a requirement.
Do XCOM 2 mods work on console? No. Workshop mods are for the PC version only; the console editions do not support them.