Mastering Aliens: Unleash the Ultimate Marine Squad Skills with Dark Descent

Quick Links

Aliens: Dark Descent Squad Skills

In Aliens: Dark Descent, players are faced with a challenging yet enjoyable game that involves intricate gameplay mechanics. With the objective of battling against the Xenomorph drones and other renowned aliens from the franchise, players are equipped with a range of skills to aid their squad. However, due to the numerous mechanics present in the game, some players may require assistance and tips to familiarize themselves with the fundamental aspects, such as combat based on skills.

Fortunately, once players grasp the concept, issuing and managing squad orders becomes less complicated. After investing considerable effort in coordinating their squad and tending to injured Marines, players will soon discover that their team is progressing and unlocking a multitude of additional skills in Aliens: Dark Descent, enabling them to unleash devastation upon their adversaries.

In Aliens: Dark Descent, players command their entire squad as a collective unit rather than giving individual instructions to each Marine. This approach may be challenging for those new to RTS games. The game automatically assigns a Marine to carry out the given order, which involves utilizing specific skills to tackle various situations. For instance, players can unleash a powerful Shotgun Blast to fend off an incoming Xenomorph drone or set up a Deployable Motion Tracker for added convenience. To activate a skill, players need to access the skills menu by pressing the right trigger on an Xbox controller. From there, they can select the desired skill using the LB and RB buttons and confirm it by tapping A.

However, skills have a limit and require Command Points to execute, with most skills costing 1 Command Point. At the start of a mission, players are given 3 Command Points which gradually replenish over time. It is crucial to use these points wisely when giving orders. Some skills may also provide additional Command Points. For beginners, it is recommended to refer to Aliens: Dark Descent beginner tips for effective management of skills-based combat and other complex gameplay mechanics.

Aliens: Dark Descent Squad Skills

Players begin their journey in Aliens: Dark Descent with a basic set of skills, which can be expanded upon as they progress through the game and enhance their squad. Additionally, players have the opportunity to acquire new weapons to further enhance their abilities. The initial set of skills that are accessible during the first two missions are as follows:

Grenade Launcher - The nearest Marine unleashes a grenade, dealing 10-20 damage in close proximity and 6-10 damage in a wider area.

Suppressive Fire - When activated, a Marine strategically covers a designated area, significantly increasing their firing range. However, the accuracy of the Marine is slightly reduced by 20 points and they are unable to run during the skill's duration. Additionally, enemies within the covered area experience a decrease in their movement speed, slowing them down to 70% of their original velocity.

The Deployable Motion Tracker is a device that reveals the presence of moving objects within a 60-meter radius. Additionally, it can be intentionally overloaded, resulting in the destruction of the device but effectively diverting the attention of the aliens.

The Sentry Gun is a valuable tool that automatically engages and shoots enemies. Players have the freedom to strategically position the sentry gun in their desired location and direction. Furthermore, it can be easily reloaded and repaired to ensure its continuous functionality.

Retribution - Marines recover 1 HP (or 2 HP with a full gauge), temporarily increasing Bravery and regenerating Command Points faster.

Tactical Analysis - Instantly adds 2 Command Points.

Aliens: Dark Descent can be enjoyed on various platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and Xbox One. As players progress and enhance their Marines, they gain access to a diverse range of skills such as mines, the powerful overloaded plasma beam, incineration, and many more.