Why can't you mind control certain aliens?

[NoXTheRoXStaR]

You can mind control many aliens in the X-COM universe; sectoids, floaters, reapers, mutons, hell you can even mind control ethereals, but why can't you mind control Chryssialids? Perhaps someone with a better understanding can explain this.

[Space Voyager]

I thought you could... I always equated them with Tentaculats (and you can control those) but I admit I don't know for sure.

[silencer_pl]

You can control even a cyberdisc.

[NoXTheRoXStaR]

Then...prove it? I'll go one further and ask would you mind control one and invite him onto your craft?

[silencer_pl]

https://assets.enjin.com/wall_embed_images/1387341985_awesome-xcom.jpg

 

I hope it answers your question why.

 

And I don't have to prove anything. It's all here:

 

https://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Psionics

 

A soldier with 80 Psi Strength & Skill can Mind Control even a Superhuman Sectopod 20 squares distant about 30% of the time; a soldier with 90 Str and 100 Skill will succeed 100% of the time at that distance. Each unit of distance between the target and attacker will increase the difficulty by almost 1.8% (or, if nearer, decrease it).

[NKF]

You can control it, once per quarter. Of course, any quarter still under alien control will try to kill the controlled part.

 

The short answer is that most of the terror units, with the exception of the Reaper, have heaps of psionic defence.

 

On beginner difficulty for example, Chryssalids have a psi defence of 50. Compare that to a beginner Sectoid commander's 62 psionic defence and an Ethereal Commander's 75. Cyberdisc and Sectopods have a straight up 100.

 

Note: Psi defence = psi strength + (psi skill / 5)

 

Attack type and distance also influence this a little, but that forms the bulk of their defence. You really just need a very strong psi soldier with enough psi strength and psi skill to beat the psi defence.

 

- NKF

[Hobbes]

https://assets.enjin.com/wall_embed_images/1387341985_awesome-xcom.jpg

 

The object the soldier is holding looks more to me like a fire extinguisher than a medikit.

[silencer_pl]

Medikit? That's high explosive

 

https://ufopaedia.org/images/0/08/BIGOBS22.GIF

[Zombie]

You can control it, once per quarter. Of course, any quarter still under alien control will try to kill the controlled part.

 

The short answer is that most of the terror units, with the exception of the Reaper, have heaps of psionic defence.

 

On beginner difficulty for example, Chryssalids have a psi defence of 50. Compare that to a beginner Sectoid commander's 62 psionic defence and an Ethereal Commander's 75. Cyberdisc and Sectopods have a straight up 100.

 

Note: Psi defence = psi strength + (psi skill / 5)

 

Attack type and distance also influence this a little, but that forms the bulk of their defence. You really just need a very strong psi soldier with enough psi strength and psi skill to beat the psi defence.

 

What NKF said. Chryssalids have a fair bit of psionic defense, but nothing really spectacular. Get closer and use a soldier with better psi stats to try again. Everything and their mother's uncle can be MC'd in this game given enough psi strength and skill. Cyberdiscs (and Sectopods to a lesser extent) are 4x4 units so you can technically MC each part in succession and use it as a mini tank to explore a good chunk of the map. They have a tendency to shoot themselves if an alien section of the unit spots a X-COM controlled one, so there's that to worry about (and the explosion from the Cyberdisc).

 

- Zombie

[crwydryny]

Medikit? That's high explosive

 

https://ufopaedia.org/images/0/08/BIGOBS22.GIF

 

if I get shot and hobbes is the only available medic... please just kill me

 

 

 

as for the original post.... you can mind control all aliens, your ability to mind control them depends on your soldier's psi skill and strength and your target's skill and strength. there is also a factor of range, among other things that infulance the result

 

the actual formula

Attack Strength (AS) = (Psi Strength * Psi Skill / 50) - (Distance / 2) + Random Number(0 to 55)

Defense Strength (DS) = Psi Strength + (Psi Skill / 5 ) + Difficulty

 

when it comes to 4 section enemies (such as cyberdisks and sectopods) they will shoot the mind controled section based on reaction fire.

when controlling a 4 section enemy you want to target the NW corner. when done right you can MC each section in turn allowing you to move the unit 4 times

the easiest 4 section unit to control is the reaper as it will not attack the other sections

[NoXTheRoXStaR]

when it comes to 4 section enemies (such as cyberdisks and sectopods) they will shoot the mind controled section based on reaction fire.

when controlling a 4 section enemy you want to target the NW corner. when done right you can MC each section in turn allowing you to move the unit 4 times

the easiest 4 section unit to control is the reaper as it will not attack the other sections

 

I disagree, I have first hand seen a reaper attacking itself.

[NKF]

It will certainly attack itself on its own turn if you leave any part uncontrolled, but you won't get a reaction-bite while you're controlling it. At the very least, not in Classic. OpenXCom;s another story.

 

- NKF