The Berserker Queen, the second Alien Ruler introduced in the Alien Hunters DLC, is one of the toughest enemies you’ll encounter. With massive health, heavy armor, and disruptive abilities, she can decimate an unprepared squad. This guide will walk you through her abilities, how to prepare for the fight, and the most effective tactics to ensure victory.

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Berserker Queen Abilities

1. Reaction Phases

• Like all Alien Rulers, the Berserker Queen gets a reaction action after every action your soldiers take. Poor management can lead to chaos and rapid squad losses.

2. Health and Armor (by difficulty):

• Rookie: ~72 HP
• Legend: ~100 HP, 4 Armor, 20 Defense
• Commander: ~90 HP, 3 Armor, 10 Defense

3. Melee Slam

• Powerful melee strike with high mobility. Can disorient targets and easily bypass cover.

4. Quake (AoE Attack)

• Deals 1–3 damage in a 4-tile radius. Can disorient, stun, or knock soldiers unconscious.

5. Terrifying Roar

• Forces a Will check. Failure causes panic, interrupting your tactical plans.

6. Psionic Gate (Escape Mechanic)

• Retreats via a psionic gate when heavily damaged or after a few turns. If she escapes, she retains remaining HP and armor for future battles.

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Before the Fight: Preparation

1. Delay the Story Mission

• Don’t attempt the Alien Rulers mission early. Wait until you’ve unlocked:
  • Magnetic Weapons
  • Predator Armor
  • Plasma Grenades
  • Experimental Ammo (Dragon or Viper Rounds)

2. Optimal Equipment

• Frost Bombs: Freeze her for two reaction turns—essential for control.
• Acid Bombs: Shred armor fast.
• Dragon/Viper Rounds: Apply burn or poison for passive damage.
• Bolt Caster: High single-target damage with a stun chance.
• Hunter’s Axe / Arc Blade: Melee weapons with stun potential.

3. Ideal Squad Composition

• Grenadier: Shred armor, holotarget for accuracy boost.
• Sharpshooter: Use Kill Zone and Lightning Hands for reaction-safe shots.
• Specialist: Carry Revival Protocol and healing.
• Ranger: Strong melee and Bladestorm for reaction-free strikes.
• Psi Operative (optional): Stasis to pause her reaction phase.

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Combat Strategy

1. Spread Your Squad

• Maintain 4+ tile spacing to reduce Quake AoE effectiveness.

2. Strip Her Armor First

• Open with Acid Bombs or Shredder abilities to reduce her durability early.

3. Deny Reactions

• Freeze with Frost Bombs or Serpent Suit’s Frostbite.
• Use free actions like Lightning Hands, Throw Axe, or Bladestorm.

4. Counter Quake Fast

• React quickly with Revival Protocol if a soldier is knocked out.
• Maintain a flexible formation to recover quickly.

5. Exploit Kill Zone

• Trigger it when you expect her to move—each movement triggers free overwatch shots.

6. Apply DoT Effects

• Dragon Rounds: Causes burn damage each time she moves or acts.
• Viper Rounds: Poison reduces aim and mobility.

7. Manipulate Terrain

• Use explosives to drop her from high ground.
• Fight from above to block her approach—but beware, Quake can hit floors just above her.

8. Go for the Stun

• Hunter’s Axe, Bolt Caster, and Arc Blade have a chance to stun—highly effective when timed between freezes.

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When She Retreats

• Focus Fire: Burn her down in the final turns before she escapes.
• Damage-over-Time: If she escapes with DoTs applied, she’ll return weaker.
• Prepare for Round Two: If she escapes, she keeps all remaining HP and armor.

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Additional Tips

• Avoid Mimic Beacons: Alien rulers usually ignore them.
• Use Flashbangs: Can reduce aim and disrupt attacks.
• Plan Every Action: Take your time—this is a turn-based game. Efficiency is survival.

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Final Thoughts

The Berserker Queen can be a nightmare if you’re unprepared—but with careful planning, smart squad composition, and the right tools, you can bring her down with minimal losses. Always aim to freeze, burn, and shred, and never forget: free actions are your best friend in a ruler fight.

If this guide helped, share it with your fellow Commanders and check out our other XCOM 2 strategy breakdowns. Happy hunting!