Previously, we shared details around the Behemoth’s reign of terror on the Geoscape in the new Festering Skies DLC. We also discussed the flying threats you’ll need to stop through a new minigame, Interception. This time, we’ve got info on the fearsome foes you’ll find in tactical missions, alongside an all-new mission type, both part of Festering Skies, coming this May 25th. Wishlist now and be warned, if you want to go in blind to the DLC, you may want to stop reading as we’re going to share some details.

As some of you figured out, the Behemoth isn’t just a mindless beast, only rendering havens into piles of rubble; it also hungers for the havens themselves. When the Behemoth or its flying cohorts reach a haven, it can transform it into an Infested Haven, contaminating the settlement and covering them in organic material that affects the buildings and people within. Left unchecked, these havens will send forth Infected Aircraft to hamper Phoenix efforts.

Infested Havens offer a new mission type that will emerge as long as the Behemoth and its ilk walk the Earth. Infested Havens reduce the global population, making the Human Population Census (HPC) fall, and putting pressure on Phoenix, but you can reclaim these havens for humanity by succeeding at Infested Haven missions. These new missions take place within a faction’s haven, where you’ll find that faction’s former defenders under control of mindfraggers, twisted into defending the interests of a darker power. Thankfully, you can rescue faction soldiers and bring them back into the fold -- and you’ll need them!

Hidden inside one of these buildings is a true terror, a highly evolved form of the Pandoravirus that attaches to structures and machinery to completely overtake the haven: the Corruption Node. Immune to mind control and resistant to blast damage, the Corruption Node acts as the key to saving Infested Havens and requires operatives to get up-close and personal to take it down. But be warned, it will defend itself with a powerful Viral Pulse which radiates damage to all that would do it harm. It will take coordination, but destroying the Corruption Node will cleanse the haven, restoring the Human Population Census and severing the telepathic link to any Infested aircraft in the skies. There are also rewards for Phoenix, including mutagens and resources; but doing a good deed is its own reward, right?

Infested Havens may sound terrifying as it is, but adding to the challenge is a new seemingly simple enemy, the Myrmidon. Myrmidons appear as squashable bugs, but these creepy crawlies can take a beating and easily catch operatives off-guard. Their wings allow them to effectively secure strategic locations, spring into action from far away while using swarm tactics to overwhelm players. Stopping Myrmidons is tougher than it looks, and with their own set of Pandoran evolutions, the Myrmidon will continue to challenge players throughout the game when they appear in Infested Havens, special missions, and haven defense missions.

Of course, that’s not all. We don’t want to reveal everything, but you’ll be able to discover more for yourselves when the new DLC arrives on May 25th. Wishlist today!

Next week: Festering Skies comes alongside our free “Behemoth” content update, offering some quality-of-life improvements and some balancing considerations for operative skills which we’ll share with you!