XCOM: Classic Ironman Begginer's Guide

This article is meant for players who have completed and enjoyed XCOM: Enemy Unkown on normal difficulty but are having trouble stepping up into classic iron man. I myself have never played the original XCOM, and have had incredible difficulty going from normal to classic as the step up in challenge is quite steep. Hopefully with a few tips and help, you can survive your attempt and Classic Ironman Xcom and come out the other-side grinning for more.

Early Game Base Management

First thing's first, for your first Classic play-through I highly advise picking the US as your starting XCOM base. The reason for this? The reduction in cost to satellites. This is key for getting a strong foot hold and getting you cash flow going. Your first priority is to get as many satellites up as quickly as possible. There is no need to worry about rushing into the story mission or even researching the arc thrower. Take your time and get your satellite network up to scratch.Only ever launch satellites 1 day before your council report is due, launching satellites any earlier is a bad idea as you never know how the country's panic levels will look come the end of the month. Rush for carapace armor asap. Research alien materials first then carapace armor, you are going to need to get some experienced troops asap and the armor helps keep them alive to get to this stage.

Key Points:

• Get your soldiers kitted out in carapace Armour asap.
• Launch satellites 1 day before your council report is due.
• Try to dig to a steam node asap to get your power situation under control
• Don't worry about getting satellites coverage over an entire nation quickly just keep country's panic levels under control. 

Tactics In The Field

Now we get down to the meat of the challenge in Classic Ironman, the combat. There is a lot to learn here but I will try and cover the key points which will help your troops survive. Firstly BE PATIENT no seriously, take your time moving across the map running into enemy's after dashing into cover is never good and can often lead to casualty's  Move your selected solider to the max BLUE movement field, we don't want them dashing. By doing this you have options and don't end up with a solider stranded ahead of your squad staring down 3 sectoids. Regardless of cover he will die. Generally its always better to edge your troops in slowly and where possible in cover and finally leaving them in overwatch. 

Use grenades liberally, don't worry about them blowing up the aliens weapons, getting experience on your troops from the kills is far more useful than getting a few weapon fragments early game. 

Understand the cover mechanic, the cover is a perfect 180 degree/half circle arc in front of the cover being provided, so any shots coming from the side behind this half circle regardless of how slight will count as flanking. Full cover prevents your troops from shooting over it, they may only shoot round the side use this to your advantage to hide your troops from sight while moving them into position.

Amazing paint skills!

Key Points:

• Don't rush! take your bloody time and think about every action you take! Patience is key.
• Use your movement wisely, while exploring the map NEVER dash you will be punished.
• Use explosives as much as possible, spam grenades and launch rockets like there is no tomorrow.
• Get to grips with the cover mechanics and don't be afraid to fall back to better cover or hide a troop in full cover to move him into position. 
• To be hidden in full cover there must be 2 blocks of full cover either side of the one you are using to hide.
• Always leave your troops in overwatch when possible 
• Use troops in overwatch to cover your other soldiers who could be easily flanked.
• If moving your sniper try to leave them in overwatch with the pistol equipped where possible. 
• DON'T RUSH, TAKE YOUR TIME AND BE PATIENT.

Summary

The advise and tactics I have outlined above may not be the best out there or the most efficient but they should hopefully let you sink your teeth into Classic Ironman mode and develop your own tactics.Classic Ironman is a step up, your troops are going to die, country's will abandon the Xcom project and you will feel under pressure constantly. Once you have managed to get a foot hold though everything will become much easier and victory shall follow.

Good luck out there guys and girls!
PATIENCE IS KEY