Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Beginner Guide — First Deployment

Which class should you start with?

Five base classes (Marauder, Duelist, Machinist, Hunter, Medic) plus the endgame Specialist. Early community picks for beginners: Marauder for a straightforward frontline style, Medic if your squad is learning together. Full breakdown: Best Class.

How does combat work?

AFE2 is a third-person PvE shooter: your fireteam fights waves of aggressive Xenomorphs. Elemental combat is part of the sequel’s design — bring elements that fit the enemy mix, and focus fire on priority targets rather than splitting damage across the swarm.

How do weapons and progression fit together?

• Weapons have officially confirmed customization layers: Weapon Traits, Augments and Fire Modes.
• Early community advice: invest resources into one primary weapon you use every mission instead of spreading upgrades thin.
• Builds combine class, abilities, perks, weapons and elements — see How Builds Work.

How should you approach difficulty and squad play?

• Start on a modest difficulty while you learn roles; escalate once your squad stops going down.
• In 4-player co-op, coverage beats stacking — a Medic anchoring the squad smooths out early runs. (Community-reported)
• Crossplay and voice chat are officially confirmed — set them up via How to Invite Friends.

Where do I go next?

• Classes — all six classes
• Best Weapons — use-case picks
• Horde Mode — when you are ready for waves