Ability Editor

An XCOM 2: War of the Chosen mod that changes how existing abilities work purely from config - no UnrealScript required. Costs, cooldowns, charges, effects, conditions and template fields of any ability (base game, DLC or another mod's) can be edited by adding +AbilityEdits entries to an .ini file.

Letting a Ranger keep acting after Slash is just:

[AbilityEditor.X2DLCInfo_AbilityEditor]
+AbilityEdits=( \\
    Ability=SwordSlice, \\
    CostMode=eACEM_Merge, \\
    Costs=( \\
        ( \\
            Class="X2AbilityCost_ActionPoints", \\
            Mode=eACEM_Merge, \\
            SetNumPoints=true, \\
            NumPoints=1, \\
            SetConsumeAllPoints=true, \\
            ConsumeAllPoints=false \\
        ) \\
    ) \\
)

📖 Documentation

boundir.github.io/AbilityEditor - full field reference for every class across all nine families, plus guides.

Start with Config syntax and Edit modes; the second one covers defaults that can wipe an ability's costs if you leave them out.

Install

Subscribe on the Steam Workshop, or drop the mod folder into XCom2-WarOfTheChosen/Mods/ and enable it in the launcher. No dependencies.

Put your edits under [AbilityEditor.X2DLCInfo_AbilityEditor] in an XComAbilityEditor.ini - either the mod's own, or (better, so a Workshop update can't overwrite them) your own small mod. The + prefix appends, so several mods can contribute edits at once.

Config changes need a cache clear. Delete Documents\My Games\XCOM2 War of the Chosen\XComGame\Config after editing any .ini. Skipping this is the most common reason a correct edit appears to do nothing.

What you can edit

An +AbilityEdits entry edits an existing ability, or creates one when Create=true. It can change:

• Ability template fields — Hostility, ConcealmentRule, CrossClassEligible, IsPassive, UniqueSource, AllowedByDefault, TriggerChance, SuperConcealmentLoss, ChosenActivationIncreasePerUse, LostSpawnIncreasePerUse, AbilityPointCost, DefaultSourceItemSlot, UseThrownGrenadeEffects, UseLaunchedGrenadeEffects, AllowFreeFireWeaponUpgrade, AllowAmmoEffects, AllowBonusWeaponEffects, SilentAbility, CannotTeleport, PreventsTargetTeleport, FinalizeAbilityName, CancelAbilityName, TwoTurnAttackAbility, IconImage, AbilityIconColor, AbilityIconBehaviorHUD, ShotHUDPriority, DisplayInUITooltip, DisplayInUITacticalText, DontDisplayInAbilitySummary, DisplayTargetHitChance, HideOnClassUnlock, AbilitySourceName, LimitTargetIcons, BypassAbilityConfirm, UseAmmoAsChargesForHUD, AmmoAsChargesDivisor, FriendlyFireWarning, FriendlyFireWarningRobotsOnly, CommanderAbility, FriendlyName, LongDescription, HelpText, FlyOverText, TargetingMethod, CinescriptCameraType, AbilityConfirmSound, ActivationSpeech, CustomFireAnim, SkipFireAction, ShowActivation, SkipMoveStop, FrameEvenWhenUnitIsHidden, AdditionalAbilities, PrerequisiteAbilities, OverrideAbilities, AssociatedPassives, PostActivationEvents, HideIfAvailable
• Costs (Costs) — X2AbilityCost_Ammo, X2AbilityCost_Charges, X2AbilityCost_ConsumeItem, X2AbilityCost_Focus, X2AbilityCost_ReserveActionPoints, X2AbilityCost_HeavyWeaponActionPoints, X2AbilityCost_QuickdrawActionPoints, X2AbilityCost_ActionPoints — plus shared fields on any other subclass
• Cooldown (Cooldown) — X2AbilityCooldown_AidProtocol, X2AbilityCooldown_PerPlayerType, X2AbilityCooldown_LocalAndGlobal, X2AbilityCooldown_Global, X2AbilityCooldown_Rend — plus shared fields on any other subclass
• Charges (Charges) — X2AbilityCharges_CocoonSpawnChryssalid, X2AbilityCharges_GremlinHeal, X2AbilityCharges_RevivalProtocol, X2AbilityCharges_ScanningProtocol, X2AbilityCharges_StasisLance — plus shared fields on any other subclass
• Effects (Effects) — X2Effect_Obsessed, X2Effect_Shattered, X2Effect_VanishingWind, X2Effect_KineticPlating, X2Effect_Vanish, X2Effect_BlastPadding, X2Effect_KillUnit, X2Effect_ParthenogenicPoison, X2Effect_PersistentStatChange, X2Effect_PersistentStatChangeRestoreDefault, X2Effect_SpawnPsiZombie, X2Effect_SpawnShadowbindUnit, X2Effect_ThreatAssessment, X2Effect_WallBreaking, X2Effect_Achilles, X2Effect_AdverseSoldierClasses, X2Effect_Amplify, X2Effect_ApplyAcidToWorld, X2Effect_ApplyBlazingPinionsTargetToWorld, X2Effect_ApplyFireToWorld, X2Effect_ApplyPoisonToWorld, X2Effect_ApplySmokeGrenadeToWorld, X2Effect_ApplySmokeToWorld, X2Effect_APRounds, X2Effect_Aura, X2Effect_Bewildered, X2Effect_BloodTrail, X2Effect_BondmateAimAdjust, X2Effect_BondmateBleedout, X2Effect_CombatStims, X2Effect_BonusArmor, X2Effect_BonusWeaponDamage, X2Effect_ChryssalidBurrowedAttack, X2Effect_ConditionalDamageModifier, X2Effect_CoveringFire, X2Effect_DamageImmunity, X2Effect_DeadeyeDamage, X2Effect_DelayedAbilityActivation, X2Effect_FaceMultiRoundTarget, X2Effect_Fortress, X2Effect_GenerateCover, X2Effect_Groundling, X2Effect_Guardian, X2Effect_HoloTarget, X2Effect_HolyWarriorDeath, X2Effect_HomingMine, X2Effect_HuntersInstinctDamage, X2Effect_ImmediateAbilityActivation, X2Effect_Impatient, X2Effect_Implacable, X2Effect_LaserSight, X2Effect_MeleeDamageAdjust, X2Effect_MimicBeacon, X2Effect_MindControl, X2Effect_ModifyReactionFire, X2Effect_ModifyStatCheckSuccesses, X2Effect_TemplarFocus, X2Effect_ModifyStats, X2Effect_Nearsighted, X2Effect_Needle, X2Effect_Oblivious, X2Effect_OverrideDeathAction, X2Effect_OverrideDeathAnimOnLoad, X2Effect_PaleHorse, X2Effect_PersistentSquadViewer, X2Effect_PersistentTraversalChange, X2Effect_PersistentVoidConduit, X2Effect_Possessed, X2Effect_Regeneration, X2Effect_RemoveEffectsByDamageType, X2Effect_ReserveOverwatchPoints, X2Effect_RunBehaviorTree, X2Effect_SmokeGrenade, X2Effect_Solace, X2Effect_SpawnDestructible, X2Effect_SpawnUnit, X2Effect_Stasis, X2Effect_Stunned, X2Effect_SuperConcealModifier, X2Effect_Sustain, X2Effect_Sustained, X2Effect_TalonRounds, X2Effect_TargetDamageDistanceBonus, X2Effect_TargetDamageTypeBonus, X2Effect_ToHitModifier, X2Effect_TrackingShotMarkTarget, X2Effect_TurnStartActionPoints, X2Effect_VolatileMix, X2Effect_AlertTheLost, X2Effect_ApplyDirectionalWorldDamage, X2Effect_ApplyMedikitHeal, X2Effect_ApplyWeaponDamage, X2Effect_Brutal, X2Effect_EnableGlobalAbility, X2Effect_GetOverHere, X2Effect_GrantActionPointsWithRecord, X2Effect_GrantActionPoints, X2Effect_IncreaseBondmateCohesion, X2Effect_Knockback, X2Effect_LifeSteal, X2Effect_MarkValidActivationTiles, X2Effect_ModifyInitiativeOrder, X2Effect_ModifyTemplarFocus, X2Effect_LethalWeaponDamage, X2Effect_Persistent, X2Effect_ReduceCooldowns, X2Effect_RemoteStart, X2Effect_RemoveEffects, X2Effect_ReserveActionPoints, X2Effect_SetUnitValue, X2Effect_SoulSteal, X2Effect_Spotted, X2Effect_SuspendMissionTimer, X2Effect_TriggerEvent, X2Effect_VoidConduit, X2Effect_World — plus shared fields on any other subclass
• Conditions — X2Condition_UnitEffectsApplying, X2Condition_UnitEffectsOnSource, X2Condition_UnitEffectsWithAbilitySource, X2Condition_UnitEffectsWithAbilityTarget, X2Condition_AbilityProperty, X2Condition_AbilitySourceWeapon, X2Condition_BattleState, X2Condition_BerserkerDevastatingPunch, X2Condition_Bondmate, X2Condition_DarkEvent, X2Condition_EverVigilant, X2Condition_FuseTarget, X2Condition_GameplayTag, X2Condition_GameTime, X2Condition_HackingTarget, X2Condition_Interactive, X2Condition_Lootable, X2Condition_MapProperty, X2Condition_OnGroundTile, X2Condition_PanicOnPod, X2Condition_PlayerTurns, X2Condition_StasisLanceTarget, X2Condition_StasisTarget, X2Condition_Stealth, X2Condition_UnblockedNeighborTile, X2Condition_UnitActionPoints, X2Condition_UnitAlertStatus, X2Condition_UnitEffects, X2Condition_UnitImmunities, X2Condition_UnitInEvacZone, X2Condition_UnitInteractions, X2Condition_UnitInventory, X2Condition_UnitProperty, X2Condition_UnitStatCheck, X2Condition_UnitType, X2Condition_UnitValue, X2Condition_Visibility — plus shared fields on any other subclass
• ToHitCalc (ToHitCalc) — X2AbilityToHitCalc_StatCheck_UnitVsUnit, X2AbilityToHitCalc_PercentChancePlusFocus, X2AbilityToHitCalc_PercentChanceWithBuddyZone, X2AbilityToHitCalc_StandardAim, X2AbilityToHitCalc_PercentChance, X2AbilityToHitCalc_Hacking, X2AbilityToHitCalc_RollStat, X2AbilityToHitCalc_RollStatTiers, X2AbilityToHitCalc_StatCheck — plus shared fields on any other subclass
• TargetStyle (TargetStyle) — X2AbilityTarget_MovingMelee, X2AbilityTarget_Single, X2AbilityTarget_Cursor — plus shared fields on any other subclass
• MultiTargetStyle (MultiTargetStyle) — X2AbilityMultiTarget_Cone, X2AbilityMultiTarget_Cylinder, X2AbilityMultiTarget_AllUnits, X2AbilityMultiTarget_ClaymoreRadius, X2AbilityMultiTarget_Radius, X2AbilityMultiTarget_Line, X2AbilityMultiTarget_BurstFire — plus shared fields on any other subclass
• Triggers (Triggers) — X2AbilityTrigger_UnitPostBeginPlay, X2AbilityTrigger_EventListener, X2AbilityTrigger_Event — plus shared fields on any other subclass
• Bridge: Ability Editor: Alien Hunters — DLC_2.X2Effect_DLC_Day60Freeze, DLC_2.X2Effect_DLC_Day60TurnStartRemoveActionPoints, DLC_2.X2AbilityTrigger_DLC_Day60OnAbilityActivated

Troubleshooting

Set EnableDebug=true under [AbilityEditor.X2DLCInfo_AbilityEditor] in XComEngine.ini. Every applied change is then logged to Launch.log under the AbilityEditor tag - if a field isn't in that log, it was never applied.

The three usual causes: a stale config cache, a value written without its SetX=true guard, or a Mode left at its default (which is a replace in every mode enum). Full list: Troubleshooting.

For developers

• Adding an editor - conventions, and the build's Community Highlander requirement.
• Extending from another mod - register your own editor classes without forking.
• docs/schema.json - the whole config API, machine-readable, for external tooling.

The reference documentation is generated from the UnrealScript sources:

.\.scripts\generate-docs.ps1 -SdkPath '<path to WOTC SDK>'   # updates docs/schema.json and the block above
.\.scripts\generate-docs.ps1 -CheckOnly                      # exits 1 if either is stale

To preview the site locally:

python -m venv .venv
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
pip install -r requirements-docs.txt
mkdocs serve

Links

• Changelog
• Legacy 1.x config - still supported, superseded by the 2.0 format.