Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Horde Mode Strategy
Survive escalating waves with the right builds and squad tactics.
Horde mode in Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 is the definitive test of a fireteam’s coordination, build quality, and endurance. Unlike campaign missions with scripted encounters, Horde throws continuously escalating enemy compositions at you across multiple maps. This guide covers wave progression, optimal class builds for Horde, positioning strategy, and the reward cycle.
Horde mode overview
Horde maps are separate from the campaign and available from mission select. Each Horde map has a set layout with multiple defensive positions, ammo crates, and stim pickups that spawn between waves. Your squad enters a map, survives waves of enemies, earns currency, and can purchase equipment between waves.
Waves increase in enemy count, introduce heavier enemy variants, and accelerate spawn rate as you progress. The deepest waves test the absolute limits of your class builds and squad coordination.
Currency and shop system
Every kill earns credits. Credits accumulate across waves and are spent in the shop that opens between waves. The shop stocks:
- Extra ammunition for your equipped weapons.
- Grenades and throwable utilities.
- Temporary weapon pickups (you can switch to these during the buy phase).
- Stim packs and healing items.
- Deployable equipment (extra turrets, drone charges).
Managing your credit pool between buying ammo for sustain and investing in heavy weapons for harder waves is a core Horde decision.
Enemy wave composition
Waves follow a rough escalation pattern:
Early waves (1–5) — Drone and Runner packs. Low health, predictable movement. Use this phase to establish positions and build credit.
Mid waves (6–12) — Mixed Drone and Runner packs with Spitters appearing at range. Pyro aliens and adult variants start mixing in. Single Praetorian appearances every few waves. Your squad should have stable positions and established ammo economy by wave 8.
Late waves (13–20) — Heavy enemy density. Praetorians, Burst drones, and Stalker variants appear regularly. Alien commanders join the field. Spawn positions become less predictable.
Deep waves (20+) — Maximum intensity. Enemy count reaches peak values. Multiple Praetorians on field simultaneously. Smartgun-class heavy weapons become mandatory rather than optional.
Optimal class builds for Horde
Marauder — Horde Anchor Marauder is the premier Horde class because of sustained heavy-weapon access and explosive crowd control. Titan Rockets handle Praetorian packs and clustered drones. Rampage stacks through the early waves and provides a full fire-rate burst for emergency situations. Keep the Blast Cannon for corridor defence when enemies push through the main chokepoint.
Key loadout: M12A1 Rocket Launcher / OCAP-91 Volcan heavy flamethrower / Stun baton for emergency melee.
Machinist — Turret Density Machinist’s deployable turrets act as a fourth squad member. The Shredder Bodyguard drone is especially valuable — it draws aggro and deals sustained damage to the front line while you manage primary threats. Place turrets at chokepoints with overlapping fields of fire. Cross-Platform Synergy grants nearby allies damage resistance, making the entire squad more durable during spike moments.
Key loadout: SMB-94 Zephyr Plasma Emitter / Gas Turret variant / Artillery Bodyguard drone.
Medic — Sustain Priority Medic’s role in Horde is not healing after damage — it is preventing the damage from happening. Combat Stims (Adrenaline Surge) provide burst healing between spikes. The Buffing Station upgrade, placed near the main chokepoint, keeps the squad in the fight through sustained attrition. Surgeon’s Hands eliminates revive animation time, letting you pull teammates back into the fight instantly.
Key loadout: X1 Fireball / Type 21 Tactical Shotgun / Buffing Station.
Duelist — Flexible DPS Duelist’s two primary weapon slots let you adapt mid-mission. Start with a sustained-fire rifle (DB-48 Daittyo) for drone waves and switch to the HNT-1 E1 Alamein when Praetorians and heavy variants appear. Stay on Target rewards aggressive play — keep landing hits to stack damage. Mobility keeps you mobile enough to reposition when a flank collapses.
Key loadout: DB-48 Daittyo Heavy Rifle / HNT-1 E1 Alamein Revolver Rifle.
Squad composition recommendations
Standard pub squad (random players) Marauder + Medic + Machinist + Duelist. This covers heavy damage, sustain, area denial, and flexible DPS. Communication is minimal but the roles are distinct enough that the squad functions without coordination.
Organised fireteam Machinist + Machinist + Medic + Duelist. Double turrets create overlapping fields that can hold a chokepoint indefinitely. Medic sustains the turrets and the squad. Duelist handles priority targets that break through the turret lines.
Speed-run deep waves Marauder + Duelist + Duelist + Specialist (with Marauder fragments). Maximum burst damage. Suitable for squads that can coordinate positioning precisely and do not need turret area denial.
Positioning strategy
- Never spread across the map. Hold one or two adjacent chokepoints. Splitting the squad into isolated positions means enemies can pick you off individually.
- Designate a primary and secondary position. If the primary chokepoint is overwhelmed, fall back to the secondary as a unit.
- Ammo crates are shared. Call out low ammo to trigger a buy-phase resupply before the next wave.
- Turrets should cover approach angles that are difficult for players to watch simultaneously.
Reward escalation
Deeper Horde runs grant:
- Higher credit per kill (escalating multiplier).
- Rarer weapon attachments and weapon skins.
- Class XP fragments at significantly higher rates than campaign missions.
- Dedicated Horde achievement milestones for reaching wave 15, 20, and 25.
The reward cycle makes Horde the most efficient activity for both Specialist progression and weapon credit farming once your squad is stable at Veteran difficulty.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deepest stable Horde wave for a given squad? For a coordinated four-player Veteran squad, wave 20 is a realistic stable target with optimised builds. Beyond wave 20 on Insane, the difficulty scales dramatically. Most organised squads cap their practical runs between wave 20 and 30.
Should I buy weapons between waves or save credits? Buy enough ammo to finish the next wave without running dry. Excess credits go toward heavy weapon drops (rocket launchers, smartguns) for emergency situations. Do not save toward a specific goal — the shop inventory changes each buy phase.
Are there enemy combinations that require specific counters? Praetorian packs at close range require heavy weapons or sustained smartgun fire. Spitter concentrations require range and accuracy. Stalker flanks require either a dedicated flanker or a Machinist turret watching the rear approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2.
Can I play Horde solo?
Yes, with AI marines filling squad slots. AI marines perform adequately on Rookie and Veteran Horde but struggle on Heroic and above. Solo Insane Horde is extremely difficult.
Do Horde rewards reset each session?
Credits and shop purchases reset between Horde sessions. Permanent progression — class XP, Specialist fragments, weapon unlocks — persists across sessions.
Are there specific maps better for Horde?
Maps with multiple chokepoints and good turret placement angles are generally easier to hold. Some maps have tighter corridors that favour Marauder and Machinist; more open maps suit Duelist and Hunter.
Does Horde difficulty affect XP gain?
Horde XP scales with wave number rather than difficulty setting. Higher difficulty gives more credits per kill but the XP per wave is consistent across difficulty levels.