XCOM 2

The first mission you're guaranteed to run into a Sectopod will be when you are investigating the Blacksite Vial location, the completion of which will earn you:


The front courtyard of the objective building will always be patrolled by a Sectopod so make sure your team is bunched together by the time you get to the bridges leading to the building.

Team composition is obviously a personal choice but I can highly recommend trying to make sure you have a Sharpshooter with at least Lightning Hands (preferably with Fan Fire), a Grenadier with Shredder and Chain Shot and a Specialist with at least one charge of Combat Protocol left. Bluescreen and/or AP rounds will also make this much easier.

However you're set up, the Sectopod will more than likely detect your approach as you get across the bridge and advance towards you. Simply start attacking it with any armor shredding attacks you have first and you shouldn't have too much trouble.

This achievement is done in two parts, the first part is planning. Before a mission starts look at the box in the top right corner of the screen where it tells you which enemies to expect, if it says there will be a Sectopod save your game as a back up now.

Sectopods appear late in the game which is good because you want good weapons, armour, equipment and skills before attempting this. I would highly recommend GREMLIN Mark III, Plasma Lance and Beam Cannon squad upgrades and also upgrading squad size to 6 but it can be done with 4. You will also want in your squad a Specialist with Combat Protocol, a Grenadier with Shredder and Holo Targeting (Chain Shot is very useful to) as well as a Sharpshooter with Deadeye. Another good addition is somebody in an E.X.O. Suit with the Shredder Gun but this isn't essential. Don't put off getting these weapons and soldiers too late because the Sectopod's health and armour increase as time goes on and this makes it harder to kill in one turn. Obviously if you have weapon mods, especially Repeaters (insta kills), Hair Triggers (bonus action), Laser Sight (critical hit), Scope (aim), then use them on your Grenadiers and Snipers.

The second part of this achievement is the execution of the mission. As soon as the mission starts make another save file then spread your troops across the map so you can locate the Sectopod. When you know where it is reload that save file and get your troops dug in somewhere safe for them with lots of cover and a good view, especially the Sharpshooter who need a clear line of sight. Make sure you keep them together because if they're spread too thin one might locate the Sectopod but the others will be too far away to hit it. Now keep the squad using overwatch every turn until they're revealed so that way you get the surprise on whoever finds you first. If troops appear first dispatch them as quickly as possible but reserve at least one shot of your ammunition to shoot the Sectopod, if you get a turn to breath reload and put everyone back into overwatch again. As soon as the Sectopod appears move the Grenadier/s closer to improve their chance of hitting it then shoot it (use Chain Shot if you have it), this will remove 2 layers of armour per hit plus increase accuracy against it by 10%. Now have your Sharpshooter/s use Deadeye for a slightly powerful shot. Then if it's still standing finish it with any Specialists that know Combat Protocol which is a guaranteed 10 damage hit that will avoid armour. If any of your shots miss then reload the save for that turn and take the shots in a different order or move people to slightly different places because this will change the chance of missing. If you're still struggling then reload to the start of this mission and place your troops somewhere else.

This is also possible with just a team of Specialists that know Combat Protocol. Or just the Sharposhooter and Grenadier combo. Another hint is if you've got a Grenadier that doesn't know Shredder then use their Grenade Launcher first to destroy a layer of armour and also remove any cover that might be blocking your shots.

After you've done, if you're overwhelmed because your squad is only ready for Sectopod hunting and nothing else then load that first save I suggested before you even went on the mission. I hope this helps a lot, this is how I got the achievement. Any questions then please let me know :)