Aliens Dark Descent: Xenotech - list of secrets Aliens Dark Descent guide, walkthrough
Xenotechnology is the most important category of finds in Aliens Dark Descent. From the guide you will learn where to find all xenotechnology projects and what improvements can be invented thanks to them in the laboratory at the base.
Last update: 26 June 2023
During exploration in Aliens Dark Descent, you can find secrets - Xenotech projects that can be researched to gain additional benefits. On this page of the guide, you can also learn what are the uses of Xenotech. Additionally, we prepared a complete list of secrets that can be encountered during each of 12 story missions. This will help you attain 100% of available Xenotech.
To be able to use what you've found, you need to deliver each item back to USS Otago's Laboratory. More on this topic can be found on a dedicated chapter Base Management.
- #1 Dead Hills
- #2 Berkley's Docks
- #5 Nuclear Protocol
- #6 Atmospheric Nightmare
- #7 Montero
- #8 Extraction
- #10 The Pryce of Deception
#1 Dead Hills
Secret 1/2 - Chitin Kevlar Plates
Location: Chest in the laboratory on floor 2. Look for it south from Command Room in which you've downloaded the sector map.
Use: All squad members gain 1 to Armor Points. This is a passive upgrade and once researched, remains active indefinitely.
Secret 2/2 - Extraction Device
Location: Queen's Lair in the mine. After defeating the queen, search her corpse. The action yields xenosamples and the collectible itself.
Use: You can now save marines caught by facehuggers. This is very useful as facehuggers are encountered quite often.
#2 Berkley's Docks
Secret 1/1 - Pheromones
Location: Queen's Lair in Hangar C visited in the main storyline. After defeating the queen, search her corpse. You will obtain a Xenosample and a blueprint.
Action: Delay your squad being detected by xenomorphs by 10%. It might slightly help you in completing missions without alerting monsters frequently.
#5 Nuclear Protocol
Secret 1/1 - Anti-Acid Gel
Location: Queen's Lair in the Cerberus Protocol room in Pioneer Station. After dealing with the boss and a group of synthetic enemies, search the Queen's body. You will acquire a Xenosample and the secret.
Action: Marines' armor becomes resistant to the acid splashing out from defeated xenomorphs. This will help you avoid extra damage during close combat and fights at a short distance.
#6 Atmospheric Nightmare
Secret 1/2 - Pheromone Mine
Location: Chest in the colony room on the surface. You have to visit the room from the picture located next to the Laboratory.
Action: Mines can attract xenomorphs with pheromones, but this only works if the mine is in the monster's field of view (place them in the main corridors and rooms) and only when the unit is not currently detected and hunted by the hive. This upgrade can make your mines deadlier.
Secret 2/2 - Soothing Serum
Location: Queen's lair on Basement 2 floor. You need to make the bridges connect with the lair, defeat the boss, and then search the Queen's corpse. You will acquire a Xenosample and the secret.
Action: Improved performance of Naproleve, i.e. the medication used to lower the marines' stress levels. It can now reduce stress by up to 150 points (instead of the default 100 points).
#7 Montero
Secret 1/1 - Hive Tranquilizer
Location: Chest at Deck B level. It is in the room north from the Medbay. You can pass this room on the way to the western bridge.
Action: Aggressiveness gain delayed by 15%. With this upgrade, you can stay longer on a mission and return to the USS Otago after the aggressiveness level reaches maximum level.
#8 Extraction
Secret 1/2 - Aerial Xenotoxin Application
Location: Chest at Basement 1 floor. During the search for Cassandra, you must check the small room from the picture.
Action: Reduces the Infestation on the planet by 1. This upgrade is unique because you can buy it multiple times for 10 xenosamples each and it applies to the whole planet, not a specific mission. Lowering the Infestation on the planet can decrease the number of Xenomorphs encountered during deployments.
Secret 2/2 - Hive Jammer
Location: Alien Queen's Lair at Basement 1. You must check the optional room with the lair during the search for Cassandra and defeat the boss. Examine the Queen's corpse - you'll get xenosamples and a blueprint.
Action: Shortens the duration of hunt by 15%. The hunt phase starts after the hive detects the unit. Since hunt now ends faster, the upgrade reduces the risk of increasing the Alien's aggressiveness earlier.
#10 The Pryce of Deception
Secret 1/1 - Xeno-Zip
Location: The Queen's lair on the surface. You will find it at the end of the street in the southern part of Jackson's Landing. You have to defeat the boss and check the Queen's corpse. You will acquire xenosamples and the last collectible of this type.
Action: Adds one health point to all marines in the unit. This will improve their health and increase the chances of survival.