As far as World War 2 military strategy games go, there aren’t many series more highly-regarded thanCompany of Heroes.While it doesn’t feature the same epic units and scale of the morefantasy-inclined entries in the RTS genre,the series makes up for it with superb tactical responsiveness and intuitive cover and destruction systems which constantly push players to keep finding new strategies on the fly.
RELATED:Company Of Heroes 3: US Forces And Buildings Guide
The series' latest entry,Company of Heroes 3, landed on store shelves and online marketplaces this February, promising more in-depth tactical combat, enhanced enemy AI, improved UI systems, deeper relationships between the player and their subcommanders, and expanded skill trees. There’s a lot to keep track of,especially for newcomers toCompany of Heroes, and it’s easy to make mistakes among all the battlefield chaos that will hinder players' chances of victory in the War’s Italian theater.
10Using Negative Cover
There are four types of cover inCompany of Heroes 3,each denoted by a different color. Green means strong cover, yellow means light cover, gray means no cover whatsoever, and red means negative cover. Negative cover is, for the most part, a rarity, but it should be avoided at all costs nonetheless.
That’s because when a unit is in negative cover, they are considered more vulnerable than if they were in no cover at all. Obviously, if it’s preferable to leave units standing in the open than to put them in negative cover, that type of cover should be avoided like the plague.
9Grouping Up
Units inCompany of Heroes 3are not made up of a single soldier, but instead are typically groups of 3 to 4 soldiers that move as one. Because of that, it’s important for players to think of their units as multiple individuals and not group them together like they might insome other RTS or tactical games.
There are certain types of artillery that ignore cover regardless of its quality. Grenades, flamethrowers, air strikes, and more can blow right through cover like it’s not even there. A stray shell, wonky grenade throw, or any other explosives can end up wiping out a unit regardless of how well they’re positioned, and if more than one unit is grouped together, an explosion will take them all out. Losing one unit is always better than losing multiple, so make sure they’re spread out.
8Ignoring Vehicle Wreckage
When players destroy an enemy vehicle (or when an enemy destroys one of their vehicles), the vehicle doesn’t immediately disappear. Instead, its wreckage lingers on the battlefield, and that wreckage can be used for multiple purposes.
RELATED:Company Of Heroes 3: British Forces Units And Buildings Guide
First and foremost, it can provide improvised cover for units to use, which will organically change the battlefield layout as the fight progresses. More importantly, as long as that wreckage remains, the enemy can make their way over and repair it, restoring their vehicle and getting it back in the action. Players can destroy that wreckage with a well-placed grenade or a bump from a vehicle of their own, and it’s a good idea to do so to remove any advantages for the enemy.
7Being Inflexible
As stated before, wreckage from vehicles can be used as improvised cover for units. However, it’s important to note that wreckage of any kind can beused as cover by both armies inCompany of Heroes 3,and can drastically change the layout of the battlefield.
Because of this, players need to be prepared to constantly change their battle plans and approach tactics on the fly. Pieces of wreckage can provide cover for new and improved angles of attack, some of which are better than anything present beforehand, and savvy players who use this will find that it can quickly turn the tide of a battle in their favor.
6Not Securing Buildings
Buildings inCompany of Heroes 3are invaluable. While they come with their share of risks, units stationed in a building are automatically placed in strong cover, making them much harder to kill with standard gunfire. Moreover, buildings with multiple stories can provide better sightlines, giving units better angles of attack and allowing them to spot potential ambushes lurking ahead.
Securing buildings can take a bit of time once the order has been given, as units make their way inside and take up their positions, but the benefits are worth the wait. The only downside is, if the enemy manages to destroy the building, any units stationed inside will be instantly killed.
5Single-Unit Breaches
The inverse of securing buildings is breaching them. When an enemy has secured a building, players can order their units to breach the structure. This will send them inside to clear out the enemy units before claiming the building for themselves.
When breaching, it’s vital to send two units to do the job. Yes, one unit can be ordered to do the breach and will most likely succeed, but when they drive the enemy out, while they will be weakened, those units won’t have been killed outright. Using one unit to execute the breach and having a second unit nearby ready to pick off the stragglers that come running out makes for an efficient bit of business.
4Not Building Vehicles
Vehicles are some of the most essential tools players have available for their armies. Their most obvious use is their ability to quickly transport groups of units across the battlefield, moving much more rapidly than units are capable of on foot. However, there’s much more that vehicles are capable of.
While moving units, vehicles can tow heavy equipment behind them that infantry is unable to carry on their own. They also provide a piece of mobile cover, and units will be able to take refuge behind a vehicle as it pushes its way into the core of a firefight. Just be cautious when doing this, as one wrong click can leave units completely exposed.
Vehicles each have an armor rating, which dictates how well they block damage as well as how much damage they receive from any kind of gunfire. That armor rating will change depending on which side of the vehicle is under attack.
RELATED:Harrowing Military Shooter Games
Every vehicle’s best armor is at the front. The sides of the vehicle are slightly weaker, with the rear being the most vulnerable. This is good to keep in mind, both for players using vehicles as cover and for those attacking enemy vehicles. If their units are facing the vehicle’s front side, it’s best to try and flank it before attacking.
2Sacrificing Units
Unlike other RTS and tactical games,units inCompany of Heroes 3are all extremely valuable. Each unit requires a certain number of resources to be effective and will take up a spot in the player’s army. Those spots are limited, meaning each unit is important and should be preserved when possible.
Units with more experience – also known as veteran units – are often stronger and more survivable than fresh units. As such, sacrificing units in a blaze of glory often works against the player’s best interests. Instead, if a unit is about to be killed, players should use the “Retreat” button. This will send the unit running back to their army’s base, and they will receive a movement speed boost and immunity to suppressing fire and being pinned down in the process. It’s the best way to ensure they can return to fight another day.
1Not Taking The High Ground
Positioning is everything when it comes tounit placement and battle tactics. Units on the ground can be easily pinned down, are vulnerable to artillery fire and grenades, and struggle to damage enemy units behind strong cover. Units with high ground, however, have an advantage in all these cases.
As mentioned earlier, buildings provide excellent cover and a vantage point to scout further ahead, but they can provide more than that. Buildings with flat roofs will allow units to set up heavy machine guns and rain down gunfire from above. Even if they aren’t in a building, units placed in an elevated position over the battlefield will have a longer line of sight and an advantage over enemies in cover on the ground. Therefore, whenever possible, claim the high ground.
Company of Heroes 3was released on February 23rd, 2023, on PC. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are also in development.
