Hearts of Iron IV Combat Guide

Key Principle

• In Hearts of Iron IV, organization is crucial. The side that runs out of organization first loses the battle.

Types of Divisions

1. Offensive Divisions:
   • Designed to attack.
   • Example: Infantry Divisions augmented with artillery.
2. Defensive Divisions:
   • Designed to hold the line.
   • Example: Standard Infantry Divisions.

Importance of Terrain

• Forests: Penalize attackers with -15 attack and breakthrough.
• Plains: Favorable for attack.
• Rivers: Offer strong defensive benefits due to attack debuffs.
• Mountains: Also highly defensible and tough to attack.
• General Rule: Use rivers and mountains for defense, and plains for attacks.

Supply

• Critical for maintaining organization and effectiveness.
• Poor supply leads to massive debuffs:
  • Attrition
  • Loss of equipment
  • Low organization and HP

Division Design

Defensive Divisions

• Focus on high organization, defense, and HP.
• Infantry units are ideal.

Offensive Divisions

1. Infantry with Artillery:
   • Artillery adds soft attack and breakthrough.
   • Downsides: More supply needed, lower reliability, reduces organization.
   • Aim for offensive units to have above 40 organization.
2. Tank Divisions:
   • Emphasis on armor, breakthrough, and soft attack.
   • Armor prevents piercing and reduces incoming damage.
   • Example: Medium Tank Division with 43 organization, 109 breakthrough, 25 armor, and 102 soft attack.

Practical Examples

• Regular Infantry: Lower attack and breakthrough, leading to faster loss.
• Infantry with Artillery: Higher soft attack and breakthrough, leading to longer combat sustainability.
• Tank Divisions: High armor and breakthrough, making them effective in prolonged attacks.
• Defense benefits from rivers and mountains for strong defensive positions.

Attack Strategies

1. Multiple Directions:
   • Increases combat width (number of divisions in a battle).
   • Boosts effectiveness of attacks.

Close Air Support (CAS)

• CAS can significantly impact the outcome by providing air support.
• CAS Effects:
  • Inflicts damage on organization and strength of enemy units.
• Example: CAS helps win battles even with challenging terrain like river crossings and urban areas.

Conclusion

• Always consider terrain, supply, division composition, and air support for effective combat in Hearts of Iron IV.