Background
I'm writing this guide to help players learn effective strategies in Company of Heroes 3 in a 2v2 multiplayer setting, where most of my experience is derived from. Derivations of this build order may work in other game modes as well.
I'm a pretty big fan of real time strategy games, and enjoy helping people learn and succeed. I believe that through sharing knowledge we can help people succeed in this game,thereby fostering a healthier competitive multiplayer environment.
When compared to 1v1, 2v2s are unique in that resource income is somewhat quicker, while both individual skill and team play is required to be successful. Also situations where command point timings would be relevant in 1v1, are less potent in a team game situation.
This guide was written for game version 1.4 in December 2023 using experience documented on my Youtube and Twitch[www.twitch.tv] channels.
Build Summary
The core ideas here are to stall in early game, rush Panzer Grendiers in order to apply fierce infantry pressure during midgame, and ideally prevent the allies from snowballing. If you do get into a protracted end game fight, the luftwaffe battlegroup doctrine provides you: increased manpower, got off maps air strikes, and vision abilities to support a pile of Panzer 4s & high damage infantry.
Core Units
1 Pioneer
1 Fallschirmpioneer
2 MG 42
Mortar (optional)
2 Pak 40
3 PanzerGrenadiers
Healing BunkerLate Game
AT/AI - Panzer 4(s)
AI - Stoßtruppen Squad (replacement for Panzer Grenadiers)
Indirect - Nebelwerfers Munition Prioirty
Flamethrower
Medical Bunker
Defensive Mines
Bundle Grenades
Luftwaffe Frag Bombs or Loiters
The choices here reflect giving you tools to win during late game. Vision for your team's indirect, reduced manpower costs to keep your infantry heavy build going, and off map abilities to punish blobbing or team weapon heavy builds.
Early Game
Build Order
Infantry Companie
Luftwaffe Battlegroup Selection
Fallschirm Pioneer
MG42
Ketten (optional)
Flamer Pio Upgrade (when munis avail)
MG 42
Mortar (optional)
What to do with these units
EARLY GAME IS ABOUT SECURING RESOURCE FLOW
Immediately drop your Fallschrim Pioneer on the nearby fuel and lock it down with sandbags. Move your pios & first MG towards it, back capping as you go. Use your two pios to scout or bait targets into the MG, suppress squads and then advance to engage.
Example Early Gameplay
Early Game Theory
For Wehrmacht, the whole point of Early game is to not-lose, by taking and hold a critical part of the map, and building out your core units. In this case, that means holding the Large Fuel (+10), at least one Victory Point and relevant green cover. Then building Panzer grenadiers by the 5 minute mark. Keep your units relatively close to one another so they can support and overwhelm in every engagement.
Remember: Your at-minimum job is sit near the fuel & VP (not on top of) and reasonably hold them until you can build into the next phase.
Failing to obtain ~ 30-40% map control during this phase will result in serious resource deficiencies you may never be to recover from. in 2v2 it is unlikely you'll be able to disconnect the other teams territories to compensate for superior opposing team resource flow.
Early Game Threats
Allies, in my opinion, have a huge mobility & damage advantage during the early game phase. They will do their best to flank your positions, overwhelm individual squads and capture your flanks. Mitigate this by keeping your units close enough to support one another and in cover, and understand that all you just need to hold the points nearest to the large fuel to not-lose. Do not spread out too much, as an allied player will be able to find your two units over yonder, and commit all of their units to clear them out, thus dislodging you from the map.
A less mobile allied player may op to build a mortar, these units will force you to reposition MGs. This in itself isn't a huge issue, as the allied player will have less combat units to push with, when they inevitably push and get suppressed, you'll have a huge combat unit count to exploit & push with. Mitigation: move your MGs around small amounts to avoid damage, pull lines back slightly to bait forward infantry into MGs. Every minute you delay them, brings you closer to your T2 build.
When to take Initiative
In any situation where you have suppressed 1-2 squads, you have an immediate (and extremely large) advantage. Push your grens + pio forward to take advantage, focus firing down squads as best possible, and overrun/dislodge any mortars. A smart allied player will immediately retreat, so they can get back on the field quicker.
If your opponent builds MGs, just smile, casually build a mortar. Because what are we doing? holding our ground. MGs on their own cannot push.
Mid Game
Build Order Panzergrenadier Kompanie (T3)
Panzer Grenadier (4:30-6 minutes)
Pak 40
Panzer Grenadier
Medical Bunker
Pak 40 (optional)
Panzer Grenadier
Support Upgrade
Nebel Werfer
Stug (optional)
Mid-Game Munitions Priority
Medical Base
Mines
Panzer Grenadier Grenades
Panzer Grenadier Usage
As noted, this build rushes straight for panzer grenadiers, skipping Grenadiers. Demonstrated in the damage (y axis) vs range (x axis) graph below, Panzer grenadiers excel in close or mid range situations. The significant close range damage gives you the ability to wipe squads or team weapons that would otherwise escape if we were to use grenadiers. Additionally, their bundle grenades will nearly always wipes team weapons, or stationary infantry squads.
Pak 40
The biggest weakness of this build is the lack of Anti-Tank damage. Ass you exit early game, when you have two MGs, pios and perhaps a Panzer Grenadier out, you very vulnerable to a light vehicle. A Pak 40 used in conjunction with mines, will help you check any light vehicles.
You must be hyper aware of allied player light vehicles threats, if you are behind on fuel, you may need to build the pak40 first or get two before finishing out your 3 panzer grenadier squads. If at any point you are able to destroy the allied light vehicle, you will have an immense advantage with your 3 Panzer Grenadier squads.
Medical Bunker
As of patch 1.4.2, the medical bunker is preferred to the base heal. This is because the bunker will produce free models (medics will run across the map), and building a bunker does not consume fuel, there by delaying your first fuel unit. Try to build your bunker after you have sufficient panzer grenadiers.
Stugs
Build stugs if you sense your opponent will be massing Medium armor, especially if you've got extra resources. You should have no quarrels losing stugs at a 1:1 rate with allied armor, as this will prevent them from creating a medium armor snowball.
Mid Game Example
Battlegroup Selections
In my opinion, you should rush for the infantry reserves passive on the right side. This will free up manpower for use towards teching into T4, or getting some nebel werfers.
If your opponent is airborne heavy, consider getting the Luftwaffe Combat group for the whirblewind and jaeger (shreck) squad. The jaeger shreck squad can take the place of what would've been a second pak.
Late Game
Build Order
Tech 4 Building
AT/AI - Panzer 4(s)
AI - Stoßtruppen Squad (replace dead PGs)
Bunkers
Veterancy Upgrades
If the game makes it to this point, you should focus entirely on holding VPs, and building late game units that counteract the mid game composition of your opponents.
Excess manpower should be spent on bunkers for forward reinforce, or camping VPs / flanks. A second pioneer is useful for spending munis on mines, construction bunkers & repair duty.
Stoßtruppen Squad
Arguably the one of the best infantry units in the game, if you lose a Panzer grenadier try to replace it with one of these guys. They will win most long range infantry fights, and can annihilate team weapons (such as AT guns).
Panzer 4s
Panzer 4s are generalist tanks which can fight infantry just as well as other tanks. Acquire a Panzer 4 as soon as you have the fuel, and use it to push off infantry capturing the flanks, knock out pesky MGs, and just add damage to any push you've got going. As a mobile tank, you must move it around and apply damage on the map where you need it most -- while retreating it from AT threats as soon as they appear.
One method of ending the game is to work on acquiring a critical mass of Panzer 4s. Usually 3 or more panzer 4s in a single push,follow up with your close range infantry will often create a decisive battle.
Supporting Troyd
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Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3124336694
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