Tips and Tricks
Losses in tactical battles
Losses matter, strategically. But only a unit actually killed or surrendered is lost. If an infantry squad is damaged it will have full strength after the battle. Losses cannot be replaced. Only new divisions called it as reinforcements.
Specific unit counts
Always take a good look at the units in a formation. Both your own and enemy ones. There can be nasty surprises. Also watch out for some infantry units coming with halftracks or armored cars as transports.
AT is especially valuable for Axis units. Make sure to propely manage artillery, AT/Armor and CQC infantry groups (such as Pioniers) to be available to support lackluster line infantry battalions where they are supposed to hold. Entrenching them also helps a lot of course.
Soviet Rifle Regiments are usually more permissive in that regard. They are large enough and have lots of own Mortars, MGs and AT to be more flexible on the field and can hold their own if used correctly.
Minor, major and total victory
In tactical battles, the amount of flags hold decides the battle. If you overwhelm your enemy quickly that can be the case even in phase A already.
Minor victory will push the loser a bit back on the strategic map. But the retreat will be orderly. So its not really a disastar if that happens.
If you face an overwhelming enemy, going for an “fighting retreat” by trying to cede a minor defeat only (hold 7-9 flags) can be a viable tactic. Especially if you inflicts lots of losses on the attacker.
Unfortunately, there is no way to retreat/avoid the battle when attacked. You have to make that decision before the enemy is in attack range. If you’re attacked by a superior enemy in all phases, try to go for minor defeat.
Major victory (enemy hold less then 6 flags), will lead to the enemy formations involved in the battle to be disorganized for like one or two strategic turns. Disorganized units cannot attack or defend while in that condition can be easily surrendered on the strategic map if there are no reinforcements able to save them.
Total victory (enemy holds 3 or less flags): the same but the disorganized effect lasts longer.
Major and total victories can also lead to straight-up surrendering the formation attacked if it is already heavily demoralized and decimated.
So one should always avoid those themselves and try to push extra hard as long as you don’t take too much casualties or overstretch yourself.
Requisition points
Income is determined by the amount of formations joining the battle and will rise with each phase for both sides.
Starting income and the new phase starting income seems to be determined by the amount of activation points (cohesion or so it may be called- don’t remeber right now) a specific formation has (displayed in the units info card right on its picture- again, check those)
Its difficult to provide general strategic tips.
On the defense, I’d say its best to try and make as tight-knitted defensive lines as possible. That means high unit density and artillery support spread across a front line that should be short enough to make that viable. Use rivers/swamps to your advantage and don’t be afraid to pull back to shorten your lines.
Wear down the enemy by trading well in tactical battles. You can counter-attack later.
Attacking is especially viable on the flanks, best where the enemy has already attacked or skirmished with you and has been “softened-up”. Once you manage a breakthrough on one of the strategic flanks its usually much easier from there on, as the AI is not the best to reacting to such events and usually focuses too much on attacking the main targets along a central axis of attack.
If you manage to breakthrough/outmanouver the enemy, go ahead and push for major objective quickly but make sure to keep the supply lines connected to your main front and don’t get surrounded yourself. This is especially relevant for the Soviet objectives.
Bonus tip
Never ever autobattle, unless its so desperate you don’t hope to get a single kill (ex: IS-2 against lone rearguard unit). Even if you attack 20mm flaks with Panthers, you’ll get many of your units destroyed. Germans seem to have the upper hand on autoresolve, but their unit numbers pale in comparison to the soviets, so, unless they score totals everytime, they will be screwed in the mid term.
More Guides:
- Steel Division 2 – Shortest Starter Guide
- Steel Division 2 – Beginner’s Guide
- Steel Division 2 – Battlegroups Guide / Making One from Scratch
- Steel Division 2 – About Commanders and Leaders
- Steel Division 2 – Manspam Tactics Guide
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