Advanced Tactics

You know everything about the units available to you and your opponent. You chose a strategy and know exactly how you’ll execute it. But these things alone will not ensure victory on the battlefield.

You do not need lightning reflexes to be an expert at this game. Among the best players, games are decided by superior tactics and strategy, not by clicking slightly faster. In this section, I assume that you already understand the Essentials (see the “Essentials” chapter) and work on optimizing your play, but you still run into problems when faced with split-second decisions during gameplay.

Some questions can only be answered through experience, and it’s important to realize that any mistakes you make related to lacking this game knowledge will correct themselves over time as you play. Here are two examples of this type of question:

• Will my MG42 pin the suppressed unit of Conscripts before they throw a Molotov cocktail or should I pack up and move preemptively? If the Molotov hits my squad, it might die before I can Retreat it, but if I pack up the MG42 to move, the Conscripts may be able to get away and threaten my flank before I can redeploy it.
• Can I risk firing a final Panzerschreck volley with my half-health Panzergrenadiers at an enemy T-34 before I Retreat, or will the squad be killed by the next shot?

However, there is much knowledge to be gained from other players that you should try to acquire and implement while you play.

• What’s the best way to attack a passive enemy force in a defensive position that lacks team weapons and artillery?
• How do I counter an early German Half-track with Flame Projectors without losing several of my infantry squads?
• What are the most common mistakes made by average players?

Notice that the questions from the second set are more likely to come up as you reflect back on your play and are less likely to have clear answers. Waiting a moment too long to Retreat an infantry squad gives you the immediate feedback of losing your unit. Encountering difficulty while engaging a specific enemy unit, like the German Half-track, does not provide you with direct feedback as to what works and what doesn’t. This section of the guide will assist you in choosing optimal actions when obvious ones do not exist.