Game Tips - Company of Heroes 2

Game Tips – Company of Heroes 2

Comprehensive guide covering beginner, intermediate, and advanced strategies for all factions.

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1. Beginner Tips

#### 1.1 Capture Points Early & Often

Tip: In the first 30 seconds, send one or two squads to capture the nearest victory point or fuel/munition point. Don’t leave your base idle.

Why: Territory gives resources. Fuel lets you build tanks; munitions enable abilities and upgrades. A quick cap denies enemy income and accelerates your tech.

When: Always at game start. Re-cap points after losing them.

Tip: Always move infantry from green cover (bushes) to green cover. Avoid standing in the open.

Why: Green cover reduces incoming damage by 50%, yellow cover (sandbags) by 25%. Units in the open die fast.

When: Every engagement. Pre-position behind rocks or walls before enemy contact.

Tip: Use engineer squads or vehicle crew to repair tanks and half-tracks. Don’t let your tanks burn.

Why: A damaged tank is still effective; a repaired one can fight multiple engagements.

When: After retreating or during lulls in combat.

Tip: Press R to instantly order a squad to sprint back to base invulnerable for a few seconds.

Why: Prevents squad wipe, preserves veterancy. Better to retreat early than lose six men.

When: As soon as a squad takes heavy casualties or is outnumbered.

Tip: Indirect fire is critical for dislodging enemies from buildings or behind heavy cover.

Why: Direct assaults on fortified positions cause heavy losses. Barrage forces enemy to move or die.

When: Mid-game (after 2-3 infantry squads).

2. Economy & Resources

Tip: Prioritize fuel points over munition points in the early game.

Why: Fuel determines your vehicle timing. A Tiger or T-34 arriving two minutes earlier wins fights.

When: On maps with fuel points, cap them first. Trade munitions for fuel if needed using doctrines.

Tip: Save munitions for key abilities like grenades, mortar flares, or defensive artillery.

Why: Wasting munitions on unnecessary infantry upgrades delays powerful call-ins.

When: Don’t spam upgrade every squad; pick 1-2 explosive-focused squads.

Tip: Place structures inside your base’s build radius; don’t over-extend with forward buildings early.

Why: Forward bases are vulnerable. Keep your economy safe until you control the map center.

When: Mid-game after securing at least 2-3 sectors.

Tip: Always send a scout or engineer to capture neutral fuel and munitions on your side of the map.

Why: Every point adds to your income. Missing one gives opponent free resources.

When: At game start and after each major fight when you push forward.

3. Unit Management & Micro

Tip: Press R to order a vehicle to reverse out of danger instead of turning around.

Why: Turning exposes weak rear armor. Reversing keeps front armor facing enemy.

When: Any time a vehicle is under anti-tank fire.

Tip: Select multiple anti-tank squads and have them target the same tank one by one.

Why: Concentrated fire destroys vehicles faster than spread damage. Reduces enemy damage output.

When: Against heavy tanks or multiple vehicles.

Tip: Use separate control groups for different unit types. Avoid moving all infantry as one blob.

Why: A single mortar shell can wipe a blob. Spread units to use cover and avoid splash.

When: Always. Split squads into 2-3 groups to flank.

Tip: Many infantry and vehicles have smoke launchers. Use smoke to block enemy line of sight.

Why: Allows safe retreat or advance across open ground. Denies enemy MG fire.

When: When crossing roads or charging a defended position.

4. Map Control & Vision

Tip: Send a single scout or sniper forward to reveal enemy positions.

Why: Knowledge prevents ambushes. Scouting lets you choose engagements on your terms.

When: Throughout the game. Keep a scout near the front line.

Tip: Use recon abilities (e.g., Soviet mortar flare, Wehrmacht scout car) to reveal fog of war.

Why: Reveals hidden AT guns or minefields. Prevents nasty surprises.

When: Before pushing into a sector you suspect is defended.

Tip: Kill engineers building forward headquarters or bunkers.

Why: Destroying their forward base delays their offense and cuts their retreat path.

When: When you see a builder behind enemy lines.

5. Build Orders & Tech Paths

Tip: Start with 4 Conscript squads, then tier to T1 for scout car, or skip to T2 for Zis guns.

Why: Conscripts are cheap, cap fast, and can merge with other squads. T2 gives AT capability.

When: General purpose. Adapt if facing early armor: rush T2.

Tip: 1 Pioneer, 2 Grenadiers, then tech to T2 for MG42 or mortar.

Why: Grenadiers have long-range rifles; MG42 suppresses infantry. Controls early engagements.

When: Standard for most maps. Against Soviet spam, add an early flamer half-track.

Tip: Start with Sturmpioneers, then build 2-3 Volksgrenadiers and tech to Flak HQ for AA halftrack.

Why: Sturmpioneers are strong up close; Volks cap flanks. Flak HQ gives anti-air and anti-infantry.

When: On open maps. Avoid early blobs.

Tip: Use Infantry Sections in cover, build a training center for upgrades, then tech to AEC armored car.

Why: British infantry are powerful in cover. AEC is excellent for early vehicle harassment.

When: On maps with lots of hedgerows. Weak on open fields.

6. Combat Tactics

Tip: Send one squad to engage frontally while another moves around to attack from the side or rear.

Why: Units take damage from any direction but are less likely to use cover when outflanked. Also, vehicles have weaker side/rear armor.

When: Against MG nests, tanks, or entrenched infantry.

Tip: Many infantry squads (e.g., Soviet Conscripts with AT nade upgrade) can throw satchel charges at tanks.

Why: Cheapest way to damage armor. One well-placed nade can track a tank.

When: When a tank is stationary or in close range.

Tip: Pair infantry with vehicles. Use infantry to spot and suppress, vehicles to kill.

Why: Infantry alone can’t kill tanks; tanks alone get swarmed by RPGs. Combined covers weaknesses.

When: Mid-game onward. Never send tanks without infantry escort.

Tip: Veteran units (chevron icons) are much more effective. Retreat them early.

Why: Veteran bonuses (accuracy, reload speed, health) make them worth 2x a fresh unit.

When: If a veteran squad is under fire and low on health, retreat immediately.

7. Advanced Optimizations

Tip: Use control groups: 1-3 for infantry, 4-5 for vehicles, 6 for engineers, 7 for artillery. Use `Q` for abilities.

Why: Fast selection leads to precise micro. Respond to threats instantly.

When: Practice in skirmish mode until reflexive.

Tip: Order units to attack a specific ground area to reveal hidden enemies or flush garrisons.

Why: Prevents ambush when you suspect presence (e.g., near a building).

When: When approaching enemy-held points.

Tip: Place mines (engineers or Wehrmacht) on enemy resource points and common paths.

Why: Kills units, tracks vehicles, gives vision when detonated.

When: After securing an area, lay mines before the enemy counterattacks.

Tip: Attack when you have a numerical advantage or when enemy is distracted (e.g., repairing vehicles).

Why: Rushing into a prepared defense wastes resources. Wait for your artillery cooldown or reinforce first.

When: Analyze minimap. Only initiate when you see opportunity.

Tip: Pick a commander doctrine that counters your opponent’s playstyle. For example, Soviet Guard Motor if facing heavy armor; Wehrmacht Luftwaffe if facing air spam.

Why: Doctrines provide unique abilities that can turn the tide.

When: Before the match (scout commander in pre-game).

8. Defensive & Siege Tactics

Tip: Engineers can build sandbags and bunkers. Place them in key defensive positions.

Why: Provides cover and suppresses enemy advances. A well-placed bunker can hold a sector.

When: After capping a strategic point near a bottleneck.

Tip: Press Backspace to view the strategic map and order long-range attacks.

Why: Better overview for coordinating multiple fronts. Use to call in off-map artillery.

When: During lulls or when planning a multi-pronged attack.

Tip: Use a scout or a cheap squad to bait sniper shots, then mortar the sniper’s position.

Why: Snipers are high-value but fragile. Once revealed, they die quickly to indirect fire.

When: If you suspect a sniper. Listen for the shot sound.

9. Resource Denial (Economic Warfare)

Tip: Send a fast vehicle or infiltration squad to cut enemy supply lines (the road sectors).

Why: Reduces enemy income drastically. Often more impactful than fighting head-on.

When: Mid-game when you have a mobile unit (e.g., Soviet cavalry, Wehrmacht half-track).

Tip: Use paratroopers or commando squads to capture deep neutral points.

Why: Forces enemy to divert units, creating openings on the main front.

When: After establishing map control in your half.

10. Psychology & Mind Games

Tip: Order a unit to appear to retreat, then cancel and attack when enemy chases.

Why: Enemy may overextend, leaving cover. Use this to lure into your MG fields of fire.

When: When you have a defensive line established.

Tip: Leave a damaged squad visible to tempt enemy attack, then spring an ambush.

Why: Enemy greedy for kills often walks into traps.

When: Only when you have a backup force hidden.

11. Faction-Specific Nuances

Tip: Use Conscripts to merge with other squads (Penals, Guards) to reinforce them for cheap.

Why: Saves munitions and time. Keeps elite squads full without building new units.

When: Frequently in mid-late game.

Tip: Keep Grenadiers alive to earn veterancy. Vet 3 Grenadiers are arguably best infantry.

Why: Gains damage reduction, accuracy, and faster reloads.

When: Avoid reckless attacks with them.

Tip: Upgrade to Flak 38 on halftrack. It provides mobile anti-air and anti-infantry.

Why: Dominates early infantry and denies enemy aircraft. Great support vehicle.

When: Build as soon as you have a fuel lead.

Tip: Use Vickers machine guns and 6-pounder AT guns effectively. Creep them forward in cover.

Why: Defensive play rewards careful positioning. Don’t overextend.

When: On maps with long sight lines.

12. Map Awareness & Minimap Usage

Tip: Look at the minimap every 5-10 seconds to spot enemy movements.

Why: Prevents flanking and surprise attacks. Gives you time to react.

When: Always. Make it a habit.

Tip: Use pings (Alt + click) to alert teammates of enemy positions or objectives.

Why: Coordination wins team games. A simple ping can save a teammate.

When: In multiplayer, ping whenever you spot something significant.

13. Patches & Meta Changes

Tip: Read patch notes. Meta shifts every update; obsolete builds may be weak.

Why: Knowing what’s strong keeps you competitive. Example: certain tanks become cheaper after buffs.

When: Before each ranked season.

Tip: Download replays from top players (available in game or on sites like CoH2.org).

Why: See effective build orders and micro decisions in context.

When: After learning basics, to refine your play.

14. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake: Ignoring resource points entirely.

Fix

Mistake: Building too many units without tech.

Fix

Mistake: Leaving vehicles idle.

Fix

Mistake: Not using retreat hotkey.

Fix

Mistake: Overextending into enemy base.

- Fix: Only push when you have map control and a local advantage.

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15. Final Pro Advice

> "Company of Heroes 2 is won by controlling the middle of the map, not by destroying the enemy base." – Relic Entertainment design philosophy.

Patience, discipline, and constant learning separate good players from great ones. Practice in skirmish vs AI before jumping into multiplayer. Good luck, commander!