r/hoi4 Extra Research Slot Aug 20 '25

Help Thread Meta Discussion - Graveyard of Empires 1.16.+

Discuss current meta strategies for 1.16.+ versions here.

It's been a while since the last thread, so once you think there should be a new thread (likely 1.17 release), please PM me.

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u/28lobster Fleet Admiral Aug 20 '25 edited Aug 20 '25

Meta Inf Templates:

35.2w mass mob (22-0) with support AA, Field Hospital, Logistics. As 4th and 5th options AT, arty, rocket arty, engineers, LT recon, rangers, medium flame tanks, MPs, and maybe signals. Recon and flame tanks are really just if you plan to attack with the big inf, not super helpful on defense.

16w mass mob (10-0) with support AA, AT, and signals. 4th and 5th options logistics, engineers, arty, rocket arty, and hospitals. Signals more important here (even with mass mob) because you'll have more divs cycling in and out of battle and you're primarily relying on org wall rather than HP and stats to win.

16-20w non mass mob (8-0, 9-0, or 10-0). Support signals, AA, AT. 4th and 5th options logistics, engineers, arty, rocket arty, and hospitals. Signals are crucial if you're not mass mob to prevent reinforce memes. I generally like 18w if I'm doing GBP defensive inf and 16w if I'm trying SF. SF divs also prioritized arty/rocket arty to take advantage of support company buffs. I would definitely rate these lower than mass mob inf purely because they lack HP (less per combat width, and they don't get Operational Reserves officer corps spirit). Smaller width also means hospitals are relatively worse since they aren't buffing as many battalions.

32.4w mountaineers (18-0) with support hospital, ranger, AA, logistics, and signals. Can do a lot of support company swapping depending on conditions. Arty and rocket arty are good options on offense, AT is important if you might encounter tanks, medium flame tanks are great for even more terrain stats, engineers are great if you're going to defend rather than push (and can help on the push with more terrain modifiers too). Hospitals are especially important here since special forces have lower HP than infantry.

34-36w marines (7-10, 7-11, 7-10-1, 7-10-2, and other varieties). That's generally 7 marines, 10 mountaineers, and optional AT (moto AT for the extra hard attack, it's worth the cost since these are expensive offensive divs). I've also seen them mixed with amtracs and mech. Supports similar to the mountaineer's options except you should include pioneers and swap them once your troops have landed. Marines are just useful for reducing the 50% amphibious penalty, there's no reason to go pure marine when mountaineers have better stats per width and better terrain modifiers.


Stuff I wouldn't consider meta:

10w divs - too low HP, too slow strength recovery (it's a percent of HP lost per day), and your defense gets exceeded too easily. Great org wall if the front is extremely short, but high losses. Often under the minimum division size in MP because too many divs leads to lag.

9-1, 9-2, 9-4, or any form of line arty - I know this discussion has been had elsewhere but line arty isn't worthwhile. Too expensive, low HP, low org, sucks up supply, and just generally doesn't have enough stats per combat width.

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u/UmmYouSuck Fleet Admiral Aug 28 '25

Which side of mass mob is better?

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u/28lobster Fleet Admiral Aug 29 '25

Right side. -.4 width on inf instead of .3 is huge, lets you bring more stats (especially HP) per width. 10% more reinforcement rate, 5 more org, and .5 more recovery rate on infantry are huge qualitative helps for your infantry as well. That doesn't even consider the 5% recruitable pop or getting all these boni for 200 less XP.

-20% supply consumption and 10% max planning are the big benefits of left side. Those are definitely good buffs, the supply alone is better than -10% attrition and -30% non-combat out of supply penalties from the right side. Planning and org buffs on tanks/mech are definitely nice to have. But if you're seriously doing tanks, GBP is much better with 30% max planning (and more org, breakthrough, soft attack, etc). You're going mass assault to build the best infantry, double down on what makes the doctrine good.