There are three Battlegroups for the Wehrmacht faction in Company of Heroes 3, each allowing players to hone their army to fit a particular playstyle or match a specific threat. Where to spend their constant income of Command Points is one of the most difficult decisions players will face in any Company of Heroes 3 Skirmish, and knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each Battlegroup is essential.
Mechanized Battlegroup
The Mechanized Battlegroup allows the Wehrmacht faction to share some of the tricks and abilities of their allies, the Deutsches Afrikakorp in Company of Heroes 3. This includes a heavier focus on light vehicles and aggressive abilities and rounds out with a powerful heavy tank to dominate the late-game battlefield.
Mechanized Armor Tree
The Mechanized Armor tree begins with the Raid Package, followed by a choice between the StuG Assault Group and the 8 Rad Armored Car, and ends with the Panther Heavy Tank.
Raid Package (2 Command Points)
- Allows light vehicles to capture territory and equips all vehicles with Smoke Cannisters to block line of sight.
StuG Assault Group (3 Command Points, 600 Manpower, 60 Fuel, 18 Pop)
- Spawns an anti-infantry, anti-emplacement StuG III D Assault Gun with a Panzergrenadier Squad riding on the back.
- The StuG III D is identical to the same unit in the Deutsches Afrikakorp faction roster but comes with the Wehrmacht ability to Hull Down for increased protection.
8 Rad Armored Car (2 Command Points, 400 Manpower, 40 Fuel, 8 Pop)
- A light armored car armed with a 20mm autocannon and an MG 34 machine gun for effective damage against infantry and light vehicles.
- Almost identical to the same vehicle in the Deutsches Afrikakorp roster and equally useful for harassing and capturing territory in the early to mid-game.
- Gains the Signal Detection ability at Veterancy Rank 1, allowing it to detect enemy units in the fog of war when stationary.
Panther Heavy Tank (8 Command Points, 550 Manpower, 100 Fuel, 16 Pop
- A heavily-armored tank armed with a powerful 75mm cannon and a single MG 34 machine gun.
- Best used against Allied WW2 armor, as it lacks the anti-infantry firepower of some of its counterparts.
- Despite extremely tough front armor, it's weaker than equivalent heavy tanks at the sides and rear, leaving it vulnerable to flanking.
- Gains the ability to use Focused Fire at Veterancy Rank 1, lowering speed but increasing accuracy and rate-of-fire for a short time.
Mechanized Support Tree
The Mechanized Support tree begins with a choice between Fuel Seizure and Spotting scopes, followed by a decision between Mechanized Assault and Zeroing Artillery Barrage, and ends with a choice between the Stostruppen Assault Package and the Wespe Self-Propelled Artillery.
Fuel Seizure (1 Command Point)
- Capturing a Fuel point with an infantry unit will grant an immediate 5 Fuel, giving the player an edge against slower factions like the British Forces.
Spotting Scopes (1 Command Point)
- Enables vehicles to be upgraded with Spotting Scopes for 30 Munitions to increase their line of sight.
Mechanized Assault (2 Command Points, 80 Munitions)
- Increases the speed and defenses of Axis WW2 infantry when near vehicles and causes all vehicles to self-repair for a short time.
Zeroing Artillery Barrage (3 Command Points, 200 Munitions)
- Calls in a powerful series of artillery strikes that first land in a wide circle and then close to the center.
Stostruppen Assault Package (2 Command Points)
- Allows all Stostruppen Squads to be upgraded with the Ambush Package for 75 Munitions, replacing their weapons with powerful STG 44 assault rifles and granting them the ability to camouflage when in cover.
Wespe Self-Propelled Artillery (4 Command Points, 400 Manpower, 80 Fuel, 12 Pop)
- A slow-moving and lightly-armored artillery tank armed with a 105mm howitzer for long-range barrages.
- Cannot directly target enemy units but has the ability to fire a High-Explosive barrage every 60 seconds.
- Gains the ability to fire a Creeping Barrage at Veterancy Rank 1, hitting a line-shaped area with a series of strikes.
Breakthrough Battlegroup
The Breakthrough Battlegroup is all about rushing to the late-game, granting Wehrmacht players the ability to boost income, survive longer with their basic Grenadier Squads, and quickly churn out vehicles to meet an ever-changing battlefield. This unusual RTS playstyle ends with a choice between an all-rounder tank that can boost the player's existing vehicles or one of the strongest tanks of WW2.
Assault Forces Tree
The Assault Forces tree begins with Assault Grenadiers, followed by a choice between Breakthrough and Smoke Bombing Run, and ends with a choice between Mechanized Assault Group and Incendiary Bombing Run.
Assault Grenadiers (0 Command Points)
- Allows Grenadier Squads to be upgraded with the Assault Package (45 Munitions), replacing three of their rifles with close-range MP40 submachine guns, swapping the Stick Grenade ability for the more powerful Grenade Assault (45 Munitions), and granting the Sprint ability (15 Munitions), that increases speed for a short time.
Breakthrough (1 Command Points, 40 Munitions)
- Increases the decapture and capture speed of all infantry by 50% for 40 seconds.
Smoke Bombing Run (1 Command Points)
- Drops a line of smoke bombs that block line of sight.
Mechanized Assault Group (3 Command Points, 520 Manpower, 20 Fuel)
- Deploys a 251 Medium Carrier carrying a Stostruppen Squad.
- While both of these units are available in the standard Wehrmacht roster, the Mechanized Assault Group is cheaper and allows access to them without the Panzergrenadier or Panzer Kompanie buildings.
Incendiary Bombing Run (2 Command Points, 125 Munitions)
- Drops a line of incendiary bombs that deal heavy damage-over-time to infantry.
Armored Offensive Tree
The Armored Offensive tree begins with a choice between Rapid Production and the 2.5-Tonne Cargo Truck, followed by Blitzkrieg, and ends with a choice between the Panzer IV Command Tank and the Tiger Heavy Tank.
Rapid Production (1 Command Point)
- Reduces the production time of all vehicles by 50%.
2.5-Tonne Cargo Truck (1 Command Point, 240 Manpower, 15 Fuel, 3 Pop)
- A light and unarmed support vehicle that can use Resource Supervision to increase the output of its current sector but is unable to move while in this mode.
Blitzkrieg (3 Command Points, 125 Munitions)
- Globally increases vehicle speed and rate-of-fire and makes them harder to hit.
Panzer IV Command Tank (4 Command Points, 380 Manpower, 90 Fuel, 12 Pop)
- An all-rounder medium tank armed with a 75mm short-barrel cannon and a pair of MG 34 machine guns, almost identical to the same tank from the Deutsches Afrikakorp Armored Support Battlegroup.
- Passively boosts the armor and rate-of-fire of nearby friendly vehicles.
- Has the ability to switch between Armor-Piercing and High-Explosive Rounds at any time, allowing players to counter both tanks and infantry.
Tiger Heavy Tank (9 Command Points, 700 Manpower, 180 Fuel, 20 Pop)
- One of the most powerful heavy tanks used in WW2's European campaigns, armed with a huge 88mm cannon and two MG 34 machine guns.
- Almost identical to the same unit from the Deutsches Afrikakorp Mechanized Assault Group, but with a different Veterancy ability.
- Can be upgraded with an additional MG 34 for even more anti-infantry firepower.
- Gains the Timed Fuse Shot ability (40 Munitions) at Veterancy Rank 1, firing a special high-explosive shell that deals increased damage to infantry and emplacements.
Luftwaffe Battlegroup
Despite its access to stealthy elite infantry, the Luftwaffe Battlegroup strengthens the core Wehrmacht playstyle rather than replacing it. The key to this synergy is the Fallschirmpioneer Squad, an elite construction team who can add powerful emplacements to the Wehrmacht's trademark defensive positions while Stuka dive bombers drive off troublesome attacks from the Allies.
Luftwaffe Air-to-Ground Support Tree
The Luftwaffe Air-to-Ground Support tree begins with a choice between Reconnaissance Run and Stuka Strafing Run, followed by the Fallschirmjager Squad Paradrop, and ends with a choice between Fragmentation Bombs and Stuka Loiter.
Reconnaissance Run (1 Command Point, 35 Munitions)
- Calls in a recon plane to cross the battlefield in a straight line, granting all-important line of sight as it travels.
Stuka Strafing Run (2 Command Points, 75 Munitions)
- Calls in a WW2 Stuka dive bomber to strafe a line-shaped area with its machine guns, damaging and suppressing infantry.
Fallschirmjager Squad Paradrop (1 Command Point, 360 Manpower, 10 Pop)
- An elite and stealthy 4-man infantry squad armed with FG-42 assault rifles for mid-range combat.
- Best used as a relatively cheap and dominant infantry unit in the early game, ambushing and eliminating enemy squads and light vehicles.
- Has the ability to camouflage in cover and use the new breaching mechanic in Company of Heroes 3.
- Has the ability to throw a Stick Grenade (30 Munitions) for anti-infantry damage or fire a Panzerfaust (35 Munitions), which can damage and slow enemy vehicles.
- Gains the Airborne Spirit ability at Veterancy Rank 1, allowing the squad to heal while out of combat and capture territory faster.
Fragmentation Bombs (2 Command Points, 120 Munitions)
- Calls in a dive bomber to drop three fragmentation bombs in a line, dealing heavy damage to infantry.
Stuka Loiter (4 Command Points, 180 Munitions)
- Calls in a pair of dive bombers to loiter over the target area for 60 seconds, strafing any enemy infantry or vehicles that are detected during that time.
Luftwaffe Field Support Tree
The Luftwaffe Field Support tree begins with the Fallschirmpioneer Squad Paradrop, followed by a choice between Infantry Reserves and the Luftwaffe Combat Group, and ends with a choice between the LG40 Recoilless Launcher Paradrop and the Flak 36 Anti-Tank Gun Emplacement.
Fallschirmpioneer Squad Paradrop (0 Command Points)
- Paradrops in an unusual 4-man construction squad armed with long-range Kar98K rifles, a staple of the German army in WW2.
- Has the ability to repair vehicles as well as detect and remove Mines.
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Has the ability to construct the same Sandbag Walls, Barbed Wire, Tank Traps, Mines, and Concrete Bunkers as the Pioneer Squad, but also the unique Luftwaffe Relay Point and Flak 38 Anti-Aircraft Emplacement.
- The Luftwaffe Relay Point (200 Manpower) is a camouflaged version of a standard Resource Cache that also allows nearby Fallschirmjager squads to reinforce via paradrop.
- The Flak 38 Emplacement (250 Manpower, 35 Fuel, 6 Pop) is equipped with a 20mm cannon effective against aircraft, infantry, and light vehicles.
- Can be upgraded with the MG 15 Light Machine Gun (90 Munitions) for increased firepower or the GrB 39 Grenade Launcher (85 Munitions) for explosive anti-infantry damage.
- Has the ability to throw a Satchel Charge (45 Munitions) for heavy damage on a long fuse.
- Gains the Airborne Spirit ability at Veterancy Rank 1, allowing the squad to heal while out of combat and capture territory faster.
Infantry Reserves (4 Command Points)
- Reduces the reinforcement cost of all infantry units and heavy weapon teams by 25%.
Luftwaffe Combat Group (4 Command Points, 560 Manpower, 80 Fuel, 18 Pop)
- Calls in a Wirblewind Flakpanzer and accompanying Jager Squad.
- While both these units are available at the Luftwaffe Kompanie, the Combat Group is cheaper overall and doesn't require the Kompanie or its Support Elements upgrade to be completed.
LG40 Recoilless Launcher Paradrop (1 Command Point, 75 Munitions)
- Drops an unmanned LG40 anti-tank heavy weapon onto the target area. The LG40 is accurate and able to deal with all but the heaviest tanks but requires some set-up time before firing.
- Gains the ability to gain Ambush Camouflage at Veterancy Rank 1, gaining camouflage in cover and a first-strike bonus when leaving camouflage.
Flak 36 Anti-Tank Gun (3 Command Points, 380 Manpower, 40 Fuel, 10 Pop)
- Allows Pioneers and Fallschirmpioneers to construct the Flak 36 Anti-Tank Emplacement, a defensive structure with long range and a formidable 88mm anti-tank cannon.
- Best used to secure an open area or strategic avenue against enemy armor, using other units to scout to allow it to utilize its impressive range.
- Able to penetrate the toughest tanks on the US Forces roster.
- Vulnerable to anti-emplacement infantry, artillery, and airstrikes.
- Can also engage enemy aircraft, potentially preventing the US Airforce or RAF from carrying out their missions.
Company of Heroes 3 is out now for PC and will release later this year for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.