Barbedwire Studios and Digitalmindsoft released Gates of Hell: Ostfront on 11 June 2021, covering the Eastern Front from 1941 to 1945 with more than 250 vehicles and 100 heavy weapons. Armour is modelled plate by plate with real thicknesses and angles, so an 85mm round can bounce off a Tiger's mantlet, kill the loader without setting the tank on fire, or cook off the ammunition depending on exactly where it lands. You can command it as a top-down real-time strategy game or take direct control of one rifleman or one tank gunner at any moment.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Soviet Union | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Finland (Talvisota) | A | Balanced | Best available |
| United States (Liberation and Airborne) | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Britain and Commonwealth (Finest Hour) | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront tier list.
A-Tier: Germany
Germany is a top-performing option in Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Tiger I | An 88mm gun behind roughly 100mm of flat frontal armour. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Plate by plate armour penetration | Every vehicle carries its historical armour layout and every shell its historical performance, so range, angle and shell type decide the outcome rather than a hitpoint bar. |
How to Play Germany
Germany focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Tiger I does the damage and Plate by plate armour penetration keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Soviet Union
Soviet Union is a strong option in Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | T-34/85 | The 85mm ZiS-S-53 gun in a three-man turret gives the Soviet mainstay a real chance against German heavies at closer ranges, and its sloped hull front bounces rounds that would defeat the same thickness laid flat. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Direct control of any unit | Pressing the direct control key drops you into first or third person on any selected soldier, gun crew or vehicle, where you aim manually and lead moving targets yourself. |
How to Play Soviet Union
Soviet Union focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair T-34/85 with Direct control of any unit and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Finland (Talvisota)
Finland (Talvisota) is a strong option in Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | StuG III Ausf. G | A turretless assault gun mounting the 7. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Individual crew and seat swapping | Tanks carry modelled commander, gunner, driver, loader and hull gunner positions, and a penetration only kills the crew sitting where the round landed. |
How to Play Finland (Talvisota)
Finland (Talvisota) focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Individual crew and seat swapping covers the gap StuG III Ausf. G leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: United States (Liberation and Airborne)
United States (Liberation and Airborne) is a specialized option in Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | MG 42 | A general purpose machine gun firing at roughly 1,200 rounds per minute, which produces so much suppression that an advancing squad simply stops moving. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Soldier inventories and looting | Each infantryman carries a physical inventory of weapons, magazines, grenades, mines and medical supplies, and runs dry if you never resupply. |
How to Play United States (Liberation and Airborne)
United States (Liberation and Airborne) focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Soldier inventories and looting rather than raw numbers, and MG 42 is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Britain and Commonwealth (Finest Hour)
Britain and Commonwealth (Finest Hour) is a specialized option in Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | PPSh-41 | A 7. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Dynamic Campaign unit persistence | The Dynamic Campaign gives you an army group that carries between battles. |
How to Play Britain and Commonwealth (Finest Hour)
Britain and Commonwealth (Finest Hour) focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: PPSh-41 and Dynamic Campaign unit persistence pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Soviet Union: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Germany once you understand core mechanics and have access to Tiger I
- Keep a Finland (Talvisota) setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Britain and Commonwealth (Finest Hour) for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Angle your hull before you fire, not after. The armour model uses real thickness and impact angle, so a Panzer IV sitting at roughly 30 degrees to an incoming shot presents far more effective plate than one facing square, and that difference decides whether a 76mm round penetrates.
- Take direct control of anti-tank guns. The automatic gunner will pass on shots it calculates as unlikely, but a human can aim at a specific weak point such as a turret ring, a driver's port or the thinner side hull, which turns a refused shot into a kill.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Guides
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Overview
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Tier List
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Walkthrough
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Beginner's Guide
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Tips & Tricks
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Weapons Guide
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Combat Guide
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Boss Guide
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Maps & Locations
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Crafting Guide
- Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront Classes & Characters
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