Relic's Eastern Front sequel launched on 25 June 2013 with two armies and grew to five through standalone expansions. The base game ships the Soviet Red Army and the Wehrmacht Ostheer, The Western Front Armies adds US Forces and Oberkommando West, and The British Forces adds UKF. TrueSight line of sight, a three tier cover system and strict hard counters make it a slower, more deliberate real time strategy game than its unit counts suggest.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soviet Red Army | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Wehrmacht Ostheer | A | Balanced | Best available |
| US Forces | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Oberkommando West | A | Balanced | Best available |
| British Forces | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Company of Heroes 2 tier list.
A-Tier: Soviet Red Army
Soviet Red Army is a top-performing option in Company of Heroes 2.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Conscripts | The Soviet six man line squad, cheap to build and cheap to reinforce, with Molotovs and anti-tank grenades unlocked from a tier upgrade. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | TrueSight line of sight | Units only see what they could physically see, so hedgerows, buildings and smoke genuinely hide an ambush rather than applying a vision circle. |
How to Play Soviet Red Army
Soviet Red Army focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Conscripts does the damage and TrueSight line of sight 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: Wehrmacht Ostheer
Wehrmacht Ostheer is a strong option in Company of Heroes 2.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | MG42 heavy machine gun team | The Wehrmacht heavy machine gun, with a wide arc, long suppression range and a slow setup time. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Three tier cover system | Yellow cover cuts incoming small arms damage, green cover cuts more, and open ground or roads count as negative cover that makes squads easier to kill. |
How to Play Wehrmacht Ostheer
Wehrmacht Ostheer focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair MG42 heavy machine gun team with Three tier cover system 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: US Forces
US Forces is a strong option in Company of Heroes 2.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Panzer IV | The Wehrmacht workhorse medium tank, strong against infantry and adequate against light armor. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Commander loadout of three doctrines | Before a match you slot three Commanders per faction, and during the match you commit to exactly one. |
How to Play US Forces
US Forces focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Commander loadout of three doctrines covers the gap Panzer IV 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: Oberkommando West
Oberkommando West is a specialized option in Company of Heroes 2.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | M36 Jackson tank destroyer | The US answer to heavy German armor, with long range and high penetration but paper thin armor of its own. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Squad retreat, reinforcement and veterancy | Any squad can retreat to base at speed with reduced incoming accuracy, then reinforce for manpower. |
How to Play Oberkommando West
Oberkommando West focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Squad retreat, reinforcement and veterancy rather than raw numbers, and M36 Jackson tank destroyer 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: British Forces
British Forces is a specialized option in Company of Heroes 2.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Churchill infantry tank | The British heavy with enormous frontal armor and an unremarkable gun. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | ColdTech weather on winter maps | Winter maps use ColdTech, where deep snow slows infantry and blizzards freeze squads that are not near a fire, a building or a halftrack. |
How to Play British Forces
British Forces focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Churchill infantry tank and ColdTech weather on winter maps 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 Wehrmacht Ostheer: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Soviet Red Army once you understand core mechanics and have access to Conscripts
- Keep a US Forces setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try British Forces 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.
- Retreat squads at three surviving models, not one. Reinforcing a damaged veterancy 2 squad costs a fraction of rebuilding it, and veterancy never comes back once the squad wipes.
- Cut off territory instead of chasing capture points. A sector disconnected from your opponent's base stops paying them income even while they still stand on it.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Company of Heroes 2 Guides
- Company of Heroes 2 Company of Heroes 2 Overview
- Company of Heroes 2 Tier List
- Company of Heroes 2 Walkthrough
- Company of Heroes 2 Beginner's Guide
- Company of Heroes 2 Tips & Tricks
- Company of Heroes 2 Weapons Guide
- Company of Heroes 2 Combat Guide
- Company of Heroes 2 Boss Guide
- Company of Heroes 2 Maps & Locations
- Company of Heroes 2 Crafting Guide
- Company of Heroes 2 Classes & Characters
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