Relic and Sega moved the series to the Mediterranean on 23 February 2023 with four armies: US Forces, British Forces, Wehrmacht and the Deutsches Afrikakorps. Single player splits two ways, a turn based Italian dynamic campaign map running from Palermo to Rome and an eight mission North African operation briefed by Rommel. Full Tactical Pause freezes any campaign mission or skirmish against the AI so you can issue orders with the clock stopped.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Forces | A | Balanced | Best available |
| British Forces | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Wehrmacht | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Deutsches Afrikakorps | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Battlegroups | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Company of Heroes 3 tier list.
A-Tier: US Forces
US Forces is a top-performing option in Company of Heroes 3.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Riflemen Squad | The US line infantry squad, cheap enough to field three or four early and able to build sandbags, throw grenades and pick up a Bazooka. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Italian dynamic campaign map | The Italy campaign is a turn based layer running from Palermo to Rome where you move companies, capture ports and airfields to extend supply, and drop into real time battles when a stack meets resistance. |
How to Play US Forces
US Forces focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Riflemen Squad does the damage and Italian dynamic campaign map 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: British Forces
British Forces is a strong option in Company of Heroes 3.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | MG 42 Machine Gun Team | The Wehrmacht heavy machine gun sets up in a wide arc and suppresses anything inside it, dropping enemy infantry to a crawl. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Full Tactical Pause | Tactical Pause stops the clock in campaign missions and single player skirmishes so you can queue orders and unpause with every squad already moving. |
How to Play British Forces
British Forces focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair MG 42 Machine Gun Team with Full Tactical Pause 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: Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht is a strong option in Company of Heroes 3.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer | Fast, lightly armoured and armed with a gun that opens German medium tanks, the Hellcat is a tool for ambushing rather than brawling. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Breach on garrisoned buildings | Squads with the Breach ability walk up to an occupied building and clear it from inside instead of grinding the walls down with rifle fire. |
How to Play Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Breach on garrisoned buildings covers the gap M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer 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: Deutsches Afrikakorps
Deutsches Afrikakorps is a specialized option in Company of Heroes 3.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Panzer IV Medium Tank | The German workhorse medium tank, good against infantry and able to trade with Shermans head on. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Battlegroup call-in trees | Each faction picks one Battlegroup per match and spends earned points down a branching tree of call-in units and abilities. |
How to Play Deutsches Afrikakorps
Deutsches Afrikakorps focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Battlegroup call-in trees rather than raw numbers, and Panzer IV Medium Tank 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: Battlegroups
Battlegroups is a specialized option in Company of Heroes 3.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | 6-pounder Anti-tank Gun Team | British towed anti-tank gun that hits hard from a static position and is nearly useless while being repositioned. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Directional vehicle armour | Tanks carry far heavier plate at the front than on the flanks and rear, so a Panzer IV that bounces a frontal shot dies to the same gun from behind. |
How to Play Battlegroups
Battlegroups focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: 6-pounder Anti-tank Gun Team and Directional vehicle armour 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 British Forces: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to US Forces once you understand core mechanics and have access to Riflemen Squad
- Keep a Wehrmacht setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Battlegroups 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.
- Play the North African operation before touching Italy. It is eight linear missions that teach Breach, flanking, vehicle armour facing and Battlegroup spending one at a time, whereas the Italian campaign drops a strategic layer and a real time layer on you at once.
- Reverse damaged vehicles out of contact rather than turning them around. A three point turn shows the thin side and rear plate for two or three seconds, and a Pak 40 or 6-pounder only needs one of those seconds to land a penetrating shot.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Company of Heroes 3 Guides
- Company of Heroes 3 Company of Heroes 3 Overview
- Company of Heroes 3 Tier List
- Company of Heroes 3 Walkthrough
- Company of Heroes 3 Beginner's Guide
- Company of Heroes 3 Tips & Tricks
- Company of Heroes 3 Weapons Guide
- Company of Heroes 3 Combat Guide
- Company of Heroes 3 Boss Guide
- Company of Heroes 3 Maps & Locations
- Company of Heroes 3 Crafting Guide
- Company of Heroes 3 Classes & Characters
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