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.
Company of Heroes 3 features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sicily | Campaign turns 1 to 20 | First ports, early airfields, company experience | British Forces |
| 2 | Salerno | Campaign turns 20 to 45 | Naval support range, Naples approach, partisan contacts | British Forces |
| 3 | Monte Cassino | Campaign turns 45 to 75 | Airfield chains, heavy artillery access, veteran companies | US Forces |
| 4 | Rome | Campaign turns 75 and later | Campaign completion, final company upgrades | US Forces |
| 5 | North Africa | Missions 1 to 8 | Afrikakorps mastery, desert tactics, faction unlocks | US Forces |
Sicily: Starting Area
The Italian campaign opens on Sicily around Palermo, where the map is wide, the garrisons are thin and you are learning the company and supply systems. Early ports here decide how fast your fleet can support the mainland landings.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Campaign turns 1 to 20 |
| Key Rewards | First ports, early airfields, company experience |
| Recommended Build | British Forces |
| Key Equipment | MG 42 Machine Gun Team |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Italian dynamic campaign map. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Salerno.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Salerno: Early Game
The mainland landings put you on a narrow coastal strip with German armour above you. Naval bombardment reaches most of this area, which makes it the best place to learn how much a ship strike changes a defended position.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Campaign turns 20 to 45 |
| Key Rewards | Naval support range, Naples approach, partisan contacts |
| Recommended Build | British Forces |
| Key Equipment | MG 42 Machine Gun Team |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Full Tactical Pause. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for MG 42 Machine Gun Team if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Monte Cassino.
Monte Cassino: Mid Game
The mountain line is where the campaign stops being a march. Elevation, fortified positions and narrow approaches mean frontal attacks fail, and the answer is usually air support plus a flanking company rather than more tanks.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Campaign turns 45 to 75 |
| Key Rewards | Airfield chains, heavy artillery access, veteran companies |
| Recommended Build | US Forces |
| Key Equipment | MG 42 Machine Gun Team |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Riflemen Squad becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Breach on garrisoned buildings for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Rome: Late Game
The end of the Italian dynamic campaign map. By this point your companies are levelled and the enemy is throwing its best armour at you, so the fights are shorter and far less forgiving of an understrength stack.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Campaign turns 75 and later |
| Key Rewards | Campaign completion, final company upgrades |
| Recommended Build | US Forces |
| Key Equipment | Riflemen Squad |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Riflemen Squad should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Directional vehicle armour mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into North Africa.
North Africa: Endgame
A separate eight mission linear operation played as the Deutsches Afrikakorps, briefed by Rommel and running up to the first battle of El Alamein. It is the better teaching campaign because each mission introduces one idea and then tests it.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Missions 1 to 8 |
| Key Rewards | Afrikakorps mastery, desert tactics, faction unlocks |
| Recommended Build | US Forces |
| Key Equipment | Riflemen Squad |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Battlegroups for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Sicily → Salerno → Monte Cassino → Rome → North Africa. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Company of Heroes 3 Guides
- Company of Heroes 3 Company of Heroes 3 Overview
- Company of Heroes 3 Best Builds
- 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 Crafting Guide
- Company of Heroes 3 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Company of Heroes 3, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Maps & Locations: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Maps & Locations: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Maps & Locations: strategy game with similar mechanics
