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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riflemen Squad | S | Contesting two or three points at once in the first five minutes | 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. |
| MG 42 Machine Gun Team | A | Locking a road or a bridge while Grenadiers work the flank | The Wehrmacht heavy machine gun sets up in a wide arc and suppresses anything inside it, dropping enemy infantry to a crawl. |
| M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer | A | Hitting Panzer IVs and StuGs in the flank, then reversing out | Fast, lightly armoured and armed with a gun that opens German medium tanks, the Hellcat is a tool for ambushing rather than brawling. |
| Panzer IV Medium Tank | B | Wehrmacht pushes between minutes twelve and twenty | The German workhorse medium tank, good against infantry and able to trade with Shermans head on. |
| 6-pounder Anti-tank Gun Team | B | Holding a defensive line against Panzer III and Panzer IV pushes | British towed anti-tank gun that hits hard from a static position and is nearly useless while being repositioned. |
S-Tier: 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. Their damage falls off badly at long range, so they need cover to cross open ground.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Contesting two or three points at once in the first five minutes |
| Key Mechanic | Italian dynamic campaign map |
| Recommended Build | US Forces |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Riflemen Squad: Pairs naturally with US Forces thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: 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. It is helpless once flanked, since the crew must repack and turn before firing again.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Locking a road or a bridge while Grenadiers work the flank |
| Key Mechanic | Full Tactical Pause |
| Recommended Build | British Forces |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using MG 42 Machine Gun Team: Pairs naturally with British Forces thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: 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. Anything that shoots back at it usually wins the exchange.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Hitting Panzer IVs and StuGs in the flank, then reversing out |
| Key Mechanic | Breach on garrisoned buildings |
| Recommended Build | Wehrmacht |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer: Pairs naturally with Wehrmacht thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Panzer IV Medium Tank
The German workhorse medium tank, good against infantry and able to trade with Shermans head on. Its side and rear plate is thin enough that a single flanking anti-tank gun can finish it.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Wehrmacht pushes between minutes twelve and twenty |
| Key Mechanic | Battlegroup call-in trees |
| Recommended Build | Deutsches Afrikakorps |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Panzer IV Medium Tank: Pairs naturally with Deutsches Afrikakorps thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: 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. Place it looking down a lane you expect armour to use, not next to your infantry.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Holding a defensive line against Panzer III and Panzer IV pushes |
| Key Mechanic | Directional vehicle armour |
| Recommended Build | Battlegroups |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using 6-pounder Anti-tank Gun Team: Pairs naturally with Battlegroups thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Sicily
- MG 42 Machine Gun Team → Your first real upgrade, available early
- M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Riflemen Squad → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
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 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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