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A battle screen showing the selected tactics next to the commanding generals, separated by a chess piece icon (which when clicked shows all tactics). The attacker has chosen Unexpected Thrust, the defender Elastic Defense. The defender has Initiative, shown by the golden chevrons beneath its general.

Combat tactics[1] provide damage, defense, movement speed, and combat width modifiers in land battles.

Tactics get re-selected every 12 hours from a weighted list of all available tactics. The side having Initiative gets an increased chance to counter their enemy's tactic. If a tactic gets countered, all its effects are disabled.

To determine initiative, the leading generals' skill levels are compared. The side with the highest recon value in one of their divisions (including reserves) gets a bonus of 5 skill levels for this comparison. The side with the higher effective skill level gets Initiative.

The side losing this comparison has to pick their tactic first. The side with initiative will pick their tactic after and if the counter-tactic is available its weight gets a bonus of 35% for every point of advantage in the skill comparison. Initiative does not explicitly decrease the probability of picking a tactic that is countered by the enemy's tactic.

Phases [ edit ]

Default [ edit ]

Close combat [ edit ]

Name Trigger Weight Countered by Starts battle phase Requires research Close Quarters Attack – 4 – +10% +5% – – – – Close Quarters Storm – 2 – +20% +20% – – – – Close Quarters Withdraw – 1 – −5% −5% – – Default – Close Quarters Defense – 4 – +5% +10% – – – – Close Quarters Local Strongpoint – 2 – −20% – – – – –

Tactical withdrawal [ edit ]

Name Trigger Weight Countered by Starts battle phase Requires research Tactical Withdrawal Attack – 4 – −25% −10% −25% – – – Pursuit – 4 – −15% −5% −25% – – – Intercept – 4 – −5% −10% – – Default – Withdrawal – 4 – −30% −5% −25% – – – Evade – 4 – −40% −10% −25% – – –

Seize bridge [ edit ]

Name Trigger Weight Countered by Starts battle phase Requires research Hold Bridge – 4 – +20% – −25% – – – Defend Bridge Skill is over 4. 4 – +20% −10% −25% – – – Assault Bridge – 4 – – −5% −25% – – – Reckless Assault Skill is under 3. 4 – +25% −10% −25% – – – Recapture Bridge At least one of the following: Skill is over 2.

Has trait Trickster 4 Defend Bridge +10% −5% −25% – Hold bridge –

Hold bridge [ edit ]

Name Trigger Weight Countered by Starts battle phase Requires research Attack – 4 – +10% – −25% – – – Rush Bridge Skill is over 4. 4 – +20% – −25% – – – Storm Bridge – 2 Defend Bridge +20% +5% −25% – Seize bridge – Hold Bridge Skill is under 3. 2 – +20% −10% −25% – – – Defend Bridge At least one of the following: Skill is over 2.

Has trait Trickster 2 – +10% +5% −25% – – –

↑ See in /Hearts of Iron IV/common/combat_tactics.txt .



