Key Takeaways
- The 9/2 (9 infantry, 2 artillery) at 21 width has replaced the old 7/2 as the standard infantry template due to combat width changes in the latest patches.
- Tank divisions need at least 30 organization to be viable. A 10 tank / 5 motorized template hits this threshold and has enough breakthrough to punch through any line.
- Marines with Amphibious Tank support are the only way to land on defended ports. Regular infantry dies on the beach — always use specialized invasion divisions.
- Width optimization matters: plains = 70 width, forests = 84, urban = 64. Design templates that fit cleanly into the most common terrain you'll fight in.
Infantry Templates
Standard Line Infantry (9/2)
| Battalion | Count | Combat Width |
| ----------- | ------- | ------------- |
| Artillery | Extra soft attack |
| Engineers | Entrenchment + terrain |
| Anti-Air | If you can't contest air |
Best for: Holding the line, most nations, 90% of situations.
Defensive Line Holder (10/0 + AA)
| Battalion | Count | Combat Width |
| ----------- | ------- | ------------- |
Best for: Nations that can't afford artillery, port garrison, suppressing resistance.
Mountaineer Specialist
| Battalion | Count | Combat Width |
| ----------- | ------- | ------------- |
Best for: Mountain fighting (Alps, Caucasus, Andes). Mountaineers get +40% attack in mountains.
Tank Templates
Medium Tank Breakthrough (10/5)
| ----------- | ------- | --------- |
| Medium Tank | 10 | Breakthrough, armor, hard attack |
| Motorized Infantry | 5 | Organization, HP |
Stats: ~30 Org, 500+ Breakthrough. This is the standard offensive template for major nations.
Light Tank Rush (Early Game)
| ----------- | ------- | --------- |
| Light Tank | 6 | Speed, breakthrough vs early infantry |
| Motorized Infantry | 4 | Organization |
Best for: Early wars (1937-39) before medium tanks are researched. Light tanks outrun infantry — use them to encircle, not to fight.
Specialized Templates
Marine Invasion (Naval Landing)
| ----------- | ------- | --------- |
| Marines | 8 | No naval landing penalty |
| Artillery | 2 | Soft attack on beach |
| Support: Amphibious Tank | 1 | +40% naval invasion speed |
| Support: Engineer | 1 | +25% naval invasion attack |
| Support: Signal | 1 | Faster planning |
Never invade with regular infantry. They take a -70% attack penalty on naval landings.
Paratrooper Disruption
| Paratroopers | 3 (keep small, they'll die anyway) |
Paratroopers are disposable. Drop them behind enemy lines to disrupt supply, capture undefended victory points, or hold bridges for 24 hours until your main force arrives.
Garrison / Resistance Suppression
| Cavalry | 1 (literally one battalion) |
| Support: Military Police | 1 |
Cavalry has the highest suppression per cost in the game. A 1-battalion cavalry + MP template suppresses resistance for minimal equipment and manpower.
Template Tier List (2026 Meta)
| ------ | ---------- | ---------- |
| S | Medium Tank 10/5 | Offensive breakthrough (major nations) |
| S | Marine 8/2 + Amphib Tank | Naval invasions |
| A | Infantry 9/2 | Standard line holder + attacker |
| A | Mountaineer 8/2 | Mountain specialist |
| B | Infantry 10/0 | Pure defense, port garrison |
| B | Light Tank 6/4 | Early game rush |
| C | Pure Infantry | Only if you literally can't build artillery |
| C | Heavy Tank divisions | Too expensive, too slow — medium tanks do everything better |
Template Design Rules
1. Organization must be >30. Below 30, your division retreats before dealing meaningful damage.
2. Combat width should be ~20-24. Fits cleanly into most terrain types.
3. Never mix tanks in infantry divisions. The speed is wasted, and mixing reduces both templates' effectiveness.
4. Upgrade templates during peacetime only. Changing a template mid-war drains division experience.
FAQ
Q: 7/2 or 9/2?
A: 9/2 for 2026 meta. Width changes made 20-width less optimal. 9/2 gives 24 width and better stats.
Q: When should I switch from infantry to tanks?
A: When you have 50+ MILs on tanks AND enough fuel production. For most minors, never — infantry + air is sufficient.
Q: Best template for China?
A: Pure infantry (mass mobilization). China can't afford artillery. Quantity over quality — 200 divisions of 10/0 beats 50 divisions of 9/2.