Hearts of Iron IV Beginner’s Guide: Survive 1936 & Win WW2
Key Takeaways
- Start with a minor nation like Romania or Canada to learn mechanics without being crushed.
- Divide your factories: 60% military, 30% civilian, 10% dockyards for most countries.
- Don’t rush war: Focus on building civilian factories until at least 1938; early aggression often backfires.
- Division templates matter more than numbers: A 20-width infantry template with support engineers beats a 40-width blob every time.
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The First 90 Days: Your Nation’s Survival Plan
You’ve just launched Hearts of Iron IV. The year is 1936. Germany is rearming, Japan is eyeing China, and your country probably has a peacetime economy that produces more wheat than tanks. Here’s how to not get steamrolled.
1. Pick Your Nation Wisely
New players often grab Germany or the Soviet Union because they’re powerful. Bad idea. You’ll get overwhelmed by mechanics like focus trees, supply lines, and multiple fronts. Instead:
- Romania: Strong oil resources, a straightforward focus tree, and a defensive position in the Balkans.
- Canada: Safe, no direct war until 1941, and you can practice naval invasions on Greenland.
- Brazil: Massive manpower, no early threats, and you can learn industry while sipping coffee.
I’ve taught seven friends to play HOI4. The ones who started with Germany ragequit by 1939. The ones who used Romania now run multiplayer games.
2. The Factory Allocation Formula
You have 20–30 factories in 1936. Here’s the split I use for every nation:
| Factory Type | Percentage | Example (Romania) |
| -------------- | ------------ | ------------------- |
| Civilian | 30% | 6 factories |
| Military | 60% | 12 factories |
| Dockyards | 10% | 2 factories |
Why this works: Civilian factories build more factories—think of them as compound interest. Military factories produce guns, tanks, and planes. Dockyards? Only if you plan to invade Britain. Most minors can skip dockyards entirely and focus on land war.
*Real example*: In my last Romania game, I built 12 civilian factories by 1939. That gave me 36 factories by 1941—enough to equip 120 divisions. My friend who built only military factories had 20 divisions and no supply.
3. Division Templates: The 20-Width Rule
Don’t let the designer scare you. The meta is simple:
- Infantry: 10 battalions of infantry (20 width) + support engineers + support artillery. That’s your basic line holder.
- Tanks: 6 medium tanks + 4 motorized (40 width). This punches through enemy lines.
- Special forces: Marines or mountaineers at 20 width with engineer support.
Why width matters: In HOI4, each battle has a width limit (usually 80–120). A 40-width division fills half the battle. Two 20-width divisions can flank or reinforce better. Smaller templates also take less supply and train faster.
*Personal tip*: I always keep a single 20-width “garrison” template for ports and capitals. It uses old equipment and frees up my good divisions for the front.
4. Production Priorities: Start with Guns
Your first military factories should produce:
1. Infantry equipment (basic rifles) – you always need more.
2. Support equipment – for engineers and artillery.
3. Artillery – towed, not self-propelled (too expensive early).
4. Fighters – a single air wing of 100 fighters can win air superiority over a region.
Avoid building tanks until 1938. They cost 5x more than infantry and require research you don’t have yet. By 1939, you’ll have the industry to produce 2–3 tank divisions. That’s plenty.
5. Hidden Secrets Most Guides Miss
- The “Free” Division Tactic: When you annex a country (e.g., Austria as Germany), you get their entire army for free. But you can also disband their divisions for 100% equipment return. I once got 40,000 rifles from annexing Ethiopia as Italy.
- Naval Invasion Cheese: You don’t need a huge navy. Build 10–20 cheap submarines, assign them to “convoy raiding” near the enemy coast, and the AI will pull its fleet away. Then invade with 10 divisions.
- The “Bogged Down” Trap: If your attack fails after 7 days, retreat. The AI gets a massive defense bonus from entrenchment. Wait a month, then attack from a different province.
6. Research Order for Beginners
Always research these first:
- 1940 Construction (civilian factories build faster)
- Basic Machine Tools (production efficiency)
- Dispersed Industry I (reduces bombing damage)
- Infantry Weapons II (better rifles)
Skip naval research entirely in 1936. You don’t need battleships. You need planes and tanks.
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FAQ
Q: What nation should a complete beginner pick?
A: Romania. It’s small enough to manage, has oil (rare), and sits behind mountains. You can defend against the Soviets in 1941 with 30 divisions of 20-width infantry. Avoid Japan—the naval mechanics will kill your fun.
Q: How do I fix supply issues?
A: Build supply hubs every 4–5 provinces along your front. In the Soviet Union, build them every 3 provinces—the winter penalty eats supplies. Also, reduce your division count: 120 divisions with full supply beat 200 divisions with no shells.
Q: Is it worth building nuclear reactors?
A: Only if you plan to play past 1945. Nukes cost 100k research points and 50 civilian factories each. In most games, you’ll win with conventional weapons before 1944. I’ve only built nukes twice in 800 hours—both times as the USA for fun.
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*Final note*: HOI4 is about patience. You will lose your first game. That’s fine. Try Romania, build 20-width infantry, and hold the line. By 1943, you’ll be planning invasions. Good luck, general.