Summary
WithHearts of Iron 4considered one of the most comprehensive grand strategy games set in World War 2, fans of wargames may appreciate the level of depth the game offers, especially from the perspective of wartime production and overall warfare. After players research improvements and other advancements for their ground troops, they can engage in intense land battles against enemy forces - with much of their units' strength reliant onCombat Width.
Combat Width in the game is defined as the overall concentration of a faction’s ground forces. Terrain determines the base width and flanking width available to players, with elements such as flanking, naval attacks, and paradrops adding to a side’s Combat Width before engagements begin. Considering how Combat Width is determined by its encompassing battalions, fans may wonder just how much is “enough” when trying to engage enemies as practically as possible. With the game offering different engagement setups, just which Combat Widths are the most practical in the game?
Updated on July 15, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam:With Hearts of Iron 4 about to release its Graveyard of Empires Country Pack sometime this Q1 2025, fans of the franchise will now be able to help Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Iraq become superpowers who refuse to bow down to existing empires at the time. However, while the nations will receive respective upgrades and new additions to their National Focii, fans need to make sure they can maximize these countries’ offerings - especially in combat. Thankfully, understanding the right Combat Widths to use in fights can help any nation stand a chance in intense wars - especially when Hearts of Iron 4 emphasizes logistics just as much as combat power. Among must-try Combat Widths include one decent for general flexibility, two defensive Widths for players to try, and one for specialized terrain.
1.61
Marsh & Mountain (Attack from 1/2/3/4 Directions)
3.06 (6.76, 1.44, 0.25, 0.01)
Forest & Jungle (Attack from 1/2/3/4 Directions)
1.31 (0.25, 2.78, 0.25, 1.44)
Plains, Hills & Desert (Attack from 1/2/3/4 Directions)
1.52 (4.00, 0.00, 0.25, 0.64)
Urban (Attack from 1/2/3/4 Directions)
0.25 (0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 0.25)
Players looking for more flexible options for their Combat Width should consider opting forCombat Width 21for their in-game incursions. While not necessarily providing the same flexibility as other higher-ranking Combat Widths, players who want a sizable unit for most terrain will appreciate something along the lines of a Combat Width 21 9/1 set up as a flexible enough arrangement for both defense and offense.
Due to geography, Combat Width 21 seems to be effective in Europe, especially when working in tandem with Combat Width 27 and Combat Width 42. Due to Forests being prevalent in Europe, opting for 4x 21w, 3x 27w, and 2x 42w should be able to accommodate this setup without suffering a lot of debuffs.
1.76
0.16 (0.16, 0.16, 0.16, 0.16)
0.40 (0.69, 0.01, 0.69, 0.16)
2.51 (3.28, 3.28, 0.05, 0.16)
4.99 (5.82, 4.67, 4.30, 4.15)
Players who want more of a smaller unit count for their divisions should considerCombat Width 13. Although not as optimal compared to the more suitable Combat Width 14 and the flexibility powerhouse that is Combat Width 15, fans ofHearts of Iron 4gameplaycan still find use for Combat Width 13 if they need an alternative to a small unit composition that still has some degree of overall efficiency.
Although Combat Width 13 suffers heavily in Urban settings as well as experiencing some disadvantages in 1-to-2-direction fights in Plains, Hills, and Deserts, the setup will see improvements when positioned in Marshes and Mountains as well as Forests and Jungles. In this regard, Combat Width 13 seems feasible when trying to plug in the defensive line from unconventional positions - something 13w allows with its minimal unit count.
1.41
1.12 (1.96, 0.02, 1.96, 0.41)
2.92 (7.11, 0.31, 1.17, 0.02)
0.73 (0.73, 0.73, 0.73, 0.73)
1.84 (3.52, 1.17, 0.47, 0.20)
Although falling on the lower-numbered side on the scale amongHearts of Iron 4unit arrangements,Combat Width 19can be more of an emergency reserve and not a primary Combat Width of consideration due to the effectiveness of its neighbors - 18w and 20w.
However, one shouldn’t just immediately let 19w go, especially when taking into consideration the right terrain. One-directional attacks don’t seem to work as much with 19w, especially in terms of penalties in Forests and Jungles as well as Urban settings. However, two-direction and four-direction attacks from 19w seem decently performing in most other scenarios, making the division ideal for split attacks meant to reinforce defenses.
1.08
3.29 (7.84, 0.44, 1.44, 0.06)
0.44 (0.44. 0.44, 0.44, 0.44)
0.93 (2.04, 0.44, 0.08, 0.00)
0.18 (0.00, 0.44, 0.00, 0.16)
While recent updates toHearts of Iron 4gameplaypractically encouraged more flexible use of a variety of Combat Widths, fans of the game may have encountered others suggesting bothCombat Width 16and its close neighbor Combat Width 15 as among ideal unit comps to use in their skirmishes. And while the current meta seems to favor 15w units, one can’t underscore the potential of 16w with the right setup.
Being a smaller-sized composition, 16w works well with Mass Assault and Guerilla-based mixture of Infantry, Support AA, and Support Artillery divisions. Save for its disadvantage in one-direction attacks in Marsh and Mountains, 16w seems very ideal for holding the defensive line due to its room for further optimization.
3.56
0.60 (1.00, 0.07, 1.00, 0.31)
2.27 (2.98, 2.98, 0.01, 0.07)
4.44 (4.96, 4.22, 4.04, 4.00)
6.93 (6.94, 6.01, 8.09, 10.18)
Among lower-numbered Widths, it’s perhapsCombat Width 11that is among the most practical to consider without dwelling too low on impractical penalties. As expected, their small numbers allow them to perform decently in Marshes and Mountains, as well as Forests and Jungles. However, Combat Width 11 does perform rather averagely in Plains, Deserts, and Hills, and may suffer from multi-directional attacks when engaging enemies in Urban environments.
Another potential setback of a smaller Division as a wholein the grand strategy titlewould be having fewer Breakthrough and Defense, theoretically making them much easier to take out. In order to counteract this, gamers may play into the nature of smaller Divisions having better Organization and boosting overall damage with the help of Support Companies, albeit at the cost of more Manpower and Equipment.
2.3925
5.47 (4.00, 7.84, 4.00, 2.31)
1.68 (4.00, 0.44, 0.00, 1.44)
0.90 (0.08, 2.04, 0.08, 0.94)
The potential strength of Combat Width 25 in Marsh and Mountains can make for a surprising revelation in the nature of its predecessorinHearts of Iron 4gameplay, asCombat Width 24shares similarities with other Widths of having harsh penalties in the aforementioned region.
However, Combat Width 24 can potentially fill the gaps of Width 25 when it comes to one-directional conflicts in most other terrain. Moreover, this Width’s potential for being line-fillers can help them win fights more consistently assuming players are prepared for the temporary setback in terms of resource losses.
2.2575
2.16 (4.00, 1.44, 0.64, 0.31)
2.08 (2.08, 2.08, 2.08, 2.08)
4.61 (4.24, 4.00, 6.24, 6.04)
Despite being so close in terms of numbers to Combat Width 11, a Division ofCombat Width 12immediately performed better on various fronts. While it faces a disadvantage when attacking in Marshes and Mountains from one direction, it doesn’t receive as many penalties in other regions. Itspotential performance inHearts of Iron 4drastically improves in the Plains and even more in Urban environments, although the latter remains its weakest terrain.
Should players want to maximize Combat Width 12, they can use their presence and accessibility to accommodate different combat situations. Their smaller numbers make them ideal for defense and quick production, allowing players to defend critical chokepoints while reinforcements are on the way. Their nature for easier line stacking and cycling allows them to plug in holes in combat, although players do need to take their easily-destructible nature into account.
1.295
1.38 (1.44, 1.44, 1.44, 0.01)
1.37 (2.78, 0.79, 0.25, 0.07)
2.25 (2.25, 2.25, 2.25, 2.25)
Unsurprisingly enough, the sheer efficiency of Combat Width 15 means its predecessorCombat Width 14is likely going to perform with similar numbers. Stats-wise, Combat Width 14 does incur slightly more penalties in most terrain, especially Marshes and Mountains, as well as Urban environments. However, this Width outperforms Combat Width 15 in one-directional fights in the same terrain - a mostly negligible stat that players may use in specific situations.
Given its nature as a smaller Division size, Combat Width 14 is best usedas more of a defensive measure, as larger Divisions have better offensive stats. Thanks to possessing more Organization, Combat Width 14 shares the advantage of a narrower-width Division being able to hold the line more efficiently. Not to mention, the potential higher Soft Attack of Combat Width 14 Divisions may also destabilize attackers much faster, hence their potential performance as a defensive Width.
1.0625
1.96 (0.64/4.00/0.64/0.01)
1.52 (4.00/0.00/0.25/0.64)
0.08 (0.08/0.08/0.08/0.08)
0.69 (1.56/0.25/0.02/0.64)
As a narrow-width Division just passing Combat Width 15, it makes sense forCombat Width 18to possess similar advantages of a smaller-sized Division with some penalties on specific terraininHearts of Iron 4gameplay. It’s in this regard that penalty distribution in Combat Width 18 is less than Widths 15 and 14, but has harsher penalties in specific directions in terrains (2 Directions in Marsh/Mountain, 1 Direction in Forest/Jungle, 1 Direction in Urban) compared to Width 14.
In this regard, players who want to settle for Combat Width 18 instead of going for Combat Widths 15 and 20 outright can use this Division Width as terrain fillers while they’re still forming their main line. Their smaller numbers allow players to transport and protect supply more efficiently, and their potential cost-effectiveness can help save valuable resources during combat.
6.59
8.49 (20.00/0.44/4.00/7.84)
16.46 (33.33/11.11/0.00/0.44)
2.04 (2.04/2.04/2.04/2.04)
0.00 (0.00/0.00/0.00/0.00)
Due to how Urban Terrain already offers +20% Movement Cost on top of -30% Attack and -50% Enemy Air Support, players may as well take advantage of these penalties to opt for a battle based on numbers. This is the underlying logic ofCombat Width 40, as its lack of penalty multipliers on Urban Terrain means players can try to go wild with large divisions to devastate enemies in these areas.
Not to mention, the relatively manageable penalties on Plains, Hills, and Desert as well as Marsh and Mountains can make Combat Width 40 a tolerable heavy-hitter in these areas. The increased penalties for Forest and Jungle areas make Combat Width 40 not as practical in these locations.
