Summary
Hearts of Iron 4’s division designer gives players a whole lot of freedom in creating their ideal divisions, but what exactly is the most optimal design? Well, that depends on the theater.Hearts of Iron 4’s combat width system only allows a certain number of divisions to take part in a single battle at one time, and combat width itself is dependent on the type of terrain.
Going over terrain width can result in some pretty heavy penalties to combat performance, so it’s important to design templates that can fit as many divisions as possible into the terrain width without receiving a penalty. Fortunately,there are plenty of viable optionsplayers can utilize.
Updated on July 05, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:WithGraveyard of Empiresreworking India and adding more Middle East content forHearts of Iron 4, fans of the acclaimed grand strategy title might be eager to figure out just what other new things are in store for their experience. While not much is revealed about the upcoming Prototype Vehicles DLC, fans do know they will likely deal with conceptual vehicles that never saw the light of modern warfare… which can spell trouble for Divisions if they’re not strategically-planned. Thankfully, fans still have a lot of time to practice their Division Templates, including new takes on Armored and Mechanized Divisions, the Mountaineers meta, and a powerhouse comprised of the Marines.
136-Width Practical Armored Division
Capitalize On Heavy Tanks In Multiplayer
It’s all fast aggression inmultiplayer matches ofHearts of Iron 4, especially when it’s everyone out for themselves. This36-Width Practical Armored Divisionemphasizes Armor, Hardness, Piercing and Hard Attack - capitalizing on Mechanized Infantry, Heavy Tank Destroyers, and a lone Heavy Tank to ensure players can push past the enemy’s own Armored Divisions with ease. Eliminating the competition is key here, especially when enemy players know exactly how to fast-track their way to production supremacy.
The principle is the same when selecting Support Companies, where players can enjoy Terrain Bonuses (Medium Flame Tank, Assault Engineer Company), EXP Gain (Field Hospital), decrease Supply Use (Logistics), and more Hard Attack (Light Recon Tank).
236-Width Flexible Mechanized Fighting Force
Adaptable Armored Division For Most Needs
An alternate take on a 36-Width Armored Division would be the36-Width Flexible Mechanized Fighting Force, this time boasting more Speed and lower costs. While not as powerful as it similarly-Width Armored Division, thisspecificHearts of Iron 4Divisionboasts higher Defense - making it suitable as both an aggressive Division option or something to defend with.
As the name implies, this Armored Division is adaptable to different situations. For instance, the Support Heavy Tank could be replaced with Suport Heavy Artillery later down the line, while the last battalion could be replaced with a Motorized Anti-Tank or Anti-Air depending on what players need to deal with.
332-Width Meta Mountaineers
Fighting Force Fit For Most Terrains
When players unlock their Mountaineers in theirHearts of Iron 4playthrough, they can use the “Holding the Line” Doctrine to decrease the Width of a full Mountaineers Division from around 36 to32-Width Meta Mountaineers.
The main advantage of such a Division would be the insane Terrain Bonuses of Mountaineers, which can be increased further with a Ranger Support Company. Having the standard slate of Medium Flame Tank, Support Artillery, and Support Anti-Air should improve overall survivability - making them suitable for combat in most locations.
435-Width Marine Powerhouse
Perfect For Crucial Naval Invasions
Naval battles are important in multiplayer sessions, especially duringintense wartime skirmishes duringHearts of Iron 4playthroughs. Although this35-Width Marine Powerhousecan make conquests easy in singleplayer, they are essential in securing the naval advantage in multiplayer fights.
Key to the build are the Pioneers Support Company to boost Amphibious Attack, whereas the Motorized Anti-Tank and the Mechanized Infantry units boost Hardness, Breakthrough, as well as Piercing and Hard Attack. Such a build should equip players with a Division prepared to engage with enemies straight from the shores - an essential element in fast-paced campaigns where players need to conserve resources while securing objectives.
535-Width Infantry: Early Game Aggression
Good For Starting Plains Domination
Players who want to get a head start when itcomes to offensive plays inHearts of Iron 4won’t experience a lot of difficulty with35-Width Infantry: Early Game Aggression. Its 35-Width setup makes this Division decent in most Plains engagements, with its composition fairly achievable within the parameters of the early parts of the game. Its Artillery composition, although not as potent in the late-game, makes it a decent starting point to push locations when players want to poke at enemies to test their defenses.
However, it should be noted that this particular setup won’t necessarily work in multiplayer given the relative weakness of Artillery comps. Players who are still getting the hang of the game would have a lot of fun with this setup in single-player, however, making this a decent beginner template to improve upon.
626-Width Mountaineers: Maximize Terrain Bonuses
Utilize Terrain Bonuses With Mountaineer, Flame Tank Specs
Players who want a direct upgrade to their basic Infantry Division can opt for26-Width Mountaineers, which takes advantage of the more specialized nature of the Mountaineers as a more spammable unit compared to the traditional Marines. Moreover, their robust Defense makes them perfect for defending points.
Using this build makes for a decent mid-game protective barrier when defending most regions. However, players can optimize this further with the inclusion of the Medium Flame Tank - which not only supplements more sustainable plays but also provides the Division with massive terrain bonuses.
721-Width Infantry: Rocket Go Boom
Small But Cheap, Multi-Terrain Defensive Division
Players who want an efficient and affordable Division for their defensive plays in the late game will appreciate the21-Width Infantry: Rocket Go Boomkit. This kit essentially capitalizes on a 21-Width Division with a single Rocket Artillery unit, giving players access to spectacular Defense with decent Soft Attack and Breakthrough - practically giving them a Division that can hold the line in case of emergencies.
Players should note that this particular setup works best in Jungle and Forest tiles, as players can easily reinforce these locations. In the early game, this kit can be outfitted with even a single unit of basic Artillery to transform this into a spammable defensive Division.
818-Width Infantry: Cheap Guard
Basic Division For Holding The Line
Before players begin to dabble intomore complex parts ofHearts of Iron 4gameplay, it’s important they get more familiar with the basic way of forming Divisions. Thankfully, an18-Width Infantry: Cheap Guardproves even a “simple” squad of nine Infantry units could be enough to hold a defensive line when used correctly.
Players pushed on defending regions wouldn’t go wrong with this setup. This cheap infantry Division possesses decent enough Soft Attack, Hard Attack, and Defense to deal with most units while being sustainably refreshed. While certainly not an ideal option for most encounters, players who need to whip out a quick defense before fortifying with reinforcements won’t go wrong with this setup.
938-Width Infantry: All-Around Option
Create A Balance Between Decent Attack And Defense
Players who want to create asolid infantry division for theirHearts of Iron 4gameplayshould consider going for the38-Width Infantryapproach, specifically for its decent balance between offensive and defensive options. Its grouping of basic Infantry and Artillery units combined with Signals and Rangers Support should help players pack enough Soft Attack and Defense to take on most threats.
This setup should be adequate for fortifying most locations or even accompanying tank divisions, especially with how the setup is capable of fighting other Infantry units that will likely be assigned as backups for armored divisions. Its Breakthrough is decent enough to guarantee some measure of survivability throughout incursions, although they’ll still need backup for larger skirmishes.
1044-Width Mountaineers: Dominate The Defensive Without Sacrificing Offense
All-Around Defensive Option
Players who want to capitalize on the presence oftheir Special Forces in an Infantry Divisionshould consider using the44-Width Mountaineersfor theirHearts of Iron 4playthrough. This more fortified setup features a Medium Tank and three Light Tanks to accompany the major Artillery units and one Anti-Air unit, making this a more all-around division template for players to use in skirmishes.
The high Soft Attack and impressive Breakthrough ensure the 44-Width Mountaineers should be able to hold off against other lighter targets such as fellow Infantry, and even against some degree of armored divisions. However, their high Defense makes them suitable for fortifying locations while the rest of the player’s armies attack enemies, giving them more incentives to pursue targets other than base maintenance.
