Explore GameReplays...

Company of Heroes

963 users online in the past 15 minutes
954 guests and 9 members
COH COMMENTARIES & VODS
COMPANY OF HEROES STRATEGIES
HOT FORUM TOPICS
TEAMSPEAK 3 SERVER

Panzer Elite Rules of Thumb vs Americans

By Peacekeeper - 21st December 2008 - 08:44 AM

The following list details the appropriate Panzer Elite counter for US units. The counters are divided into both 'hard' and 'soft' categories based on when the counter arrives, how cost-efficient it is, and how much micro is required to make use of the counter unit. Hard counters destroy the unit quickly and with little to risk, whereas soft counters may be less efficient or somewhat unreliable. This list does not cover counters for specific combined-arms strategies; rather, this chart is intended to help novice Company of Heroes players make the correct strategic decision when faced with the enemy.

Engineers
    Hard Counters:
  • Panzer Grenadiers should be able to chase them off easily. However, this doesn't mean that you should rush in guns blazing, because there is the slight chance that the Engineer squad will overpower your Panzer Grenadier squad at close range. If the Engineers have flamethrowers, use an Infantry Halftrack, Scout Car, or focused fire from several other units to easily suppress and destroy them.

    Soft Counters:
  • Anything that moves should be able to beat this builder unit.
Riflemen
    Hard Counters:
  • An early Armored Car can shut down Riflemen with ease. Just remember to keep kiting them. Riflemen in green cover should be tackled at an angle, as most cover is directional. For Riflemen in buildings, keep the Armored Car at maximum range.
  • Assault Grenadiers rip apart Riflemen, even when they are equipped with BARs. Get your MP44-wielding Panzer Grenadiers upfront and personal with the Riflemen and they will deal massive damage in short order.

    Soft Counters:
  • Spamming Panzer Grenadiers with G43s can thin out Rifle-blobs in no time, provided that the Panzer Grenadiers outnumber the Riflemen. Keep them at maximum range. The Suppressive Volley's slow ability can be used to prevent Riflemen from getting too close to your Panzer Grenadiers.
  • Panzer Grenadiers supported by Infantry Halftracks do a great deal to keep Riflemen at bay. Remember to keep your halftrack constantly backing up to keep it safe while assaulting the Rifles.
  • A Panzer IV Infantry Support Tank will end the day for Riflemen. With Armored Skirts, it can even shrug off the occasional Sticky Bomb.
Jeeps
    Hard Counters:
  • Fast Armored Car
  • Infantry Halftrack

    Soft Counters:
  • Panzer Grenadiers will not take much damage from Jeep fire and will easily be able to chase it off.
Machine Guns
    Hard Counters:
  • A Mortar Halftrack will safely take down MGs, wherever they may be.
  • Research Incendiary Grenades. Two Panzer Grenadier squads, converging on the MG from different angles, can toss Incendiary Grenades (even if one squad runs into the MG head-on) that will burn the MG out of its garrison or cover.

    Soft Counters:
  • Flank it with three Panzer Grenadiers. Keep one squad at long range to distract the MG, and flank with the other two. The three Panzer Grenadiers should be kept 90 degrees apart at all times. If the MG is in a building, G43 Panzer Grenadiers should be used to flank, as they do additional damage to the units inside.
  • Any vehicle should be able to easily flank an MG and take it out in open cover. However, if the MG's flanking path is on a road, be wary of mines, and send a Kettenkrad along with your attack vehicle. If the MG is in a building, use an Armored Car and circle the building continuously.
Mortars
    Hard Counters:
  • The Mortar Halftrack will almost always beat a US mortar in a showdown. You can actually see the enemy mortar packing up and relocating in the fog of war if it has damaged you in any way.
  • If the mortar is concealed by a large obstruction, even a building, use Incendiary Grenades. Their range is longer than you think.

    Soft Counters:
  • Thin out its support and take it out with any fast vehicle. Speed is the key here or else the mortar will just pack up and retreat.
Snipers
    Hard Counters:
  • Any fast vehicle will take this bugger out. If the Sniper is supported, calculate your risks before rushing in some vehicles. However, keep in mind that it is worth losing an Infantry Halftrack or Scout Car to kill a Sniper, as they cost significantly less Manpower. An Armored Car also works, but its better to use a cheaper Infantry Halftrack.

    Soft Counters:
  • Choose Luftwaffe Tactics to gain the camouflage ability on your Kettenkrads. The detection radius of a Kettenkrad surpasses the radius at which it can be detected, so you can safely spot a Sniper and gun him down with whatever is at hand.
  • Keep a vehicle on standby and drop Butterfly Bombs on the Sniper. He'll either retreat or stand perfectly still and crap out enough bricks to build a SimCity.
M3 Halftracks (with Quad .50 upgrade) and M8 Greyhounds
    Hard Counters:
  • The Anti-tank Halftrack's Treadbreaker ability is invaluable for taking out Motor Pool vehicles. Keep the Anti-tank Halftrack at maximum range once the enemy vehicle is immobilized.

    Soft Counters:
  • A Tellermine will one-shot the M3 Halftrack and will most likely one-shot the M8, even if it has Armored Skirts.
  • Panzerschreck-equipped Panzer Grenadier squads in an Infantry Halftrack become a mobile anti-tank force capable of chasing down vehicles and cutting off their retreat by ramming them from the front.
  • A fast Panzer IV will kill both the M3 and M8 with little hassle.
  • Anti-tank Grenades (on their own) are not even a soft counter for these buggers. Don't try to take out a vehicle with Anti-tank Grenades unless its been disabled by an Anti-tank Halftrack or a mine first. Otherwise, they will be kited indefinitely.
Leave a comment