Paratroopers in Hearts of Iron 4: Best Division Templates
Paratroopers in Hearts of Iron 4 (HOI4) have a fascinating history of being used in a highly disruptive manner. With their ability to instantly drop on top of Victory Points, these elite forces can quickly force countries to surrender. To prevent abuse of this game mechanic, players have established new rules. However, the AI has become smarter over the years and has started garrisoning their important cities. Nevertheless, this doesn’t deter us from utilizing Paratroopers. In this article, we will introduce some of the best Paratrooper division templates in HOI4 that will allow you to jump behind enemy lines and create chaos.
Best Paratrooper Division Templates in HOI4
When it comes to Paratroopers in HOI4, the choice of division template depends on your goals. If your objective is to annoy other players, a simple and uninteresting template will suffice. However, if you wish to effectively employ Paratroopers to establish a foothold behind enemy lines, we have a few templates that will help you withstand powerful attacks.
The Spammer
The most common Paratrooper template in HOI4 is designed to create chaos. Due to the limited Special Forces capacity, players can only create a few Paratrooper battalions. However, by making small 2-width divisions with no support companies, players can spam numerous units and deploy them anywhere behind enemy lines. This type of division is not effective in achieving specific goals and is mainly used for disruptive purposes. It is important to note that this template is not allowed in multiplayer games. Additionally, considering the large number of transport planes required, we generally do not recommend this template.
Simple Early Game Defensive Paratroopers
During the early game in HOI4, due to the Special Forces cap, Paratrooper divisions need to be smaller. However, a 6-width Paratrooper division with full support companies can prove effective in this situation. The recommended support companies to accompany the Paratroopers are Engineers, Artillery, and Logistics. Engineers enhance entrenchment, enabling better defense in hostile territories. Artillery increases soft attack capabilities, and Logistics helps with supply issues. The general strategy is to deploy these troops behind enemy lines and leave them in a defensive position while the main army advances.
Evolved Paratrooper Divisions
As you progress in technology and increase the Special Forces capacity, you can upgrade your Paratrooper division template to a 10-width squad (5 battalions). This upgraded template includes Engineers, Artillery, Logistics, Armored Recon, and Flame Light Tank support companies. Armored Recon and Flame Light Tanks provide much-needed armor and defense to hold the line. It is crucial to prioritize high armor for the Flame Tank to gain advantages on various terrains. Armored Recon also enhances breakthrough and piercing capabilities, making it easier to overcome enemy divisions. By using this Paratrooper division template and deploying a few behind enemy lines, you may have the ability to launch successful offensive movements.
The Real Paratroopers
For the most powerful Paratrooper division template, we recommend keeping all the support companies mentioned previously and increasing the number of Paratrooper battalions to 10, resulting in a 20-width division. This template requires around 12,000 manpower and is nearly as strong as a regular Infantry division. Pairing this division with a general possessing the Paratroopers trait ensures they fight at full supply for an extended period behind enemy lines. Using the largest possible template is the most efficient production-wise as it requires at least 50 transport planes per division. The only drawback is that they may require assistance at some point, but this division is capable of holding the line until rescued. It is crucial to drop them in a way that allows for retreat in case of defeat, as forming a cluster of Paratroopers is better than conquering a continuous line.
That covers everything you need to know about the best Paratrooper division templates in Hearts of Iron 4 (HOI4)! If you have any feedback or suggestions for this guide, please let us know in the comments section below.