COH2: Get Me Started! as Russians

This is quick explanation of a "get me started" strategy as Russians.

Early Game
When the game starts, send your engineer out to start capturing.  Build three Conscript squads, then research Molotov Cocktails.  Build another Conscript squad, then an Engineer, then another Conscript squad.

The key to the Russians is to constantly be capturing, which is not the same as being aggressive.  You want to flank the Germans constantly and capture points behind them, because you will have more squads and faster squads.  Back off when faced against grenadiers, as they usually have MG support and you want to avoid retreating.  When the Germans are overextended, attack their position in force.  You want to be sending Conscripts at them from all directions.  Get next to the MG team and throw a Molotov to force retreats, then kill as many soldiers as you can while their army runs.  Recapture anything you lost, and then back off.  You don't want to fight the Germans in a pitched fight- you want to attack them when they're stretched thin, trying to capture points.  Don't worry about holding choke points- concern yourself with hiding squads in their territory instead.

Upgrading engineers with flamethrowers will allow you to force enemies out of buildings and to kill them quickly when you flank.

If you get pinned in your base, build a Support Weapon Kampaneya and use a mortar team to break out.  Otherwise, build a Special Rifle Command.


Mid Game
Your commander choice will have given you access to either Shock Troops or Guards Rifle Infantry at the Special Rifle Command.  Build two squads of it.  Shock troops are excellent close range fighters, while the Guards are strong at medium and long range.  Make sure to get their weapon upgrades that cost munitions.

Continue the general strategy of falling back when the Germans push, then attacking with overwhelming force at a point when they stretch out to try to capture points outside of their initial push area.

You will need to research AT grenades for your Conscripts to hold off enemy vehicles.  Anything that is a Stug or weaker (scout cars, halftracks, etc.) can be dealt with by AT grenades.

If they build a Flakpanzer or Panzer IV, you will need something stronger than AT grenades.  If your fuel situation is good, you can skip straight to the Mechanized Armor Kampaneya. If they had a fuel depot and got it out before you've saved enough fuel, get the Support Weapon Kampeneya and build an AT gun.

Late Game
Your ideal building is the Mechanized Armor Kampaneya.  It will allow you to build T-34s, which are solid all-around tanks.  If they have lack Panthers or Tigers, T-34 spam will likely win you the game.  Note that the T-34 Ram ability can be used to essentially trade tanks, which usually leaves you the winner since you have more vehicles.

If they get heavy armor, it gets trickier.  If you have access to the IS-2 through your commander upgrades, purchase that and use it to help.  Otherwise, don't forget that AT guns have solid penetration all game long, though their damage is low against heavy tanks.

If you get a chance, try to get the Tankoviy Battle Command up.  The Rocket Truck provides good long-range anti-infantry bombardment, and the SU-76M Assault gun provides decent AT firepower and an excellent medium-range infantry shell barrage.


You may benefit from reading the Russian Units Overview as well as viewing all of my COH2 Guides.