Playing As the Soviets | Multiplayer Mode Company of Heroes 2 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
If you have already finished the campaign mode, owing to your knowledge of the available units, it is best to try playing as the Red Army throughout the first skirmishes with the live opponent. Russians build faster and cheaper. In a direct battle, though, they are weaker than the Germans and, that is why, their tactics should be based mainly on seizing territories as quickly as possible and spreading the enemy forces. That is when you should use your numbers to attack the spread German units.
Early Game
Right after you begin, start seizing the nearby terrain with your engineers. Enlist 2-3 units of conscripts and one more unit of engineers, and one of the conscripts again. Send them in large numbers to seize the terrain, including behind enemy lines. At this stage of the game, the Victory Points are not that important. The most important thing right now is to spread the German forces and have them surrounded everywhere. Avoid being involved in a 1vs1 battle with grenadiers, especially that they may be reinforced with a heavy machine gun. In such a situation, retreat and do not put up fight and attack only when you outnumber the enemy, and you can easily attack from two sides. Good weapons against the Heavy Machine Guns are Molotov's cocktails which will force their crew to change positions.
Develop flamethrowers with your engineers and start building Guards Rifle Anti-Tank Command, and roll the M3A1 into the battlefield from there. M3, accompanied by engineers, with the Ability of using flamethrowers is going to pose counter-balance for the Machine Guns and grenadiers. Use this to cut off the way behind you as you attack at the front. .
Mid Game
The general strategy remains unchanged. Avoid well-balanced fights with the Germans and retreat to spread their forces, and attack only if they are outnumbered. With a bit of luck, you should be able to get a German Heavy Machine Gun. Create one, or two, teams and combine them with the Machine Gun for support.
Take proper care of your M3. It should remain in constant movement. Two Panzerfaust shots can turn it into a pile of scrap metal with ease so, be mobile, be creative. At this stage into the match, the enemy will already have manufactured some vehicles including, which is quite probable, a StuG. To counter them, develop AT grenades. For conscripts. It isn't the best anti-tank weapon out there, but it should do against the StuG and trucks. When you notice heavier tanks, like Panzer IV, it is high time that you invested in some more powerful equipment. If you have fuel depots under your control, and you have saved a lot of it, you should start building the Tankovij Battalion Command. Otherwise, use the ZiS cannons from the Guard Rifle Command.
Late Game
If you already have the TBC, there is nothing more left for you to do, but mass investing in the reliable T-34 that will probably determine your victory . The problem, at this point, may be The Elephants, the Tigers or Panthers. Should the need arise, build the last building and deploy the SU-85. Also a Katjusha Rocket Launcher may come in handy.