Exciting news for strategy enthusiasts: Hearts of Iron IV is set to receive a transformative update to its Doctrines system. This rework promises to make military planning more intuitive and rewarding, allowing players to tailor their nation's warfare style with greater flexibility.
Reimagining Warfare Strategies
The core of this update splits doctrines into Grand Doctrines, which define your overall approach to war, and Subdoctrines that boost specific unit types. Players will navigate Category Tracks—like Infantry, Armor, and Operations—to select and enhance these elements, creating custom army builds that feel personal and effective.
What's New in Doctrine Mastery?
A standout feature is the Doctrine Mastery system, earned through real combat experience. As your units fight, you'll accumulate mastery points alongside Army XP, unlocking progressive bonuses. This mechanic adds a layer of realism, where battlefield lessons directly improve your strategies, though with diminishing returns to keep things balanced for all nations.
Our take: This could revolutionize how players experiment with division designs, encouraging bold tactics without punishing smaller countries. It's a smart way to deepen replayability in Hearts of Iron IV.
Milestones and Army Spirits Evolve
Completing tracks leads to Milestones that supercharge your Grand Doctrine, while updated Army Spirits become lasting traditions tied to Subdoctrine progress. The Officer Corps window gets a refresh too, tying everything together for a cohesive experience.
How Will This Affect Gameplay?
For veterans, this means more opportunities to tweak strategies mid-campaign, potentially shifting the tide in alternate history scenarios. Newcomers will appreciate the guided progression, making the complex world of WWII command more accessible. Keep an eye on the official Paradox site for full details as development continues.