States of Power Army Composition
Build winning armies in States of Power: division templates, unit ratios, support companies, and optimal compositions.
Why Composition Matters
In States of Power, a division is not just a collection of soldiers — it is a system with strengths and vulnerabilities determined by its composition. A division of pure infantry is cheap and reliable but weak against armour. A division of pure tanks is devastating but fragile and supply-hungry. The art of army composition is combining unit types so that their combined strengths cover their individual weaknesses.
The Standard Infantry Division
The baseline military unit is the infantry division. A standard early-game infantry division consists of three infantry battalions and benefits from being cheap to produce, flexible across terrain, and adequate against most threats. This is your bread-and-butter unit — you will build more of these than any other type.
Adding one artillery battalion to a standard infantry division roughly doubles its offensive power against entrenched targets and significantly improves its ability to break stalemates. Artillery-equipped infantry divisions are the workhorse of mid-game warfare.
The Armoured Division
A properly composed armoured division combines speed, firepower, and protection. The optimal template is two tank battalions, one motorised infantry battalion, and one support anti-aircraft battalion. This composition gives you the offensive punch of tanks while the motorised infantry provides the holding power that prevents the division from being outrun and destroyed in detail.
Armoured divisions are expensive — roughly four times the cost of an infantry division — but in open terrain they can achieve results that no number of infantry divisions could match. Use them to exploit breakthroughs, not to push through fortified lines.
Support Companies
Beyond the basic unit types, support companies provide specialised capabilities. Anti-tank support companies give divisions bonus damage against armoured targets. Reconnaissance companies improve the speed and intelligence gathering of the division. Engineer companies provide bonus defence in urban and terrain-heavy provinces.
Assign support companies based on the threat profile you expect to face. Against a tank-heavy opponent, anti-tank support is essential. Against an entrenched defender, engineer support is more valuable.
Division Size and Combat Effectiveness
Larger divisions have more organisation and can sustain combat longer, but they also consume more supply and move more slowly. The sweet spot for most situations is divisions in the 6,000 to 10,000 troop range. Smaller divisions are inefficient; larger divisions become unwieldy.
In special situations — defending narrow straits, mountain passes, or urban centres — smaller, highly specialised divisions can be more effective than larger general-purpose formations.
Naval Landing Composition
For overseas invasions, you need divisions equipped for amphibious operations. These should be heavier than normal infantry divisions — add extra artillery and anti-tank support to handle the disadvantage of attacking from sea. A failed naval invasion is catastrophic, so over-engineer landing compositions rather than under-engineering them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about States of Power.
What is the ideal ratio of infantry to armoured divisions?
A typical mid-game army consists of approximately 70-80% infantry divisions and 20-30% armoured divisions. The infantry holds the line while armoured divisions conduct offensive operations. In late game, the ratio can shift toward more armour as industrial capacity grows.
Should I have specialised divisions for different terrain types?
Yes. Mountain and forest provinces heavily favour defender. In these terrains, use pure infantry divisions without artillery (artillery provides no combat bonus in mountains) and concentrate them at key chokepoints. In open terrain, your armoured divisions become far more effective.
How do I adjust composition for multiplayer against skilled opponents?
Skilled opponents will exploit any specialisation. In multiplayer, favour balanced compositions that do not have obvious exploitable weaknesses. Add reconnaissance companies to improve intelligence on opponent movements. Be prepared to rapidly retrain divisions when you identify an opponent's composition strategy.