Top Ten Most Powerful Hearts of Iron 4 Countries:

Choose your destiny...

When considering the strength of a country, there are many factors that one has to understand when choosing a strong nation beyond just manpower. You need to also consider other mechanics, like Factory number, National Focus Strength, and Positioning, as well as how effective a navy they have.

Not all nations are created equal, and it's always best to understand why to be one of the most elite players of this title. After all, choosing a powerful nation is not enough to stand as a supreme world power and an even more effective general.

Knowing what makes these countries tick is part of becoming adept at war strategy and learning how to conquer the world. 

 

1. United Kingdom

We all know who rules the waves.

The United Kingdom's strength lies in its ability to project power across various areas across different stages of the game.

The term 'Britannia Rules the Waves' is a good part of that reason, with it arguably having the strongest Navy in the beginning, granting them significant priority in transporting troops across different regions and protecting the movement of supplies, which is a must for the allies.

While Britain needs assistance from other countries like the Commonwealth to help their troop projection in areas like Africa and France, so long as a United Kingdom player uses their Navy wisely and doesn't waste it needlessly, they'll rule the waves no matter how much people complain.

Strengths:

• Most Powerful Early GameNavy.
• Can build a lethal air force thanks to the spitfire model.
• Easy to defend the nation.
• Decent starting ground military.
• Can project power across different continents and regions

Pick this nation if:

• You want to have a strong navy at the start.
• Want a country that is challenging to invade.
• Desire a playthrough where you can play in different areas from Europe to Asia.
• Want to be a significant contributor to a possible D-day operation.
• Good for players who are looking for a decent challenge

National Overall Power Score: 88/100

 

2. Japan

So long as you avoid Fatman and Little Boy you should be good.

Japan is a unique country in the potential it has if put in the hands of a competent player. The land of the rising sun starts with a decent navy that can be an absolute monster to rival the United Kingdom if played right, which is necessary for a successful campaign.

Choosing to prioritize either the army or the Navy will be a delicate balancing act for Japanese players, especially depending on their in-game situation and if they can get the resources to support the war effort properly.

But, if you can't manage any of that, then maybe you could, at the very least, avoid nuclear annihilation this time around.

Strengths:

• Can develop a powerful navy to lockdown just about all of Asia.
• Can offer decent support to Axis during the invasion of Russia.
• Has the ability to give access to resources for Axis with Pacific operations.
• Can neutralize the American Navy if the player plays their cards right.
• Has great national focuses for a powerful start.

Pick this nation if:

• You want a nation with flexible playstyles.
• Desire a fun major nation outside of Europe.
• Want the challenge of a nation with very little in starting resources.
• A navy that can become a powerhouse in the mid-game.
• Banzai

National Overall Power Score: 85/100

 

3. Soviet Union

Thicc...

If you're playing the Soviet Union, your entire campaign is centered around the eventual massive land confrontation between yourself and Germany and the entirety of the Axis Powers. In Soviet Russia, the beginning of the campaign, the quality of your troops will be poor.

The quality of your officers will be worse after the Great Purge National focus, but what you lack in quality you more than make up for in quantity, in fact, so much quality that you can clog up the enemy war machine with the various and many body parts of your troops.

The fact of the matter is, as this nation, the longer this Game goes, and you survive, the more powerful your Soviet War Machine will become, allowing you to churn out troops, equipment, and tanks at a rate that few in the Game will be able to match you with. 

Strengths:

• Ridiculous amount of troops to clog up the enemy war machine with.
• Has the capability to produce a high amount of war factories to supply the war economy.
• Won't capitulate easily and can retreat to rivers in case your pushed back by Axis.
• The longer the Game goes, the more it favors you.
• Can create a devastating number of tanks.

Pick this nation if:

• You wish for a true challenge by going head to head against the Axis War Machine.
• Want to take part in the largest land battle of the Game.
• Desire to field a massive land army, probably the biggest if you play your cards right.
• Don't want to bother with managing a navy.
• Wish to defeat Charlie Chaplain and his Third Reich

National Overall Power Score: 92/100

 

4. United States of America

The Sleeping Giant....

America is similar to the Soviet Union in that it takes a while for their war engine to warm up, but when it does, it's a fierce beast that can make its effect felt across the globe.

As the USA, you'll have just about everything a nation would need in manpower, to factories to even a powerful navy to contend with Japan in the Pacific if required, and though it takes a few years to get there, it's worth it to be the backbone of the allies.

It'll be up to you to not only give the Allies the troops and Navy it needs to win but also to give the equipment necessary to fund their war machines if necessary.

If you're not feeling like helping anyone, though, you could always just continue to be isolationist and watch the world burn like a true American. 

Strengths:

• One of the most potent war economies in the Game.
• Can field a powerful navy with the large number of ports you have.
• Very hard to invade with oceans separating you from Axis.
• Can supply a bountiful amount of equipment to Allies.
• Much like Britain can assist in protecting ocean supply lines.

Pick this Nation if:

• You don't want to worry about getting invaded.
• Want insane amounts of manpower.
• Want constant naval power projection.
• An intense war economy.
• To feel the power of the marine corp and take Iwo Jima. 

National Overall Power Score: 98/100

 

5. Germany

Das Bootes.

Considered the opposite of Russia, in which you'll not only be participating in almost all stages of the Game through warfare, but you'll also have some of the highest quality troops, tanks, and planes.

Germany excels at putting other countries around under its jackboot, helped by one of the strongest war economies in the Game that will make your Werchmant officers very happy with the toys they'll gate throughout the Game.

When playing as Germany, you want to expand and do so quickly, not only to get resources but to take opponents out of the Game and conserve your manpower for when you inevitably take on the USSR to complete your dreams of forcefully making sauerkraut the national dish of Europe. 

Strengths:

• Can produce some of the highest quality troops in Europe and the world. 
• Capable of creating one of the most lethal tank corps in the Game.
• Has one of the most dangerous submarine models in the Game.
• Possibly the strongest early-game war economy.
• Can snowball into an unstoppable juggernaut.

Pick this Nation if:

• You want to be the centerpiece of the axis powers throughout the Game.
• Want a powerful army that can take on just about any nation.
• Much like the USSR, you don't have to spend time worrying about a navy beyond subs.
• You want a country that can produce an incredible amount of war material and equipment.
• You Want to test your mettle for the brutal war against the USSR.

National Overall Power Score: 95/100

 

6. Italy

Try to make yourself the iron under-belly of the Axis this time...

Understandably considered Germany's junior partner, Italy is quite similar to the United Kingdom in that it can project its army across different regions thanks to its relatively powerful Navy.

Unfortunately for Roman Empire enjoyers, Italy is more like a United Kingdom Lite that is severely limited by resource scarcity and a weaker war economy that needs serious help to assist in both troop and fleet production. Suppose you can secure Africa and gain control of the Suez canal.

In that case, you can become an Italy that can match Germany as an equal partner and maybe even surpass them if you play your cards right.

Strengths:

• A strong navy that can control the Mediterranean if used correctly.
• Can snowball if you gain control of Africa.
• Capable of creating decent mountaineers and marines.
• Difficult to invade if you control Africa and Gibraltar. 
• Can act as the access to Asian resources from Japan to access with Suez.

Pick this Nation if:

• Much like Mussolini, you have a strange fascination with reviving the Roman Empire.
• Want to supply the Axis with a Mediterranean navy.
• You want a faction that can utilize both its Navy and army.
• A game where you can play a less pressurized axis power campaign.
• Desire a focused African campaign.

National Overall Power Score: 83

 

7. Romania

Gas Station of the Axis. 

Romania is a crucial member of the axis powers, not just in the extra troops they could supply for the USSR campaign but also due to the fact that they supply an enormous amount of oil to the Axis.

Since Russia is right next to you, it's essential that you're geared up and ready for the inevitable conflict, which you can help win through a war economy that's actually quite decent for your size.

So long as you can supply the Axis with troops, oil, and also some powerful air fighters, you have an excellent chance at having a successful campaign.

Strengths: 

• One of the best oil reserves in the Game for the country's size.
• Can field a decently sized army for the Axis.
• Has some beneficial fighter models to assist in the air war.
• If the Russian war isn't going the Axis's way, you can always switch sides like a coward.
• Easy to defend nation with the carpathian mountains as a line of defense.

Pick this Nation If:

• Only want to focus on the Russian front, or at the very least, the Balkans as well. 
• Want to be the Axis's oil broker. 
• Want a relatively easy-to-defend nation from the East.
• Desire a more relatively powerful fighter model.
• Want to conquer smaller Balkan neighbors to absorb their industry.

National Overall Power Score: 68/1000

 

8. France

It's a win if you last past 1941.

France has the potential to be strong as either a nation that can single-handedly win the Allies the war or be a simple speed bump that delays Germany of its conquest.

France has potential, but with a weak officer corps, a divided political government, and some serious negative military modifiers that hinder your research, it's going to be an uphill battle against the Axis.

A smart France player will draw resources from its vast empire to consolidate what it has in Europe while using its Navy to stifle the Axis for as long as possible, at least until America can effectively enter the war. 

Strengths:

• While not as strong as Britain's, they still have a decently sized navy.
• Has access to a wide range of natural resources and colonial holdings.
• Large standing early game army.
• Can still be effective even after capitulation.
• Has the potential to capitulate Germany early if proper steps are taken.

Pick this Nation if:

• You want a true challenge to survive an initial Axis onslaught.
• Want what Britain essentially has but in lesser quantity and quality.
• Want the opportunity to surrender and screw the allies over and play Vichy France.
• A war that you have to fight on multiple fronts, including Europe, Africa, and Asia.
• Want to try to beat Germany and end the French Surrender memes. 

National Overall Power Score: 80/100

 

9. Poland

Most entertaining choice for streamers. 

Though it's sandwiched between possibly the worst neighbors any country could ask for, Poland has a lot of potential to become a power player if everything goes right for them…which is admittedly kind of rare.

That being said, they do have a decent industry and war economy to give them a few choices on how to tackle their neighbor problems and how they can essentially survive.

It's a challenging campaign that requires proper micro and planning, along with essential use of bunker building to outlast your enemies, which will allow you to become the problem neighbor for possibly both Germany and the Soviet Union and give them a taste of their own medicine. 

Strengths:

• Strong defensive positions if you fight a war on one front.
• Decent starting war economy.
• Strong National Focuses to help in war effort.
• If it lasts long enough for allies to get the war machine going, victory isn't too far off.
• The ability to easily join Axis or Comintern if necessary. 

Pick this Nation if: 

• You want one of the hardest challenges in the Game.
• You're a pole who's looking to get revenge against your neighbors.
• You want to tempt a near-impossible war on two fronts.
• You desire a minor faction with a decent war economy.
• Have a leaning toward the plucky underdog in the Game.

National Overall Power Score: 65/100

 

10. India

Strong Potential. Weak Start.

In certain games, India can be a wildcard if in the hands of the right player, especially given their large workforce bonuses and the potential to build their industry and war economy. If a player goes the non-historical route and pushes for a revolution.

That being said, there are quite a few roadblocks that can impede your plan, such as fixing the Indian economy and addressing the neighbors you might have to deal with, like the allies or Japan, if they want to harvest your resources.

India's strength comes from buying enough time to improve its economy and infrastructure to become a genuine threat on the battlefield, allowing it to play kingmaker, so to speak, for whichever faction you want to help or if you wish to simply dominate the world on your own terms. 

Strengths:

• Large manpower reserves if the right steps are taken.
• Powerful infrastructure potential.
• Potentially powerful War economy.
• Strong barriers to protect your country by land.
• Weaker neighbors that you can exploit for resources.

Pick this Nation if:

• You want a nation that can easily play any side in the Allies, Axis, or Comminterm War.
• You're looking for a country with considerable manpower.
• Want a country that can snowball its power if played right.
• Want to create a significant presence across regions, including Asia and the Middle East.
• Desire an orchestration of revenge against the Brits' tea hoarding. 

National Overall Power Score: 74/100

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