Axis infantry divisions are, on the whole, underperforming. Pro players avoid them like the plague in 1v1s and even 2v2s, something I know from asking multiple high level players in the Tournament Discord and something I have done a lot of testing for myself. I have a few solid suppositions as to what makes these decks so weak, and I will try to discuss these generally before getting specific. By Axis infantry divisions, I mean 352, 716, Paris, 16, and 91. These suggestions are made with 1v1 and 2v2 balance in mind.
General issues with Axis infantry decks:
1. Startlingly low infantry availability for decks that are supposed to be able to throw out cheap meat to take hits for stronger support weapons.
2. Support weapons and antitank guns do not replace the usefulness of tanks, especially with them getting stressed so easily due to a common lack of vet. Support weapon availability feels low compared to what tank divisions often get for their tanks.
3. StuGs and their variants are often overpriced compared to what Allied divisions get in kind, namely Shermans, and in some cases the availability is very poor as well. And StuGs are what Axis infantry divs get generally, leaving them with an under available and overpriced tank unit, especially by comparison to Allied Infantry divs.
4. Artillery, which is supposed to be a strong suit for Axis infantry divs, rarely have veterancy.
Now for division specific things.
352. Infantry--
Argued by many to be the weakest 1v1 deck alongside Lehr. Instead of a deck that can do a little of everything, this deck doesn't seem to be very good at much of anything. While the recon cars got buffed last patch, they still just aren't worth bringing due to their price and availability. Infantry availability in this division is a joke, and Grenadiers are overpriced at 25 points, especially compared to US Rifles at 20. StuGs are too expensive and necessitate the use of 40 point r35 tanks and 55 point Pzjager not just in A, but basically the whole match. The Bef. Panzer III H with no vet has to be one of the worst units in the game on price and availability, not even including how poor of a combat unit it is in the first place. This unit is not a Stuart and should not even be priced in the same range as one; I don't care if it's a command unit. It needs veterancy to even be considered a relevant part of not just 352's arsenal, but any deck that has this unit. 352's support tab is weak even after the buff; IG33s are just too expensive to justify them, and maybe need 1200m range to justify bringing them in B. The Antitank guns need more availability on both the vetted and unvetted guns because AT guns get slaughtered even more than actual tanks do, and often AT guns have worse availability. The Marders aren't very good in B with so little vet and the Jagdpanther is well the Jagdpanther, good but expensive and late. Artillery in 352 is good but a lack of vet anywhere perplexes me. Buffing the Sk18's price or vet would make them worth it imo, as would buffing the vet of the Fk18. 352's AA tab is surprisingly good, and their air force is actually weirdly okay despite having only 4 slots.
716 Infantry--
Buffing Grenadier availability was a good start for this deck even though Grens are just plain overpriced, and the Italians are solid as well. Again, buffing AT gun availability would make this deck much more reasonable in 1v1. Arty, air, and AA all solid here.
16. Luftwaffe--
Slightly improve phase A infantry availability. Currently no reason to bring MGs over more infantry. The StuG III f/8 is overpriced at 150 and underavailable for x1 per card in B in a deck that has fewer alternatives than something like 352. AT gun availability here is absolutely atrocious and barely worth bringing over the 88's, which don't work as well as you would want as a replacement. I understand that we want drawbacks to the deck but x1 Pak40 in B has to be one of the worst cards in the entire game right now. Anti Air is fine obviously thanks to 88's. Arty in this deck is surprisingly good and the air tab is good at doing what it's supposed to do.
Festung Groß Paris--
SPW 204 is too expensive, although x3 in A is not bad. Landesschützen are worse than Ersatz due to lower availability and the arguably unjustified higher price at 15 instead of 10. KM Infanterie are completely worthless in price and availability. ROA and LwJager are fine in price but need more availability. The tank tab is actually pretty alright here. The support tab is fine too for the moment. The crap AT gun availability is somewhat offset by the presence of vetted AT vehicles and tank destroyers. AA is good and arty is where it should be in a deck with other options. D. 520 availability is kind of a joke.
91. Luftlande--
A genuinely good infantry tab, though B infantry could use more availability. 25 point no vet Grens with no faust are a joke. StuGs again are overpriced and under available compared to Allied decks with Shermans, especially with so few tank slots. Support tab is solid. The AT gun distribution makes me scratch my head, but this deck has other ways of dealing with armor. AA is fine. Arty could maybe use an availability buff, but it's probably fine as well. The air tab is glorious, as one would expect.
I hope this list is at least comprehensive if nothing else. I have tried to include as much high level player feedback into this list as possible so that it's not just all my opinion. I think buffing the StuG's price and availability as well as AT gun vet and availability would go a long way towards making these decks viable in 1v1 scenarios. After all, LSSAH gets StuG's for 110 points in phase A; I don't think buffing StuG's would break the game for these already weak divisions. As well, the infantry availability in many of these decks needs desperate buffs, as I have highlighted.
Thanks to Corbeau, Yue Jin, Walther, Herr_Robert, Protosszocker, and curbs for the discussion and feedback over the last few weeks to help me compile this list. I want to see these divisions become playable to help shake up the tournament metagame. Thanks to all who read.
General issues with Axis infantry decks:
1. Startlingly low infantry availability for decks that are supposed to be able to throw out cheap meat to take hits for stronger support weapons.
2. Support weapons and antitank guns do not replace the usefulness of tanks, especially with them getting stressed so easily due to a common lack of vet. Support weapon availability feels low compared to what tank divisions often get for their tanks.
3. StuGs and their variants are often overpriced compared to what Allied divisions get in kind, namely Shermans, and in some cases the availability is very poor as well. And StuGs are what Axis infantry divs get generally, leaving them with an under available and overpriced tank unit, especially by comparison to Allied Infantry divs.
4. Artillery, which is supposed to be a strong suit for Axis infantry divs, rarely have veterancy.
Now for division specific things.
352. Infantry--
Argued by many to be the weakest 1v1 deck alongside Lehr. Instead of a deck that can do a little of everything, this deck doesn't seem to be very good at much of anything. While the recon cars got buffed last patch, they still just aren't worth bringing due to their price and availability. Infantry availability in this division is a joke, and Grenadiers are overpriced at 25 points, especially compared to US Rifles at 20. StuGs are too expensive and necessitate the use of 40 point r35 tanks and 55 point Pzjager not just in A, but basically the whole match. The Bef. Panzer III H with no vet has to be one of the worst units in the game on price and availability, not even including how poor of a combat unit it is in the first place. This unit is not a Stuart and should not even be priced in the same range as one; I don't care if it's a command unit. It needs veterancy to even be considered a relevant part of not just 352's arsenal, but any deck that has this unit. 352's support tab is weak even after the buff; IG33s are just too expensive to justify them, and maybe need 1200m range to justify bringing them in B. The Antitank guns need more availability on both the vetted and unvetted guns because AT guns get slaughtered even more than actual tanks do, and often AT guns have worse availability. The Marders aren't very good in B with so little vet and the Jagdpanther is well the Jagdpanther, good but expensive and late. Artillery in 352 is good but a lack of vet anywhere perplexes me. Buffing the Sk18's price or vet would make them worth it imo, as would buffing the vet of the Fk18. 352's AA tab is surprisingly good, and their air force is actually weirdly okay despite having only 4 slots.
716 Infantry--
Buffing Grenadier availability was a good start for this deck even though Grens are just plain overpriced, and the Italians are solid as well. Again, buffing AT gun availability would make this deck much more reasonable in 1v1. Arty, air, and AA all solid here.
16. Luftwaffe--
Slightly improve phase A infantry availability. Currently no reason to bring MGs over more infantry. The StuG III f/8 is overpriced at 150 and underavailable for x1 per card in B in a deck that has fewer alternatives than something like 352. AT gun availability here is absolutely atrocious and barely worth bringing over the 88's, which don't work as well as you would want as a replacement. I understand that we want drawbacks to the deck but x1 Pak40 in B has to be one of the worst cards in the entire game right now. Anti Air is fine obviously thanks to 88's. Arty in this deck is surprisingly good and the air tab is good at doing what it's supposed to do.
Festung Groß Paris--
SPW 204 is too expensive, although x3 in A is not bad. Landesschützen are worse than Ersatz due to lower availability and the arguably unjustified higher price at 15 instead of 10. KM Infanterie are completely worthless in price and availability. ROA and LwJager are fine in price but need more availability. The tank tab is actually pretty alright here. The support tab is fine too for the moment. The crap AT gun availability is somewhat offset by the presence of vetted AT vehicles and tank destroyers. AA is good and arty is where it should be in a deck with other options. D. 520 availability is kind of a joke.
91. Luftlande--
A genuinely good infantry tab, though B infantry could use more availability. 25 point no vet Grens with no faust are a joke. StuGs again are overpriced and under available compared to Allied decks with Shermans, especially with so few tank slots. Support tab is solid. The AT gun distribution makes me scratch my head, but this deck has other ways of dealing with armor. AA is fine. Arty could maybe use an availability buff, but it's probably fine as well. The air tab is glorious, as one would expect.
I hope this list is at least comprehensive if nothing else. I have tried to include as much high level player feedback into this list as possible so that it's not just all my opinion. I think buffing the StuG's price and availability as well as AT gun vet and availability would go a long way towards making these decks viable in 1v1 scenarios. After all, LSSAH gets StuG's for 110 points in phase A; I don't think buffing StuG's would break the game for these already weak divisions. As well, the infantry availability in many of these decks needs desperate buffs, as I have highlighted.
Thanks to Corbeau, Yue Jin, Walther, Herr_Robert, Protosszocker, and curbs for the discussion and feedback over the last few weeks to help me compile this list. I want to see these divisions become playable to help shake up the tournament metagame. Thanks to all who read.
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