How is it decided which division is targeted?

[jarmenia]

Let's say I've got four divisions. Of these four divisions, 3 are standard infantry with a piercing of 5 and the other is a special an Anti-tank division with a piercing of 42. If I go up against a German opponent with 4 divisions, 3 of which are standard infantry and one that is panzer with an armor of 32.

Only my Anti-tank division can pierce the panzer's armor. How does the game decide which division my Anti-tank division attacks?

As a second question, based on what I've read on the wiki with the way piercing and armor, it seems like having a little piercing in each division is worse than having a lot of piercing in a few divisions. Is that thinking correct?

 

[Alex_brunius]

As far as I know attacks are completely random, any division in front line combat should have equal chance of being targeted.

As a second question, based on what I've read on the wiki with the way piercing and armor, it seems like having a little piercing in each division is worse than having a lot of piercing in a few divisions. Is that thinking correct?

That depends on the layout of the enemy divisions... If the enemy have spread out their armor over all their divisions then a single support AT in each division is enough to pierce so that's what you want to do. But if your enemy have focused all tanks in a few divisions with really high armor then you want to focus your AT as well to try to pierce them.

 

[Uladh88]

that also means that your special anti tank division might not enter the combat and the germany tank division rolls over you lol

 

[KevinG]

Welcome to HOI4 combat, where the only counter to tanks is more tanks or CAS.

 

[PG908]

Welcome to HOI4 combat, where the only counter to tanks is more tanks or CAS.

Don't forget AT guns mounted on tanks!

 

[jarmenia]

That depends on the layout of the enemy divisions... If the enemy have spread out their armor over all their divisions then a single support AT in each division is enough to pierce so that's what you want to do. But if your enemy have focused all tanks in a few divisions with really high armor then you want to focus your AT as well to try to pierce them.

To phrase my statement another way... It doesn't provide any benefit to have a piercing value that is 99% of the armor value of your opponent. It's binary and you either get the 50% penalty or you don't.