Profile of Butcher

Nobody uses pgrens other than for shrecks for obvious reasons. Simply being ok in performance, but high cost is something nobody wants to deal with.

I don´t build PGs any longer. Simply because LMG Grens are more cost effective and easier to use. Keeping an LMG Gren in cover is better than running in with valuable PGs that cost you an arm and a leg to reinforce.

The double Schreck upgrade is meh. A Pak does a better job, the ammo is better spent on LMGs and mines and most of the time you will end up giving Schrecks to the enemy, simply because 3 entities get wiped on a regular basis.

That depends on the situation and the commanders your opponent has chosen.

1) Have a flexible loadout of commanders yourself. For Example, Ostheer:

a) Elefant + Stuka + Recon doc
b) Tiger + Mortar HT doc
c) CAS

A bad loadout would be 3x Tiger doctrines. The other player will definitely play to counter this.

2) You definitely need to see the other guys commanders on the loading screen.

3) Chose your commander accordingly. There are differences between the commanders and when to chose them. That has advantages and disadvantages.

a) Commanders that need to be chosen directly.

The Assault grenadier commander, Osttruppen commander and the Soviet HQ commander are the best examples. Those doctrines will give you the most if you chose them directly. This comes at a risk though. Your enemy will recognize this and counter accordingly. The advantage should usually be an early game advantage.

b) Commanders that are good for countering other commanders.

Best example: Elefant doctrine. This should always be chosen if you see the other players have either heavy tanks or Artillery in their loadout. Which is the case very often. With these commanders you can wait until you are sure what the other guy is doing.

c) Commanders to complete your army (mostly Soviets and OKW).

These commanders cover the weaknesses of the stock army and can usually be effective at the
2 CP mark. Examples are Elite infantry for Soviets or Panzerfusels for OKW. If you really need a MG as OKW you can chose a doc at 1 CP.

Most Soviet doctrines should be chosen at around 2 CPs btw, because most of them come with Elite infantry that gives you the most if they arrive early. As a Soviet you also need to think about what Elite infantry you want. If you choose three doctrines with guards or three doctrines with only shocktroopers, you have the advdantage of your enemy not knowing what doctrine you did chose. You also can get the most out of your Elite infantry bulletins. The disadvantage of not having both kind of Elite infantry in your loadout though means that your enemy can utilize this to his advantage (early vehicles if there are no guards).

Thinking about it, the artillery option for the Sturmtiger seems to be the best solution. Otherwise you either end up with a unit wiping everything, because you can´t dodge the shot

or the other extreme from the previous patch

a useless unit that can be dodged way too easily.

Also another side note: Allies, specifically USF, had air superiority when they were fighting in the Western front and Soviets had way more planes than Axis during latter part of the Eastern front. Why don't we have CAS commanders for Allies and Soviets?

For the same reason Panthers have to run away from SU-85s. It´s totally random and not realistic.

Ostheer.

The most well rounded faction, with the best availability of useful commanders. You have a grid of good units in every tier (MG42, LMG Grens, Pak, Panzer IV). The only bummer is T4 with crap like the Panzerwerfer.

If you win, you have achieved something. The amount of "cheese tactics" is minimal since CAS has been nerfed. Opposed to Soviets which exclusively depend on abusing overpowered units and cheesing your way through the game (2 man Snipers, Flak HT). OKW is a one trick pony with too much risk involved in certain units and USA are just bad overall.