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Infantry

The Infantry of each Force from AW2.

Red-infantry

A lone Infantry from AWDoR.

Infantries are a kind of land unit. They have appeared in every Advance Wars game so far, though with some slight changes with every version. They are the cheapest unit to purchase, and thus one of the weakest, though they do have their uses.

Infantry has a 3-space movement range that can be hindered by terrain penalties, and is one out of the only two units that can capture properties, the other being Mechs. However, Infantry tends to be weaker than most other units, even with defense bonuses.

Game Information[]

Famicom Wars[]

Main article: Infantry (Famicom Wars)

Game Boy Wars 1/2/Turbo[]

Main article: Infantry (Game Boy Wars)

Super Famicom Wars[]

Main article: Infantry (Super Famicom Wars)

Game Boy Wars 3[]

Main article: Infantry (Game Boy Wars 3)
See also: Commando

Advance Wars[]

Main article: Infantry (Advance Wars 1)

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising[]

Main article: Infantry (Advance Wars 2)

Advance Wars: Dual Strike[]

Main article: Infantry (Dual Strike)

Advance Wars: Days of Ruin[]

Main article: Infantry (Days of Ruin)

Capture[]

In every game they have appeared in, Infantry units have the unique ability to capture neutral or enemy buildings. When standing on one of the properties, they have the option to Capture as well as Wait or Fire (as long as an enemy is adjacent). This will remove a building point (starting at 20) for every health point the Infantry unit has. For example, an undamaged Infantry unit will take 10 hp off a building, and capture it in 2 turns were no combat to take place during the capture.

Notes[]

Although weak they are one of the few Units which can capture Buildings. This makes them valuable to have both at the start of the fight, or even towards the end (when capturing the opponent's HQ). They are the least effective units in terms of direct attack and defense, as even Mech units deal slightly more damage and have slightly more defense than standard Infantry. Infantry units are also slow at only 3 movements per turn. However, they may move through mountains, woods, and other terrains, albeit with corresponding penalties.

Infantry is an even more dangerous threat in the hands of COs whose abilities boost their usefulness. Sami's Infantry units, with their higher attack and defense stats, can take out a Tank with ease and can quickly capture the enemy's key bases with their 1.5x capture rate. Sensei's CO power can create 9HP Infantry at every allied city and thus can greatly change the tide of battle in just one turn.

Tactics[]

When facing Infantry units, it's best to either swarm them with other Infantries or use a single effective Unit, such as an Anti-Air. Infantry units may be weak, but in large numbers, they may even destroy, or at least deal heavy damage to even a Tank. It's best to deploy Infantry at the beginning of a battle, exploiting their extremely cheap cost, so as to capture as many buildings as possible. Keep them around near the enemy's main base, as they can be used to capture their buildings and HQ.

Another tactic is to use Infantry as cannon fodder, and takes fire for more valuable units. For example, to protect an Artillery from enemy tanks, the Infantries can form "meat walls" around the Artillery, thus protecting it from direct fire. The low cost, high versatility, and the fact that they can usually survive with 1 or 2 HP if attacked by a lower level ground unit makes them ideal for this strategy.

If one can deploy T Copters, or has access to them, they can execute a daring raid on the enemy HQ, attempting to capture it before the enemy can react. In the first Advance Wars, this is best executed in mission 3 (Aerial Ace); one must protect their only T Copter with swarms of anti-air, and once all of Eagle's air units are dead, they must carefully fly a T Copter to the enemy base (which is close by on another island, and is faraway from friendly units) avoiding his anti-air, then capture it. This is best countered by protecting the HQ with Anti-Airs (Missiles will reliably one-shot a T Copter at range, while Anti-Air tanks can deal with capturing Infantry quite easily). This tactic is extremely dangerous on maps with Bases around their HQs, where if one slips up the enemy will be able to shred them on the next turn after deploying a unit.

In Days of Ruin, the Infantry meat shielding tactic could actually backfire against players when used improperly. Not only does the slightly higher 1500 cost impairs this tactic, but destroyed units only give quicker Veteran Status to the enemy's already powerful units. In addition, this tactic can be slower to execute than Bikes spamming due to Bikes being faster on distance. The only time meat shielding can work effectively without putting you as a disadvantage is when you use Infantries to shield your CO Unit.

Trivia[]

  • The Orange Star Infantry is based on WWII or Vietnam War era American infantry. Their guns resemble the M1918 BAR, and they wear an M1 helmet. They appear to fire from the hip.
  • The Blue Moon Infantry is based on Soviet-era Russian infantry. Their guns resemble the PPSh-41, judging by the wooden stock, and they wear "garrison caps" (pilotkas), standard-issue summer headgear for WWII-era Soviet armed forces. Unlike the Orange Star forces, they fire from the shoulder.
  • The Green Earth Infantry is based on WWII-era German infantry. Their weapons resemble the MP 40 submachine gun, and they wear long trench coats and Stahlhelms. They fire from the hip in classical Nazi German fashion.
  • The Yellow Comet Infantry is based on WWII-era Japanese infantry. Their guns resemble the Type 100 submachine gun. They wear large backpacks. They fire from the shoulder.
  • The Black Hole Infantry has no resemblance to any modern-day infantry unit, instead being generic "spacesuit men". They apparently use the G11 rifle, though their method of holding it is somewhat strange (the Black Hole infantryman grips his G11 by the side, and with his trigger hand as well.) They appear to fire from the hip, perhaps explaining their damage variance under COs like Flak. In Re-Boot Camp however, they hold their rifles properly and no longer hip-fire with them. Their eyes also produce a faint green glow.
  • The Rubinelle Army Infantry retains the Vietnam War era American infantry sprite. But their guns now resemble the M16 assault rifle without a carrying handle and a 20 round magazine. Like the Orange Star incarnation, they fire from the hip.
  • The Lazurian Army Infantry unit still retains the Soviet-era infantry sprite but different graphics. Their guns still resemble the PPSh-41 submachine gun, judging by the barrel, wooden buttstock, and the 71-round drum magazine. They still fire from the shoulder. 
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