In War Footing, the Prepared Defenses doctrine provides a targeted combat boost of +15% infantry defense and +15% artillery soft attack. Adopting the doctrine requires a Level 2 Training Center and takes exactly 6 turns (weeks) to transition into active service. It is designed to reinforce static frontline lines composed primarily of entrenched infantry battalions, garrison formations, and towed artillery batteries before an enemy offensive strikes.
Prepared Defenses Doctrine Stats and Requirements
War Footing models doctrine as an overarching military posture that alters industrial output, training speeds, and battlefield performance. To select or switch to Prepared Defenses, your nation must first upgrade its military training infrastructure.
- Prerequisite: Training Center upgraded to at least Level 2.
- Adoption Time: 6 turns (weeks) where no doctrinal bonuses apply during the switch.
- Combat Modifiers: +15% Infantry Defense, +15% Artillery Soft Attack.
- Core Role: Absorbing enemy ground advances in frontline or midland sectors using entrenched foot soldiers and towed fire support.
| Doctrine Name | Transition Time | Key Stat Effects | Strategic Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepared Defenses | 6 turns | +15% Infantry Defense, +15% Artillery Soft Attack | Static trench defense with towed guns |
| Mass Assault | 8–9 turns | +20% Production Capacity, Faster Training, -10% Global Combat Effectiveness | Early industrial expansion and rapid troop generation |
| Elite Training | 12 turns | +15% Global Combat Effectiveness, Slower Training | High-tier combined arms with armor and air power |
The Mass Assault to Prepared Defenses Transition Route
Because War Footing imposes a multi-turn delay when changing operational postures, players and community testers frequently open procurement campaigns with Mass Assault before shifting to Prepared Defenses.
Mass Assault yields a +20% boost to domestic production capacity and accelerates experience gain in the training queue, allowing defense ministries to stand up forces and expand factory capacity during the early weeks. However, Mass Assault inflicts an across-the-board -10% combat penalty if left active during an invasion.
Defectors and allied diplomatic intelligence typically provide a strategic forecast predicting the invasion window, frequently estimated between weeks 35 and 45 or 41 and 47 depending on the scenario. Because Prepared Defenses requires a 6-turn adoption window, timing the doctrinal swap to finish 1 to 2 turns before the predicted assault date ensures the +20% industrial bonus is retained for early manufacturing runs without carrying the -10% combat debuff into actual battle.
Force Composition and Frontline Synergy
The stat bonuses granted by Prepared Defenses specifically boost infantry defense and artillery soft attack. Units that do not carry these tags, such as dedicated armored battalions or mobile air defense units, do not receive direct combat bonuses from this doctrine.
Garrison and Infantry Battalions
Static Garrison Battalions harmonize closely with Prepared Defenses:
- Equipment Allocation: A standard garrison battalion requires roughly 250 small arms, anti-tank guided missiles (such as Spikes or ATGMs), and heavy towed artillery support (approximately 1 towed gun per 17 soldiers, or around 30 guns per unit).
- Logistics Footprint: Garrison battalions require roughly half the transport trucks of standard motorized units, lowering the burden on rear-echelon transport companies.
- Anti-Infantry Firepower: The +15% artillery soft attack bonus amplifies the damage dealt by towed 152mm or 155mm howitzers (such as the D-30 or Soltam M-71) against advancing hostile foot formations.
Sector Entrenchment Mechanics
Troops stationed in defensive zones accumulate entrenchment over time. In-game observations indicate units gain approximately 2% entrenchment per week stationary in a frontline sector, accumulating toward a defensive multiplier over an extended pre-war deployment. Stacking sector entrenchment on top of the +15% infantry defense bonus helps basic foot units withstand initial bombardment phases.
Practical Limitations and Community Combat Observations
Player testing and Steam community forum discussions indicate that while Prepared Defenses provides valuable numerical bonuses, it does not compensate for major deficits in force size or readiness:
- Numerical Weight in Battle Resolution: Battle simulations in War Footing heavily favor total force strength. In player testing, smaller forces (such as 2,500 personnel) using Prepared Defenses and level 4–5 veterancy can still suffer defeats against hostile forces numbering 3,500 or more if the attacker fields overwhelming numbers.
- Readiness Penalties: Units deployed without full authorized equipment, or drawn from formations with poor logistics coverage, experience suppressed readiness. Forum reports emphasize that a high doctrinal defense percentage will not save a frontline if average force readiness drops significantly.
- Armor Mitigation: While Prepared Defenses increases artillery soft attack against enemy personnel, it does not increase hard attack against heavily armored combat vehicles (such as Bradley IFVs, Leopard tanks, or Challenger 2 main battle tanks). Frontline units must carry dedicated anti-tank weapons or rely on air support and attack aviation to penetrate armored targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to switch to Prepared Defenses in War Footing?
Switching to Prepared Defenses takes 6 turns. During this transition, your nation receives no doctrine bonuses until the 6 weeks conclude.
What building is required to unlock Prepared Defenses?
You must upgrade your Training Center to Level 2 in the military infrastructure tab before you are permitted to select or change doctrines.
Does Prepared Defenses buff tanks or infantry fighting vehicles?
No. The doctrine specifically provides +15% infantry defense and +15% artillery soft attack. It does not provide hard attack or armor protection bonuses to motorized, mechanized, or armored units.
