How to Conquer Advance Wars

Advance Wars is a turn based strategy game.  It was originally released on the Gameboy Advance and sequels have been released on the Nintendo DS.  Made by the creators of Fire Emblem, the game is an in depth turn based strategy game that can be a bit difficult to get the hang of at first.

The beginning of the campaign in game will cover all of the basics, such as having a CO and producing units at bases.  This article will skip that for a deeper strategic look into the gameplay.  For a more general description of the game, see my article “Advance Wars, A Legend in Turn Based Strategy”.

In most games, no matter what version you’re playing (Black Hole Rising, DS, Days of Ruin…) you will start with an HQ and one or two bases.  The map will then be littered with neutral cities, bases, and other buildings depending on the map.  Whoever is able to seize most of the map early on can usually wear down their opponents by utilizing an economic advantage.  Because of this fact, the first step is to build infantry and capture the buildings close by.  Always aim for bases before anything else because they allow you to produce more ground units, for example, more infantry to speed up your capture rate.

As soon as possible, load an infantry unit into an APC or Rig (Depending on which version you’re playing, in Days of Ruin Bikes are usually a better choice) (Or in an island map build a lander, gunboat, or black boat depending on the version you’re playing) and get an infantry unit to a far away base.  This new base is now your frontline.  Once you capture the base, if there aren’t any enemy units near your position (for example a tank, this is harder to discern if you’re playing with fog of war on) then push towards the next base.  Immediately spawn infantry at the base you just captured to capture the surrounding buildings.  The sooner you do so the sooner they will provide you with funds to build new units. (Know that you can choose more than one base from the beginning, but you must choose at least one)  Repeat this process until you spot enemy units.  If there are enemy units nearby, build something that can beat it at the factory you just captured.  For example, a tank will beat a recon, or a tank will beat another tank because it will be repaired on the base)  Have your infantry unit start capturing.  If enemy units appear and you haven’t captured the base, use your APC as a shield.  It’s tough enough to take a hit in the early game.  If the enemy rushes, it will be with tanks, recons and mechs.  None of these can kill an APC in one shot.

Once your farthest base as encountered enemy units, immediately create a defensive line.  The bases and their surrounding buildings behind this one don’t need units at them unless their are aircraft or you’re playing on an island map.  Once again, fog will make it a lot more difficult to decide where to build.  If there is a choke point, use it.  Rockets and Anti-Tank (Anti-Tank is only available in Days of Ruin) are incredible defensive units.  Grind the enemy forces to a halt outside your frontline.  Station Rockets and other long range units behind a large tank.  Always target enemy ranged units first.  Once ranged units are brought to bear upon your defenses it will be hard to hold your position.

For this reason, you need to start building the biggest tanks you can as soon as you can and use them to punch through the enemy lines.  Have your Rockets weaken targets and then hit them with your tanks.  Bombers and Battleships also work well at this stage.  Once you’ve punched a hole in the enemy line, eliminate any ranged units you can.  Units may be expendable, but don’t needlessly put units in range of enemy Rockets or Missiles.  By bringing up the ranged units you’ve built to support your tanks, you should be able to keep the enemy from forming a cohesive defensive line.  Keep infantry in the rear to capture any bases you come across.  If you clear enemy units off the base but can’t get an infantry unit there in time park a tank on it so the enemy can’t produce there anymore.  When you’re capturing you can surround your infantry unit with tanks to protect it while it captures.

Continue this process as many times as you need to get to the enemy HQ.  Block their bases and capture their HQ as quickly as possible.  However, if none of this seems to go right and the enemy does break through your defenses, you cannot stay on the defensive.  That will just put you on the losing side of a war of attrition.  Find a way to circumvent the enemy’s main forces if you can, but find a way to attack and punch through their offensive ranks.  Bases are the key.  Capture them and you can cut the enemy reinforcements, which will grind any assault to a halt.

Good luck!

 

 

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