Military doctrines can be upgraded by using army XP, among other things, which often means that a more technologically advanced nation will have an edge in combat. Technologies can be researched to improve equipment. How well divisions perform in combat depends on various factors, such as the quality of their equipment, the weather, the type of terrain, the skill and traits of the general commanding the divisions, aerial combat in the region and the morale of both sides. Divisions are placed in provinces and can attack enemy units in adjacent provinces. These provinces each have a type of terrain assigned to them that determines how well different types of units will perform in combat there. The major seas and oceans (for warships) and the sky (for warplanes) are similarly divided into different regions. Each state has a certain amount of building slots, factory slots, and 5 infrastructure slots. Land in Hearts of Iron IV is divided into tiny regions known as provinces (also called tiles), which are grouped to form states. In addition to mobilization, there are other policies, including the nation's stance on conscription and commerce. Mobilization is represented as a 'policy' that the player may adjust with the proper amount of political power, an abstract 'resource' that is also used to appoint new ministers and change other facets of the nation's government. Most nations are initially forced to devote a significant number of their civilian factories to producing consumer goods, but as the nation becomes increasingly mobilized, more factories will be freed up for other purposes. These military factories and dockyards are, in turn, constructed using civilian factories, which also construct a variety of other buildings, produce consumer goods for the civilian population, and oversee commerce with other nations. Equipment is produced by military factories, while ships are built by dockyards. The navy and air force also require men and equipment, including the actual warships and warplanes that are used in combat.

These divisions require equipment and manpower to fight properly. For the ground forces, the player may train, customize, and command divisions consisting of various types of infantry, tanks, and other units.

A nation's military is divided between ground forces, naval forces, and aerial forces. The player may play as any nation in the world in the 1936 or 1939 start dates in single-player or multiplayer, although the game is not designed to go beyond 1948. Hearts of Iron IV is a grand strategy wargame that revolves around World War II.

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