Company of Heroes 3: Endure & Defy expanded the game’s tactical battlefield options when it launched on PC on 27 November, 2025. Developed and published by Relic Entertainment, the DLC introduces four new Battlegroups designed for multiplayer, co-op and skirmish matches against AI opponents. Rather than adding a traditional campaign or entirely new factions, the expansion focuses on broadening the strategic possibilities available to existing armies through specialised doctrines built around sabotage, attrition, defensive warfare and devastating fire support. Each Battlegroup introduces a very different battlefield philosophy, encouraging players to adapt their tactics and experiment with new combinations of units, structures and support abilities. This approach helps Endure & Defy feel substantial for long-term players looking for fresh multiplayer strategies without dramatically altering the core mechanics that define Company of Heroes 3.

The United States Forces receive the Italian Partisan Battlegroup, a doctrine centred around resistance warfare and behind-the-lines disruption. Instead of relying purely on overwhelming military force, the battlegroup rewards deception, sabotage and resource denial tactics designed to destabilise enemy operations over time. Resistance Fighters and Saboteurs provide flexible infantry support capable of harassing enemy forces and creating constant pressure across the battlefield. Tunnel networks and underground detonations reinforce the unconventional warfare theme, giving players opportunities to launch surprise attacks or disrupt critical enemy positions unexpectedly. Resource siphoning further supports this playstyle by weakening opposing armies economically while strengthening the player’s own battlefield sustainability. The result is a Battlegroup focused less on direct confrontation and more on slowly dismantling enemy control through calculated disruption and opportunistic strikes.

For Wehrmacht players, the Last Stand Battlegroup embraces desperation tactics, improvised defences and relentless battlefield endurance. This doctrine reflects a philosophy of holding territory at all costs, even when resources become strained or battlefield conditions deteriorate. Defensive structures such as the Pantherturm and immobilised vehicles allow players to establish heavily fortified strongpoints capable of resisting sustained assaults. The Propaganda Tower adds another psychological dimension by weakening enemy morale and disrupting offensive momentum. Additional abilities such as Panzerfaust rollouts, improvised artillery barrages and final battle directives reinforce the idea of a faction willing to commit every remaining resource toward survival. This creates a defensive playstyle built around attrition, battlefield control and punishing enemy advances through prepared positions and desperate countermeasures.

The British Forces gain the Polish Cavalry Battlegroup, a doctrine focused on aggressive assaults, elite infantry and devastating heavy weapons support. Polish Lancer Sections serve as hardened frontline troops capable of applying intense pressure against veteran enemy units, while Polish-crewed Sherman Fireflies provide powerful anti-armour support during larger engagements. The inclusion of Land Mattress rocket artillery adds further destructive capability, enabling players to overwhelm entrenched enemy positions with sustained bombardments before committing ground assaults. Unlike more defensive British doctrines, the Polish Cavalry Battlegroup rewards momentum and offensive action, encouraging players to push aggressively and exploit battlefield openings quickly. Its emphasis on experienced troops and heavy battlefield pressure creates a force that excels during prolonged engagements where elite units and coordinated attacks can gradually overwhelm opposition forces.

The Deutsches Afrikakorps Kriegsmarine Battlegroup takes inspiration from naval support operations and fortified battlefield logistics. Rather than focusing solely on armoured assaults, the doctrine blends defensive infrastructure with large-scale bombardment capabilities and supply management. Kriegsmarine infantry provide flexibility through both combat effectiveness and engineering utility, allowing players to reinforce positions while maintaining operational support structures. Hardpoints help secure strategic territory and establish safe zones for supply drops, creating a more sustainable battlefield presence over time. Once these positions are secured, players gain access to increasingly destructive support abilities including Stuka bombers, Fritz Glide-bombs and naval salvos capable of devastating enemy formations and fortified areas. This combination of infrastructure and overwhelming fire support creates a doctrine that rewards careful preparation before unleashing destructive attacks against enemy lines.

One of the strongest aspects of Endure & Defy is how distinct each Battlegroup feels mechanically while still remaining true to the combined arms gameplay that defines Company of Heroes 3. The Italian Partisan doctrine prioritises mobility, deception and sabotage, while Last Stand rewards stubborn defence and attritional warfare. The Polish Cavalry Battlegroup encourages aggressive assaults supported by elite troops and heavy weapons, whereas Kriegsmarine focuses on territorial fortification and overwhelming bombardment support. These contrasting tactical identities help multiplayer matches remain unpredictable and encourage players to continually adapt their strategies depending on the opposing doctrine. Instead of simply adding stronger units to existing rosters, the DLC expands the number of viable tactical approaches available to each faction.

Visually, the expansion continues the cinematic battlefield presentation associated with the Company of Heroes series. Massive artillery strikes, rocket bombardments and collapsing defensive positions create dramatic large-scale engagements that reinforce the intensity of the real-time strategy gameplay. Units such as the Sherman Firefly, Pantherturm and Land Mattress also contribute to the historical atmosphere of the game, giving players access to recognisable World War II-inspired equipment while maintaining gameplay balance as the primary focus. Smaller battlefield details such as entrenched positions, defensive emplacements and support abilities help each doctrine feel visually distinctive during matches, particularly once large-scale battles begin escalating across contested sectors of the map.

For players invested in multiplayer skirmishes and tactical experimentation, Endure & Defy offers a meaningful addition to Company of Heroes 3 by expanding the strategic flexibility of every major faction represented in the DLC. The battlegroups are designed to reward different styles of play, from stealthy sabotage and defensive endurance to aggressive assaults and heavy support bombardments. This diversity helps keep matches engaging over long periods while also encouraging players to explore battlefield strategies they may not have previously considered. By focusing entirely on tactical depth and faction variety, Relic Entertainment delivers an expansion that strengthens the replayability of Company of Heroes 3 while preserving the intense battlefield decision-making and combined arms warfare that remain central to the series.

BUY COMPANY OF HEROES 3: ENDURE & DEFY

THIS DLC REQUIRES THE BASE GAME – COMPANY OF HEROES 3