Company of Heroes 3 Battlegroup DLC Packs — Legacy Collection
Every pre–Dare & Destroy battlegroup expansion — four-faction packs, two-tree add-ons, and how they fit ranked today.
Before Dare & Destroy reshaped ranked in May 2026, Company of Heroes 3 shipped a steady line of battlegroup DLC packs on Steam — modular command trees that extend multiplayer, co-op, and skirmish without adding new factions. This hub covers every legacy pack in release order: Hammer & Shield, Fire & Steel, Stealth & Stronghold, and Endure & Defy. For the 2026 flagship expansion, see the dedicated Dare & Destroy page instead.
Battlegroups vs CoH2 Commanders
Veterans of Company of Heroes 2 should reset expectations: CoH3 uses Battlegroups, not commander doctrines. You pick one battlegroup pre-match — a branching skill tree unlocked with in-match experience — rather than stacking passive commander abilities. Each tree grants units, upgrades, and tactical abilities tied to your chosen faction. DLC packs add new trees; free patches balance existing ones. Opponents without your DLC still match against you — they simply cannot select your trees. Master fundamentals in Getting Started and one base-game tree before buying every pack.
Pack overview
| Pack | Release | Battlegroups | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammer & Shield | Dec 2024 (patch 1.4.0) | 2 (US, Wehr) | ~$16.99 |
| Fire & Steel | Feb 25, 2025 | 4 (all factions) | ~$24.99 |
| Stealth & Stronghold | Mar 26, 2025 | 2 (British, DAK) | ~$13.99–$16.99 |
| Endure & Defy | Nov 27, 2025 | 4 (all factions) | ~$24.99 |
| Dare & Destroy | May 14, 2026 | 4 (all factions) | Separate page |
Prices vary by sale and region — use the DLC Guide for buy-order advice.
Hammer & Shield — earliest expansion
Hammer & Shield launched with the free 1.4.0 Steel Shepherd update as Relic’s first paid battlegroup expansion. Steam lists the SKU on app 4523180; Premium Edition owners received it automatically. The pack adds two trees rather than four:
- US Forces Advanced Infantry — aggressive infantry tempo with dedicated on-map support and upgrade paths toward heavy firepower, including off-map 155mm artillery for line-breaking moments
- Wehrmacht Italian Coastal Defense — defensive specialists: Coastal Reserves infantry with bunker bonuses, support bunkers, and the Obice 210/22 heavy howitzer that gains extra shells near friendly fortifications
Both trees can also be unlocked individually via in-game Merit (10,000 each) without buying the full pack — a useful trial before spending. Hammer & Shield rewards players who already understand Cover and Combat and emplacement timing. Ranked viability post-Patch 2.5.0 anti-blobbing shifts defensive Coastal Defense toward specialist map picks — check Tier List: Battlegroups for current placement.
Fire & Steel — four-faction flagship (Feb 2025)
Fire & Steel released February 25, 2025 alongside CoH3’s 2.0 Anniversary Update — four battlegroups, one per army, at roughly $24.99 USD. This remains the best value legacy pack for players who want maximum tree variety in one purchase:
- US Forces Heavy Weapons — team weapons, halftracks, towed AT, and the M26 Pershing super-heavy as the capstone
- Wehrmacht Terror — psychological warfare: suppression, Jericho Trumpets, V1 strikes, and the King Tiger heavy tank
- British Forces Canadian Shock — fast assault infantry, incendiary tools, and the Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tank
- DAK Panzerjäger Kommand — defensive obstacles and the devastating Elefant tank destroyer
Fire & Steel trees integrate cleanly with standard Builds — Heavy Weapons and Terror remain popular ranked picks on the right maps. After Dare & Destroy entered the ladder, legacy Fire & Steel trees held niche but stable roles; Balance & Meta tracks cross-patch interactions.
Stealth & Stronghold — two-tree specialist pack (Mar 2025)
Stealth & Stronghold followed March 26, 2025 with two battlegroups at a lower price point (~$13.99–$16.99 depending on sale):
- British Forces Australian Defense — resilient defensive line: versatile infantry sections, Bofors AA emplacements, Archer tank destroyer, and field fortifications that punish overcommitted pushes
- DAK Battlefield Espionage — stealth and subterfuge: 250/3 Funkpanzerwagen intel, Goliath ambush charges, camouflage mechanics, and Firestorm incendiary barrages for displacement
Australian Defense pairs naturally with team-anchor British play documented in British Forces Builds. Battlefield Espionage demands map awareness and ambush discipline — higher skill floor, higher payoff on wide maps where recon wins Fuel contests per Resource Management.
Endure & Defy — late-2025 four-pack (Nov 2025)
Endure & Defy shipped November 27, 2025 with the Scarlet Bison update — another four-faction pack at ~$24.99 USD with a launch discount window:
- US Forces Italian Partisan — resistance fighters, saboteurs, tunnel networks, resource siphoning, and underground detonations for behind-the-lines disruption
- Wehrmacht Last Stand — improvised defenses: Borgward Wanze, Pantherturm, propaganda tools, and final-battle directives when lines collapse
- British Forces Polish Cavalry — Polish Lancer sections, Sherman Firefly and Land Mattress rocket support, veteran-killing tempo
- DAK Kriegsmarine — naval infantry engineering, hardpoints, supply drops, and Stuka precision strikes from fortified positions
Italian Partisan and Last Stand introduce mechanics absent from earlier packs — tunnel play and improvised fortifications respectively. Ranked players who skipped Endure & Defy still face these trees in matchmaking; study openings even if you defer purchase.
How legacy packs interact with 2026 content
Legacy DLC trees remain fully usable after patch 2.4.0 Dare & Destroy and patch 2.5.0 Final Stand. Free balance patches adjust unit costs globally — DLC ownership does not isolate you from nerfs or buffs. Hot Fix 2.5.2 addressed Final Stand saves, AI behavior, and stability issues without removing any battlegroup content.
Final Stand (standalone app 4836540) uses separate progression trees — legacy battlegroup DLC applies to standard ranked and skirmish, not horde mode. See Final Stand Guide for that purchase decision.
Which legacy pack first?
Quick guidance — full breakdown in DLC Guide:
- One pack only: Fire & Steel (four trees, strongest variety-per-dollar among legacy packs)
- Budget two-tree try: Stealth & Stronghold or Hammer & Shield depending on faction main
- Collector / completionist: Ultimate Bundle on Steam bundles all packs including Dare & Destroy
- Ranked-focused in 2026: Dare & Destroy before legacy backfill — current meta priority
Always finish Steam downloads and verify patch version before ranked. Use Build Order Planner to drill one new tree across ten Hard AI games per How to Beat AI.
Related pages
| Topic | Link |
|---|---|
| 2026 flagship DLC | Dare & Destroy |
| Buy-order and prices | DLC Guide |
| Battlegroup rankings | Tier List: Battlegroups |
| Opening builds | Builds |
| July 29 ranked patch | Patch 2.5.0 |
| Stability hotfix | Hot Fix 2.5.2 |
| Ladder interpretation | Balance & Meta |
Legacy battlegroup DLC packs built CoH3’s ranked variety before Dare & Destroy — they remain relevant loadout options, sale targets for collectors, and mandatory matchup knowledge even when you do not own every tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common Company of Heroes 3 questions.
How many legacy battlegroup DLC packs exist?
Four packs before Dare & Destroy: Hammer & Shield (2 trees), Fire & Steel (4), Stealth & Stronghold (2), and Endure & Defy (4).
Are battlegroups the same as CoH2 commanders?
No. CoH3 battlegroups are in-match skill trees with units and abilities — not passive commander doctrine stacks from CoH2.
Which legacy pack offers the best value?
Fire & Steel adds four faction trees in one purchase (~$24.99). See DLC Guide for ranked-specific buy order.
Do I need legacy DLC for ranked?
No. Base-game battlegroups work in ranked. DLC adds optional trees; opponents with DLC can use them against you.
Does legacy DLC work with Final Stand?
Legacy battlegroups apply to standard multiplayer and skirmish. Final Stand uses its own progression — see Final Stand Guide.
Where is Dare & Destroy covered?
Dare & Destroy has a dedicated page — it is the 2026 flagship pack, separate from this legacy collection hub.