Morale and surrender in Steel Division 2 Steel Division 2 guide, tips

Each unit in Steel Division 2 has its own level of suppression indicator. This suppression indicator affects the effectiveness of the unit on the battlefield. In the most adverse conditions, troops that have very low morale can stop responding to orders, retreat without orders and even surrender if enemy troops are in their vicinity.

Mass air or artillery fire suppresses morale and can quickly pinpoint enemy units (1) and force them to retreat (2). In this simple way, you can defeat even stronger units.

Each unit has its own suppression indicator. This bar of morale increases when a unit is under fire. Some weapons or ammunition cause a greater loss of morale than other weapons, such as flamethrowers or artillery fire.

Suppression of units involves several elements:

1. The more unit's suppression bar fills up, worse the unit copes on the battlefield. Fewer soldiers fire, they are not able to take precise aim, etc.
2. If the bar is filled, the unit becomes pinned down. In this state they do not fight, do not move, and do not respond to orders, except for the order "retreat".
3. The pinned down unit can abandon their equipment, and the aircraft will be forced to leave the battlefield. Abandoned cars can be retrieved if you approach it with a supply wagon. Infantry can leave their posts without orders. If a unit is not under fire for a while, and the level of suppression decreases, you'll be able to give orders to that unit again.
4. Units cannot restore morale in enemy territory. Moreover, the more suppressed a unit is, the smaller the area of influence - and it does not move the front line.
5. If your unit is completely suppressed, in enemy territory, and next to the enemy unit, then this unit will surrender to the enemy. Note that this works in two ways. This is a good way to get rid of a large group of enemies without fighting a strong unit, such as a Tiger panzer with infantry and artillery. Surrender of enemy units causes an immediate disbandment and its removal from the battlefield.

You can influence the morale and neutralize a little the negative consequences of suppression. First of all, experienced squads better tolerate stress and the suppression bar fills up more slowly. Thus, your units will cope better under enemy fire.

The best way to reduce the impact of stress is to dispatch a leader or commander to join this unit. Such units increase the experience of your nearby troops but they also do not allow surrender! Thus, you can strengthen your defense or offensive and continue to fight despite adverse situations.

Forcing an enemy to surrender is the fastest way to defeat even the best units. The Russian infantry unit is close to tanks that are on the verge of panic (1). Successful artillery fire, cannon fire and the use of grenades forced Stug to surrender to the red player (2). Although there was an allied unit nearby, the blue tank was close to the red infantry and in the enemy territory.

Suppression, morale, being pinned down, surrender - it's all a double-edged sword. Combat stress has the same effect on your units as well as enemy units. Therefore, smart utilization of the appropriate types of troops can greatly help you win every battle. Even the strongest individuals will break under massive fire and can simply surrender to the enemy. It is worth to surround the enemy, and then use massive fire to force the enemy troops to surrender. In such a simple way you will be able to defeat better armed and armored units.