Enlisted looks like a standard World War II shooter until you spawn in and realize you're not controlling one soldier — you're controlling a squad. When your active soldier dies, you don't respawn; you take over the next AI-controlled member of the same squad, right where they stand. That single mechanic changes everything about how you play. Understanding it is the difference between feeling underpowered and feeling like a one-person platoon. This guide covers what actually matters in your first dozen matches.
The game is built around large 10-versus-10 battles fought over objectives, with each human player commanding multiple soldiers. Between matches you manage squads, unlock weapons and soldier slots through a battle-pass-style progression per campaign, and slowly build out a roster spanning infantry, engineers, snipers, tankers, and pilots. It's methodical, tactical, and rewarding once the systems click.
Choose the Right Starter Campaign
Enlisted is split into historical campaigns, and you level progression separately in each one. Where you start matters.
- Pick one campaign and commit early. Because unlocks don't carry across campaigns, spreading your play thin means you're perpetually low-tier everywhere. Concentrate on a single theater until your squads are competitive.
- The Normandy and Berlin campaigns are the friendliest starts. They have healthy player populations for fast queues and offer a balanced mix of weapons that teaches the fundamentals without punishing gimmicks.
- Beware the "seal-clubbing" trap. Higher-level players sometimes bring low-tier squads into beginner matches. Don't be discouraged by lopsided games early — it evens out as you unlock better gear and learn the maps.
Build and Level Your Squads
Your roster is your real progression. Winning matches is nice; building a deep, well-equipped set of squads is what makes you strong.
- Level infantry squads first. More soldiers per squad means more lives per spawn. Early on, a squad might field a handful of soldiers; upgraded, that same squad can hold many — effectively multiplying how long you survive each deployment.
- Slot an engineer squad immediately. Engineers build rally points, ammo boxes, and defenses. A forward rally point lets your whole team spawn closer to the objective, and it's one of the highest-impact things a new player can do for their side. Learn to place them in cover, out of enemy sightlines.
- Don't ignore secondary classes. A single AT (anti-tank) gunner or a well-placed sniper squad can swing a match. Keep at least one soldier who can deal with vehicles — being helpless against a tank ruins games.
- Upgrade soldiers, not just weapons. Each soldier has perks and a class. Investing in their stats (health, stamina, weapon handling) compounds over time and makes even your AI-controlled members more survivable.
Play the Objective, Not the Kill Count
Enlisted rewards ground taken, not personal highlight reels. The scoreboard follows the objective.
- Push and hold capture points. Experience and squad progression flow fastest from contesting objectives. Lone-wolfing for kills in a corner of the map earns far less and often costs your team the point.
- Use your squad as a squad. Your AI soldiers follow and fight. Position them in cover before you peek — when your controlled soldier falls, you inherit one of them, so keeping them alive keeps you alive.
- Rally points win matches. Spawning at the front instead of walking from base for thirty seconds is a massive tempo advantage. Build them, defend them, and destroy enemy ones when you find them.
- Respect the vehicles. Tanks and planes are player-controlled and lethal. Learn the sound cues, carry anti-tank options, and don't sprint across open ground when armor is on the field.
Quick Habits That Keep You Alive
A few small routines separate frustrated newcomers from steady contributors:
- Change your soldier's stance constantly. Prone and crouch dramatically reduce your profile. Standing still in the open is a death sentence against a game full of AI and human shooters.
- Reload behind cover, never in the open. With multiple soldiers to manage, you can't afford to get caught mid-animation.
- Watch your minimap and objective timer. Enlisted battles are won on positioning and timing. Know which point is contested and rotate before it's too late.
- Complete daily tasks and the campaign battle pass. These fund your fastest unlocks — new soldier slots, better weapons, and premium currency — without spending real money.
Enlisted asks you to think like a small-unit commander rather than a lone gunman. Once you internalize that your squad is a resource to be managed, that engineers and rally points bend matches, and that objectives beat kills every time, the game becomes one of the most satisfying WWII shooters available. Pick your campaign, build deep, and play for the ground.
