Enlisted Beginner's Guide: Best Squads, Campaigns & Progression Tips

Enlisted is a free-to-play squad-based WWII tactical FPS where you don't just control one soldier, you command an entire squad. You switch between squad members mid-battle and let AI teammates fight alongside you, giving even solo players real battlefield presence. With multiple nations, historical fronts, and a Battle Rating matchmaking system, Enlisted sits somewhere between an arcade shooter and a tactical war game. It's free to download on Windows, and its blend of solo command and large-scale battles makes it uniquely approachable. Use this guide to hit the ground running.

Getting started

• Pick one nation. Choose from the USA, USSR, Germany, or Japan, with additional forces like the UK and Free France under larger trees. Sticking with one nation early keeps your progression focused.
• Learn to command your squad. You control several soldiers at once. Position your AI squadmates behind cover and switch between them as they fall, so one bad moment doesn't end your life.
• Understand Battle Rating (BR). The BR system in five tiers governs matchmaking. Keep your squads at a sensible BR so you aren't thrown against far better-equipped enemies.
• Play the objective. Modes like Conquest, Invasion, and Assault are won by capturing and holding points, not by chasing kills.

Best early squads and classes

Enlisted gives you several squad types, each built around a role. A balanced roster wins far more battles than a stack of one class.

• Rifleman/infantry squads: your reliable backbone with the most bodies on the field. Level these first for consistent capturing power.
• Engineer squads: invaluable for building rally points, ammo boxes, and defences that support your whole team.
• Assaulter squads: close-quarters specialists with SMGs, perfect for storming buildings and objectives.
• Machine gunner or sniper squads: for locking down lanes and picking off attackers from range.
• A tank or aircraft squad: once unlocked, vehicles add huge firepower, but learn them in lower BR matches first.

Build a lineup that mixes infantry, an engineer, and a specialist so you can adapt to whatever a match throws at you.

Progression tips

• Upgrade squads and soldiers steadily. Because items are bought per soldier, focus your resources on a few core squads rather than spreading thin.
• Build with your engineer constantly. Rally points let your team spawn forward, and ammo crates keep everyone supplied. This alone can swing matches.
• Complete daily and battle pass tasks for a steady stream of currency, weapons, and soldiers.
• Research weapons that match your role, not every shiny unlock. A well-equipped rifle squad beats a half-kitted mess.
• Rotate squads in battle to keep fresh troops on the objective rather than throwing everyone in at once.
• Upgrade a single strong soldier per squad into a specialist so each unit has a reliable anchor, then fill out the rest around them.
• Watch how veterans play your nation to learn effective loadouts and squad compositions before you commit currency to research.

Mistakes to avoid

• Playing like a lone-wolf shooter. Ignoring your squad wastes Enlisted's biggest advantage. Use every soldier.
• Neglecting the engineer. No rally points or ammo means your team spawns far away and runs dry.
• Chasing kills over objectives. Captures win matches and earn better rewards.
• Overreaching on Battle Rating. Jumping to high BR too soon puts you against veterans with top gear.
• Spreading resources everywhere. Focus a few strong squads before branching out to new nations or vehicles.

Enlisted rewards players who think like a commander, not just a shooter. Keep a balanced roster, lean on your engineer, play the objective, and grow your Battle Rating at a sensible pace. Do that and you'll be carrying entire flanks in no time. Ready to enlist? Play Enlisted free on PC and take command of your first squad today.