Canada is one of the nations the guide sites skip, which is exactly why the starting position is worth reading before the first pause. This page covers what Canada begins with, what its national spirits do to that, where the focus tree can take it, and the openings the wiki's own editors recommend.
Quick answer
| What | Answer |
|---|---|
| Starting military factories | 5 |
| Starting civilian factories | 13 (-7) |
| National spirits at the start | Great Depression, Conscription Crisis among French Canadians, Monroe Doctrine |
| Main paths | Canada's unique focus tree has six main branches: Industrial and Internal Politics Branch A large, interwoven tree that serves to increase industrial capacity, resource availabilit |
| Source | Hearts of Iron 4 Wiki, patch 1.17 |
What you start with
| Industry at the 1936 start | Amount |
|---|---|
| Military Factories | 5 |
| Naval Dockyards | 1 |
| Civilian Factories | 13 (-7) |
| Building Slots | 44 |
| Resources at the 1936 start | Amount |
|---|---|
| Oil | 2 (-1) |
| Aluminum | 34 (-17) |
| Rubber | 0 |
| Tungsten | 0 |
| Steel | 14 (-7) |
| Chromium | 0 |
| Coal | 31 (-15) |
National spirits
Canada does not start from a clean sheet — these are on before the first day passes:
| Spirit | What it does |
|---|---|
| Great Depression | Consumer Goods Factories factor: 50.0%; Factory Output: −20.00%; Dockyard Output: −20.00% |
| Conscription Crisis among French Canadians | Recruitable Population Factor: −30% |
| Monroe Doctrine | The United States has long promised to protect the western hemisphere from outside interference by colonial powers, meaning any incursion into our territory would likely mean the USA would come to… |
The focus tree
Canada's unique focus tree has six main branches: Industrial and Internal Politics Branch A large, interwoven tree that serves to increase industrial capacity, resource availability and to lift the country out of the Great Depression. This first part of the tree is the most powerful, but most of it is locked behind War Bonds and Defense Regulations, which respectively require war and some world tension. These focuses should be picked as they become available to start the industrial expansion. Another key focus is Commit to War, which is necessary for any conscription law above Volunteer Only and mitigates the Great Depression penalties.
Canada Overview
Canada can either be played historically, as a member of the allies, or as a rogue nation joining the Axis and destroying the US. Playing Canada historically is almost trivial, so this guide will be covering Canada’s fascist path. The rule of thumb to fighting USA early is always to do it ASAP. USA starts off with a relatively small army and military industry. The more time you give, the stronger they will become. At the start of the game, rush the focuses which push you towards facism and stockpile PP.
Canadian Industry and Early Conquest
The war against the US ideally should take place by early 1938. By this point you should have around 40 cavalry divisions, each with 3-4 brigades of cavalry. It can also be a good idea to include support artillery into your divisons since Canada’s biggest problem in the early game is manpower (Canada is barred from upping conscription law until a focus is taken), so if you build only guns with your factories you will end up with too many guns and nobody to wield them. Join the axis but do not call them in. Do not invite Mexico either. Place all your cavalry on your border east of the great lakes.
Also worth knowing
- The starting numbers above are the 1936 start. A 1939 start hands you a different army and a different industry, and most written advice assumes 1936.
- National spirits are removable. Several of them are the first thing a focus tree clears, and the order you clear them in is usually the whole opening.
- Wiki strategy is written by players, not by the developers. It is the best free advice there is for a nation nobody films, and it can still be out of date with the current patch.
Source: Dominion of Canada on the Hearts of Iron 4 Wiki.
Frequently asked
What does Canada start with in HOI4?
The tables above list Canada's factories, dockyards and resources at the 1936 start, taken from the game's wiki. A 1939 start differs, and most written advice assumes 1936.
What are Canada's national spirits?
Canada begins with Great Depression, Conscription Crisis among French Canadians, Monroe Doctrine. Each one is a modifier applied before the first day, and clearing them is usually what the early focus tree is for.
Is Canada good for a beginner?
A minor nation teaches the parts of the game a major hides — supply, manpower limits and industry order all matter immediately. The starting tables above are the honest measure of how much room there is.
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