This guide sets out what WARNO infantry is actually good at — a reservist squad for 35 points, the only unit type that can enter buildings, decent stealth and optics, and the staying power that comes from rarely being killed in one shot — and what it cannot do at 24 km/h with 1,250 m of reach even when it carries ATGMs. From that you get a repeatable way to use it: send it ahead as a screen, keep tanks, infantry vehicles and recon behind it to act on what it finds, and choose deliberately between buildings, cover, flank positions and quiet side areas. Read the table below first if you only want the numbers.
Quick answer
| What | Answer |
|---|---|
| Reservist infantry cost | 35 points |
| Infantry speed | 24 km/h |
| Longest infantry range | 1,250 m, and only with ATGMs |
| Shots to kill a squad | Usually a couple; no side armor to rotate |
| Only infantry can | Enter buildings |
| Primary role | Forward screen and spotter for tanks, infantry vehicles, recon and fire support |
| Flank duty unit | Infantry with the security trait and an AT weapon |
| Thin side areas | One or two infantry units where nothing else fits |
What infantry is for in WARNO
Infantry is the most common unit type on the battlefield and the biggest shared category between divisions. Use these WARNO infantry basics around three limits: infantry is cheap and numerous, it can take positions other units cannot enter, and it needs the right ground before it can affect the fight.
Infantry usually serves a supporting role. It spots, holds, screens, and buys time so that tanks, vehicles, recon, and other fire support can do the killing. Its value comes from being harder to remove than many exposed vehicles, not from having high killing power in every situation.
Infantry strengths: cost, buildings, stealth, and staying power
| Infantry trait | What it means in play |
|---|---|
| Cheap and numerous | WARNO infantry strengths start with availability and price. Infantry is more numerous and cheaper than most other categories, and a reservist infantry unit costs 35 points. That makes infantry a practical unit to send forward before more valuable or more vulnerable pieces. |
| Buildings, stealth, and optics | Infantry can enter buildings, unlike other unit types. It also has decent stealth and optics compared with other units, so it can use concealment to get closer and can usually see things that are shooting at it. |
| Staying power under fire | Infantry cannot be one-shot as easily because it has no side armor and most attacks do not instantly kill it. It usually takes a couple of shots to destroy an infantry unit, which gives you time to react. You also do not need to rotate infantry to protect side armor. |
Infantry weaknesses you have to plan around
Position infantry before the fight starts
WARNO infantry weaknesses come from low speed, short range, and no armor. Infantry moves at 24 km/h, and even infantry with ATGMs only reaches 1,250 m, so many enemy units can shoot from farther away or kite it.
Infantry has to use stealth to reach engagement range. It usually fights other infantry unless the fight happens in terrain where enemy vehicles cannot safely keep distance. Nearly everything can shoot infantry, stun it, and kill it, so the combination of low speed and low range means infantry must already be in the right spot to have impact.
Core infantry tactics: scout first, then support with firepower
How to cross open ground with infantry
Terrain use: buildings, cover, choke points, and flank security
Where to place infantry
Choose buildings when you need a position only infantry can occupy. Infantry can enter buildings, and that gives it uses other unit types cannot fill.
Choose cover when infantry is scouting ahead. Infantry is best used close to cover so it can disengage when needed, especially while spotting for more valuable units.
Choose flank positions when you need time and warning. WARNO infantry terrain use includes flank protection, especially with infantry that has the security trait and an AT weapon. Normal infantry can also fill this role.
Choose thin side areas when nothing else fits well. Place one or two infantry units in areas where you cannot effectively put other units. Infantry on rest position can stay still, spot enemies, and only engage when you want it to.
Choose hold fire when the squad should stay hidden until needed. Infantry can be held on hold fire, buying time because it survives a bit longer when shot at. A sideline infantry unit can force the enemy to come around and deal with it, helping stop side shots and deal with recon cost efficiently while the rest of your force focuses elsewhere.
Accurate as of 19 April 2025, the upload date of the most recent WARNO video this guide draws on. Balance patches move unit costs, ranges and menu options, so check anything decisive in your own game.
In this series
- WARNO Battle Goals, Morale, Squad Cohesion, and EW Plane Uses
- WARNO keybinds and controls
- WARNO Interface Settings and HUD Customization
- WARNO Gameplay Settings to Adjust First
- WARNO Micro Control Tips for Faster Unit Management
- WARNO Favorable Map Side: How Side Choice Can Matter
- WARNO Deck Copying Tips and Adjustment Guide
- WARNO Infantry Tactics for Towns and Urban Fighting
- WARNO Infantry Forest Tactics for Ambushes and Defense
- WARNO Infantry Choke Points: Holding and Breaking Bottlenecks
- WARNO Deck Archetypes: Division Styles and Play Patterns
- WARNO Army General Basics: Campaign, Formations, and Action Points
Sources
- WARNO Unit Guide: How to Use Infantry, SD League
Frequently asked
Is infantry meant to do the killing in WARNO?
No. Infantry usually serves a supporting role: it spots, holds, screens and buys time so tanks, vehicles, recon and other fire support can do the killing. Its value is being harder to remove than an exposed vehicle, not high killing power.
How much does infantry cost in WARNO?
Infantry is more numerous and cheaper than most other categories, and a reservist infantry unit costs 35 points. That price is why it is a practical unit to send forward ahead of more valuable or more vulnerable pieces.
Why does my infantry die before it can shoot anything?
Infantry moves at 24 km/h and even infantry with ATGMs only reaches 1,250 m, so many enemy units can shoot from farther away or kite it. Because of that low speed and short range, infantry has to already be in the right spot and use stealth to reach engagement range.
How do I move infantry across open ground?
Start the move from cover where you can, and use smoke grenades if the squad has them. Move the infantry across first with fire support and infantry vehicles held behind it, let it reveal the threats, then answer with the supporting units and pull the infantry back toward cover if it has to disengage.
Read next
WARNO Battle Goals, Morale, Squad Cohesion, and EW Plane Uses
WARNO battle goals, morale scoring, squad cohesion and EW plane uses, with the point costs, percentages and named units behind each. It is written for players who already play skirmish or Army General and want to know why a low-cohesion squad stops shooting, which aircraft can spot enemy planes, and when splitting infantry is worth the extra micro.
WARNO Beginner Deck Guide: Easy Decks and Comparisons for New Players
How to pick a WARNO deck by division rather than by NATO or Pact side, using four playstyle categories to judge how much micro each one demands. It is written for new and mid-level players choosing what to play, and covers which decks to delay at first, why airborne and light spam are harder, and how a reservist-spam deck is meant to be pushed.
WARNO Infantry Choke Points: Holding and Breaking Bottlenecks
Where to place WARNO infantry so a bottleneck holds: cover, short sight lines, and the right squad on a narrow approach. It is for players who already move squads around a map and want a choke point to stop a push instead of trading badly.
WARNO Infantry Forest Tactics for Ambushes and Defense
How to build and fight a WARNO infantry group in forests, where vehicles are common, engagement ranges run longer, and anti-tank cover decides the fight. It is for players who already handle infantry in towns and want the forest version: what to bring, what leaves you exposed, and how to flank for side and rear shots.