Description[]
The Combine squads are a tactical measure in the war against The Resistance. When encountered, it's usually hard to dispatch a squad depending on the number of individuals and on what the squad is made of.
Types[]
Civil Protection squad[]
Usually encountered in urban areas such as City 17, numbering from 3 to 6 individuals. There are little to no combat tactics at all (possibly due to the low ranking and poor training).
Overwatch Soldier squad[]
Encountered in all the possible environments such as the coast, City 17 and the forests around City 17 and beyond. The tactics are visibly existent:
- Taking cover and throwing grenades.
- Tactical retreat and offensive (Encirclement, cover tactics, long range combat, including snipers providing assistance) and a modest stealth consisting of hiding behind corners and almost instantly killing or severely injuring the target, tactic used mostly by Combine shotgunners.
Hunter squads[]
The most lethal squad type similar to German U-Boat tactics such as the followings:
- Harassing targets, attacking the target one at the time, others finding positions for the next turn.
- Tactical encirclement, blocking all the entries or exits to a zone forcing the target to take cover followed by forcing the target to exit it's hideout by suppression fire.
Strider squads[]
Simply Striders acting like a mobile artillery and the Hunters are mainly used as escorts during the White Forest assault.
Trivia[]
- The player has to find environmental and weaponry advantages to avoid losing health and suit energy.
- If multiple variations are combined in a single larger squad fleeing is largely recommended if possible, also stealth may help.
- When not visually obstructed the squads may be very difficult to flee in a stealth manner because of the many visuals they have.
- It's very noticeable during Half-Life: Alyx because of the present Combine commanders.