Air warfare in Hearts of Iron 4 hinges on Air Doctrines, allowing nations to excel in specific aerial combat strategies. Coupled with precise Aircraft Design and Air Technologies, selecting the right Air Doctrine can significantly enhance overall Air Combat performance.

Categorized into Battlefield Support, Operational Integrity, and Strategic Destruction, Air Doctrines provide unique advantages tailored for different gameplay scenarios. But which Air Doctrines should players rely on during critical battles?

1 Multi-Altitude Flying

Elevating Combat Readiness for Strategic Destruction

The significance of Air Doctrines in Hearts of Iron 4 lies in securing air superiority, with added bonuses. Multi-Altitude Flying (Strategic Destruction) boosts Fighter and Heavy Fighter Agility by +10%, increasing their chances of hitting enemies. This Doctrine's value extends beyond basic bonuses due to the layered gameplay dynamics in Hearts of Iron 4.

Unlocking Multi-Altitude Flying entails accumulating bonuses from preceding Doctrines. By this stage, players likely have acquired enhancements like +20% Air Superiority Mission Efficiency, +5% Air Wing Mission Experience Gain, +10% Interception Detection, and +10% Fighter Detection. Among Strategic Destruction Doctrines, Multi-Altitude Flying stands out as a pinnacle for direct aerial combat choices.

2 Fighter Baiting

Paving the Way for Ace Generation

Irrespective of the nation chosen in Hearts of Iron 4, players encounter gamified advantages and setbacks akin to real-world counterparts of the 1930s era. Fighter Baiting (Operational Integrity) introduces players to Ace Generation, with a +10% chance that can rise to +20% when combined with Air Skirmish. Aces, integral to the Operational Integrity tree, can tip the scales of battle with their unique abilities tailored to different aircraft types.

3 Air Skirmish

Enhancing Aces and Mission Performance

For a challenging Hearts of Iron 4 playthrough, advantages in air combat are crucial. Air Skirmish (Operational Integrity), positioned towards the Doctrine tree's end, offers significant benefits. With a +10% Ace Generation Chance and +20% Air Superiority Mission Efficiency, Air Skirmish outshines Strategic Destruction in providing buffs for aerial missions.

Upon unlocking Air Skirmish, players secure +20% Ace Generation, leading to specialized air wing advantages. The Doctrine also grants +20% Fighter Detection, +15% Air Superiority, +20% Interception Detection, +5% Air Wing Mission Experience Gain, and +20% Interception Mission Efficiency, forming a robust aerial combat strategy.