I have recently gotten 8.7 France, and have been struggling a damn lot with the whole lack of a stabiliser and poor armour. SPAAs and other autocannon vehicles can evaporate me before I even notice them with how inconsistent sound can be, with even the occasional HMG killing my MARs/SK105 before I can secure a kill. I’m sure it’s a skill issue/gameplay error on my part, but I feel like 8.7 is a massive uphill battle where I rarely do well unless the entire enemy team decides my DF105 is a non threat and ignores me.
A lot of this is the fact I don’t have the MEPHISTO/AMX-30s researched, which I feel might elevate my gameplay a bit more, but as mentioned above any tricks/advice would be much appreciated, as I don’t play often enough to incredible at the game but would still obviously like to somewhat enjoy my grind as much as possible.
Be the bad guy—take advantage of the situation, steal scores if you want and engage people at long distances or during the heat of the moment during flank maneuver. From my experience, the DF-105 and AMX-30 S DCA are the only decent vehicles for short range engagements, AMX-30s main battle tank should be used as support, SK-150A2 and AMX-10 RC as well, those are simple definition of this line-up which I believe don’t require much of skill but adaptation depending on the map as absence of stabilization for most vehicles in this line-up. If you play multiple vehicles in a line-up: great, you have better flexibility, and keep like that if you want so, I prefer to play one vehicle per line-up or match to not keep things boring.
They will be somewhat complicated to use, since the small and closed maps make the stabilizer a great advantage, so the best thing to do with these tanks is to play more passively, looking to set up ambushes taking advantage of the decent speed, or waiting behind uneven ground and attacking when they are not looking.
You should really get the MEPHISTO asap because this one is both fun and very good. The SK105 is an excellent sniper imo, find a good position and use your advanced thermals and laser rangefinder to obliterate everybody :)
I’ve been trying to use the SK105 more like the DF105 for the stock grind - that is, rush people with your good speed and good gun. However, I’ve really been let down by the fact the SK105 seems worse than the DF at every turn (speed, reversing, damage model, etc) and its gun doesn’t seem to do as much as the DF105’s (probably due to better armour being present at 9.7, which is the hellscape I’m constantly uptiered to), so I’ll try use it more as a sniper, thanks!
Currently the MEPHISTO, alongside nearly every other ATGM carrier, is suffering from a guidance bug on ATGMs, they are unable to track a precise point instead having a set number of sector along which the missile can go down. The further your target, the least control you have over the missile.
Regardless, ATGM carriers are really not it in current WT, they require fairly specific condition to get value out of, and it’s pretty rare.
Likewise the AMX-30s won’t bring much you don’t already have, they’re bigger, slower than the SK for no real gain, the 20mm is really not worth dumping mobility.
You are playing unstabilised tanks in a bracket where stabilization becomes the norm, so yes it’s an uphill battle, so it’s down to shooting at people that don’t know where you are, because if you’re looking to trade shots, odds are you’ll lose.
This is why losing mobility is a bad thing, you have to beat people to power positions, and kill them on approach. That’s one of the good thing about the SK-105, you have fast RoF, allowing you to take out multiple targets in quick succession, which makes it more valuable to capitalize on a good ambush.
And while the currently ongoing gepard plague is going to make it extra unpleasant, if you put in the time, and always reflect on the why you’re doing the things you’re doing, and why it’s working or not, you’re bound to improve at the game.
Alternatively, speedrun getting the VBCI and go do donuts in the local Lidl’s parking lot.
I’ve gone down the AMX-30 line, having gotten the B2 and BRENUS. I don’t have anything else in 8.7. My tip is to always try and keep control of your environment. Stay in good positions, move often, and pay extra attention to your surroundings. I’m aware it’s way easier said than done, but you must also choose your fights. If you’re engaged while moving, you’re dead. You must wait for the enemy, get your kill and then change position.
To sum up, make use of your mobility to be the first to get a shot.
My main problem with the SK105 is actually the mobility decrease from the DF105 because of the hull change, especially the reverse speed. I’m relatively new to ground and despite my best efforts, am also quite bad due to playing the game less and less recently, so the fast speed of the DF105 let me survive bad situations/surprise attacks gone wrong I probably shouldn’t have, even though the SK105 is still fast by normal standards. In summary, the SK105 is less unbalanced than the DF (lol) and therefore I’m struggling more in it, especially with the stock grind and HEAT inconsistencies. Thanks, though, I’ll try to play it more like an ambush vehicle.
The Gepard plague (and other 35mm SPAA) is the main reason I feel like I can’t get anything done, as every vehicle in the 8.7 lineup can get instantly evaporated from most angles by said SPAA, which also tend to be stabilised and have weird overpressure mechanics, so even HEAT is inconsistent against them.
Another note, would you recommend the VBCI? I know test drives don’t reveal much about the actual gameplay of a tank but I couldn’t manage to pen a lot of things with the default belts, but if someone else recommends it I can keep my hopes up a lot more easily even if the stock grind is awful.
First is awareness, trying to find clues as to where enemies are based on engine sound and gun shots (this one is true for all tanks)
Then trying to predict where they are going depending on how the battle is going (next most logical base to capture or spawn to push)
Once this is done, set up the ambush on the most predictible path and profit
You don’t want to stay too close to the enemy, so if they get close and they know where you are, it’s best to pull back, especially since the APFSDS is very solid for its tier.
If you fail a shot at someone with no way of getting in cover in time, try aiming the 20mm at their turret face, even if they have too much armor. It can confuse them if they don’t exactly know where you are but saw your gun shot. It’s also good practice on light tanks as you can actually kill those
Finally, don’t underestimate AMX-30B2 Brenus’s ability to ruin an helicopter day with the 20mm + DIRCM
One word. Flank, flank, flank. Stay away from enemies if you can. MARS, SK105 and the AMX10 all have laser rangefinders so use those. When you get the AMX30s stay mid range. None of the 8.7 tanks do well in urban environments.
My bad, I wasn’t familiar with the SK-105’s chassis, I am now a certified SK-105 hater. 68km/h top speed, coupled with a pathetic gearbox giving it low acceleration, even spaded it’s unimpressive, goes straight to the bin. Even the AMX-30s start looking good in comparison actually.
The good thing is that since you have the SK, you also have the AMX-10RC. And while it got added as an absolute pain train, and still has lingering issues like the obscene reload, it’s a fairly complete package for an 8.3. It’s actually the vehicle I used to get good at the game incidentally.
The armour is pathetic, but then again armour is for people that plan to get shot. We don’t do that here.
The DF-105 might appear like a slightly worse redundancy, but a backup is a backup, and it’s not like we’re drowning under good options in the bracket, so you should definitely keep it around.
As for the VBCI, it’s more of a meme vehicle than anything, the stock grind is really awful, and even spaded it’s very situational. Keep it for when you’ll be more familiar with the game, and how other people play, and if while spading it it doesn’t click, don’t feel bad about dropping it, it’s a vehicle whose place in the game is very debatable.
Given newfound knowledge on the SK’s excuse for mobility, you should actually get the AMX-30s, and make a lineup with the AMX-10, both AMX-30B, and the DCA for a fairly decent 8.7 lineup.
Use that lineup to get the AMX-32, and even the whole of T-VII if you vibe with it, and if you get good at light tanking, the VEXTRA will take you to the Leclerc.
Yep I spaded it and immediately removed it from any lineup. Rather take the AML-90 over that barn on wheels.
Depending on your playstyle and whether they finally fix the VEXTRA mobility from a standstill the AMX-40 might be the better option. It’s just amazing. Sure it also has fuckall armour but it has a great gun the 20mm coax and amazing mobility.
Mephisto only suffers from not having tandem-head warheads, that’s why I don’t use it (though, it’s not really a problem at 8.7, I just like uptiering the missile carriers). Others such as the AFT09 are usable at any BR and they kick ass. They ARE it.
The issue doesn’t manifest in test drive, and I own neither the ZT3 nor AFT to confirm wether they are affected. This video showcases the issue.
Well the MEPHISTO was initially 8.3, so no way Gaijin was going to give it HOT-3, not unlike the EBR 54, it’ll have to go up a bit more for Gaijin to start considering it.
ATGM carriers are not unusable when they are not bugged, I had a great time with the MEPHISTO when it worked, but ever since I’ve just passed the 800 kill marks and I’m not touching back until it gets fixed.
They are not it for two reasons, one being the innate nature of WT battles, the other being that they are light tanks that must expose themselves for extended period of times to kill something. Both require the user to already be familiar with the game in order to mitigate these drawbacks.
As for the VBCI, it’s more of a meme vehicle than anything, the stock grind is really awful, and even spaded it’s very situational. Keep it for when you’ll be more familiar with the game, and how other people play, and if while spading it it doesn’t click, don’t feel bad about dropping it, it’s a vehicle whose place in the game is very debatable.
At first that’s what I thought
And then i learned to play it and i grew to be OBSESSED with it, it’s a glorious vehicle.
So far I got like 3 of 4 nukes with it alone (with some backups…) despite me being pretty mediocre at best at the game (i got more nukes with it alone than with the rest of the entire french tree together)
I just love it, but ye autogun gameplay is not for everyone, and playing with a friend who likes big cannons helps
First of all, dont expect to get tons of kills, the best games I had, i did like 7 or 8 ground kills (often using 2 VBCIs in the same game), + some air kills
If you’re safe or are able to move away safely, spray everything you see, whatever the distance: spraying even things you can’t damage will grant you points, and even an assist later.
Keep an eye on your ammo count: under 30 rounds left, my advice is to fire the remaining shells in order to reload (if you’re safe ofc)
Bring APFSDS only, that’s all you need.
Copters often are free kills for you: zero your rangefinder, and lock the copter. If it’s not moving erratically, spray for some seconds and it should be cooked.
USE YOUR THERMALS: they are 3d gen, and chances are you outclass every tanks in the lobby in term of optics, so use it at your advantage
Using thermals and your lock, you can hunt down enemy drones: do it often, if you’re not holding a rat position and are safe.
Don’t use your drone too much: with your superior optics, you will spot many enemies that the other light tanks in your team will never see, so you can’t afford the extended scouting cooldown
Try to flank, but try to not push too much past your team: you will often need a backup if you’re in a tight situation, so keep friendly MBTs close
YOU CAN SNIPE! As weird as it seems, you can! With luck you can grab some kills of squishy vehicles, or the worst that could happen is that you’ll get a bunch of assists. (one of my nukes has been on Holland, southern spawn, and i sniped for 90% of the match from the grassy hills next to the left spawn)
You have a bunch of very good smoke dispensers, they will save you in many cases
If your LWS picks a telemeter lasering onto you, IMMEDIATELY TAKE COVER! If the laser ping is brief, it’s a ground vehicle, but if it repeats every seconds with very short bursts, it’s an air threat: hide accordingly, and get ready for heli hunting!
Your armor sucks, but it actually is a blessing: you won’t believe how many times i got sprayed and survived with only the transmission and some wheels cooked. But be careful, the horizontal can be cery easily destroyed, if it happens, try to smoke and escape (after scouting the threat, ofc!)
I probably forgot some stuff, i’ll add them later if i need to :)
My biggest issue was when spading it. Not played it since. I would go flank and even though I got off the first shots on the enemy lights on the same flank I would just not be able to kill them. Just never was a fan of autocannons. At least compared to the cv9035 it has a useable firerate
It’s a meme vehicle in the sense that while most people will be playing WT, you’ll be playing NFS with a side of drive-by shootings.
Also for your compendium on playing the VBCI, you can add to turn on the IRCM on spawn since Gaijin default it off for some reason.
And that along the VBCI-2 it’s the only wheeled vehicle to have it’s suspension triangles as part of the drivetrain, meaning that you’ll get mobility killed by a MG spray.