Germany Has Been Left Behind – Leopard Armor, Missing 2A8 and the Decline of German Players

Game Discussion General Discussion
1

Germany has been one of the most important nations in War Thunder for a long time, especially when it comes to modern main battle tanks. However, lately it feels like Germany has been left behind compared to other nations.

The biggest issue is the current state of the Leopard 2 lineup.

The Leopard 2A7V is supposed to represent one of Germany’s most modern MBTs, yet its armor protection does not seem to properly represent the real vehicle and its protection packages. The D-Tech armor package in particular deserves a more accurate representation. A vehicle should not have its protection reduced simply for balance if there is reliable evidence that the real vehicle has additional protection.

At the same time, the Leopard 2A8 is still missing from the German ground tree. The 2A8 would be a logical addition to Germany’s top-tier lineup and would give German players another modern MBT rather than forcing them to rely on essentially the same Leopard variants.

This is becoming especially noticeable when comparing Germany’s top-tier lineup with other nations. Other nations continue to receive new or upgraded MBTs, while Germany’s most modern vehicles remain limited.

There is also another issue: German players seem to be becoming increasingly rare in top-tier battles. Many players have moved to other nations because those nations receive more new vehicles, better lineups, or more interesting additions.

This also affects team variety. Seeing the same nations repeatedly combined together makes top-tier battles feel increasingly repetitive. Giving Germany competitive and historically accurate modern vehicles could help bring more players back to the German tree and improve the overall variety of top-tier matchmaking.

This is not a request to make Germany overpowered.

The request is simple:

  • Properly represent the armor protection of the Leopard 2A7V and its relevant protection packages.
  • Add the Leopard 2A8 when appropriate.
  • Continue expanding the German top-tier lineup with modern and historically accurate vehicles.
  • Avoid balancing German vehicles by artificially reducing their real-world capabilities.
  • Give German players a reason to continue playing and investing time into their nation’s ground forces.

Germany does not need to be stronger than every other nation. It simply needs to receive the same level of attention, modernization and historical accuracy that other major nations receive.

The goal should be **balance through accurate vehicle representation and strong lineups, not by artificially limiting one nation’s vehicles.

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Don’t worry next update you will get a 2A7A1 I think

3 Likes
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If the 2A7A1 is going to have weak frontal armor and get one-shot through the front like the 2A6/PSO, then I don’t see the point of adding it. Germany needs a proper modern MBT, not another Leopard with weaker protection.

4

Yeah? All German tanks will.
Leopard 2A8 won’t be any different.

5

You understand this is from Gajins incorrect implementation of German composites.
Btw the only way to get improved armour is by our tech demos see leopard 2 TVM, 2a6EX demo 1 and 2, 2a7+ and probably some more

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Hopefully a few other MBTs too. 2a7a1 alone is n
Mid asf

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Is Germany top tier left behind a little bit? sure.

However saying that the 2A8 is “missing” currently is wild. the 2A7V was one of the best top tier MBTs (only alongside the 2A7HU and Strv 122s) by an absolute mile, only last update did they get some competition for that title in the SEPv3s.

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As a German main, this is something I have been thinking about for a long time.

If I play Germany at top tier and use the Leopard 2A7V, but I can then face other nations using very similar Leopard variants, what is the real incentive to main Germany?

Germany is the home of the Leopard 2 family, yet other nations have received highly capable Leopard variants as well. Italy has the Leopard 2A7HU, while other nations also have their own Leopard 2 variants. This makes the German top-tier lineup feel less unique.

My problem is not that other nations should never receive German-designed vehicles. The Leopard 2 was exported to many countries in real life, so having foreign Leopard variants in War Thunder makes sense.

The problem is that Germany should have something that clearly represents the next step of the Leopard family.

If Germany receives another Leopard that is essentially another variation of the same vehicle while other nations continue receiving competitive Leopard variants, why should a player specifically choose Germany?

Germany should have a unique top-tier vehicle that gives German players a reason to continue playing their own nation.

This is why I believe the Leopard 2A8 would make much more sense for Germany.

The 2A8 does not have to be massively overpowered. It simply needs to be meaningfully different from the Leopard variants already available to other nations. It should represent Germany’s next-generation Leopard and give German players a vehicle they can reliably identify as the pinnacle of the German ground tree.

I also believe this should apply to other nations as well. Every major nation should have something at top tier that makes its lineup feel unique and worth playing, rather than simply receiving increasingly similar versions of vehicles that already exist in another nation’s tree.

Right now, when I look at the Leopard situation, it sometimes feels like:

Germany → Leopard 2A7V
Other nations → their own highly capable Leopard variants

At that point, Germany loses part of its identity.

I don’t want Germany to receive an overpowered vehicle just for the sake of being stronger.

I want Germany to have a genuinely unique top-tier MBT that gives German players a reason to stay with the German tree and feel that they are playing the nation that actually represents the Leopard 2 family.

For me, the Leopard 2A8 would be a much better direction than simply adding another Leopard variant that feels too similar to vehicles already available elsewhere.

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this doesnt even begin to touch how gaijin has been undermining germanys performance in other aspects too, in terms of aircraft and helicopters germany has ALWAYS lacking behind. the only 2 notable moments where germany was ever competitive was with the addition of the IRST but only until they added the BUK and Pantsir SM. And the Eurocopter having the only fire and forget munitions which have ALWAYS been underperforming.

in terms of planes germany ALWAYS gets their things 2-3 updates later when the big nations (US and USSR) already have their stuff balanced and are already onto the next big thing. at least now they somewhat add things at the same time for every nation but even then germany just lacks any pull factor. the Eurofighter is weaker compared to the british and italian eurofighters and the swiss F/A-18 is also lacking many competitive weapons like the AGM-84s or the JSOWs (NOTE: irl the swiss F/A-18 does NOT carry any A2G weapons so not adding other A2G weapons is just a dih move). since i dont play ground and always get told “yoo germany ground is soooo OP” this is jsut sad honestly. but i finally freed myself and am now grinding france anyways

10

I guess they will get an APS tanks but I don’t think Gaijin cares enough to add something else like the EX or 2A7+, and especially the 2A8 because it’s next level from what we have now in game, I hope the EX comes in game for obvious reasons but I think it will be in the next update and not the one that is coming and just for Greece I don’t think they will give it in Germany

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This is either serious recency bias or a massive selective memory.

  • The 2K was incredibly strong on release, only overshadowed by the absurdly strong M1.
  • 2A4 was incredibly competitive
  • 2A5 stomped the hell out of top tier on it’s release
  • 2A6 stomped the hell out of top tier on it’s release
  • 2A7V stomped the hell out of top tier on it’s release

And there are some more examples outside of top tier.

12

Top tier is not the entire identity, me personally I have loved the German TT but I simple do not care about the top tier, my goal was the Wiesel 1a2 because it’s a fun vechicle, and now because I loved the entire TT my target is the 10.0 line-up because I like the Rad and the Leopard 2K, because the top tier isn’t unique that doesn’t make the TT lose the Identity

13

ok to be very fair i have a blind spot bias bc i mainly care about air, so i will jsut trust you on this one

1 Like
14

It would be stupid for them not too add something else when currently Germany only have 1 true 12.7 2a7a1 wouldn’t add anything but trophy. So something like 2a7+ especially in its urban ops or 2a6EX demo 2 would add a lot to the tree

15

The T-90M Arena also didn’t add anything else than the APS, but yea let’s cope together for the EX

1 Like
16

Correct and Russia should of probably got another newer mbt to go with it but 🤷‍♀️ they’ve had alot of spoon-feeding by gajin so idc

17

Just gimme the Object 195 and I will be happy, because Russian tank top tier is nothing special right now

18

Its literally just a 2A7V/HU with APS and LWS, there is nothing “next level” about it…

19

I imagine 195 will come with NATO big caliber mbts but who knows with gajin

20

Doesn’t it use way better rounds?