I’m having a very hard time doing anything with my 10.3 lineup. I constantly face tanks that are superior in almost every aspect, and I seem to only win matches when my team curbstomps and I get more or less no kills. Otherwise, we just get destroyed and spawn camped and I can’t progress or grind. What do I do? I can’t flank because some stupid 100kmh dart shooting go kart will be there first, I can’t snipe because 80% of maps favour mobility or have hills (favouring NATO tanks) and I can’t push because of poor mobility and gun handling.
I need some advice, because I’m seriously considering grinding another Nation because at least their 10.3 tanks are actually usable.
The obvious question is as to why bring Rubin to 10.3 because in uptiers it will face 11.3 tanks and i dont think its missiles are good enough to deal with composite screens, not to mention much faster target accquisition time with thermals.
Its a realistic game, there isn’t really different playstyles for different tanks, just options open to them, its not like WoT where different vehicle classes get gameplay differences baked into the game itself. You play russian tanks just like nato and you deal with the drawbacks.
Biggest issue that is hard to work around is reverse speed, just stay away from t72/90. 11km reverse on the 80s is servicable for peeking but not ideal. At these BRs armor is not going to save you no matter how good it is, it just makes aiming harder or punishes bad shots more. You want to put hard cover between you and enemies always, and use 3rd person/binos to find someone then peek and shoot, this is where reverse is gonna be a huge pain in the ass because after you shoot it takes longer to get safe again.
Bad gun depression limits the spots you can play, but it is something you can play around unlike bad reverse. It just means you really need to know maps more because makeshift spots usually are going to be harder to make work on the fly, knowing where to play beforehand is going to help a lot.
Bad gun handling can be worked around by not playing CQC having better situational awareness and not end up in 1vx situations at closer ranges.
The lower profile, generally smaller weakspots, and better armor only really come into play at longer ranges where players have to pixel hunt for them, constantly moving your turret and just shifting a bit back and forward can help a lot, if you are exposed don’t sit still or you will lose your breach or die.
If you want to learn how spots for bad depression tanks just watch this guys maps guides, he always includes tips for every spot for what to do in russian tanks.
I’m gonna be real 10.3 russia is just not worth playing without paypigging for the 2s38/t80UD, the bmp2m is great but thats the only thing you have worthy at 10.3, OSA just gets dunked on by ground targets and really only counters bad CAS players and helis, kinda miserable to play, strela is 10x better.
9.7 is gonna be a better BR to play at with TT vehicles, 9.7 if stat shark is to be believed recieves more downtiers than pretty much any BR. t64b+sprut is good. Khrizentema is decent if you put in the effort to learn how to play it.
Spoiler
8.7 also has a solid lineup, t62, object 685, bmp2, shturm. Only downside is CAS is weak here without the premium mig15, pretty much just lobbing fab3000 with il28, mig17 is good CAP though. 9.7 has better CAS with the su7/yak28/mi24. CAP you have premium mig21, mig19, or messing around in the yak38 which can be fun.
Between 10.3 and 12.0 options kinda limited, 10.7 is another paypig lineup, 11.0 is alright with the t90a (i know I said stay away from these but br for br the its best t72 variant), 2s38/bmp2m, and the 2s6, mig27 is fun CAS. 11.7 kinda pisses me off the by far and away best tank is the premium t80 there, better thermals, better gun handling, better engine, no new lights or spaa, another paypig lineup imo if you have the premium t80 there and pull up the 2s38.
Bmp 2m autocannon to disable mostly and ambush, T series corner hulldowns instead of going over since no depression, atgm line kinda obsolete so sprut would be better, osa slow missiles so gotta wait for the launch a bit usually
In case you didn’t know the Obj. 775 has Hydro-pneumatic Suspension. It can get VERY low to the ground, and you can raise it up a bit if you want to try and peak over some small hills. If you have never used the keybinds for Hydro Suspension let me know, I have a couple suggestions. (Side note for higher BR’s: the 2S6 also has Hydro Suspension, I pretty much always lower it all the way when I spawn in it.)
I would tend to agree with this comment, and imo, I would replace the Obj 775 with the 2S25M detailed below, and/or buy a new crew slot to put the 2S25M into.
Next, I notice that you do not list the Strela. Definitely worth putting in. It can also scout which is nice to build up CAS points. Then, if/when you do use the Strela, I always change its tracking to “optical” instead of auto, because its missiles will ignore flares in optical tracking mode. Sometimes you might not be able to get a lock at distance with optical, then I might change it over to auto instead. (If you need help with keybinds for changing its tracking, let me know.)
Then, I would highly recommend using the 2S25M too. It has all of the exact same shells as the T-80BVM. Superb dart, and its tandem charged missiles have 850mm pen and will melt everything at your BR (they are not 1,200mm pen like the BMP-2M’s missiles, but are still very effective.) It also has Gen 3 thermals for both gunner and commander sights. Excellent for GRB.
Just do NOT take more than 23 rounds in the 2S25M as that fills up the autoloader +1 in the gun. Any more ammo and they will take up space in the hull making you much more vulnerable than it already is.
The 2S25M also has Hydro Suspension, I normally lower it all the way at spawn. Though going up all the way can sometimes allow you to peak over small hills.
The Khrizantema-S is definately better than the Obj 775, but I would absolutely use the 2S25M over the Khrizantema-S. I am strongly biased towards light tanks, so there is that. But even if the 2S25M wasn’t a light tank, and didn’t have scouting, I would still probably take it over the Khrizantema-S in a lineup (like if you absolutely cannot get more crew slots.) The Khrizantema-S does have the tandem charged 1,200mm armor pen missiles like the BMP-2M does, but you have to stop moving to fire them, and it is kind of an oddball tank to get used to playing with. Not bad per se, but very different. Both the BMP-2M and 2S25M can fire their missiles on the move.
The Khrizantema-S does have Gen 2 thermals for gunner, so that is a pretty big plus for GRB:
And finally onto the 2S38 and T-80UD. I have the 2S38 and definitely like it (but again, I am a light tank fanatic, so very biased lol). If you really really want to play 10.3 GRB (which I assume is to stay away from the 11.7 uptiers) you should absolutely consider getting them. The anniversary sale is coming up here, and both typically go on sale 50% off. With those two added to your lineup you will have much more fun. (You COULD also get the T-72 (TURMS-T) for even moar premiums, but the T-80UD is for sure better. OTHER THAN the T-80UD lacks thermal sights, while the T-72 TURMS-T has Gen 2 thermals for both Gunner and Commander sights.)
T-72 (TURMS-T) Thermals
Not sure if anyone mentioned the Su-25K, but again, if you REALLY want a superb 10.3 GRB RU lineup, think about getting it. It is quite good for CAS at its BR. Has ballistic computers for guns, bombs, and rockets. And ok/good AA missiles so you are not totally defenseless. And has quite a few countermeasures too.
Since I am such a Light tank enthusiast, I actually have not ground out the Squad T-80 yet 😂 I do not remember how good and/or bad it is. I only remember that it has an electro-optical protection system, but not sure how effective it is. Definitely need someone who knows the 11.7 BR RU tanks better than me to comment 👍
OH! Here is one difference, the T-80UK only has Gen 1 thermals. Personally, I find Gen 1 thermals almost useless in GRB (especially at higher BRs). Some others might find them ok/useful, but personally I give very strong preference to anything else even slightly similar that has at least Gen 2 thermals for GRB.
1,000% keep the BMP-2M that thing is AMAZING. I use it in my 11.7+ BR lineups 😂 ONE TIP for it, you can fire and guide the missiles from the Commander view. Now, it doesn’t have thermals for Cmd’er view, but the zoom is WAY stronger in Cmd’er view, so you can very easily aim for weak spots. Even though with 1,200mm pen you don’t really need to aim haha. Also, since the commander view is higher, you can sort of launch the missile, move back a little into cover, and still guide while “hidden”. I often hit the hill in front of me while trying that, BUT it is “possible”.
Personally, I would change out the Obj 775 for the 2S25M but I will always repeat it, I am a MASSIVE light tank enjoyer lol. But I think that even non like tank enjoyers would agree with me on this one. The Gen 3 gunner+commander thermals cannot be understated for GRB. You should do a test drive in the 2S25M if you have it researchable, and see how AMAZING Gen 3’s are. Especially when scouting with a light tank in GRB.
OH I assume you know, but just in case! You can scout in Commander view 😄 So, you can peak over hills with Gen 3 thermals and scout. I LOVE that for GRB.
AND AND, again just in case, for you and anyone else reading, you can use your rangefinder in Commander view too. Especially with light tanks that have the commander sight set very high on the turret (like the BMP-2M and 2S25M). Can often get that range set before exposing yourself. I have not memorized which tanks have laser warning systems, soooo there is that to think about. But maybe you could range off of the ground to the side. Not sure if that still triggers the LWS’s, but anyway, just more thoughts.
OH 4x OH lmao, the BMP-2M has IRST! Can lock onto air targets, ESPECIALLY helis! Just in case you didn’t know yet 😄
I use darts for main belts, and the APDS for air/light tanks. Don’t always need to use the APDS for light tanks, BUT sometimes you dont get much spalling, and changing over to the APDS will often just obliterate them. Absolutely use the APDS for air though, really helps with the spalling so even 1 or 2 hits will take them out of action, even if they don’t blow up. I don’t waste time with HEI, they are MUCH slower. Just use darts and APDS imo.
What I use for BMP-2M:
I totally ignore the prox fused missiles, with IRST I find it a total waste to take prox fused missiles instead of 4x more 1,200 armor pen missiles. I have had people who say they really like the prox missiles, but the IRST on the BMP-2M is GODLY accurate. Especially against helis. SO easy to nuke helis with the BMP-2M.
Last note/question lul: do you have the keybind set for commander fire control? You will have to turn that on to guide the missiles from commander view on the BMP-2M 👍 (I always assume most people know, but just like to double check)
