IRST doesn’t increase its BR because it’s a 9.3 SPAA at 10.0 because of its APFSDS.
Just like OTOMATIC being a 9.7 - 10.0 SPAA up-BR’d because it has DM23 equivalent APFSDS of slightly lighter mass.
Even here in your logic you say that 2s38 is undertiered as hell.
9.3 SPAA with UNLIMITED APFSDS - 10.0, +2 BR steps
10.0 (notice how I even take your higher boundary) with VERY LIMITED APFSDS - 11.3, +4 BR steps.
Even by your logic 2s38 should be at least 10.7 (or otomatic should be at most 10.7 with also bringing hstvl down, but we dont want that, right?)
As I said, it’s either 2s38 at 10.7, or otomatic at 10.7, not both. (keep in mind, I don’t agree with this, i’m just following the logic of yours that I disagree with). So otomatic goes 10.7, 2s38 stays 10.0 (which again, I dont agree with).
How in the hell is it “drastically superior”? The only thing it is actually better than 2s38 is mobility and survivability. That’s it. Everything else 2s38 takes a win
2S38 is almost anti-everything, it could lock the heli far from 5km, which means most of the helis under 10.0 is unplayable when the 2s38 at the opposite. and because it has over 200mm penetration ammunition, so it is also much better than CV9040s. The only issue is if it really better than HSTV, if 2S38 is 10.0, I think HSTV only worth 10.7 or 11.0
I would put both otomatic and 2s38 at 10.7, maybe 11.0. otomatic is better aa because of the radar, 2s38 is a lot better anti tank because of unlimited apfsds and still pretty capable aa, so maybe even 11.0. 10.3 is still a bit low for 2s38 because you can lol-pen plenty of tanks at this br, and your high rate of fire doesn’t really give a chance.
As for hstvl, it should be 1 step higher, 2 at most, than 2s38 because of its mobility. Yes, it has higher pen, but 3 times less firerate, limited ammo and no aa capability at all
The 2S38 shouldn’t have been a premium to begin with, I was actually shocked when I saw it was coming as a premium. I’m sure if you put a premium CV9040 into the game you’d encounter the same issues. They should take it out and add another late model to the tech tree at some point.
2S38 from my experience using it, is mostly if not only good at flanking (ignoring its air to air capabilities). It has some major drawbacks: The benefit of the unmanned turret is nullified by having the ammunition next to the breach, therefore you can’t hull down effectively. On top of that, has only 5 degrees of gun depression and the fact that the turret is kind of high up makes it worse. The first stage ammo pool is rather limited (this might change like the hstvl). The fuel tank in the front, this a 50/50, its the largest fuel tank in the game, and fuel tanks are known to sponge from apfsds to missiles BUT this is NOT an external fuel tank and suffers from constant fuel explosions like the rest of the T series tanks (and the Leclerc).
At 10.0 it’s rather undertiered, but it isn’t the only premium vehicle that is such.
PUMA players are allegedly as good as 2S38 players currently despite 2S38 having a better gun.
Strv 9040C is the best analogue to 2S38 where the only real difference is the pen.
Which is why I say 2S38 would be balanced at 10.3 if Strv 9040C stays 10.0, not enough differences to warrant more difference in BR.
