After playing multiple consecutive matches with Russia at top tier, I find it to be the most boring and underwhelming nation just barely above Israel. For context, I have top tier nations with USA, USSR, Sweden, and Japan. I played Israel but those tanks are just copy and paste for more of their lineups minus some of their light tanks. Russia doesn’t have anything variety wise after BR 10 and you just feel like you’re stuck playing BR 10 over and over again.
Key Issues
Vehicle Design
The overall aesthetic and design of Russian top-tier tanks are unappealing compared to other nations. It’s just down right UGLY
Mobility
Mobility is a significant drawback. While the T-80BVM offers acceptable reverse speed, most vehicles in the lineup perform poorly in this area, limiting tactical flexibility.
Autoloader Vulnerability
The autoloader system appears optimized for cost and manufacturing rather than survivability. A single hit to the autoloader often results in immediate destruction, whereas other nations’ tanks can sometimes survive multiple hits under similar conditions.
SPAA Performance
Russian SPAA platforms are generally effective. Even without access to the SM-SV, the available systems perform comparably to Sweden’s ItO while also retaining gun capability, making them viable against both air and ground threats. Notably, even 10.7 SPAA remains effective at top tier.
Armor and Balance Concerns
The effectiveness of Relikt ERA appears to compensate heavily for other shortcomings, creating a sense that these vehicles are artificially elevated in performance. This, combined with perceived balancing adjustments to other nations, results in gameplay that feels inconsistent and, at times, unengaging. Overall, the experience can feel closer to mid-tier gameplay despite being at 12.7.
BMPT Performance
The BMPT is disproportionately effective. Even at top tier, it can eliminate multiple opponents with relative ease when used correctly (Hull Down). Despite being designed as a support vehicle, it often outperforms standard tanks in the lineup, aside from the T-80BVM. Its survivability mechanics further reinforce concerns about balance and design choices.
Team Dependence and Air Power
Matches composed primarily of Russian teams often struggle unless supported by highly skilled Mi-28NM pilots. The LMUR missiles, in particular, can significantly influence match outcomes. However, reliance on helicopter gameplay can become repetitive, even among experienced players. Add in the no Fly Zone SM-SV, helicopters have a clear runway to be brutal.
Strengths
SPAA Capability
Russia benefits from strong air defense options. The SM-SV is particularly powerful (I only have panstir currently), and given the prevalence of CAS in ground battles, effective SPAA can decisively impact match outcomes. In many cases, Ground Realistic Battles resemble Air Battles due to the volume of aircraft. I would say if you want to play CAS go play ARB, I cannot stand the amount of CAS jets in the Air from other nations it’s more the likely the only reason people play top tier which is weird to see from playing Russia back to back.
Ammunition Performance
While not overpowered, Russian shells are effective. However, engaging well-positioned opponents (e.g., hull-down Abrams or Leopard players) remains challenging and they 100% can see you before you see them so play with caution as a competent top tier player will blow your barrel out.
Opposition Skill Variance
Russian teams frequently encounter less experienced players using premium vehicles from nations such as the USA and Germany, which can provide a competitive advantage. I’m convinced the tanks are ugly and really carry no different personality in variety. It’s like playing Israel and you get into a Merkava lineup and becomes repetitive and boring. I know for sure most new players buy US and German premiums in their first go around from the aesthetic and engineering perspective seen across the world, Russia doesn’t fall in that category.
Team Experience Level
Russian teams often consist of high-level players with significant playtime. While inexperienced players are still present, the overall team experience tends to be higher, possibly due to more popular nations attracting newer players.
People play more than 2 deaths on AVERAGE
Top tier wins doesn’t come down to one player getting 10 kills per match but how many people stick around after 1-2 deaths. I’ve noticed most Russian players don’t leave after 1 death, most also have a lineup vs when I play other nations, specifically USA, you can see some only have 2 tanks maybe 3 and some top tier jet they initially intended to play vs actually help a match.
Overall, Russia is just Israel after BR 10 its just down right boring. I’ll continue to play it but I don’t see Russian Bias just a game coping that all the nations don’t truly have BR 12.7 GRB lineup and compensating one way or another to get them there at the expense of other nations. Resulting in people getting upset that top tier is the most artificial and unrealistic aspect of the entire game.
Angled:
LOS thickness of steel present is 44mm + ~490 from the screenshot.
791 - 534 = 257 from the ERA, air, and potentially one other thing hidden beneath the ERA.
Russia over-relies on CAS thanks to their much worse MBTs, overperforming LDIRCM + strong CAS are incredibly dominating when NATO players don’t have any counters set up.
stupid strong CAS and LDIRCM aren’t even a thing specific to Russia either
A BVM side ERA (the grey ones on the “front side” of the hull) literally ate my french 576mm of pen APFSDS, 90 degrees angle shot, 15 meters distance shot.
Everybody know the metrics shown in the hangar are rigged/don’t show the reality of how things happen ingame.
I know you know that, but simply won’t admit it.
Russian ERAs/side armors/autoloaders modeling are “bugged” and eat DARTs when they simply shouldn’t. It’s done on purpose to give Russia the absolute bias.
So tired of this game artificially buffing Russia.
The most effective helicopter SPAA are Line Of Sight. ADATs and ItO can quickly dispatch the helicopters. The agony of seeing someone attempting to down CAS with anything else is sheer agony. The SM SV is perfect not just because of its rounds but it carries a secret weapon most SPAA don’t have. The famous SMOKE GRENADES. The most effective counter to LMURs if a player is aware or any TV missile
Out of all examples you’ve shown, all examples had APFSDS pen through ERA, or not even hit ERA. ERA defeated a total of zero rounds fired in the examples shown.
This can be explained by servers causing the vehicle to vibrate, or lower penning round during spading.
Servers vibrating the tank as well as ERA + tracks.
The round penned and got stopped by the driver after going through an entire fuel tank.
This disproves your claims.
It’s quite literally this shot: Don’t shoot these two ERA bags…
Skill issue on your part, can’t even check a name on a video + missing the point (on purpose ofc, because won’t admit russian ERAs eat DARTs while they simply shouldn’t) stating it wouldn’t be necessary to shoot somewhere else, if the shots actually pened the area in the first place, as they should have.
Too angled ? “Pened the ERA but not the armor behind, so ERA didn’t really get pen” ? Shot from too far ? Should have shot on the bottom of the tank, skill issue on your part ?
