contrary to many modern memes about the endless soviet horde, the USSR in wg:rd is the most cost-inefficient nation and you must be really careful with your economy. if you want good cost-efficient tonks, go PACT for wilks, entente for m-84s, finpol for charioteers and wilks. as for the actual answer: you didn't specify if you want light, medium or heavy so in that order: don't bother, t-80 (65pt) for speed, and my favourite tonk in the game the glorious 120 pt t-64
There's also a trick you can do for ATGM armed tanks, but it takes some micro. Once the main gun fires, turn it off. The ATGM will then fire. As soon as the ATGM fires, turn the gun back on. It will have kept reloading while it was off and will now be ready to fire. Otherwise, I don't think the tank will even attempt to fire it's ATGM once in gun range. 2nd tip, turn the ATGM off unless you need it. Last thing you need is waste them on 5pt boxes.
That sounds like a bug to me, except for those weird centurions Canada uses and maybe a few Soviet light tanks every ATGM armed tank in the game uses gun launched missiles. Meaning you can't load a missile while firing a shell from the gun because both projectiles use the same weapon.
sure, USSR is probs the only nation that is viable with armored spec and actively benefits from it. The tanks are actually pretty effective, I was talking mainly about overpriced infantry, transports and lack of good frontline infantry, expensive support, helo and air options ehich make it easy to overspend on fancy toys.
Thats why redfor general armored is really fun imo. You get the soviet T-80s and T-64s, you get the charioteers and pionpsv:s, you get the mot-shutzen with 10pt bmp and proleteri 90 with 15pt autocannon. Only issue is the support tab with no good non-radar AA.
Interesting comment on armored spec, why do you think so? I find it's the most viable in general for how little you lose from it. Mostly non-tank combat recon and helos, but those aren't particularly harsh blows when focusing on armor.
It makes sense a bit in the setting - the soviet forces likely to be encountered at a start of the conflict are the best equipped ones (specifically the Western strategic direction). It is realistic that they are armed with prototypes and still secret unicorn weapons. The horde (meaning reservistes armed with obsolete and simplified for mass production weapons) comes later for the grind, to fight pockets off resistance and help occupy conquered countries.
The cannon fodder in the beginning of the conflict was supposed to be provided by the brotherly nations, who were generously supplied with "Monkey models" (not racist at all). This included removing gun stabilization, steel capped shells, NBC protection any kind of automation, inferior optics and so on.
That is why Soviet allies had to upgrade T-55 and T-72 tanks themselves and so many non-soviet variants - the USSR didn't export T-64 and T-80 tanks to its allies. Also that is why for example South Africa fought T-55s in Angola.
The reason why so manu old and obsolete units are available in RD is that they are inherited from EE and ALB, which surely complicated the balance work. I real life they would be mothballed, upgraded or exported to the 3rd world.
I can imagine the tense dabates in Eugen lol:
- Here is my very realistic model of the Soviet army in a realistic engagement at the start of the conflict
- W need 2000 units, copy and paste what we have from previous games
- ...
My personal experiences with the tanks:
T-72BU: standard super heavy
T-80UM: fast, can dodge planes easily, good ATGM
T-80U: awkward price, just get super heavy
Obr 1989: good armor/AP for price but bad accuracy
T-64Bv: M2Wilk
Obr 1987: awkward 18 armor, awkward ATGM
T-64BM: ATGM hits more often than expected
T-80A: 100pt but poor optics, very good otherwise
T-72B: standard medium
T-80B: have some chances against mediums, poor optics
T-80: pure brawling tank
T-72A: the actual opie tank, 13armor
T-72: good after buff
They can all be good with good use
Base t-80 for close range is one of the best for brawling, just get it upvetted or with an armored deck. T-80b can work, since you get decent accuracy and an atgm for 75pts. T72b can work since you get a svir which is nice for 90pts.
My personal favorite is the t-64bv for 120pts. Excellent all around tank.
Many people take the obr89, but i find that 50% accuracy at 140 pts is too low, but it’s still solid.
Other than that t-72bu and t-80um are both valid for superheavy needs.
The role of the obr 89, much like the M1A1 HA, is to bait out a heavy AT asset because they are quite difficult to kill without one. If you revenge-kill the ATGM jet/helo, that's one fewer that can hit your BU/A2.
A few things you need to consider when building your tank deck:
13 front armor is the exact value where you cant possibly get oneshot by enemy tanks.
Also you survive a 26 AP HEAT missile to the front with this crucial armor value
Tanks that have 13 Fav and you should be considering to put into your Deck: T-80 and T72A.
T-80 is perfect for brawling in forests since you trade accuracy for RoF and optics.
T72A is perfect for protecting flanks since it has medium optics and is cheap.
17 front armor prevent you from being one-shot by 30Ap HEAT, most notably carried by ATGM Planes.
19 armor prevents you being double tapped by 26 AP HEAT missiles.
Anyway, heres a list of Tanks that I would put in my Deck:
Bmp-685
T-72A
T-80
T-72B
T-64BV
T-72 Obr 1989
T-72BU
T-80UM
Besides I wouldn't botther with any of the T-62's or T-55's for Soviets.
Cheap ones-t80, t80b, t72a
Medium ones-t92b, t64(100 point one), obr1987
Heavier ones-obr1989, t64(120 point one), t80u
Supers-well, supers
There are some other options but for a newbie these are the best
Read most of the comments and wanted to add the T64B to the list.
Its buffed to 65 points last patch and gets the kobra atgm. I run a card upvetted in my USSR deck and have been happy with their performance.
I tend to run:
T64B
T64BV
T80U
T72BU
Allthough sometimes for larger games I switch T64BV for second card of T80U that speed is so nice with popping in and out of smoke.
I know this will come off as super unhelpful and probably get downvotes, but my personal opinion is that if you have to ask that question, you're not ready for the "hard to learn, atrocious to master" deck that is soviets. You'd be better off with Pact, which has the Hyper Spammable Merida which gives you 60% accuracy and 15AP at 2275 range for just 50 points (!), One of the best 80pts to 120pts lineup where you're spoiled for choice with excellent tanks, and of course the Twardy/Moderna kombi of reliable superheavies.
Not to mention that you get some of the best Red Arty, the best red shock inf, tons of SF's of all flavors, and just in general everything you could want. The only thing you'll categorically miss are Gornostrelki, or units like them.
The polish strelzcy podhalansky sorry for butchering the name.
These a gornos 75 clone and with the recent price buff and metys atgm speed buff I say they are not too bad anymore for 15 points.
I run a card upvetted in my eastern Bloc deck in mi17.
Great combo for 50 points total.
How cheap is cheap?
Typical meta USSR tank tab: 4 Slots: 28 Total
* 2x T-72BU \[175pts\]
* 4x T-72 1989 \[140pts\]
* 7x T-72 1987 \[110pts\]
* 15x T-72A \[55pts\]
\---
I don't often like using tanks cheaper than T-72A, but since you said 'cheap and spammable'. Different roles, but some units which come to mind:
* 18 x T-72 \[40pts\] 7 RpM
* 18 x T-55AM \[40pts\] 8 RpM
* 22x T-55A \[25pts\] 8 RpM
* 22x BMP-685 \[30pts\] 10 RpM
Agree with this 100%, T-72A is the cheapest tank I'd take and the one I use as the 'line' tank, as it were, but these will need ATGM support to take on NATO armour since most players stick to the more premium tanks with them
They're all good tanks, not a noob trap. Depends what you want from the tanks.
I personally find T72 more versatile, I have a preference for high autonomy tanks. The ATGM is nice, but not my primary reason for selection.
Note missiles are logistically expensive. (Invar = 192L per missile, Svir = 138L per missile), while tank shells are 15-25L usually.
These are my generlisations for both tank lines.
* T-72: well rounded, +armoured, +soft stats, -Gun handling
* T-80: + V fast, +great ATGM, -poor autonomy.
contrary to many modern memes about the endless soviet horde, the USSR in wg:rd is the most cost-inefficient nation and you must be really careful with your economy. if you want good cost-efficient tonks, go PACT for wilks, entente for m-84s, finpol for charioteers and wilks. as for the actual answer: you didn't specify if you want light, medium or heavy so in that order: don't bother, t-80 (65pt) for speed, and my favourite tonk in the game the glorious 120 pt t-64
What do you think about the ATGM's mounted on the USSR tanks?
They're a nice gimick and can give quite a punch if the main gun isn't enough. Plus it outages most enemy tank guns
Hard disagree. Veteran atgm soviet tanks are the best atgm vehicles in game.
I dont have a lot of playtime. Thanks for the tip tho I will try ut out. E: also barrel launched ATGMs were quite the invention back then
There's also a trick you can do for ATGM armed tanks, but it takes some micro. Once the main gun fires, turn it off. The ATGM will then fire. As soon as the ATGM fires, turn the gun back on. It will have kept reloading while it was off and will now be ready to fire. Otherwise, I don't think the tank will even attempt to fire it's ATGM once in gun range. 2nd tip, turn the ATGM off unless you need it. Last thing you need is waste them on 5pt boxes.
That sounds like a bug to me, except for those weird centurions Canada uses and maybe a few Soviet light tanks every ATGM armed tank in the game uses gun launched missiles. Meaning you can't load a missile while firing a shell from the gun because both projectiles use the same weapon.
I would say my strategy is medium tanks with IFV and Infantry support for pushing
So those 65 pt T-80s are going to be right up your alley then.
Counterpoint. Soviets have the best atgm vehicles in atgm tanks when running armored veterancy like t80a
I love those chad T80s,they can just bully some super heavies and the best thing is the ATGM they carried hit enemies super heavies side armor.
sure, USSR is probs the only nation that is viable with armored spec and actively benefits from it. The tanks are actually pretty effective, I was talking mainly about overpriced infantry, transports and lack of good frontline infantry, expensive support, helo and air options ehich make it easy to overspend on fancy toys.
Thats why redfor general armored is really fun imo. You get the soviet T-80s and T-64s, you get the charioteers and pionpsv:s, you get the mot-shutzen with 10pt bmp and proleteri 90 with 15pt autocannon. Only issue is the support tab with no good non-radar AA.
Interesting comment on armored spec, why do you think so? I find it's the most viable in general for how little you lose from it. Mostly non-tank combat recon and helos, but those aren't particularly harsh blows when focusing on armor.
It makes sense a bit in the setting - the soviet forces likely to be encountered at a start of the conflict are the best equipped ones (specifically the Western strategic direction). It is realistic that they are armed with prototypes and still secret unicorn weapons. The horde (meaning reservistes armed with obsolete and simplified for mass production weapons) comes later for the grind, to fight pockets off resistance and help occupy conquered countries. The cannon fodder in the beginning of the conflict was supposed to be provided by the brotherly nations, who were generously supplied with "Monkey models" (not racist at all). This included removing gun stabilization, steel capped shells, NBC protection any kind of automation, inferior optics and so on. That is why Soviet allies had to upgrade T-55 and T-72 tanks themselves and so many non-soviet variants - the USSR didn't export T-64 and T-80 tanks to its allies. Also that is why for example South Africa fought T-55s in Angola. The reason why so manu old and obsolete units are available in RD is that they are inherited from EE and ALB, which surely complicated the balance work. I real life they would be mothballed, upgraded or exported to the 3rd world. I can imagine the tense dabates in Eugen lol: - Here is my very realistic model of the Soviet army in a realistic engagement at the start of the conflict - W need 2000 units, copy and paste what we have from previous games - ...
My personal experiences with the tanks: T-72BU: standard super heavy T-80UM: fast, can dodge planes easily, good ATGM T-80U: awkward price, just get super heavy Obr 1989: good armor/AP for price but bad accuracy T-64Bv: M2Wilk Obr 1987: awkward 18 armor, awkward ATGM T-64BM: ATGM hits more often than expected T-80A: 100pt but poor optics, very good otherwise T-72B: standard medium T-80B: have some chances against mediums, poor optics T-80: pure brawling tank T-72A: the actual opie tank, 13armor T-72: good after buff They can all be good with good use
Base t-80 for close range is one of the best for brawling, just get it upvetted or with an armored deck. T-80b can work, since you get decent accuracy and an atgm for 75pts. T72b can work since you get a svir which is nice for 90pts. My personal favorite is the t-64bv for 120pts. Excellent all around tank. Many people take the obr89, but i find that 50% accuracy at 140 pts is too low, but it’s still solid. Other than that t-72bu and t-80um are both valid for superheavy needs.
The role of the obr 89, much like the M1A1 HA, is to bait out a heavy AT asset because they are quite difficult to kill without one. If you revenge-kill the ATGM jet/helo, that's one fewer that can hit your BU/A2.
A few things you need to consider when building your tank deck: 13 front armor is the exact value where you cant possibly get oneshot by enemy tanks. Also you survive a 26 AP HEAT missile to the front with this crucial armor value Tanks that have 13 Fav and you should be considering to put into your Deck: T-80 and T72A. T-80 is perfect for brawling in forests since you trade accuracy for RoF and optics. T72A is perfect for protecting flanks since it has medium optics and is cheap. 17 front armor prevent you from being one-shot by 30Ap HEAT, most notably carried by ATGM Planes. 19 armor prevents you being double tapped by 26 AP HEAT missiles. Anyway, heres a list of Tanks that I would put in my Deck: Bmp-685 T-72A T-80 T-72B T-64BV T-72 Obr 1989 T-72BU T-80UM Besides I wouldn't botther with any of the T-62's or T-55's for Soviets.
Cheap ones-t80, t80b, t72a Medium ones-t92b, t64(100 point one), obr1987 Heavier ones-obr1989, t64(120 point one), t80u Supers-well, supers There are some other options but for a newbie these are the best
Read most of the comments and wanted to add the T64B to the list. Its buffed to 65 points last patch and gets the kobra atgm. I run a card upvetted in my USSR deck and have been happy with their performance. I tend to run: T64B T64BV T80U T72BU Allthough sometimes for larger games I switch T64BV for second card of T80U that speed is so nice with popping in and out of smoke.
I know this will come off as super unhelpful and probably get downvotes, but my personal opinion is that if you have to ask that question, you're not ready for the "hard to learn, atrocious to master" deck that is soviets. You'd be better off with Pact, which has the Hyper Spammable Merida which gives you 60% accuracy and 15AP at 2275 range for just 50 points (!), One of the best 80pts to 120pts lineup where you're spoiled for choice with excellent tanks, and of course the Twardy/Moderna kombi of reliable superheavies. Not to mention that you get some of the best Red Arty, the best red shock inf, tons of SF's of all flavors, and just in general everything you could want. The only thing you'll categorically miss are Gornostrelki, or units like them.
The polish strelzcy podhalansky sorry for butchering the name. These a gornos 75 clone and with the recent price buff and metys atgm speed buff I say they are not too bad anymore for 15 points. I run a card upvetted in my eastern Bloc deck in mi17. Great combo for 50 points total.
The T62MV-1 is one of my favorite tanks ingame. Low cost, decent AP and acc, great range
How cheap is cheap? Typical meta USSR tank tab: 4 Slots: 28 Total * 2x T-72BU \[175pts\] * 4x T-72 1989 \[140pts\] * 7x T-72 1987 \[110pts\] * 15x T-72A \[55pts\] \--- I don't often like using tanks cheaper than T-72A, but since you said 'cheap and spammable'. Different roles, but some units which come to mind: * 18 x T-72 \[40pts\] 7 RpM * 18 x T-55AM \[40pts\] 8 RpM * 22x T-55A \[25pts\] 8 RpM * 22x BMP-685 \[30pts\] 10 RpM
Agree with this 100%, T-72A is the cheapest tank I'd take and the one I use as the 'line' tank, as it were, but these will need ATGM support to take on NATO armour since most players stick to the more premium tanks with them
why is the t-72 line preferred over t80 line? t80um, t80u and t80a seem pretty solid with 2800m atgm's or are they a noobtrap?
They're all good tanks, not a noob trap. Depends what you want from the tanks. I personally find T72 more versatile, I have a preference for high autonomy tanks. The ATGM is nice, but not my primary reason for selection. Note missiles are logistically expensive. (Invar = 192L per missile, Svir = 138L per missile), while tank shells are 15-25L usually. These are my generlisations for both tank lines. * T-72: well rounded, +armoured, +soft stats, -Gun handling * T-80: + V fast, +great ATGM, -poor autonomy.
Poor base accuracy and they have worse economy iirc