Since the October 2023 update, the flamethrower class has been completely ruined: movement speed while firing was slowed to a crawl, damage was reduced, and the flame range and area were cut. It’s basically been nerfed into uselessness.
Hardly anyone plays it now. If you use the flamethrower and get spotted while firing, even AI can turn around and one-shot you.
Before, you’d see several players using it every match. Now it’s an extremely rare sight.
At the very least, I suggest removing the movement speed penalty while firing. The rest can be discussed later.
The new Soviet pre-order squad still uses the old BR3 flamethrower stats with only an 18m range—you can’t even get close to anyone. On top of that, a single window can block this weak gas flame. Right now it’s only usable for minor area denial when defending.
Also, add this:
Flamethrower troops should not be set on fire by their own ground flames.
I often get lit up by my own fire while using it, which is really frustrating.
I can’t understand why my own flames damage and interfere with me.
Flame throwers definitely need the damage increased. I torched a guy last night from less then ten meters and HE DIDN’T DIE, he merely patted himself and the flame went out, but before I could torch him again someone else shot me.
This is what it’s like to play a flamethrower main. You only get two flamethrower slots per squad, and you have to keep them alive by accident before you reach the objective. You also have to shoot and kill any AI that gets close.
When you finally run into a group of enemies, you have to play super carefully—because even if you set them on fire, they can still turn around and shoot you instantly.
There are so many times I feel like playing flamethrower just isn’t as satisfying as playing a machine gunner, or just throwing a grenade.
I once had a dumb idea: I thought the reason flamethrower felt so weak was because of the AI. So I tried running a lone wolf flamethrower build.
I got completely destroyed.
Real players react way too fast. After I burn them, I can’t run away—I just become an easy target. Even if they don’t put out the fire manually, they extinguish it really quickly anyway. And even when they’re on fire, they can still fight back right away.
I agree. Lower BR of all flamethrower squads (including premium)by 1.
And add a third flametrooper to the regular squads (just like other specialist’s squads have 3: mg, sniper, AT …)
Making flamethrowers stronger would start the drama again.
I held a vote on the Russian-language forum, and a HUGE and overwhelming majority of players thought flamethrowers were currently SHIT! And that they needed to be improved.
At present, the flamethrower soldier is a joke that’s not funny at all. In 80% of the cases, he dies on the way before he can even play a role. Even when he gets a chance, he usually doesn’t burn many people before being killed. And often, those who are burned can still take out their guns and kill him back. What’s more, the high probability of burning himself when firing indoors makes this profession a clown among clowns. I even have the idea of replacing the flamethrower sound effect with a clown music mod. At least when he dies, it can make me laugh happily.
I really miss the old days when I could pull out a flamethrower in Tunisia and burn down bunkers and groups of enemies. Now flamethrowers are barely used. With all the mines and fortifications in Normandy and Tunisia, breaking through is so hard—I have to call in tanks or just throw grenades. The flamethrower’s pick rate has completely collapsed. I’ve even counter-killed several flamethrower soldiers myself.
Players suggested ideas before, like making the fuel tanks on flamethrower troops explosive to add more counterplay. The devs only care about selling premium units: they gave the Japanese rider body armor and added ammo boxes to motorbikes, but they’ve totally ignored the flamethrower. This class is just hard to balance—too weak and no one uses it, too strong and it’s broken. But it’s been sitting on the bench for over two years, and it’ll be three years this October 2026. Instead of balancing old classes, they just keep releasing new ones. It’s really frustrating.
Now that I think about it, since they’re already selling the premium motorbike squad, if they added an upgrade to a jeep, that would really kill their cash flow.
What?! Why should you not burn yourself if you get in the flames?! Taking this away is far too unrealistic, and just pure silliness. If you don’t want to catch fire, then don’t run into the flames and use it like your life matters.
Oh no, I wasn’t talking about running in. I mean spraying from far away outside, but for some reason the fire slowly spread from the target back to me.
Wait, I think I get it now. It’s probably because the flamethrower’s stream stays the same thickness from start to end. If you tilt it down even a little, the flame hits the ground right at the nozzle and spreads back to burn you.
Oh, not really sure what you’re experiencing. The only time I’ve ever caught fire is if im running forward while spraying the ground infront of me. If you stay still, or move backwards while using it, you shouldn’t catch fire unless you’re aiming at your feet.
Flamethrower requires a very delicate balancing.
One side it will be too op and burn everything in sight,
Other side it will die the moment it tries to set something on fire.
I think flamethrower at current position is somewhat balanced;
it can be very useful at certain situation, or not in the other, a.k.a a situational weapon.
Though I agree the flamethrower is a little bit undrrperforming right now,
The only change i’d like to make is the increase of velocity of flame
It will prevent people or ai counterattack when hit by flame
