Well, did I sound a bit worked up in the latter half of that reply? Let me clarify: I fed my take to an AI and just asked it to phrase it in a critical tone—nothing more. If the English translation came off with strongly derogatory or discriminatory connotations, I apologize.
Now I’ve read your post again, and there are still plenty of flaws in this statement of yours. I thought I was being calm back then, but this line of yours spread like wildfire in the group chats I’m in. People were wondering if you’re actually Japanese or hired by DF to hype up the Soviets and stir up conflicts. Sorry, but due to the platform’s posting rules, I can’t elaborate further—bottom line, your argument is problematic. As a Soviet main who’s constantly frustrated by the vicious cycle of teammate quality, I naturally flew off the handle when I saw it.
Leaving aside the “fun factor” of bolt-action rifles: I once assembled a 9-man premium squad for BR1, dedicated to using bolt-actions only. But the performance gap against BR2 submachine guns quickly brought me back to reality. Japan’s biggest win this update is the addition of an assault rifle—its stats are actually solid now, comparable to the rare US .30 caliber rifle in BR3. As for the magazine capacity issue, if enough players keep bringing it up, it’ll just be a matter of when DF decides to buff it.
As for the new US machine gun, I’ve checked its restrictions—it has no stock, so it can’t be deployed for sustained fire. But someone already posted WWII footage of American soldiers firing machine guns from the hip. This mechanic actually existed in Battlefield V, where none of the machine guns could be aimed from the shoulder—way more restrictive. Enlisted did optimize it, which should’ve been a good thing, but this new machine gun can’t even fire from the hip. So it’s fair to criticize that the devs only half-copied BF5’s mechanic and left it unfinished.
The German KE7? (I hate copy-pasted weapons too—they might as well release an Italian premium squad with the KE7 instead.)
You said most buffs went to the Soviets. Let me break it down: the main change was a massive reduction in hip-fire spread for semi-automatic rifles when aiming down sights quickly, making the first shot far more accurate. The other semi-autos didn’t feel much improved due to their inherent stats. I also expected major buffs to the German and Japanese semi-autos in TTBR3, but the results were underwhelming—I agree with you there.
And the Fedorov bayonet? Bayonets aren’t a silver bullet. They barely make a difference in most fights. Having a bayonet lets you charge quickly without switching to a hatchet, but you can’t get consecutive kills with it—stabbing takes time, so you’re better off shooting. It’s more of a mobility utility than anything else, just a little extra perk. A buff? How much of a buff could that even be?
I don’t want to be reminded of those old arguments claiming that the AVT/AVS rifles, despite having 5 fewer rounds, could beat the G43/K43 just because they had bayonets.
Japan’s drum-mag submachine gun? I also think it’s pointless. Frankly, DF’s track record with designing premium squads has been pretty lackluster lately.
What bothers me is this: in the new update, while rolling out new content, the Soviets—despite being one of the focus factions alongside Japan this patch—only got a tier 1 bolt-action rifle that’s worse than the German Gewehr 88. How is that acceptable? Comparison is the thief of joy, and when stacked against what other factions got, it’s clear the Soviets didn’t receive any truly worthwhile content. You’re happy because you admitted you’re a bolt-action enthusiast—that’s fine—but what about BR5?
Can Soviet players really not feel envious when they look at Germany’s Ferdinand tank destroyer and B-25 bombers, while clutching their measly rifles? The buffs to Soviet semi-autos this update were just DF’s accidental, unplanned byproduct—I never saw that coming. I actually thought German and Japanese semi-autos would finally be able to go toe-to-toe with Soviet ones, but the balance didn’t change in any meaningful way. You said the Soviets would kick up a fuss if they got nerfed, but the reality is we aren’t being nerfed—we’re being left behind as other factions surge ahead with new gear. Just look at the state of Soviet BR5 now—it’s a far cry from its former glory. My issue with only getting a rifle wasn’t about the weapon itself; I just wish DF had given us something else instead—like an I-16 fighter or a T-35 heavy tank, for example. You said you’re biased toward bolt-actions, but what about Soviet players who main other BR tiers? Is it wrong for me to consider the overall weapon balance across all Soviet BR brackets?
