There are many things wrong with the current performance of jets but here I will focus specifically on the terrible Nightbird-vs-Jet balance. Infantry mains might want to stick around because bad vehicle balance ultimately translates to more infantry farming in this case. Bad vehicle balance takes away the fun for many players, especially when using the underpowered vehicles or when being continuously farmed by vehicles as infantry.Best Jet Loadout against air vehicles: 25-mm cannon + radar AA missiles - I will show below why these are not effective enough vs Nightbirds The Nightbird can dodge radar missiles far too easily - a slight evasive maneuver is usually enough; on average, only 1/4 radar missiles will hit a decent Nightbird pilot (don't forget flares!). As a consequence, the mid/long-range performance of jets against Nightbirds is poor.See example 1: https://youtu.be/94r9SMUcfY4 ; example 2: https://youtu.be/oMxTSCCaeik (a slight rotation around the vertical axis is sufficient for Nightbirds to dodge missiles)The Nightbird has a tiny hit-box and is ridiculously agile - while the 25-mm jet cannon performs well against air vehicles other than the Nightbird, using the jet cannons against "active" Nightbirds is an exceedingly difficult task. Aiming with the jet is already challenging comparatively, dealing significant damage to a Nightbird that is in rapid motion with the Jet cannons is near impossibleSee example: https://youtu.be/BCJ9DsuTKXUFrom the above points, it is apparent that jets do not perform well enough vs Nightbirds at any range.By contrast, Nightbirds can deal substantial damage to jets within a ridiculously short time period (in part because jets have a huge hit box, are painfully slow and because the Nightbird can change directions seamlessly by rotating around their vertical axis).See examples; https://youtu.be/lpetO-U_hQ4 (somewhat fast reaction and somewhat fancy retreat here and yet EZ 40% damage for the Nightbird; Jets usually can't inflict damage this quickly and easily on a moving Nightbird); https://youtu.be/dOJbJm9Y5W4 (slower retreat here and a whopping 75% damage from the chopper)Here's a video demonstrating how much easier it is to aim at rapidly moving targets with the Nightbird and how much more effective the Nightbird's 7.62 miniguns are (against jets) compared to the Jet's 25-mm (against Nightbirds) in such situations: https://youtu.be/BCJ9DsuTKXUIn their current state, fighter jets are underperforming against Nightbirds and this in part allows Nightbird pilots to farm infantry for entire games. @EA_Atic Please forward feedback to vehicle devs

Another heli nerf thread. Yes they are accurate, also accurate cause of practice. Yes, comparing to transport mg meanwhile nb uses 2 of them.Edit: they even might be a bit op when you get at good/pro level, but this stops rocket spam. What the hell do you expect to get kills with air radar??? You better be joking, it's good that they are dodge able cause of some doesn't even try to learn and spam them within distance.Jets handling needs fix so you could actually use jets mg. And reason jets get killed by nb is they fly by close and they loop around nb like a leaf.

@S3SSioN_SoL At this distance nb miniguns scratch you and cause of fov it makes it small/far away.

@Metal_Daryl97Totally agreed, there is without a doubt something wrong with the Nightbird's miniguns.It fires with the same accuracy that the Condor/Hind had before they were rightfully nerfed to be "defensive" weapons.The issue with the Nightbird's miniguns is that they have needle pinpoint accuracy, there is no spread. After firing for a second or two, spread should be introduced to the weapon. This both enhances the Nightbird's fighting ability against infantry and balances its guns against air vehicles.There's also something off with the way the Nightbird interacts with gravity, out of all the other Attack Helis, the Nightbird is the only one that can aim vertically whilst maintaining somewhat horizontal movement with little vertical change. This phenomenon of the Nightbird having anti-gravity rotors coincides with update 1.0.0 when it became apparent that the Heli can't land without capsizing on itself. To be fair though, most Helicopters in 2042 is guilty of this, and it's horrible gameplay wise as it's clearly meant to cater to low skill gameplay.

@Man_iLoveFishingThe Nightbird's miniguns have ZERO SPREAD. That is BROKEN when coupled with its agility, there is nothing about that which encourages skill.You're kidding right? Air Radar missiles are the most used thing on Jets to bag kills. You try aiming with a Jet against a Nightbird trying to dodge you.

@S3SSioN_SoLIt has spread, at some point bullets need to cross.Edit: I'm not saying it's easy which again is skill related. Like I said, jet needs handling overhaul.

Metal_Daryl97

Seasoned Ace

3 years ago

Nightbird-vs-Jet balance is terrible (with video examples)

There are many things wrong with the current performance of jets but here I will focus specifically on the terrible Nightbird-vs-Jet balance. Infantry mains might want to stick around because bad vehicle balance ultimately translates to more infantry farming in this case. Bad vehicle balance takes away the fun for many players, especially when using the underpowered vehicles or when being continuously farmed by vehicles as infantry.

Best Jet Loadout against air vehicles: 25-mm cannon + radar AA missiles - I will show below why these are not effective enough vs Nightbirds

The Nightbird can dodge radar missiles far too easily - a slight evasive maneuver is usually enough; on average, only 1/4 radar missiles will hit a decent Nightbird pilot (don't forget flares!). As a consequence, the mid/long-range performance of jets against Nightbirds is poor.
See example 1: https://youtu.be/94r9SMUcfY4 ; example 2: https://youtu.be/oMxTSCCaeik (a slight rotation around the vertical axis is sufficient for Nightbirds to dodge missiles)

The Nightbird has a tiny hit-box and is ridiculously agile - while the 25-mm jet cannon performs well against air vehicles other than the Nightbird, using the jet cannons against "active" Nightbirds is an exceedingly difficult task. Aiming with the jet is already challenging comparatively, dealing significant damage to a Nightbird that is in rapid motion with the Jet cannons is near impossible
See example: https://youtu.be/BCJ9DsuTKXU

From the above points, it is apparent that jets do not perform well enough vs Nightbirds at any range.

By contrast, Nightbirds can deal substantial damage to jets within a ridiculously short time period (in part because jets have a huge hit box, are painfully slow and because the Nightbird can change directions seamlessly by rotating around their vertical axis).
See examples; https://youtu.be/lpetO-U_hQ4 (somewhat fast reaction and somewhat fancy retreat here and yet EZ 40% damage for the Nightbird; Jets usually can't inflict damage this quickly and easily on a moving Nightbird); https://youtu.be/dOJbJm9Y5W4 (slower retreat here and a whopping 75% damage from the chopper)

Here's a video demonstrating how much easier it is to aim at rapidly moving targets with the Nightbird and how much more effective the Nightbird's 7.62 miniguns are (against jets) compared to the Jet's 25-mm (against Nightbirds) in such situations: https://youtu.be/BCJ9DsuTKXU

In their current state, fighter jets are underperforming against Nightbirds and this in part allows Nightbird pilots to farm infantry for entire games. @EA_Atic Please forward feedback to vehicle devs

discussion

18 Replies

S3SSioN_SoL
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@Metal_Daryl97

Totally agreed, there is without a doubt something wrong with the Nightbird's miniguns.

It fires with the same accuracy that the Condor/Hind had before they were rightfully nerfed to be "defensive" weapons.

The issue with the Nightbird's miniguns is that they have needle pinpoint accuracy, there is no spread. After firing for a second or two, spread should be introduced to the weapon. This both enhances the Nightbird's fighting ability against infantry and balances its guns against air vehicles.

There's also something off with the way the Nightbird interacts with gravity, out of all the other Attack Helis, the Nightbird is the only one that can aim vertically whilst maintaining somewhat horizontal movement with little vertical change. This phenomenon of the Nightbird having anti-gravity rotors coincides with update 1.0.0 when it became apparent that the Heli can't land without capsizing on itself. To be fair though, most Helicopters in 2042 is guilty of this, and it's horrible gameplay wise as it's clearly meant to cater to low skill gameplay.
Man_iLoveFishing
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
Another heli nerf thread. Yes they are accurate, also accurate cause of practice. Yes, comparing to transport mg meanwhile nb uses 2 of them.
Edit: they even might be a bit op when you get at good/pro level, but this stops rocket spam.
What the hell do you expect to get kills with air radar??? You better be joking, it's good that they are dodge able cause of some doesn't even try to learn and spam them within distance.
Jets handling needs fix so you could actually use jets mg. And reason jets get killed by nb is they fly by close and they loop around nb like a leaf.
S3SSioN_SoL
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@Man_iLoveFishingThe Nightbird's miniguns have ZERO SPREAD. That is BROKEN when coupled with its agility, there is nothing about that which encourages skill.

You're kidding right? Air Radar missiles are the most used thing on Jets to bag kills. You try aiming with a Jet against a Nightbird trying to dodge you.
Man_iLoveFishing
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@S3SSioN_SoLIt has spread, at some point bullets need to cross.
Edit: I'm not saying it's easy which again is skill related. Like I said, jet needs handling overhaul.
S3SSioN_SoL
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@Man_iLoveFishing If it had spread, this wouldn't be an issue.
Nenitor
3 years ago
there are many things to improve. What`s up with this tank????
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6nFYlhYgkc
cope_more
3 years ago
@S3SSioN_SoL wrote:
@Man_iLoveFishingIf it had spread, this wouldn't be an issue.
It does have spread.
S3SSioN_SoL
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
You can't even see the Nightbird, but its gun are able to reach me, I don't think the Jet's 25mm or 30mm guns are this accurate either. Heck, even the AA Tank's guns are not this accurate! There's literally no spread on the Nightbird's miniguns. That particular player knew how to exploit this, the only way to kill them was with the missiles, but even then, he evaded like 50% of them because of the glitch mentioned above. You can also see that literally half my HP was drained at this distance. I could upload a video, but there's no point as there's already videos uploaded here and it's very obviously broken if you test it yourself.
The Nightbird is probably the most broken vehicle in this game, it can't land properly, its missiles make people rubberband, and you can die in the cockpit from a missile exploding behind the aircraft.
Y'all need to address the Nightbird in the next update.
Man_iLoveFishing
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@S3SSioN_SoL At this distance nb miniguns scratch you and cause of fov it makes it small/far away.
S3SSioN_SoL
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@Man_iLoveFishing
@Man_iLoveFishing wrote:
@S3SSioN_SoLAt this distance nb miniguns scratch you and cause of fov it makes it small/far away.

Definitely don't scratch. Look at the HP bar. Again, I could upload a video, but there's already videos here.