Air balance between jets and helicopters feels asymmetric after recent changes
Air Balance Feedback – Jets vs Helicopters
The recent reduction to jet cannon damage against air targets (requiring approximately 40% more hits) has created a noticeable imbalance in air-to-air combat, especially when facing helicopters with a competent gunner.
Core issue:
Helicopters with an experienced gunner are able to destroy jets extremely quickly, even during high-speed attack passes, while jets now require multiple perfectly executed passes to secure a kill.
Technical concerns:
- Helicopter gunners maintain high, consistent DPS with strong stability.
- There is little to no meaningful efficiency loss against fast-moving air targets.
- Jets operate with:
- Very short engagement windows
- High exposure risk
- Minimal margin for error
- With the current nerf, jets are punished for performing their intended interceptor role.
Gameplay impact:
- Air engagements become asymmetric:
- Helicopters can afford to miss.
- Jets cannot.
- The jet’s role as a natural aerial counter is weakened.
- Helicopters gain disproportionate control of airspace.
Suggested adjustments:
- Reduce gunner damage or tracking efficiency against jets at high speed.
- Apply more aggressive damage falloff to helicopter weapons versus jets.
- Reevaluate the jet cannon damage reduction specifically for air targets.
The goal should not be instant helicopter kills, but to ensure jets remain a credible air threat and a true counter, requiring skill and decision-making from both sides.
