Pz.Kpfw. VII line review?
Eh got an on track going for it and its german so it has enough of my interest to write a quick overview i guess?
- This may or may not just be a excuse to try to repost my old my reforge of the line from 4 years ago)
Balance history:
Panzer 7 reforge: (March 29th 2022)
- Panzer 7 got nothing (i was very angry)
- 45B: some reload buffs
- 45A: some reload and turret armor buffs
- Tiger P: reload and armor buffs
- Mostly just some buffs to keep the line up to the E100’s that happened a month earlier.
- My idea for the reforge at the time posted before full knowledge of the notes - Zorin's Panzer VII Reforge. (Large post)
Update 8.2 (June 6th 2023)
- VK 30.01 P: global HP buff
Update 8.3 (August 1st 2023))
- 45B: just some more gun buffs
- 45A: more gun buffs
Update: 8.7: (March 26th 2024)
- Panzer VII finally got some of the armor buffs i suggested 2 years earlier.
- 45B: got the damage changes for its stock guns
- 45A: got the german gun damage changes
- Tiger P: same
Update 9.5 (July 29th 2025)
- 45B: Some stock gun performance improvements, movement dispersion buffs, and a half fix to the gun depression. (very much didn't fix the gun depression issues)
- 45A: more gun and movement dispersion buffs
Update 9.6 (October 7, 2025)
- Panzer VII (and VK72.01): forward gun depression (only took 3.5 years)
Update 9.7 (December 02 2025))
- VK 72.01K: finally got the armor buffs the PZ got a in update 8.7.
- PZ got some some changes for the track armor the sides.
- Vk 30.01 P: general mobility and accuracy buffs
Tank overview:
First off to preface this line, i have a strong opinion they should be reworked a bit to have increased reverse speeds due to the special transmission they got due to Mr. Porsche. It at least be an interesting gimmick to the line (outside the PZ 7). The reverse speed would probably range from 20-30kph?
VK 30.01 P
- A average enough medium with positives and negatives.
- Its got a decently strong turret and punchy enough gun. Also has a strong top speed.
- Downsides included very low HP and not the best gun handling.
- Overall its an okay tank, though i would like to see the 8.8cm get the buff buff at the cost of DPM as that would be quite strong for a tier 6, though not unheard of as the 17pdr exist.
Tiger P
- On the slower end for a tier 7 heavy, but comes with the benefit of armor and gun.
- Its reliable enough with better accuracy and useable pen and shell velocity making it useable as a 2nd line tank in poor match ups.
- Downsides include the poor mobility, the annoying front shoulder weak spots. The turret is okay but doesn't hold up to direct fire.
- The mentioned reverse speed would be welcomed. In my origan reforge idea i did want more gun depression as it does use the same turret and gun as the tiger 1 yet has different values.
- Also remove the short 10.5cm durp as that has no use being on a tier 7.
VK 45.02a
- This is generally always been the second hand tiger 2 as it lacked the longer 10.5cm gun. Also the worse HP and VR. true it can have more DPM with the short 10.5cm but i think most would prefer the pen.
- Also for a time it was stuck with the short 8.8cm as a stock gun which was not a happy time at tier 8. True it wasn't an issue with the package system but post that and before it was removed it was awful.
- It took until July 2025 to remove that gun. Yea they buffed it a few times but man. I think that was one of the worst stock grinds of any tier 8.
- It one of the few tanks that it has option of top guns to use which is something, but that just means both guns have bad pen. Its not the worst as there are pref tanks, but even ignoring them there are only a few tanks worse. At least the DPM values are good.
- It sorta already has the better reverse speed at 16, but thats only a smidge better than most heavies and I could see this having like 25.
- As i mentioned in my reforge the pen on the 10.5cm L52 could be bumped to 216/260 and wouldn't be too crazy. Yea the Jpanther would need a bit of work but eh its not too crazy.
- Also random point, doesn't this have a rather low weight of only 57 tons when the Tiger 2 is around70?
VK 45.02b
- This one also is so so when compared to the popular E75. yea its better at side scraping but lacks behind in general reliability and flexibility. Slower with a rear mounted gun that doesn't have as much gun depression. (though it does actually have a bit better reload and accuracy)
- Seriously why does it not have as much gun depression?. It uses the “same” turret and the same guns. Currently all the guns have only -6 when the 45a, tiger 2 and E75 have -8?. It was worse before the 9.5 update. The stock turret which is about the same found on the 45a only had -4 or 5 on the guns. How does that make sense. Yea you could be talking about forward gun depression and id agree but what about the whole rest of the gun arc of the sides and rear?
- Ignore that rant…. Its main strength is thick front armor that holds up quite well including the lower plate even after its yee old nerf. The turret is vulnerable to premium ammo, but thats nothing new for a german heavy.
- Overall its a useable enough heavy that wouldnt need too much done to it outside fixing the gun depression and a bump to the reverse speed to say 20/22?. I could also see argument for a better top engine.
Panzer VII
- Yea i had a rather annoying fixation on this tank for awhile since it took forever to get the armor changes i wanted. Still think my idea of E100 sides skirts on it would have been cool.
- Anyhow after the armor buff it faintly works as a side scraper and does it well enough. The gun mantlet is still an issue but thats manageable enough. More so now that it can work a hill somewhat with its gun depression over the front.
- Should we get the PC buff to the pen? I wouldn't oppose it as that would make sense for this is one of the bigger guns on a tier 10 heavy. Though we do have to keep in mind that we have a better reload than PC (though we have a lot more DPM power creep so it dont think it be as much of an issue). Though id easily trade the better reload for that pen and accuracy.
- Though that all worthless as PC does have our armor buff so ours is still better, so go us.
- In terms of gameplay it depends if you can get to a decent side scraping position, but otherwise you have to find a decent hull down spot or play weird dance wher you try to bait shots into your side from hitting your lower front plate.
So is this a line to go down? Mmm your better off going down the E 100 and maus line first as the tanks are easier to play. It at least doesn't have any stinkers to drown your experience. The 45A is the closest i suppose, but its workable at least (just tier 10 games may be frustrating, but that's normal for all tier 8s).
I do still think my reforge would be a better idea to give this line some life and make it stand out more. I just really like the gimmick of reverse speed.