Heavy Metal: The IS-2 Shielded Review

Tank Commanders!

A unique Tier VII Premium Soviet heavy tank, the legendary VII IS-2 shielded , awaits you at the end of the ongoing Road to Berlin game event. But what can you expect when you finally claim this reward tank, and how should you play it for best effect?

Here, our Community Contributor Ravvi takes a look at the IS-2 Shielded and gives us his thoughts about the special Road to Berlin exclusive. Check it out!

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Overview

The VII IS-2 shielded is another variant added to the IS tank group, alongside the IS-2 Berlin (Soviet Premium tank), IS-2 (Chinese Heavy tank), and the IS-2M.

What makes the IS-2 shielded unique compared to its counterparts are the metal sheets (Soviet fencing) covering the front hull, sides, and top of the turret. This provides the IS-2 shielded with additional protection from HE (High Explosive) rounds and some HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds. While this additional protection is only 5mm thick, it can make a rather decent difference when facing those rounds.

It also shares the same 122mm gun that is on the other IS variants, the 122mm D-25T. Its base values are 5.09 rounds per minute, with a dispersion of 0.44. The IS-2 Shielded has a HP of 1230, which is the same as the Standard IS, but less than its premium counterparts. With an engine power of 600 hp this gives the IS-2 Shielded a power-to-weight ratio of 12.91.

Performance

While lacking in mobility compared to the standard IS, the main playstyle of this tank is similar to all its other variations: peek-and-boom. Angle your armor efficiently to bounce any rounds that come your way.

Fortunately, its 122mm gun is very dominant against other Tier VII tanks. Though it may struggle against some well-armored Tier VIII tanks, the IS-2 Shielded can still hold its own if you play it effectively and aim for weak spots. Making an impact in the game will help secure victory.

Equipment

Recommended Setup

The standard Heavy tank set up: the Gun Rammer for increasing your damage per minute, the Enhanced Gun Laying Drive to further increase your already-decent gun handling, and the finish with Improved Ventilation to give an overall boost to the vehicle's performance.

Crew Skills

Commander
Gunner
Driver
Loader

It’s recommended to start by training all your Crew members in the Repair skill. Upon reaching 100%, switch your Commander to Sixth Sense, followed by Snapshot for even better accuracy, and then Smooth Ride and Safe Stowage. Once these are mastered, feel free to drop Repair for Brothers in Arms before revisiting Repair again.

Conclusion

Even though it seems like yet another IS premium, after playing the VII IS-2 shielded myself, I've found that I can play a bit more aggressively due to the metal sheets on the tank. Also, with the slightly better gun handling, I was able to quickly pull off shots much quicker than I would in the standard IS or any of the IS variants. Although its mobility is a little worse, you'll still have more than enough speed to get to the fight in time to put your improved gun handling into action.

Want to try it out yourself? You still have time to pick this tank up, so jump into the Road to Berlin event before it ends on the morning of 18 May, and get yourself a very solid Tier VII tank!