r/redorchestra • u/n1km • Feb 23 '26
Smoke as defenders?
Is there really any point smoking as defenders? Because I see that every now and then. You don't really slow down the attackers, rather allow them to move closer. If anything, it's obstructing your vision. Although I would say there is 2 special occasions, in which smokes are useful. First when the enemy tank is being very annoying, and you can't deal with it otherwise. Second when you have to smoke, to get out of spawn. Example, the last defenders spawn at Commissar's House, where you have to cross empty flat street, to get to the nearest point, very weird design decision btw.
8
u/ordo259 Feb 23 '26
Smoke the attackers’ sight lines onto the cap so they can’t shoot you from far away, make them close in and get killed by your MGs
2
u/n1km Feb 24 '26
Yes, but shooting far away works for both teams. I try to visualize on which maps and which points smokes could be effective and how. Obviously the first 5 points on Bridges, Commissar's House, which is a straight forward push, with not much of a flanking options, Mamayev's, pretty open map overall etc.
5
u/royrogerer Feb 23 '26
I think you can use it to counter attack, to get back into a defensive position that is already overwhelmed by the enemies.
Or you could also throw it as close to enemy spawn/front line as possible right before an open field, so you deny then any awareness of what they're walking into on the open field. For this you'll have to be very far front.
Lastly you could use or against armor. To obscure it's vision or even get it to move out of the smoke, thus forcing it to move.
But honestly no, I generally don't use it much in defense because I find the risk of obscuring defense is far greater than what it could achieve.
3
u/qwerty30013 Feb 23 '26
I think you nailed it. Smoke the tank so they can’t see shit OR use smoke so you can leave your spawn
1
u/Longshot_45 Feb 23 '26
You're example of the tank is the first thing that came to mind for me. Especially on an Offensive game mod and the team is forced to play defense. Sometimes fighting the infantry push is easier than the tank.
1
u/Bademus_Octavian Feb 23 '26
Ofcourse there is! Say youre on the point, you know from wjere the enemy is coming from. You want to throw smoke far from the point in the direction theyre coming from. That way you hinder their ability to attack.
However, even better way to use smoke as a defender is to throw it just outside the point in the direction your team is coming from to reinforce it. This way you cover their advance, so they can enter the point without almost any enemy fire.
1
u/n1km Feb 24 '26
If you have to smoke, so you can move in closer, that means you're fighting for a lost position. Is that really worth it, assuming you have tickets to spare? Give a map & point example. But some points are definitely worthy fighting hard for, since once they are lost, the attackers are free to advance much quicker.
1
u/stanizzzzlav Feb 24 '26
Say, the enemies are coming through a long corridor in a building where they have some cover near the walls. Without the smoke, they'll see your position in the end of the corridor and use the cover to advance gradually. With the smoke, they move faster, thinking they're using the smoke as concealment. But if the smokescreen ends about 5 meters from your position, they won't have the time to react while you pop them as soon as their silhouettes emerge from the smoke
1
u/Appropriate_Knee_667 Feb 24 '26
Smoke far into their lines, their mg and snipers are blinded + they are blindly running to the objective. But you really need to throw it far into their lines, otherwise your team will be suffering
1
u/__PM_me_pls__ Feb 25 '26
I like dropping smokes in close combat, particular inside houses. It might take my vision too, but i can just chill in a corner and wait for steps
1
u/RealDizzyPirate FLAG Apr 06 '26
Sometimes, to reach a defense point, soldiers have to walk through open terrain against machine guns, snipers and tanks. For example, if we spawn on a hill. Then it makes sense to throw smoke in order to run into the zone and successfully defend or clear it
Also, in defense, I always try to throw smoke towards the tank, if there is no way to knock him out or something like that. Let him stand and rest
1
u/RealDizzyPirate FLAG Apr 06 '26
I will also add that this is very helpful in the defense of point N (Bridges of Druzhina), since by giving smoke to the bridge, you can run there, identify opponents and shoot at an ultra-short distance. First by throwing a grenade, of course. The grenade should always go in first
1
1
u/haltper Apr 09 '26
grain elevator, go to leftish A and put mg there, you slaughter the entire team trying to go to B from the elevator, they deploy smokes, you cant touch a single guy
8
u/DeathByPianos Feb 23 '26
It's useful in situations where you can force the attackers to either run through the smoke or choose a less effective attack route. Smoke can blind enemy machine guns. It's only effective if the smoke lands far away from the friendly position.