It does have some slight horizontal recoil, so I understand wanting Counterbalance, but it's so extremely slight that it isn't necessary. Nice to have, but in no way necessary. I was using it before I even unlocked Braced Frame and it was still very easy to stay on target. I don't have a Doctrine, so can't directly compare, but the Arminus is a melt machine. That's all I know. The Hakkon's Hatchet I got does as well. Now that gun has some nasty horizontal recoil, but the one I have has Counterbalance, so it's all good. I used this gun to do the AR portion of the Weapon Master Quest. Easy peasy.