Hello tankers!
The Update 9.21 Common Test starts soon.
It will bring an alternative branch of unusual French heavy tanks,
reworked British TDs with decent armor,
and a winter map for Grand Battles.
Intrigued?
Then let's start!
New map for Grand Battles
According to the comments,
our community liked the Grand Battle mode with 30 players in each team.
We want to develop its success,
so meet the new Klondike map in an Alaskan setting.
Your feedback on the Nebelburg map was considered when it was created.
Now everything is as you like it:
the battle takes place on the vast area of 1400 by 1400 meters,
but there are fewer exposed positions.
A lot of cover allows for hiding from the all-seeing artillery eye.
Playing on the winter map is enjoyable, but you need to be careful:
you can fall down and crash or even drown in certain places.
Klondike will also be available in Standard and Encounter battles.
Alternative branch of French heavies
More vehicles joined the French ranks.
The alternative branch of heavy tanks
is represented by the Tier VIII AMX 65 t,
Tier IX AMX M4 mle. 51,
and Tier X AMX M4 mle. 54 at the top.
Vehicle research starts at Tier VII via the AMX M4 mle. 45.
The new French tanks are not equipped with an autoloader
typical for this nation, but they have strong armor
and two top guns to choose from.
Playing them differs significantly:
you don't need to stay at a respectful distance from the enemy,
you can face them head on,
which is not typical for the French heavies.
There are two strategies depending on the chosen gun.
The more powerful gun lets players get close to the enemy
and trade damage per shot until final victory.
Thankfully,
the gun depression angles,
sturdy hull and turret armor allows for doing so.
The more diverse gun with better firing speed characteristics
will ideally suit a skilled player on the second line.
The tanks are quite similar to each other
and seem to be three siblings:
transitioning to a higher tier is smooth
and doesn't require mastering the new vehicle.
If you are used to pushing the flank and taking most damage,
these French tanks are a perfect fit for you.
Rebalanced British TDs
In Update 9.21,
we plan to make the armor of the British tank destroyers
from Tier VI to Tier IX a bit thicker.
The AT 8,
AT 7,
AT 15,
and Tortoise will receive improved front armor.
But the AT 2's front, side, and rear armor will become thinner:
the statistics showed that this vehicle was too durable for its tier.
Now its opponents will be able
to penetrate its side and rear more confidently,
but the front armor is still the thickest at its tier,
although it has become thinner.
Please remember that these changes are not final:
the armor of tank destroyers is now in the testing stage.
Some parameters may change by the release of Update 9.21,
not least thanks to your feedback.
The British tank destroyers before the FV215b 183
are well-armored quick-firing vehicles
that look and are played similarly to each other.
The Tier X vehicle stands out from this list.
It can't boast its armor or rate of fire,
and its huge damage per shot doesn't fit the logic of this branch.
That's why it will be replaced by a more suitable FV217 Badger.
The FV215b will become a special vehicle
and remain in the Garages of those players
who get it before the release of Update 9.21.
The Badger looks like a logical development
of the British tank destroyers branch:
compared to the lower-tier tank destroyers,
the new Tier X vehicle has thicker armor,
higher damage per minute,
and more hit points with the same level of mobility and gameplay style.
It feels like a real top vehicle.
With all the bells and whistles,
you can boost its damage per minute up to 4500.
Such power is evidence
that this British vehicle belongs to the highest tank society.
There's good news for those who, for some reason,
often join a battle in the Churchill Gun Carrier.
The 32-pdr gun of this bulky British Tier VI tank destroyer
will become as menacing as the Challenger's gun:
more damage per shot and more penetration
while keeping the same damage per minute.
All vehicles in HD now
Finally, we have a question
for the most attentive and experienced tankers.
For a while, we have added vehicle HD models with each update.
At the moment, we have the only researchable vehicle
that hasn't been transferred in HD yet.
Can you guess what this vehicle is?
Leave your guesses in the comments under the video.
That's all for now.
Play the Common Test,
examine the changes, and win in the battles.