The holiday season is here and we’re actively working on the latest World of Tanks update! It will unveil brand-new Japanese heavy tanks—a collection of six brawlers spanning from Tier V to Tier X. Notably, the high-tier tanks in this branch feature innovative double aiming mechanics (also known as gun cooling) and hydropneumatic suspension.
You can also experience a new iteration of Onslaught with the reintroduced in-game Store featuring exclusive items for bonds. Finally, you can explore the fourth Episode of Frontline and test drive 11 rebalanced low-tier vehicles in Random Battles, offering a renewed and enhanced gaming experience. Let's dive in!
Please note that all features on the Common Test are currently in active development. Any values, rewards, technical characteristics, and other feature settings that are relevant for the Common Test are not final and may not correspond to those in the release version.
Meet Six Brand-New Japanese Brawlers!
The new Japanese heavy tanks will differ significantly from the current vehicle branch that leads to the Type 5 Heavy. They are more modern in appearance, with aerodynamic shapes and well-sloped armor. Moreover, the higher-tier tanks in the new branch come with two innovative mechanics: brand-new double aiming (gun cooling) and familiar hydropneumatic suspension.
Research for these new brawlers begins with the Tier IV Type 1 Chi-He.
The new branch kicks off with the Tier V Mitsu 108, a triple-turreted tank inspired by the Soviet T-28 but with improved armor protection.
A further evolution of the project with more sloping armor and additional screens. This vehicle boasts excellent gun depression/elevation angles (−10/20 degrees) and good damage per minute with a standard armor-piercing shell.
With its innovative gun cooling mechanics, also known as double aiming, the Type 57 is the first vehicle in the branch to showcase this distinctive gameplay hallmark. It allows you to fire in two modes: one with standard accuracy and the other with improved accuracy.
After this, the gun begins to cool down. Waiting a moment after reloading enhances shot accuracy due to the cooling effect.
Once the gun completely cools down, its dispersion improves until the next shot.
Improved Accuracy Activation
When improved accuracy is activated, a second aiming circle appears.
This second circle determines the shooting accuracy.
Aiming Process
After the second circle appears, the gun requires some time to fully aim to its maximum available accuracy.
However, you can choose to shoot immediately after reloading without waiting for improved aiming if necessary.
Tactical Choices
Depending on the combat situation, this feature allows you to:
Opt for higher DPM at the cost of slightly compromised accuracy.
Choose to shoot less frequently but with greater accuracy.
Tier IX: Type 68
Its armor requires active use of terrain irregularities, as its hull’s mediocre protection is unable to effectively withstand enemy fire. Its tough turret, however, fulfills this role effectively.
In addition to the gun cooling mechanics, this vehicle is equipped with hydropneumatic suspension, which enhances its gun depression/elevation angles from good (–8/20 degrees) to excellent (–12/24 degrees). This feature will greatly help you utilize the benefits of a well-armored turret when taking a hull-down position.
The crowning jewel of the entire branch, combining a good balance of frontal armor and mobility. The Type 71 is designed to be played from hull-down positions, where its tough turret armor can be used to its fullest. It is also equipped with hydropneumatic suspension. This feature allows you to enhance the vehicle’s gun depression/elevation angles and gain an additional advantage when playing on terrain irregularities. However, keep in mind its mediocre reverse speed and vulnerability on the sides.
We'll share more details about the Japanese heavies and their gameplay in an upcoming dedicated article. In the meantime, join the Common Test and share your feedback on the vehicles!
Frontline Episode 4: Try Out the Dynamic Battle Scenarios System!
During the Common Test, Frontline will be available from December 21 through 22 inclusive.
In Episode 4 of Frontline, you’ll be able to experience battles with the dynamic battle scenarios system. It integrates all three modes for selecting and using Combat Reserves from previous iterations, providing even more tactical versatility.
In the upcoming Episode, each battle will feature a randomly selected scenario from the following three Combat Reserves options:
Standard Battle: This mode adheres to the regular Frontline rules.
Operational Support: This scenario decreases Combat Reserves' cooldown time, allowing for more frequent use. This enhances the overall combat dynamics and expands the tactical possibilities available to you and your team.
Twist of Fate: Upon reaching certain Ranks, you'll face a choice between two randomly selected Combat Reserves from a diverse pool of categories and vehicle types. This flexibility enables you to better adapt to the situation on the battlefield and even use combinations of the same Reserves. Placing Combat Reserves in slots in the Garage before battle increases their chance of being available for selection.
In the Twist of Fate scenario, placing Combat Reserves in slots in the Garage before battle increases their chance of being available for selection. Purchasing Reserves using Combat Reserve Points will increase their Level in battle by 1, so you may have 4 Levels of them.
All three battle scenarios will be randomly available during Episode 4, allowing you to experience each one.
The dynamic battle scenarios system will enrich the diversity of Frontline and the tactical choices at your disposal, ensuring each of your battles is a truly unique experience!
A New Launch of Onslaught: The Season of the Crimson Pegasus Is Upon Us!
During the Common Test, Onslaught will be available from December 23 onward.
With the rollout of Update 1.23.1, a new launch of the Onslaught mode kicks off, introducing the Season of the Crimson Pegasus. Your journey toward the Annual Reward continues, so get ready to fight with all your might to earn truly exclusive items, including:
Brand-new 2D styles in vibrant colors.
A special version of the Tier X Polish CS-63 medium tank, featuring an incredible 3D style and custom crew members.
As we enter the upcoming Season, brace yourself for several noteworthy changes.
A Store With Exclusive Items for Bonds Is Back! Starting this Season, the in-game Store with exclusive items for bonds reopens its doors. Here, you can spend bonds to get the sharp-shooting Chinese 114 SP2 tank destroyer, rare improved equipment (Increased Shell Resistance), and other cool stuff.
New Maps: In this launch, Himmelsdorf is undergoing a revamp, making way for three new maps: Oyster Bay, Studzianki, and Outpost. The Onslaught versions of these maps will differ from those in Random Battles, so get ready for unexpected tactical maneuvers!
New Combat Modifiers: Adding to the excitement, three new combat modifiers have been introduced, complementing the existing two. Explore them all below.
Parameter
Modifier
NEW! Dispersion at 100 m
Reduced by 0.15 m
NEW! Time Remaining Visible When Spotted
Reduced from 10 s to 3 s
NEW! Proximity Spotting Radius
Reduced from 50 m to 25 m
Vehicle HP
Increased by 25%
Consumables Cooldown Time
Reduced from 90 s to 45 s
Remember that these modifiers operate exclusively in Onslaught and do not impact other game modes. They will be automatically active from the first battle.
Join the Common Test and prepare to emerge victorious in the Season of the Crimson Pegasus!
Rebalancing Low-Tier Vehicles
In Update 1.23.1, we are once again focusing on rebalancing vehicles. This time, eleven low-tier vehicles are in the spotlight. Fine-tuning their characteristics will make the game more accessible and enjoyable for newcomers starting their World of Tanks journey. Our veterans, meanwhile, will also discover new elements in their updated gameplay. Explore the table below to see the vehicles currently undergoing a rebalance.
To enhance World of Tanks performance and focus on new features, we're retiring the in-game general chat. This will allow us to better allocate resources, ensuring a continually improving gaming experience.
Instead, come join the conversation on our other platforms and social media:
Every World of Tanks player can participate in the Common Test of an upcoming update!
You need the Wargaming.net Game Center (WGC), the latest Common Test game client, and an active World of Tanks account.
Common Test accounts have significantly increased resources for trying out changes and features without restrictions.
Your account progress on the Common Test server is aligned with the live server and cloned ahead of the start of the test. At 2023-12-12 at 21:59:00 (UTC), your live server account was copied to the Common Test server and does not reflect any account changes after the cutoff date.
