The T-54 is one of the most famous combat vehicles in the world (of tanks), and quite a common sight in this game as well. If you're currently playing this vehicle or about to start, check some of our gameplay tips before you roll out!

Gameplay

Compared to the T-44, this Tier IX Soviet received a massive hull armour upgrade, and while you're obviously not supposed to brawl with heavy tanks, the frontal hull armour is quite effective against light and other medium tanks. The turret armour improved as well and is now rounded, increasing the chances of a bouncing shot.

Thanks to its flat silhouette and strong turret, the T-54 can use so-called 'side-hugging' tactics. This means that you stick to the side of a larger vehicle, being able to shoot its side reliably, while the opponent can at most shoot your turret.

Just like with its predecessor, the T-54 comes with two gun choices:

  • 100 mm D-54: The choice for those who like a reliable gun. This gun has a better penetration value, accuracy, and aiming time. While you are still not a sniper, you can hit and damage enemies reliably in close and mid-range combat. The reload time, however, is rather high for the damage it deals.
  • 100 mm D-10T2S: Go for this gun if damage per minute is the most important to you. For such a high rate of fire you'll sacrifice accuracy, aiming time, and some penetration value (excluding HEAT shells). If you like to play aggressively in close quarters, where accuracy doesn't matter as much, you'll fare better with this one.
Keep the T-54's mediocre gun depression in mind! While the turret is very sturdy, you need to pay more attention to your positioning, otherwise you either can't shoot back, or expose your hull.

Equipment

Recommended Setup

Hover your cursor over the images for more information on each piece of equipment.

No matter which of the 100 mm guns you'll choose, neither of them are accurate enough to reliably hit enemy vehicles over long distances. Hence it makes more sense to install an Improved Ventilation instead of Coated Optics to get a bit more out of the guns you use.

Crew Skills

Commander
Gunner
Driver
Loader

Very standard choice of crew skills, especially for Soviet tanks. While Sixth Sense and Repair are crucial for most vehicles in the game, Soviet mediums benefit more from Snap Shot, Smooth Ride, and Safe Stowage. If you think that your ammo rack is too prone to damage, it makes sense to learn Safe Stowage as the first perk. Brothers in Arms always comes in handy with its wide variety of bonuses.

Adrenaline Rush

Decreases the gun reload time by 10% if your vehicle's HP drops below 10%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Band of Brothers

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Also works if other crew members have Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel.

Call for Vengeance

Reports the enemy vehicles' location for two more seconds after the destruction of the own vehicle.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Clutch Braking

Increases the traverse speed of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Concealment

Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Controlled Impact

Increases the ramming damage dealt and decreases damage taken by ramming.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Deadeye

Increases the chance of landing a critical hit.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Designated Target

Keeps targetes vehicles visible for two more seconds.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Eagle Eye

Allows you to identify damaged/destroyed modules as well as injured crew members of an enemy vehicle by hovering your mouse over it for several seconds.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Firefighting

Reduces the duration and damage taken by fire.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Intuition

Grants a slight chance of changing the shell type without having to reload again.

Doesn't work with autoloaders. Works also while reloading.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Jack of All Trades

Reduces the performance penalty of wounded crew members.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Mentor

Increases the Crew XP gained for each member apart from the commander.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Off-Road Driving

Increases the mobility on medium and soft terrain.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Preventative Maintenance

Reduces the chance of taking fire.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Recon

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Relaying

Increases the signal range of your allies' vehicles within your signal range.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Repair

Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Safe Stowage

Increases the durability of your vehicle's ammo rack.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Signal Boosting

Increases the signal range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Situational Awareness

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Sixth Sense

Shows a lightbulb three seconds after you've been spotted.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Smooth Ride

Reduces the dispersion penalty while driving.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Snap Shot

Reduces the dispersion penalty of traversing the turret.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Additional Grousers

Increases the mobility on soft and medium terrain.

Binocular Telescope

Increases the view range of your vehicle by 25%.

Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.

Camouflage Net

Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle tremendously.

Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.

Enhanced Gun Laying Drive

Reduces the aiming time of your gun by 10%.

Coated Optics

Increases the view range of your vehicle by 10%.

Tank Gun Rammer

Reduces the reload time of your gun by 10%.

Spall Liner

Decreases damage taken by ramming and high-explosive splash.

Toolbox

Decreases the repair time of destroyed modules.

Cumulative with the Repair skill.

Improved Ventilation

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Vertical Stabilizer

Reduces the dispersion penalties of hull and turret traverse, as well as driving by 20%.

"Wet" Ammo Rack

Increases the module HP of your ammo rack.

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