Once you've completely played through the French Tier IX heavy tank line, the AMX M4 mle. 54 at Tier X will feel like a natural advancement. The looks are pretty similar, and the defining traits – armour, mobility, firepower – have been improved once more. Let's see what else you can expect from this top-tier tank!
Gameplay
If you already thought the Tier IX vehicle boasted strong frontal armour, the AMX M4 mle. 54 tops it easily, making it extremely hard to penetrate frontally. Problem is, you still cannot angle it in any way as your sides are as thin as the AMX M4 mle. 51's; side-scraping is still not an option. The turret saw some improvements in thickness, but you still need to pay attention to the weak spots; they are the same as on the previous vehicle.
Just like the two preceding vehicles, you have two guns to choose from, each with their own up- and downsides:
- 120 mm D.1203 B: Similar to the 120 mm gun used by the AMX M4 mle. 51. Compared to the 130 mm gun, it features better penetration, aiming time, accuracy, and rate of fire at the cost of damage per shot. The best choice if you want to deal damage more reliably. Avoid trading shots and try to shoot twice while the enemy reloads.
- 130 mm/45 model 1935: Slightly inferior in many aspects but comes with devastating damage per shot. Ideally used in close combat and if you prefer trading shots. You may have trouble with super-heavy tanks frontally, either try to get to their side or focus on lighter-armoured heavy tanks.
For both guns, the damage per minute is about the same, so it's on you to decide if you want a harder punch or faster reload time. We recommend you play like a conventional heavy tank despite its good mobility, except if you face too many super-heavy tanks. In that case, you might want to consider giving medium tanks a hard time. Avoid long-range battles because of your mediocre view range and large size.
Equipment
Recommended Setup | ||
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All three pieces of equipment above are valid for both the 120 and 130 mm gun, mainly increasing the stabilisation and potential damage per minute.
Crew Skills
Commander | |||
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Gunner | |||
Driver | |||
Radio operator | |||
Loader |
Basically, the crew skills and perks are pretty much consistent with the previous vehicles – the Repair skill is crucial in close combat, with blown off tracks your opponents can get to your weak sides easily, which may end fatally for you. Later on, when collecting enough Crew XP, Brothers in Arms will give a similar bonus in crew training level as the Improved Ventilation.
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.