Summer is heating up as we keep working to bring you fresh content, Commanders!
The first Common Test of Update 1.14 is going live and will feature the long-awaited Czechoslovakian heavy tanks with their hallmark unusual gameplay and autoloaders. The performance of popular Premium vehicles was improved, and you’ll have the opportunity to try out a fresh Random Battles map—Safe Haven. Plus, you can explore our special training mode, Topography. Finally, we’re changing the conditions of Personal Missions for artillery and giving you a sneak peek of Frontline 2021. Jump in and share your feedback!
CONTENTS
Czechoslovakian Heavy Tanks Are Coming!
There’s great news for those of you who enjoy playing heavy tanks! In Update 1.14, we’ll add an entire Czechoslovakian heavy tank branch to the game. It will consist of four researchable brawlers from Tier VII to Tier X. Researching the new branch of Czechoslovakian heavies will start at Tier VII, after the Škoda T-25. Let's take a closer look at the lineup.
The new branch kicks off with the Vz. 44-1, a Tier VII heavy. This tank easily performs the duties of a brawler, but its gameplay is more like that of a medium tank. It boasts good maneuverability and comfortable gun handling, as well as decent frontal armor. The Vz. 44-1 is a transitional step from medium to heavy tanks and will be a good training vehicle for Czechoslovakian crews.
Tier VIII is represented by the TNH 105/1000, which is in some ways an improved version of its Tier VII predecessor. This brawler has a solid turret with additional armor and a decent hull with well-sloped frontal armor. But its main feature is the choice of two top guns. Starting from Tier VIII, all Czechoslovakian heavies will have this unique feature.
The first gun fires in classic (cyclic) mode, while the second features a two-shell autoloader. Both guns are equal in battle performance and have the same caliber (105 mm), alpha damage, and depression/elevation angles. You’ll have the opportunity to choose the gun that best suits your personal playstyle.
The next warrior in the Czechoslovakian branch is the TNH T Vz. 51. This is a mighty, heavily armored brawler with an even more durable hull and a decent top speed of 50 km/h. You can also choose between its two 122 mm top guns (one cyclic, one autoloading) with the same parameters.
The crown jewel of the new heavy line is the formidable Vz. 55. This is a versatile heavy tank with a low silhouette, incredibly solid turret with additional armor, and thick lower frontal plate. It features two 130 mm top guns to choose from—one firing in cyclic mode, the other a two-shell autoloader with a short reload time between shells. Pick the one you like the most!
With 490 points of alpha damage and good gun stabilization, the Vz. 55 can become a real menace on the battlefield. Its top speed won’t impress, but it keeps up well and accelerates fast for a heavy tank. It’s able to close in on enemies and come out on top in a duel thanks to its excellent armor and the firepower of both top guns.
Take the menacing Czechoslovakian heavies for a spin and share your impressions!
Premium Vehicle Rebalancing
A new update is coming, and a new group of Premium vehicles are going to receive their long-awaited share of improvements! This time, we're updating the combat parameters of many tanks from different nations. Check out their improved characteristics below:
Welcome to Safe Haven!
Starting with Update 1.14, a brand-new Random Battles map, Safe Haven, will become available. This 1000x1000-meter summer map is set in 1960s Japan and will give you the opportunity to battle in a demilitarized civilian port that is gradually crowding out a small fishing village.
Safe Haven is divided into two large and distinct gameplay sectors. The first is the harbor area with plenty of cover where brawlers and heavily armored tank destroyers will fight face-to-face to decide who’s the strongest. The second is a picturesque green area where faster vehicles will feel more comfortable. There are also favorable firing points for artillery and ambushing TDs.
The main feature of the port is a huge bunker with a system of tunnels that are completely shielded from artillery fire. They will be an excellent shelter for heavy tanks, as well as a place for them to engage without being exposed to SPGs.
We’ll tell you more about Safe Haven and its gameplay features in a dedicated article shortly before its release, so stay tuned!
Improve Your Skills in Topography!
The most experienced commanders may sometimes find themselves returning to the Garage too soon because they've chosen the wrong direction or flank, even on the most familiar maps. And for those who have recently joined our tank community and don’t know where the key positions and shelters are in different locales, this can be even more frustrating. To help newcomers navigate maps in World of Tanks, we're introducing a new training mode—Topography.
In this single-player mode, you’ll be able to master the basics of playing on maps of different difficulty levels. The training will take place in a single mission format. First, you need to choose a map and one of four scenarios on it. The scenarios differ according to the base where you start the mission, as well as the vehicle type: armored or maneuverable.
Entering the battle, you’ll find yourself on the selected map with the objective of destroying AI-controlled opponents. To do this, you will need to move in different directions and travel to firing positions. A map is considered explored if you complete all 4 scenarios on it.
Completing all missions and exploring all maps will significantly improve your skills and prolong your time in battles. We'll tell you more about Topography in a dedicated article coming soon!
Ruinberg Map Rebalancing
Balance changes for the Ruinberg map have been added to the Common Test. The purpose of these changes is to fix the imbalance between the teams that is presently in favor of the lower base.
In the current version of the game, the team at the lower base has a significant advantage in taking control and holding positions in the suburban area in the eastern part of the map. This allows seizing the initiative in battle and significantly increasing the chance of winning it. The area is captured through the effective use of a convenient position in the central part of the map, which allows firing at enemy vehicles in the suburban area while staying relatively safe. Also, the arrangement of structures in the suburban area allows the lower base team to extend their advantage and control the battle both in the open part of the map and in the area of the city’s central crossroad and square.
The following changes are coming to the Update 1.14 Common Test:
- The arrangement of structures in the suburban area has been changed to make this area equally convenient for both teams
- The convenient position for the lower base in the central urban area has been changed
- The firing positions in the southeastern part of the map will become more dangerous for supporting allies in the suburban area as the chance of being spotted will be increased
Other Map Changes
During the Common Test, we want to test fixes for incorrect vehicle behavior on slopes and large objects such as stone blockages. On these surfaces, tanks can slide and roll down as if they were on ice.
We have a solution to fix this issue, but changing the required mechanics may lead to situations where vehicles can gain access to non-playable zones on the maps and cause gameplay issues. Our task is to identify as many of these situations as possible and assess the likelihood of fixing them before Update 1.14 hits live servers —or, if there are too many fixes, to migrate those improvements to the next version.
Your help with fixing this issue will be invaluable, so please let us know of any new surfaces where you experience this phenomenon, or non-playable zones on maps that have now become noticeably more accessible with the release of Common Test 1.
Interface Improvements
We're also adding a handy improvement to the Research Screen, module auto selling. Now, when purchasing a new module, you can check the box to sell the old one. You can even get more credits by selling the old module!
Plus, we’re introducing visual module dependency. If the cursor is hovering over any unmounted module that requires the installation of another module, such as a turret needing a certain chassis, the module is highlighted.
Changes to Personal Missions for Artillery
In Update 1.14, we'll simplify some Personal Missions for artillery. When reworking missions, we focused on more challenging tasks because they greatly affect your overall progress in Personal Missions. Less complex missions such as SPG-2.1, 2.2, SPG-4.1, 4.2 etc. do not require updating, because they are already achievable and easy to complete.
We tried to rework the missions for a certain amount of stun and damage, because these are the parameters that were changed in Update 1.13. The rest of the missions, in our opinion, do not require updating. The missions' changes, in numerical terms, are not so significant, because SPGs can still effectively stun enemy vehicles with the first shell and deal damage with the second one.
All these changes will not be included in Common Test 1, but will be available with the start of Common Test 2.
Check the reworked conditions out:
- The Long-Awaited Backup campaign:
SPG |
Operation: StuG IV | Operation: Т28 Сoncept | Operation: T55A | Operation: Object 260 |
SPG-2: Time Is Money (Stun) |
Stun enemy vehicles for 50 seconds in total. |
Stun enemy vehicles for 100 seconds in total. |
Stun enemy vehicles for 120 seconds in total (140 seconds before Update 1.14). |
Stun enemy vehicles for 160 seconds in total (180 seconds before Update 1.14). |
SPG-4: I'll See You Through (Stun) |
Stun an enemy heavy tank or tank destroyer for 30 seconds in total. |
Stun an enemy heavy tank or tank destroyer for 50 seconds in total. |
Stun an enemy heavy tank or tank destroyer for 70 seconds in total (80 seconds before Update 1.14). |
Stun an enemy heavy tank or tank destroyer for 100 seconds in total (120 seconds before Update 1.14). |
SPG-9: Collateral Damage (Critical Hits) |
Damage or destroy modules or injure crew members, totaling at least 3 modules or crew members. |
Damage or destroy modules or injure crew members, totaling at least 5 modules or crew members. |
Damage or destroy modules or injure crew members, totaling at least 7 modules or crew members (8 before Update 1.14). |
Damage or destroy modules or injure crew members, totaling at least 8 modules or crew members (10 before Update 1.14). |
SPG-10: All Included (Complex Condition) |
Cause, or assist in causing 1,000 HP of damage by stunning or immobilizing. |
Cause, or assist in causing 2,000 HP of damage by stunning or immobilizing. |
Cause, or assist in causing 2,700 HP of damage by stunning or immobilizing (3,000 HP of damage before Update 1.14). |
Cause, or assist in causing 3,600 HP of damage by stunning or immobilizing (4,000 HP of damage before Update 1.14). |
SPG-12: The Evil Eye (Stun) |
Stun enemy vehicles for 50 seconds in total. |
Stun enemy vehicles for 100 seconds in total. |
Stun enemy vehicles for 120 seconds in total (140 seconds before Update 1.14). |
Stun enemy vehicles for 160 seconds in total (180 seconds before Update 1.14). |
SPG-14: One of Us! (Stun) |
Stun enemy vehicles for 70 seconds in total. |
Stun enemy vehicles for 100 seconds in total. |
Stun enemy vehicles for 140 seconds in total (160 seconds before Update 1.14). |
Stun enemy vehicles for 180 seconds in total (200 seconds before Update 1.14). |
SPG-15: War Gods (Top Player, Assisted Damage, Damage) |
Be among the top 5 players on your team by experience earned. Enable your allies to cause 1,000 HP of damage to enemy vehicles by stunning or immobilizing them. Cause 1,000 HP of damage to enemy vehicles. |
Be among the top 3 players on your team by experience earned. Enable your allies to cause 1,500 HP of damage to enemy vehicles by stunning or immobilizing them. Cause 1,500 HP of damage to enemy vehicles. |
Finish the battle as the top player on your team by experience earned. Enable your allies to cause 2,100 HP of damage to enemy vehicles by stunning or immobilizing them (2,300 HP of damage before Update 1.14). Cause 2,700 HP of damage to enemy vehicles (3,000 HP of damage before Update 1.14). |
Be the top player in the battle by experience earned. Enable your allies to cause 2,900 HP of damage to enemy vehicles by stunning or immobilizing them (3,200 HP of damage before Update 1.14). Cause 3,700 HP of damage to enemy vehicles (4,000 HP of damage before Update 1.14). |
- The Second Front campaign:
- Operation: Excalibur
- Operation: Chimera
- Operation: Object 279 (e)
Mission | Coalition-2. Knock Their Stuffing Out |
Primary condition | Damage or destroy enemy internal modules or crew members, totaling at least 36 modules or crew members (40 before Update 1.14). |
Secondary condition | Stun 2 enemy vehicles with one shot. |
Mission | Alliance-6. Vertigo |
Primary condition | Stun enemy vehicles for 120 seconds in total (140 seconds before Update 1.14). |
Allies must destroy 2 enemy vehicles stunned or immobilized by you. | |
Mission | Union-12. Are Your Ears Ringing? |
Primary condition | Stun enemy vehicles for 140 seconds in total (160 seconds before Update 1.14). |
Secondary condition | Destroy 3 enemy vehicles. |
Mission | Alliance-14. Knock-Knock |
Primary condition | Stun enemy vehicles for 140 seconds in total (160 seconds before Update 1.14). |
Allies must cause 800 HP of damage to the vehicle immobilized by you. |
Mission | Coalition-4. A Crushing Blow |
Primary condition | Damage or destroy enemy internal modules or crew members, totaling at least 25 modules or crew members (30 before Update 1.14). |
Secondary condition | Damage or destroy enemy internal modules or crew members, totaling at least 30 modules or crew members (35 before Update 1.14). |
Mission | Alliance-8. Simple Geometry |
Primary condition | Damage or destroy enemy internal modules or crew members, totaling at least 25 modules or crew members (30 before Update 1.14). |
Secondary condition | Damage or destroy enemy internal modules or crew members, totaling at least 30 modules or crew members (35 before Update 1.14). |
Mission | Alliance-9. Seeing Stars |
Primary condition | Stun enemy vehicles for 1,300 seconds in total (1,500 seconds before Update 1.14). |
Secondary condition | Stun enemy vehicles for 1,500 seconds in total (1,800 seconds before Update 1.14). |
Frontline Is Back!
Epic battles in this 30v30 format are returning to the game, Commanders! There will be four Stages of Frontline in 2021, with the first one kicking off in August. Frontline’s core gameplay remains unchanged, but we’ve made some adjustments to this mode to make it more enjoyable. You may even be able to unlock Tier IX tanks to replace your Tier VIIIs during the course of the battle! Learn more details in our dedicated article.
Now’s the time to try out all these new features, Commanders! Join the Common Test and share your impressions!
- HOW THE CT WORKS
- TEST CLIENT
New to testing? Check out our handy guide to public tests.
Eligibility: The cut-off was made on July 4, so all players registered prior to 22:59 CEST on July 3 can participate in the test.
Feedback: Please post your bug reports and general feedback on the test version in the special thread on our forum.
In order to participate in the test using the Wargaming.net Game Center, use this link.
- The Wargaming.net Game Center will download all the additional data
- Start playing
Patch Notes
ExpandMaps Training
New Mode
- A new training mode has been added: Topography.
- This is a single-player training mode that allows you to learn basic tactics for Standard Battles on 15 maps.
New Branch of Czechoslovakian Heavy Tanks
- Four Czechoslovakian heavy tanks (from Tier VII to Tier X) have been added to the game.
- The main feature of these vehicles is the choice of two top guns (starting from Tier VIII). The first gun fires in classic (cyclic) mode, while the second features a two-shell autoloader.
- Both guns for each of the three vehicles are equal in battle performance allowing players to choose the gun that best suits their personal playstyle without losing firepower.
New Frontline Season
- From August through November, 4 Frontline stages will take place.
- Players will be able to use Tier IX vehicles, provided certain conditions in battle are met.
- The Combat Reserves system has been reworked, and 3 new Reserves have been added.
- Players will be able to earn Battle Pass Points.
- Balance changes have been made to strengthen the positions of the attacking team. Access routes to large-caliber guns (at the final stage of the offensive) have been improved.
Interface
- Some improvements to the Tech Tree have been made. An option that allows the automatic selling of old modules when purchasing new ones has been added. Also, visual module dependency (eg, for turrets and suspension) has been introduced.
Bootcamp
- The window for selecting a nation has been improved: All nations in the game are now displayed, but, as before, you can choose a vehicle only from 3 of them.
- Some visual changes have been made.
- Auxiliary windows in the guide have been updated.
Maps
- A new 1000x1000m summer map has been added for Random Battles: Safe Haven. The map is set in 1960s Japan and is based on a demilitarized civilian port.
- Changes were made to the Ruinberg map to fix the imbalance: The team at the lower base now has a significant advantage in taking control and holding positions in the suburban area in the eastern part of the map.
Improved Movement Physics
We have changed the behavior of vehicles when interacting with stationary features on maps, like rocks, debris, ruins, slopes, etc. Now, vehicles don't slide over such objects and behave the same way as they would on normal terrain.
Changes to Technical Characteristics of the Following Vehicles
Germany
Added the following vehicle for testing by Supertest players:
VK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L / 28
Changes to technical characteristics:
- M48A2 Räumpanzer
- Changed the gun dispersion from 0.42 to 0.4 m
- Changed the reload time from 7.6 to 7.0 s
- Changed the aiming time from 1.9 to 1.7 s
- Changed the vehicle durability from 1,450 to 1,500 HP
China
Changes to technical characteristics:
- WZ-111 Alpine Tiger
- Changed the penetration value of the Chuan bei-471 shell from 186 to 196 mm
- WZ-111
- Changed the penetration value of the Chuan bei-471 shell from 186 to 196 mm
- T-34-3
- Changed the penetration value of the Chuan bei-471 shell from 186 to 196 mm
- 112 and 112 FL
- Changed the penetration value of the Chuan bei-471 shell from 186 to 196 mm
- 59-Patton
- Changed the engine power from 520 to 620 hp
- Changed the gun dispersion on turret traverse (the 59-Patton turret) by 17%
- Changed the aiming time from 2.3 to 1.9 s
USSR
Changes to technical characteristics:
- KV-5
- Changed the penetration value of the UBR-420 shell from 186 to 196 mm
- IS-6, IS-6 B, IS-6 FL
- Changed the penetration value of the UBR-471 shell from 186 to 196 mm
USA
Added the following vehicle for testing by Supertest players:
ASTRON Rex 105 mm
Changes to technical characteristics:
- T34, T34 B, T34 FL
- Decreased the gun dispersion during movement by 11%
- Decreased the gun dispersion on hull traverse by 11%
- Changed the hull traverse speed from 22 to 26 deg / s
- Decreased the gun dispersion on turret traverse by 27%
- Changed the turret traverse speed from 18 to 24 deg / s
- Changed the engine power from 810 to 930 hp
- M46 Patton KR
- Changed the reload time from 8.1 to 7.4 s
- Changed the aiming time from 2.5 to 2.2 s.
- T95E2
- Changed the aiming time from 2.3 to 2 s
- Changed the penetration value of the AP M318 shell from 181 to 190 mm
France
Changes to technical characteristics:
- AMX Chasseur de chars
- Decreased the gun dispersion during movement by 20%
- Decreased the gun dispersion on hull traverse by 20%
- Decreased the gun dispersion on turret traverse by 38%
- Changed the aiming time from 2.2 to 1.8 s
- Changed the reverse speed from 20 to 23 km / h
Czechoslovakia
Added four new researchable heavy tanks to the Czechoslovakia line - from Tier VII to X. The highlight of these vehicles is the choice between two guns of different types (starting from Tier VIII). One gun is classic, with a cyclic firing method, while the second has a two-round loading mechanism. Both guns for each of the three vehicles are configured as equally effective, allowing you to choose the most convenient type of fire without losing firepower.
- Vz. 55 (Tier X)
- TNH T Vz. 51 (Tier IX)
- TNH 105/1000 (Tier VIII)
- Vz. 44-1 (Tier VII)
The new branch will start from the Škoda T 25.