Features of Update 1.5: Join the Common Test

Today, we're launching the first Common Test for Update 1.5, which will bring Swedish medium tanks with a unique gameplay feature: air suspension. During the Common Test, you also have the opportunity to check out a new Premium Account concept and Excluded Maps, one of the most commonly requested features. Finally, get ready to experience battles with rebalanced SPGs and Swedish heavy tanks. Read on for a detailed overview for each feature!

Swedish Medium Tanks

It wasn’t that long ago that French wheeled vehicles arrived, but we’re already ready to show off something new. Along with Update 1.5, three new formidable vehicles will join our game, high-tier Swedish medium tanks. We already have Swedish medium machines in World of Tanks, but only up to Tier VII. Now we're adding a kind of Swedish "sub-branch" for Tiers VIII, IX, and X. Researching the new branch will start at Tier VII with the Leo.

Starting from Tier VIII, the Swedish mediums all have a unique gameplay feature, air suspension. They will be able to adjust their clearance level and change their hull inclination angle, giving themselves better gun depression angles. It's turned on automatically as soon as the speed drops lower than 10 km/h. If you start accelerating, and are going faster than 19 km/h, the vehicle turns it off and the hull levels out.

The suspension for the new tanks is similar to that of the Swedish TDs, but doesn't give them any other advantages apart from additional hull inclination. Learn more about the new Swedish mediums and their unique gameplay in the dedicated article.     

Swedish Heavy Tanks Rebalance

Previously we outlined that in 2019 we’re going to improve some vehicles with poor efficiency, as well as to overhaul some overpowered tanks. So, with the new branch of Swedish medium tanks coming, we’ll also take a look at some of the nation’s other vehicles – in particular, those in the heavy branch.

Now we’re ready to revise characteristics of the following tanks:

• Emil I (Tier VIII)
• Emil II (Tier IX)
• Kranvagn (Tier X)

All of these tanks currently have a four-shell autoloader, and this is the feature we want to tweak. We plan to re-equip them with three-shell autoloaders, so all these vehicles will reload faster and have higher alpha damage. As a result, their DPM will increase too. So you will have to spend less time reloading and engage your adversaries more often. Together with other adjustments this will bolster the Kranvagn’s damage per minute by more than 20%.

VIII Emil I

Damage per minute

1,964 HP/min (▲ 178 HP/min)

Shells in the magazine

3 items (▼ 1 item)

Damage per shot

360 HP (▲ 40 HP)

Magazine reload time

27 s (▼ 7 s)

Ammunition

57 items (▲ 5 items)

Engine Power

380 h.p. (▼ 50 h.p.)

Traverse Speed

28 deg/s (▼ 2 deg/s)

Gun dispersion during movement and on hull traverse

0.26 (▲ 0.01)

The vehicle has received a revised magazine: higher damage per shot and a faster reload time within the magazine. It will make the Emil I's gameplay stand out among other autoloader vehicles. Its core gameplay is close-range combat with regular magazine reloading. The vehicle's ammo rack capacity has also been increased. The new "faster" magazine loses one shell and is balanced with the altered aiming time, gun stabilization, and slightly decreased maneuverability.

IXEmil II

Damage per minute

2,555 HP/min (▲ 635 HP/min)

Shells in the magazine

3 items (▼ 1 item)

Damage per shot

440 HP (▲ 40 HP)

Reload time within the magazine

3 s (▼ 0.33 s)

Magazine reload time

25 s (▼ 15 s)

Ammunition

48 items (▲ 8 items)

Engine Power

550 h.p. (▲ 30 h.p.)

The Emil II has received improvements for its gun parameters that are consistent with its predecessor: increased damage per shot, decreased reload time, minus one shell in the magazine, and increased ammo rack capacity. In addition to the improved firepower, the vehicle also received increased specific power, which ensures improved movement characteristics.

X Kranvagn

Damage per minute

2,933 HP/min (▲ 648 HP/min)

Shells in the magazine

3 items (▼ 1 item)

Damage per shot

440 HP (▲ 40 HP)

Reload time within the magazine

2.75 s (▼ 0.25 s)

Magazine reload time

21.5 s (▼ 11.5 s)

Ammunition

48 items (▲ 8 items)

Engine Power

810 h.p. (▲ 110 h.p.)

Turret traverse speed

28 deg/s (▲ 3 deg/s)

The Kranvagn, as the top vehicle of the Tech Tree, will become the pinnacle of the revised branch: the short reload time of the three-shell magazine, 440 HP of damage per shot, and the decreased aiming time will significantly improve the vehicle's combat performance. DPM is almost 3,000 HP! The movement characteristics and the turret traverse speed of the vehicle will also be improved. This should make the vehicle's gameplay more enjoyable.

   

VIII

Emil I

IX

Emil II

X

Kranvagn

The technical characteristics of the vehicles are specified for the top module configuration.

Excluded Maps

We're also very pleased to announce that we're ready to introduce one of the most commonly requested features, Excluded Maps. Now you'll be able to block one map of your choice and avoid it in the matchmaking queue. The feature will only be available for Standard Battles, and not for Assault or Encounter Battles. Also Excluded Maps will only work when playing Tier IV vehicles or higher and will be disabled for all Grand Battles maps (Klondike, Nebelburg, and Hinterland).

WoT Premium Account

We're going to present a separate WoT Premium Account, exclusively for World of Tanks players, in Update 1.5. Regular Premium Account will remain exactly the same as it is for the entire Wargaming trilogy (World of Tanks, World of Warships, and World of Warplanes). But a separate WoT Premium Account will provide you additional features and bonuses, including one additional slot, meaning you can block 2 Random Battles maps instead of one.

Find out more information regarding WoT Premium Account in the dedicated article.

SPG Rebalance

For the first time since 2017, we decided to revise the basic parameters of artillery, a truly unique vehicle class in World of Tanks. We're planning to reduce:

1. The minimum stun time
2. The duration of the stun from all artillery hits on already stunned vehicles
3. The stun time when an SPG shell hits a vehicle, which is already under the effect of a stun, if this machine is equipped with a Spall Liner
4. The amount of damage at the edge of the splash

We're also planning to rework the performance characteristics of individual SPGs in order to finetune their effectiveness after the announced changes take effect.

All of the changes above are a bit complex for a short simple overview, so read about the upcoming SPG rebalance in a dedicated article for a more detailed clarification.   

Ranked Battles

The new Season of Ranked Battles is getting closer, Commanders! It kicks off after the release of Update 1.5, but you already have the opportunity to experience it during the first Common Test.

With the new Season, some mechanics of Ranked Battles will change, but we’ll talk about them in detail a bit later on in a dedicated publication.

Please note: The settings and specific values of Ranked Battles that are relevant for the Common Test may change after the official start.

And now get out there and test all these features, Commanders! We can't wait to see your feedback!

Tanks for Bonds

With the release of Update 1.5, we're adding the ability to purchase tanks for Bonds. During the Common Test, you can see how this feature works on a trial basis. In the Premium Shop, in the “Items for Bonds” section, you will find the “Vehicles” tab where the first tank available for Bonds is located: the T2 Light Tank. Its price during the Common Test is only ... 1 Bond!

Tanks Rebalance

Very soon, modified versions of the Type 4 Heavy, the Type 5 Heavy, and the FV4005—will roll out onto the Common Test. The changes being introduced are significant so let’s take a closer look at each vehicle.