Everything You Need To Know About Update 9.17

The Supertest 9.17 is now available on the public test servers

Every once in a while, a major update will be just around the corner for World of Tanks, looming in the distance as some major entity that will shake up what players have come to know. These updates bring with them much needed changes and additions to the combat in ways that aren’t always immediately popular, apparent, or understood. Luckily, these updates can be played by users on the public test servers before they’re dropped as part of a process to help Wargaming refine the update. Here’s everything you need to know about update 9.17.

Update 9.17 Overview

World of Tanks’ Update 9.17 is going to bring with it a host of changes that effect several different facets of gameplay. The most notable change will be the addition of an entirely new nation, the Swedes. Some of the Premium tanks will be receiving a few tweaks to their stats while another important change focuses on how overmatch damage works, which will mean less bounced shots when angling properly.

There are some minor changes coming to sound, specifically presets for 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems, sound notifications when locking on, and microphone activation is now listed under the “Sound” tab. Finally, there are some cosmetic updates coming to a few of the minimaps and HD versions of a few tanks.

Swedish Tank Lines

The first Swedish tank line is a hybrid of Light, Medium, and Heavy tanks.
The first Swedish tank line is a hybrid of Light, Medium, and Heavy tanks.

It’s time to get excited because the Swedish tech tree is just around the corner! There hasn’t been a new tech tree since the Czechoslovakian line, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Swedish line changes up the game.

Recently, Wargaming has released a huge amount of information regarding the Swedish lines. There are currently two tank lines available in the Swedish tree, a hybrid line consisting of Light, Medium, and Heavy tanks and a Tank Destroyer line. It’s been said that the hybrid line, specifically the Mediums, will be useful for newer players who are still learning how to improve at World of Tanks.

The second Swedish tank line is, bar the Tier 1, purely Tank Destroyers.
The second Swedish tank line is, bar the Tier 1, purely Tank Destroyers.

The Tank Destroyers in the Swedish tree boast a low profile, fast speeds and powerful weapons, so it’ll be important to keep an eye on these to ensure you don’t get taken by surprise. More importantly, a lot of the Swedish tanks come with a -15 degree gun depression, meaning an increase in ridge peaking and greater use of the hills and valleys. Usual safe places may see an increase in fire as the Swedish tanks roll out, so be aware of the changes to normal battlefield conditions.

Even the Swedish Heavies utilize the impressive gun depression while also boasting well-protected turrets and autoloading guns. To combat this you will need to use mobility to flank and dodge the attacks.

Armor and Angling

It's presently not set in stone as to which tank type will benefit most from the angling and ricochet changes.
It's presently not set in stone as to which tank type will benefit most from the angling and ricochet changes.

Another important change coming to World of Tanks with 9.17 is how armor and ricochets function. Wargaming have changed Overmatch into a single and simpler mechanic that takes into consideration the impact angle and the shell calibre. This change will mean an increase in efficiency of highly-sloped armor. While the places you should be aiming will likely not change, how you aim at them is going to be more important.

As Wargaming puts it, “you’ll be able to bounce high-caliber shells with thin but highly sloped armor if the impact angle is large, and can penetrate well-armored vehicles with shells that aren’t 3x the armor thickness, if they strike the armor at a small impact angle.” This means that players will no longer have to use shells that are three-times as thick as the angled-armor value, so long as shots are being fired from an appropriate angle. You can read more about how ricochets and armor angling used to work by visiting Wargaming's wiki

Premium Vehicle Reworks

Several Premium tanks are receiving buffs to make them more appealing to use.
Several Premium tanks are receiving buffs to make them more appealing to use.

A few of the Premium tanks will be receiving some attention as well, in the form of a few nice buffs.

  • Lowe: increase in durability, increase to gun depression
  • FV4202: Speed increase, profitability increase
  • STA-2: Speed increase, engine replaced
  • M4A1 Revalorise: decrease dispersion on all traverse, aim time improved, engine power increase, gun depression increase
  • Panther mit 8.8 cm L/71: Hull traverse speed increase, engine power increase
  • WZ-111: decrease dispersion on all traverse, aim to improved, engine power increase, increase armor

These changes will increase the appeal of these particular Premium tanks, making their purchase a little more worthwhile.

Cosmetic Updates

Lastly, the cosmetic changes that are coming in Update 9.17 include HD models of tanks and improved minimaps for a few favorite maps. The maps that will be receiving updated minimaps are: Karelia, Pilsen, Sand River, Mountain Pass, Tundra, Windstorm, and Winter Himmelsdorf. There are 11 HD models coming, which ought to improve both playing these tanks and aiming at them. The following tanks are getting HD models:

USSR

  • Tetrarch
  • SU-851
  • SU-761
  • SU-122-44
  • KV-2

German

  • Sfl.IVb
  • VK 28.01
  • Sfl.IVc
  • Emil

French

  • B1

British

  • ConquerorGC

All of these changes are incredibly exciting, especially the addition of the Swedish tech tree. But only time, and the help of thousands of testers, will tell how these changes will affect the overall experience. Be sure to get involved in the Public Test to help Wargaming iron out any kinks in the balances and to help them pick up anything they might have missed. A large group of players playing is able to generate far more data than internal playtests. So get helping! Have you had a chance to play in the Public Test? If so, let us know what you think of it in the comments below!

Sam Chandler is the Australian piece of the AllGamers puzzle. Out of all his gaming-related passions, collecting N64 games, speedrunning, and Souls games rank among the most important. You can reach Sam through Twitter, @SamuelChandler, or through his email, sam.chandler@allgamers.com, at any time of the day or night on either side of the globe.

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