Tank Gawd It's Friday - New Player Tips

We discuss what advice we'd give to new players in World of Tanks.

Welcome to another Tank Gawd It’s Friday. If you’re not familiar with the series, each Friday we like to come up with a question to toss to the community. We answer the question as well, but the ultimate goal is to get a conversation going with the people that visit our site and play World of Tanks.

This week, like most weeks, we’ll be giving out a prize to the person that we feel has the best answer in the comments section of the article. To know whether or not you’re eligible to win a prize, make sure you’ve read through the criteria below.

  • This contest is only open to players in North America
  • The code will only work for PC players
  • Your comment must be on this article, not Facebook or elsewhere
  • We will notify the winner by replying to their comment

This week, the best comment will win the M4 Improved (U.S.A.) with a garage slot to keep it in. You will also win 500 gold, and seven days of premium time. The crew for the M4 Improved will be at 100 percent, and you’ll get a couple of boosters to round it all out. We’ll reach out to the winner by replying to their comment on this article, and then send them the code via Facebook or Twitter DM.

Be sure to visit Tank War Room every Friday at 2 p.m. EST to weigh in on another Tank Gawd It’s Friday and throw your name in the hat to win more prizes.

Question: What tips would you give a new player who’s just starting out in World of Tanks?

Sam Chandler:

We’ve all been there. Launching a game for the first time, wondering how we’re going to go. In World of Tanks it’s much the same as any other: there’s a large community full of knowledge and experience, and it can often be daunting to even dip a toe in. But, if I had to give some tips for new World of Tanks players, it would probably consist of a few different ideas.

Firstly, before you even launch your first battle, look at tanks in the tech trees. While you won’t know what they are, try to find one you like the look of - this will be your goal. This will help keep you focused and prevent aimlessly switching tanks and never really progressing.

Secondly, I’d say to not worry about crews until you reach the higher tiers. As it stands, learning how crews work can be complicated, and training crews is a long process. For a new player, a fully trained crew is often out of reach.

Lastly, a tip I would give a new player is to just sit back and play. Don’t worry about all the strategies you hear about, just get used to the maps and controlling your tank. Maybe read an article or two about the different types of ammunition or what the different terminology means - but don’t get lost trying to keep everything memorized.

World of Tanks is supposed to be fun, and getting bogged down in the technical aspects when you’re first starting can sap some of the fun out of the experience - unless of course the technical aspects is the reason you downloaded the game in the first place! I guess the golden rule is to simply enjoy yourself.

Bill Lavoy:

The song “If I Could Turn Back Time” comes to mind here, and I’m not even what anybody would consider a veteran player. Still, there are a few things I’d do differently.

My first tip is stolen from one of our early supporters, SoSlo, who told me to focus on doing more damage than the total HP of your tank. I’m at Tier 6 now, and I still go into each round with that very same mindset. The concept, and I’m sure he’ll correct me in the comments if I’m wrong, is that you want to deduct the HP of your tank (or more) from the enemy team. If you think about it, each team is made up of a total amount of HP when you add up all the tanks. If every player does more damage than the HP of their tank, you’re going to win. Well, assuming there isn’t a sneaky cap in there somewhere.

Another tip I’d give to new players is to enjoy Tier 1 through Tier 4, but get through them as fast as you can. I didn’t really start to understand the game until Tier 5, and Tier 3 a punishing place for new players to be. Once you’re at a tier where there is a bit more method to the madness, you can begin to focus on some of the major game mechanics and concepts.

Truthfully, there are a lot of tips that new players could benefit from, but I’ll keep my advice to the two points I have above. I will, however, be taking notes on some of the tips from our readers, as I’m still in a position to benefit from them.

Larryn Bell:

I think many players would agree with me when I say that you really don't start to get the hang of World of Tanks until around Tier 5. With that in mind, I'd say look for a Tier 5 or Tier 6 tank that you really want to work toward. Begin the line towards that tank, but take your time as you progress through the tiers. Use your time at the low tiers to really understand each component of your tank. 

Get a feel for how each tank performs and understand the role that each tank type typically plays. Read up on how armor differs across each tank and what you can do to improve your effective armor. This will help you understand where your tank's vulnerabilities are, while also knowing how to position yourself to bounce shots.

Positioning was one of the most challenging things for me to grasp starting out (and still is), because a lot of it comes down to map knowledge and practice. Knowing basic mechanics like how to track your opponents will really come in handy as well, especially when  you find yourself unable to penetrate higher tier tanks in your light tank. Map awareness is also crucial, so be sure you know how to utilize the minimap to maintain awareness and communicate with your team.

Alright, now it's your turn. What tips or advice would you give to new players who are just starting out in World of Tanks? Be sure to comment below this article for a chance to win the M4 Improved World of Tanks bundle.

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