Preferential Matchmaking Vehicles in Update 1.2

~ Veroxx

In May we have shared our plans for preferential matchmaking and later detailed an update in July, detailing our plans on how we aim to improve the vehicles themselves and the current issues we have with the matchmaker itself.

Of course, it’s still a very important topic to you, so we are happy to share a more advanced version of our improvements to the preferential matchmaking tanks. These improvements will make them much more competitive in both Tier VIII and IX battles. As the team’s been hard at work finishing the first stage, we’re ready to share the results. So, let’s start off with a brief overview of what’s happened to these special Premium tanks.

VIII  KV-5

Aiming time
2.3 s (▼ 0.6 s)
Dispersion
0.4 m (▼ 0.02 m)
Reverse speed
14 km/h (▲ 3 km/h)
Penetration for a standard shell
186 mm (▲ 19 mm)
Improved frontal and rear armoring (wall of the engine transmission compartment)
The KV-5’s key characteristics will be improved: firepower and survivability. The new value for a standard shell will increase combat effectiveness against Tier VIII and even IX enemy vehicles when aiming for the weak spot in their armor. Improved aiming time will reduce the time required for making an accurate shot, which will increase the firepower and indirectly improve the vehicle’s survivability. Improved armoring for the once vulnerable spots will increase its combat performance when opposing same-tier enemy vehicles.

VIII  IS-6

Aiming Time
2.8 s (▼ 0.6 s)
Ammo rack capacity
37 shells (▲ 7 shells)
Dispersion
0.44 m (▼ 0.02 m)
Penetration for a standard shell
186 mm (▲ 11 mm)
Penetration for an APCR shell
225 mm (▲ 8 mm)
Improved frontal armoring
The IS-6 will enforce its role as a first-line fighter: the increased penetration value of this quick-firing vehicle (for both standard and Premium shells) will be sufficient for causing damage in close-range combat. Improved accuracy and aiming time will make gameplay more pleasant. Improved armoring will emphasize the vehicle’s role of a close-range fighter.

VIII  FCM 50 T

Reload time
6.8 s (▼ 0.7 s)
Power-weight ratio
23 hp/t (▲ 4.6 hp/t)
The vehicle’s engine was replaced with a new one:
1,250 hp (▲ 250 hp)
Gun depression angle
-10° (▲ 2°)
The FCM 50t’s DPM and mobility will be increased; at the same time, the gun depression angle will be improved. Increased firepower will make the vehicle more suitable for the current playing conditions in Random Battles; at the same time, increased mobility and an improved gun depression angle positively affect its survivability and combat performance.

VIII  112

Penetration for a standard shell
186 mm (▲ 11 mm)
Shell velocity for a HEAT shell
720 m/s (▲ 80 m/s)
Reload time
12.6 s (▼ 0.6 s)
Dispersion
0.44 m (▼ 0.02 m)
Aiming Time
3 s (▼ 0.4 s)
Changes to the 112 will increase the vehicle’s performance if used as intended: of the two Premium Chinese vehicles, this one better suits the role of a close-range fighter. For this, the shell penetration, gun handling parameters, velocity of Premium shells, and rate of fire will be improved. At the same time, the vehicle will be less effective in long-range combat, but better suited for face-to-face encounters when one can take maximum advantage of the strong turret armor.

VIII  WZ-111

Penetration for a standard shell
186 mm (▲ 11 mm)
Shell velocity for a HEAT shell
720 m/s (▲ 80 m/s)
Dispersion
0.42 m (▼ 0.02 m)
Aiming Time
2.8 s (▼ 0.2 s)
The WZ-111 and its Alpine twin will receive improvements that are similar to those of the 112: improved penetration value, faster Premium shells, and shorter aiming time. However, the improvement of accuracy and aiming time will be bigger to emphasize the difference in gameplay: The WZ-111 and Alpine Tiger will feel more comfortable when shooting long range.

VIII  M6A2E1

Penetration for a standard shell
204 mm (▲ 6 mm)
Dispersion on turret traverse
0.16 m (▼ 0.02 m)
Traverse Speed
28° (▲ 4°)
Dispersion
0.4 m (▼ 0.02 m)
Aiming Time
2.1 s (▼ 0.19 s)
Reverse speed
14 km/h (▲ 4 km/h)
Vehicle durability
1,550 HP (▲ 50 HP)
Improved frontal armoring
The М6А2Е1 will receive overall improved technical characteristics: slightly better penetration, slightly better aiming time, slightly improved armoring, and additional HP. This complex improvement will positively affect gameplay comfort and combat performance, emphasising the pros and reducing the cons.

VIII  T-34-3

Gun depression angle in the front
-6.5° (▲ 1.5°)
Gun depression angle in the rear
-4.5° (▲ 0.5°)
Penetration for a standard shell
186 mm (▲ 11 mm)
Shell velocity for a HEAT shell
720 m/s (▲ 80 m/s)
Dispersion
0.44 m (▼ 0.02 m)
Gun dispersion during movement and on hull traverse
0.16 m (▼ 0.02 m)
In addition to the overall improved technical characteristics (penetration, aiming parameters, stabilization, and shell velocity), the T-34-3 will receive a long awaited improvement for its gun depression angle, both in the front and rear. The vehicle will be more effective and versatile; its gameplay will become more diverse on maps featuring irregular terrain.

VIII  TYPE 59

The vehicle’s engine was replaced with a new one:
650 hp (▲ 130 hp)
Power-weight ratio
18.1 hp/t (▲ 3.7 hp/t)
Aiming time
2 s (▼ 0.3 s)
Reload time
8.4 s (▼ 0.3 s)
Dispersion on turret traverse
0.1 m (▼ 0.02 m)
Penetration for a standard shell
185 mm (▲ 4 mm)
Improved frontal armoring
THe combat performance of this legendary vehicle will match its status. The Type 59 will be able to fully participate in battle and influence its outcome. Complex improvements to the fire power, aiming parameters, and armoring make the Type 59 suitable for the current situation in Random Battles.

VIII  T26E4 SUPERPERSHING

Engine Power
610 hp (▲ 110 hp)
Power-weight ratio
12.1 hp/t (▲ 2.2 hp/t)
Reload time
8.0 s (▼ 0.2 s)
Penetration for a standard shell
202 mm (▲ 10 mm)
Gun dispersion during movement and on hull traverse
0.22 m (▼ 0.02 m)
Dispersion on turret traverse
0.12 m (▼ 0.04 m)
Improved frontal armoring
The Super Pershing will be able to perform the role of a fire support vehicle, having received decent armoring. A handful of technical characteristics have been improved: firepower and aiming parameters will be considerably improved, while mobility will be improved a little. The frontal turret armor will be stronger, the armor of vulnerable spots will be improved, and balancers for the gun will be added to the collision model as a screen.

VIII  8,8 CM PAK 43 JAGDTIGER

The gun and AP shells were replaced with new ones.
Penetration for a standard shell
212 mm (▲ 9 mm)
Vehicle durability
1,500 HP (▲ 200 HP)
Reverse speed
16 km/h (▲ 4 km/h)
Aiming time
1.8 s (▼ 0.2 s)
Traverse Speed
32 deg/s (▲ 6 deg/s)
Reload time
5.1 s (▼ 0.3 s)
Thanks to the revamped technical characteristics, the Jagdtiger 8,8 will survive for longer in battle and be able to cause more damage. The increased penetration and rate of fire will allow this TD to perform its main role: causing damage. At the same time, complex changes to mobility will allow for escaping enemy fire and fighting for survival in close-range combat.

If you missed out last time, here’s a brief overview of the current situation.

The Situation

  • Problem: Tanks with preferential status are likely to get matched into dual or single-tier battles, where their status combined with combat parameters does more harm than good. In certain battles, they can’t compete with Tier IX and feel inferior against regular Tier VIII tanks.
  • Goal: Improve the experience for preferential tanks while keeping the preferential matchmaking parameter and their unique characteristics intact.
  • Solution: All-around vehicle rebalances on a tank-by-tank basis to improve their statistics combined with matchmaker rule revision. The latter is aimed at reducing instances of getting matched at the same position (top/middle/bottom) on the list for several battles in a row by fixing the current template distribution. Tanks that have the same base model, such as the WZ-111 and the WZ-111 Alpine Tiger, will get the same improvements.

As a side note, regular Tier VIII vehicles face a similar issue with matchmaking, amplified by the fact that they also compete against Tier X tanks. The underlying problem for these vehicles is too many battles versus Tier X. The matchmaker rules revision is designed to better the experience for them, too.

The First Stage—What Has Been Done

First, we will detail the steps we have already taken We started with making characteristic and statistical changes to ten preferential matchmaking tanks we currently have in-game to make them more competitive in same and +1 tier battles, without making them perform better than non-preferential tanks as they will see +2 tier battles.

All of this was done on the Supertest and that we believe we have gotten the desired result. Now, these special Premium vehicles are much closer to non-preferential matchmaking ones, in terms of combat effectiveness.

For example: The IS-6 has received buffs but will not eclipse the IS-3 as the IS-6 only sees up to Tier IX, but the IS-3 must be competitive against Tier X tanks.

The Iterations

The following changes were on available on the Supertest.

  • First iteration: Level the preferential matchmaking tanks with each other
  • Second iteration: Choose the parameters for improving the vehicle’s characteristics on a case-by-case basis
  • Third iteration: Polishing these changes

Using statistics, it’s easy to see the big things that need changing. However, we also wanted to make minor changes and this is where your feedback is vital as certain things cannot be monitored so well with stats. For example, a request to improve the number of shells the IS-6 carries doesn’t affect its combat effectiveness but will affect gameplay and how players feel while commanding the tank.

The work has been completed for this step but we will continue to monitor the stats and feedback so if we see a need to make more changes they will be made and also delve into working with Tier VII and other preferential matchmaking tanks at a later time. Now onto the more pressing issue for these vehicles, the matchmaker.

Next Steps

After the release of 9.18, the new matchmaker was introduced (with the 3-5-7 format). The problem is that this system is not efficient for preferential matchmaking vehicles, after all, they aren’t as effective against their own tier and the tier higher. So, what can we do about this?

Our initial plan is to look at ways of changing the matchmaker and the control of distribution between all 6 template possibilities. The main issue is that we cannot improve the current system without a full rework of the architecture and this is planned for the future.

We are actively disassembling the current matchmaker, making important changes and then adding them to the new system. It’s a complex adjustment and our team will need time to do this without breaking anything. and we will share any details in the future, along with the current status to that point.

The matchmaker and the changes needed deserve their own articles because of the complexity of the issue. It’s a going to be complicated in comparison to the individual tank changes listed above as it will effectively require delving into the entire architecture of the matchmaker. We understand you want as much information regarding this as you can get so we will release this as soon as we can.

We hope you are pleased with the current and upcoming changes to these tanks and how it will help adjust the game for the better. Now, get out there and test these tanks out, you will be pleasantly surprised!