WoT: Update 1.28.1 Common Test

The Update 1.28.1 Common Test has begun! You can play on reworked maps, try out vehicles from the four rebalanced tank destroyer branches leading to the T110E4, the Object 268, the Jagdpanzer E 100 (up to the Jagdtiger), and the Ho-Ri 3, experience the brand-new Neon Dash mode, and more.

Changes to Maps

We continue to improve game locations so your experience becomes even more engaging and diverse. The Ensk map has been expanded (for high-tier battles), Airfield has been thoroughly reworked, and Paris and Mines have received mid-sized changes and minor tweaks, respectively.

Ensk

This location is known to players as a compact 600×600 meter map. This is part of its charm but nevertheless caused certain problems in higher-tier battles. Issues included teams spotting each other too early, ambush and fast vehicles not having a due chance to shine, etc.

Because of that, the decision has been made to create an expanded version of Ensk—for battles in which the top vehicle tier is VIII or above. (A Tier VI or VII vehicle will hit the larger version of the map if Tier VIII or IX participate in the battle.)

The high-tier version of Ensk is called Ensk Region. It is a 1,000×1,000 meter map with the teams’ starting locations spread farther apart.

• A whole new direction has been added to the green area, featuring such key points as a hill giving a lot of control options, and an island on the river—a high-risk-high-reward spot, good for stealthy vehicles.
• There are fewer trains in the station in the center of Ensk Region, so you can switch flanks in this zone.
• The zone for heavily armored vehicles offers more positions, and the distance of engagement has been increased.
• The new areas behind the teams’ starting locations create more opportunities for defending and flanking.

Paris

The green area has been reworked, with more positions and opportunities for all vehicle types, and new approaches and cover near the colonnade.

Mines

Now it is harder for the southern team to fire at the central hill from the island in the southwest, and there’s a new “window” to the water direction near the center from the northern team’s side.

Vehicle Rebalancing

We keep tracking battle statistics and fine-tuning the vehicle balance, thoroughly and steadily reviewing entire branches. Traditionally, parameters have been adjusted for both under- and overperformers. The number of modules has been decreased, module upgrade paths have been streamlined, and stock configurations have been enhanced for many of the reviewed vehicles in the branches affected.

This time, changes have been made to four TD branches.

• XT110E4  branch (Tiers VI–X): Reverse speed, stabilization, aiming time, and maneuverability improved.
• XObject 268  branch (Tiers II–X): Gun dispersion, aiming time, mobility, and (for Tier X) maximum gun depression improved.
• Jagdpanzer E 100 branch up to the  IXJagdtiger  (Tiers IV–IX, with Tier X unaffected): Gun dispersion, aiming time, mobility, and maneuverability improved (depending on the vehicle).
• XHo-Ri 3  branch (Tiers V–X): Top reverse speed, gun dispersion, and view range slightly worsened (for Tiers IX and X; but not enough to alter the vehicles’ playstyle).

Head to the Common Test Patch Notes to find the changes for all rebalanced vehicles.

Arcade Cabinet: Neon Dash Mode

Neon Dash is a brand-new Arcade Cabinet fun mode: a race for vehicles of any tier through a futuristic course filled with stationary and moving obstacles. There can be up to 30 contestants—and only one winner.

In Neon Dash, every gun shoots impulses instead of shells. The impulses cannot damage opponents but they can slow them down or even throw them off the track. There are also such abilities as Shield (protecting your ride from impulses) and Dash (self-explanatory), unlimited respawns at the last checkpoint reached, and emergency teleports to these checkpoints.

Besides pure fun with no earnings but no expenses, Neon Dash offers special missions and a mode Progression that can be completed twice—as there will be two launches.

Commendation System

The brand-new Commendation system is a way to give a thumbs-up to a teammate—for a heroic feat, a funny moment, nice behavior, or anything in between. Team members who distinguished themselves (by damage, assisted damage, or damage blocked) will be marked on the Tab screen with live tags.

• You can commend teammates in battle via the team panels (by pressing Ctrl first and then right-clicking the player you want to commend), or in the team list (by pressing Tab).
• If a player commends you, you will be informed by a notification to the bottom left of the crosshair, and prompted to commend them back (by hitting Tab). You can disable these notifications in the game settings.
• A summary of commendations given to you (if any) will be shown on the post-battle screen.

Onslaught

The Onslaught mode returns with the third and final season of the Year of the Manticore, Season of the Jade Manticore. Once it ends, the players will be able to pick up annual rewards topped by the Stinger tank that shares its stats with the T57 Heavy Tank but has a unique exterior.

• The map roster will be expanded with Steppes and Safe Haven, and the Airfield map will be removed
• Several maps (Studzianki, Mines, Tundra, and Live Oaks) have undergone adjustments
• Role Skills will be modified, with Bounty Hunter and Clean Shot buffed, and Sleight of Hand, Second Wind, and Recon Flight nerfed

Frontline

Frontline is coming back with its 30v30 battles on majestic maps, keeping its dynamic battle scenarios.

WoT Plus

One of the WoT Plus benefits—the Equipment Assistant—will be called simply Assistant from now on as it will also provide data-based recommendations on crew perks.

Join the Common Test and let us know what you think about the new features, Commanders!