Game Modes
Currently there are 6 battle types active, with 3 being part of the random battle option, and several more in development. You can choose different battle modes by opening the pull-down menu below the red "Battle!" button. Please note that "Special Battle" is not available until 15 minutes before specific events, such as the beginning of a Clan Battle.
Current Game Modes
Random Battles
| The Random Battles battle type selection comprises three different game modes with the the following chances of getting into one of the three types; Standard Battles (60%), Assault (20%) and Encounter Battles (20%). You also have the option in Settings to disable your ability to be matched into Assault and/or Encounter Battles.
Random Battle is selected by default when you click the battle button at the top of the screen, the matchmaking system will put together two teams of 15 randoms players each and randomly select a map to play on. The teams will consist of tanks of various types which are typically within up to 4 vehicle tiers of each other (a few dedicated scout tanks are the exception). Each tank has their role to play, regardless of type or tier. Because every team composition will be different, the key to victory lies in recognizing the team's relative strengths and weaknesses on the specific map against the specific enemy team, and using the advantages you have. Because teams are composed of random players (except those you platoon with), communication and team coordination can be an issue. The team with the better team work typically wins. Random battles earn credits and experience based on how well you perform in battle. See here for details. Losses and Draws are the same as far as earnings while winning adds 50% to the total earnings for experience points and 85% to credits. Note, the cost of repairs goes up as you advance in tiers. On average you can count on losing money some of the time (destroyed tank, battle lost) starting at tier 7 for non premium accounts, or tier 8 for premium accounts. The tier 8 premium tanks will only rarely lose money, even on a non premium account. Once at the higher tiers it is best to keep some lower tier tanks, tier 5 or 6, to earn credits to keep your high tier tanks operational.
Also called the sandbox, new players (tier 1 and 2 tanks) are limited to a certain subset of maps to assist them in familiarizing themselves with World of Tanks.
Any player may form a platoon of up to 3 players. Being part of a platoon allows those players to be placed on the same team when the platoon is placed in a battle. Platoons are identified by a shield with a number icon on the team-list, and your platoon members are highlighted with a different color in game to help you find them in the heat of battle.
Groups of players using an external voice communications program, TeamSpeak, Mumble or the like, can attempt to get in together on the same battle by all hitting battle at the same time. It takes a good sense of timing and familiarity with the matchmaking system to be successful. You will note this usage in battle when you see 3 or 4 platoons from the same clan in the same match. The individuals and platoons joining battle in this manner have an equal chance of being on the same team or the opposing team. |
Standard Battle
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In this game mode there are two bases. You must either eliminate the opposing team or capture their base within 15 minutes to be victorious. Currently this mode has the widest map range available to Random Battles.
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Assault
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In this game mode the one base on the map belongs to the defending team. The attacking team has no base at all and its mission is to either capture the enemy team's base or to destroy their tanks. The battle time limit is reduced to 10 minutes for this game mode. Currently limited to the following maps:
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Encounter Battle
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In this game mode there is one base, under neither teams control at the start, and the teams spawn at opposing sides of the map from it. The goal is to either capture the base or destroy all enemy tanks. When tanks of both teams are in the base capture circle, no capture takes place. As usual, the capture bar can also be reset by damaging the vehicles in the capture circle. Currently limited to the following maps:
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Team Training
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In this mode, you can make your own room and select the map you wish to play. Then, decide if you want the game to be open to the public, or use the "invite" feature to play only with friends. After the player has responded and joined, drag their name to the appropriate team and start your Battle. Many players use this mode for experiments with various tank mechanics, learning new maps, strategic planning and movement, and the teaching of those new to the game in 1 vs 1 matches. You will not gain any experience points or credits in this mode and your vehicle repairs are free, but you will still need to pay for expended shells and equipment (consumables used). |
Tank Company Battle
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In this battle version, players can form their own team by inviting friends or allowing random players to join their company. Team rosters are built using a point system. After forming your team, it will be placed into the Tank Companies Matchmaker. This matchmaker is similar to the 'Random Battle' matchmaker, however, the algorithm used needs at least 4 teams formed to function properly. It is impossible for the matchmaker to create a battle without at least 4 tank companies being ready. Players in a tank company are able to communicate with their teammates using the game's voice chat feature. Each team in a Tank Companies Battle will receive credits and experience in accordance with damage dealt, etc. The winning team, however, will receive a percentage of the losing team's credits and experience, causing the losing team to gain less experience and credits than they would normally expect. Companies are available in 4 divisions. Junior, Medium , Champion and Absolute. The "total tier level" indicates the minimum and maximum sum of tiers of all the tanks in the company. Junior Tank CompanyTotal tier level : minimum 20 pts - maximum 40 pts Medium Tank CompanyTotal tier level : minimum 40 pts - maximum 60 pts Champion Tank CompanyTotal tier level : minimum 60 pts - maximum 90 pts Absolute Tank CompanyTotal tier level : minimum 90 pts - maximum 150 pts Tank company comparsion table
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Historical Battle
A variant of standard battles using a separate queue to join, released in 9.0. Uses a limited selection of historically-inspired scenarios at a given time that can be changed at will. Notable in that all tanks which participate in a battle are restricted to specific module and ammo setups unique to each tank and normally in line with the configuration which would have been encountered in that engagement. Crew, consumables, camo, and equipment however carry over from whatever configuration of the tank is in the player's garage and do have an effect in battle.
Criticized in its first (9.0) iteration for long queue times, MM balance issues, tank balance issues stemming from using tanks balanced for random battles situations (which tend to make higher-tier tanks even more powerful in historical mode), lack of incentive for playing lower-tier tanks in a given lineup, and lack of features separating the mode from normal standard battles once in battle, historical battles is generally considered to have been incomplete at launch. WG has promised to continue development on this mode in the future, including such features as separate stats for HB mode for each tank as well as respawn mechanics and economic incentives for lower-tier tanks which do play.
Clan Wars
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Clan Wars is the browser-based, multiplayer, military and geopolitical component of World of Tanks. The Global Map is Clan Wars' theater of operations, divided into provinces currently limited to Europe, The Middle East, Northern and Western Africa. The gameplay of this mode is based on the strategic struggle between clans for ownership of provinces on the Global Map. In this game mode armored forces of different clans are represented by chips. The number of a clan’s chips is equal to the number of players in the clan that have played at least one battle in any vehicle of Tier V or higher. Such players provide one chip to the clan no matter how many vehicles of Tier V and up they have played. Every clan possesses one headquarters. Headquarters can be relocated from one province to another and is used to dispatch clan’s chips from reserve to Global Map. Commanders and Deputy Commanders manage chips distribution on Global Map. Other clan members can observe the location and movement of their clan’s forces and headquarters. Once a battle is placed, fifteen minutes before the battle starts, the normally grayed out special battles at the top of the screen will become active, from there you wait in a lobby that is similar to the company battle's lobby until the battle starts. Once the battle has ended, all Clan members are notified in the announcements section at the bottom right of the game whether they lost or have won the battle. For further details see the wiki's guide here and the official guide here. |
Upcoming Game Modes
Most info taken from this post of Overlords Blog, with updates from this post and most recently this post.
Garage Battle
Prior to battle, you can select up to five of your tanks from your garage. When you die in battle, you respawn with the next tank on your list.
- Status: in development.
30 vs 30 battles
30 vs 30 battles are similar to their 15 vs 15 counterparts aside from the fact that there are now 30 tanks on each team. The main goals of the 30 vs 30 battle project are to A) increase of maximum map size and B) introduce 30 vs 30 battles. The main issue with 30 vs 30 battles is heavy client/server side performance impacts. Currently, the development team is researching the possibilities to solve this problem, but there are no guarantees of this being implemented in the near future.
- Status: under consideration.
VIP Escort
Only a few tanks from the team have the ability to capture enemy's base, the opposite team has to defend the base or destroy all the invaders.
- Status: no longer in development after tests showed random players lacked the required ability to team-play.
Clan Wars Release
Clan Wars beta will last until a roaming feature allowing players from RU, EU and US servers to play against each other, competing for the same provinces on the global map.
- Status: in development
