World of Tanks: Preferential Matchmaking in Update 1.2
5 min readWorld of Tanks Update 1.2 is almost here and with it, Tier VIII Premium tanks with Preferential Matchmaking will get some nice buffs! Here’s what you can expect and Wargaming plan for the future.
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) |
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 armouring |
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°) |
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) |
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) |
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 |
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) |
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) |
185 mm (? 4 mm) | Penetration for a standard shell |
Improved frontal armoring |
Engine Power | 610 hp (? 110 hp) |
610 hp (? 110 hp) | 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 armouring |
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) |
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.
Great, now the T-34-3 will be much much better than the 34-2 (it always is)
Where’s T-34-2 buffs?
FCM 50T reduced by 0.7 sec reload?? its 7.2 sec whitout anything on it how do they make that 6.8 sec??
Base reload of an FCM is 7.5 seconds before crew is taken into account.
Yes exactly, now they have to buff quite a lot of tech-tree tanks as well. The one I’m desparately waiting for is a pen buff on the T-44 122mm (which actually does face Tier X most of the time).
Are you high? It’s 7.5 base. 7.2 is with 100% crew
Fix the MM?
Nah MOAR POWARCREEP!
Super pershing is now more OP than M46 patton KR and T25 pilot number 1. Whitch are nonpreferentia matchmaking tanks. I hope they will buff them! 🙂
FCM 50 loses 250 hp not gain as shown
It gained 250 extra horse power in the engine, not 250 extra HP. Look a little closer, sonny jim.