On Track: T110E5 Breakdown

Jambijon: Hello Tankers! If you have yet to make it through the T110E5 line, I highly recommend you do since there is currently an “On Track” event active!  The T110E5 was my first Tier X and I it is still my favorite tank, even after the balancing. On to the fun stuff.  So with the on track going on, I thought it would be a good idea to share my experiences with progressing through the line.  I’m just going to go over from tier 6-10 and for warned, this is just my personal experience so bear with me. Configuration comparison of different loadouts.  *Crew bonuses or equipment modifiers not included on all comparisons. Tier VI M6: Load out comparison  Pros:Quick acceleration (when upgraded) Excellent gun reload and DPM (2nd 76mm or 90mm) Armor is fantastic when going against same tier or lower Able to hold a bottleneck pretty wellCons:Side armor is pretty bad, so HE/Arty does quite a lot of damage Traverse speed is very slow Terrible accuracy when shooting on the move Be bottom tier is really rough.  Best to play a supporting roleMy research path:Tracks 76mm Gun M1A2 (skipped A1) Engine Turret 90mm Gun M3 RadioMy main strategy with the M6 is to find a bottleneck and hold it.  The 76mm is decent if you are top tier.  Any other situation just use the 90mm.  If you catch a tank out in the open, track them and then punish with your excellent reload.  It’s one of the top armored tier VI besides the Japanese O-I.  Overall it’s a really solid tank that is pretty forgiving.  This is why it’s used in tier VI strongholds quite a bit.  Just don’t get on the wrong end of a KV-2. Tier VII T29:Load out comparison          Pros:Hull down monster!  105mm Gun does good pen and excellent damage Turret armor is amazing Great gun depression (-10)Cons:Hull armor isn’t anything to write home about, but with the right angle you can definitely bounce some shots. Not very accurate, especially with the 105mm Stock engine is incredibly slow Cupola is constantly targeted and is pretty thinly armored.  Shake that turret!My research path:Used M6 90mm gun Tracks Turret 105mm Gun EngineOh the T29.  I’m confident when saying, I think this is the best heavy for tier VII and it’s a tank I didn’t sell because I liked it so much.  Your primary role is to hold choke points and get somewhere what you can go hull down.  Also, I would also use this tanks amazing gun depression and “peak a boom” enemies over a ridge line.  I made it a priority to get the 105mm before anything else.  However, it might be a good idea to try and get the engine upgrade because the stock engine is painfully slow.   All in all, a fantastic heavy beast which I use for a lot of my heavy missions. Tier VIII T32: Load out comparison     Pros:When upgraded, its turret is almost impenetrable from the front Excellent gun depression/elevation Front hull armor is decent, angled better than its predecessor Very good view rangeCons:Not a huge upgrade from the T29 Stock turret armor is abysmal and cupola is more noticeable than the T29 Gun accuracy, DPM, subpar penetration Shot trap under the mantletMy research path:Tracks Turret 105mm (already researched from T29) Be sure to unmount it from the T29 so you don’t have to pay for another one when mounting on the T32 EngineThe T32 does not hold the momentum of improved meant like the T29 did after the M6.  It actually falls short, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad.  The upgraded turret armor is fantastic and makes it pretty easy to hold flanks.  Other than its spotting range and turret, you can pretty much just play it like the T29. Tier IX M103:Load out comparison  Pros:Turret rotation greatly improved from T32 Great base pen, dmg, and accuracy (Stock/upgraded) Tracks seem to absorb a lot of hits Sloped frontal armorCons:Side armor seems nonexistent Turret is not nearly as durable as predecessors Easy to ammo rack Lower glacis is a huge targetMy research path:120mm T122 Engine Tracks Turret 120mm M58The M103 is played very differently then you may have been used to earlier in the line.  With the turret and higher gun depression it isn’t really a stay in one spot tank.  The gun is awesome so it should be more of a heavy support tank.  Almost played like a “heavy medium” style.  Don’t get me wrong, it can still bounce, you just have to be a little more careful with positioning since it’s not as forgiving. Tier X T110E5:Comparison of previous tanks vs T110E5  Pros:Incredibly strong frontal armor, turret and lower plate Very high pen, fast reload, high DPM, great accuracy/gun handling, and depression It is very mobile for such a heavily armored beastCons:Like the M103, the ammo rack is easy to hit Side and rear armor are made of paper Two weak points that are well known on the lower plate Balance update in 9.17 reduced the cupola armor You made it!  As I stated in the beginning of this thread, the T110E5 is my favorite tank hands down.  Update 9.17 did make the cupola easier to pen, that doesn’t mean its made out of paper.  There is still some armor up there.  I like to play the E5 as an “Active Heavy,” meaning I sometimes will like to go hull down and then reposition more frequently.  It’s pretty mobile, so flanking is very satisfying.  Also, if you feel your team has enough heavies, you can roll with the mediums. Okay, so that was my general experiencing running through the T110E5 line.  You may know most of it, if not all, but I think it’s good to have it has a visual reference for someone still progressing through the line.  Side note, watching Quickybaby’s “Tech Tree Showcase” for the T110E5 was super helpful as well.  Just keep in mind this was done over a year ago and some things may have changed in terms of balancing.Quickybaby: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/121601275 I hope everyone has a good day and let me know if you have any questions!