First let me start with saying thank you Tanki for such a quick response to the recent and thankfully short-termed crystal drops "disaster". To the Tankers who still say it was a good update because now they could earn a lot of crystals in little time: I can only say that you really don 't get the purpose of a TDM or CTF at all. And you are officially a noob IMO... The purpose of CTF/TDM is to collectively, that means with the whole team, achieve a victory over the enemy team. Selfishly going for just crystaldrops and thus letting down your teammates is not the intention of this game. Thankfully Tanki saw that the 50 and 100 crystal drops ruined the gameplay and their quick reaction is very reassuring! They obviously do care about the game. :) So now this experiment. About the Goldbox: I 'm very convinced it does need a little pause before it falls. Something like 10 till 20 seconds would be better in my view. Like it is now it 's really just luck. There should still be an element of skill in catching it and even more it 's quite frustrating that when you are you respawning or are at an unlikely place for a Goldbox to drop you are at beforehand completely chanceless. It definitely should be a short time to not distract to much from the actual battle that is going on, but 1000 crystals falling at once is also an amount that does deserve a bit of time and attention... Next: no more crystal drops at all and therefore a faster growing battlefund. With the rank I 'm at I really believe this is the best solution. No more crystal mults and if you want to earn crystals: you just have to fight for them! I do get it when Tankers get upset that when you catch zero flags you also get zero crystals. Would it be harmful or bad if the loosing team always gets let 's say a 10% of the battlefund? They lost ok, but they made the battle possible, and have put at least some effort (supplies) in it. Why not reward them (...me :D ) with at least a small amount? This may also prevent that battles run empty. The Tankers who do face problems with no crystal drops at all are the low rankers. They often really need those dropped crystals, because they can 't earn them that well in regular battles. Maybe Tanki could make a seperation between lower and higher ranks somewhere? That would be ideal I think. Let 's say that if you are joining a battle with only M0 and M1 equipment in it. In rank that would be till Warrant Officer 5, you will still have crystalboxes of 10 dropping in the battle. (this WO5 "border" is really just a wild guess, it 's only about the idea behind it) If you are joining a battle from WO5 and above there won 't be any crystaldrops anymore. By than you should have developed sufficient skills to earn your part of the crystals from the battlefund. As a lower ranker you can still join these battles, but you wouldn 't have the chance to become a crystal mult: simply because from WO5 and above there are no crystals to farm. That 's about it for now. Whatever the outcome, I really hope it will look a lot like this experiment! Especially CTF and TDM deserve and need dedicated teamplay Tankers. If you still want to be "selfish": develop some good skills and see you in a DeathMatch! ;)

If what you 're saying is true, than that 's utterly sad. It 's quite obvious that these crystal drops encourage multing. They really have to turn a blind eye if they don 't see that. Or don 't they want to see that? I really thought and believed Tanki when they said they want a game that 's based on skills! What skills? Skills of getting 50 and 100 crystalboxes with DD and healthpacks to stay alive? Very impressive... Is that the hidden scheme? Encourage Tankers to drug like crazy (healthpacks of 75 crystals each...) just to get a 50 crystal box? Many of the names I read in this topic that are upset are from Tankers that are really concerned with the overal gameplay of Tanki. We want to play CTFlag=Catch/Capture The Flag with tactics and a cooperating team. Do we have to play CTCrystals now? Where almost everyone will solely goes for his own profit? Normally I am one of the first to be enthusiastic of an update: not this one for sure. I like and always support updates that enhance gameplay for the majority of Tankers, also the non-buyers like IMO the Smart Cooldown. But these crystals drops are ruining the gameplay. Really nice: after selfish 234-druggers, Tankers in CTF (TDM) will now have to deal with selfish crystal farmers/mults. Tanki wants a skill based game? Well, than you better go to DM, XP or Pro Battles. I am for sure not going to fight another CTF where the majority of both teams is only concerned with catching crystals! And if these crystals drops really stay: than better leave CTF and TDM completely to the multing noobs.

Did some more CTF and my conclusion still is that the crystal drops are a failure. The new Goldbox and Supply drops are ok in my view. The crystal drops were designed to enhance the gameplay because Tankers supposedly got distracted by many 10 crystal boxes falling at the same time. This may be partly true, but the huge value crystalboxes from 50 and 100 are a lot worse. A lot. It 's pretty basic psychiatric stuff. People are very sensitive for instant rewards especially if that reward is worth it. Most Tankers will probably realize that if they go for that 100 crystal box and in the mean time let the enemy flagcaper escape: they will greatly enhance the chance of loosing that battle... Still the instant reward of a 100 crystal box remains very temptative. Besides winning a battle is never certain, catching a 100 crystalbox is. That 's why we all easily fall for the temptation. With small amount 10 crystal boxes most of us will choose to focus on shooting the runaway flagcaper. Because the reward of winning that battle in battlefund crystals and also in a sportmanslike way is worth it! Now we see Tankers who totally disregard their team, only to catch the 50 and 100 crystal boxes. And probably most of us get (at least I get) distracted by a 50 or 100 crystal box. Instead of supporting an attack and creating a huge chance of getting the enemy flag, we go for that 100 crystal box, almost like it 's a Goldbox... Well, if it 's not removed soon I have done my last CTF 's for now. I will "retreat" in DM 's where there are no mults and I am first not dependable of a team, and secondly don 't have responsibilities towards a team. Too bad because I liked CTF a lot nowadays after the Smart Cooldown, which was a good update IMO. Plz. Tanki rethink the crystal drops! It 's IMO only benificial to selfish players who don 't care about teamplay at all. Many of us do care for teamplay, but that became a waste of time with these new crystal drops. p.s. "Crystal Crush" sounds pretty good: if a name change is needed...

Predictable Drops: - Goldbox is fine. More chance to get it for regular Tankers. I like it. - Supplies also fine. Didn 't really change a lot I think. - Crystals. In DM it is more than ok, but in TDM it is already not so ok and it 's often terrible in a CTF. IMO keep the Goldbox and the Supplies predictable, but plz. don 't introduce these high amount crystalboxes. Especially in CTF you need teams in which the members are focussed on the flags...

Want to play with one close-ranger and I just don 't like Firebird: though I know it is strong. Always running on empty with that darn thing... Already planning to skip Hornet M3/Freeze M3 as well for now. (want to completely focus on Hornet M3/Smoky M2/M3) So that leaves me with Wasp M2/Isida M2/M3 on my alt. Some MU 's on the damage and it should be "doable". ;)

Nope, I was only referring to the amount of crystals you have: the 8730 crystals you mentioned in your previous post. Smoky M1 is a mere 11000 crystals and the Rico M1 costs more than twice that amount.

How strong is the Isida M3 in your view. And till what rank is it "doable" to fight with Isida M3? I 'm planning to combine with the Wasp M2 on an alt. account (besides the Smoky M2 ofcourse :) ) p.s. other opinions are welcome too ofcourse (sorry)

Having Thunder M2 myself: towards Brigadier and Thunder M3 should be possible without a problem. Micro-upgrading damage halfway as you are already planning is ok, more MU is a waste of crystals. With DP it becomes a beast, without it 's still fine. Just be sure to get the most out of the Splash damage!

^ this I like to call it the "Shaft-trap". Before going further let me say there 's nothing wrong with the Shaft. I didn 't meet that many, but certainly some great and very skilled Shaft players! Opponents I really fear, but also admire. Still hate to being shot by one, but that 's also a part of the game I wouldn 't like to miss! (just miss me some more plz. ;) ) The Shaft-trap is "deployed" when a low ranker/newbie gets his hands on the Shaft and totally stops playing with the other weapons. The gameplay itself will soon consist of getting a Mammoth M1 or Titan M1 combined with a Shaft M1 and the trap is set. With a good camping spot, some (or many) supplies and a possible Isida nearby your ready for mass-killing with relative ease! Also because of this very possible early high success rate Shaft can become very addictive... As Hogree already said, the Shaft 's victims will mostly drive in linear lines and with some good estimating the Shaft ' s shots and scoped kills are relatively easy. That will change later on, when possible victims move smarter, take more cover and developed enough skills to kill those earlier sheer unbeatable Shaft fortresses. Besides that the camping Shafter is also disregarding his/hers own driving skills, which is surely another trap IMO. At the time when the M2 's start to appear most of the time the glory days of this kind of Shafter will fade away. Really guessing here, but I can imagine that Shafter will leave the game: either this or it is that a lot of Shafters still make a transition to other combo 's, because the Shaft is definitely more abundant in lower ranks. Avoiding the Shaft-trap is easy: don 't take the Shaft! Nope, just kidding. Take the Shaft if you like it, but I would certainly take another combo with a light- or medium hull and another weapon as well. So at least have a primary- and secondary combo in the order that you prefer. This way you will also train your own driving abilities and learn how to aim and shoot/freeze/burn etc. whilst moving. These skills are huge advantages that you can use and I believe need to become a Pro in Shafting. Now you will be able to fight back with arcade shots when under attack and you will have a lot more possibilites in gameplay than just camping in your own relatively safe defence. Nothing wrong with specializing, just don 't start to early with it: especially with Shaft.

Because of Thunder 's self-damage IMO a medium hull would be better, in the midst of an attack the Hunter M2 (certainly with micro-upgraded protection/HP) will last a lot longer and you already got the proper rank: Hunter M2

It would be better to add some more info if possible.

If it 's about learning a lot of valuable skills, and your amount of crystals: Smoky M1 If you want power right away: Rico M1

This "guide" will not be updated even if needed. If someone feels it should be updated and is serious about it than plz. take it over from me. Reason being that I simply have too much fun in regular battles after the Smart Cooldown, to get frustrated again and again by trying to find a good unruined XP battle. Or even worse finding a good one that next gets ruined during the battle. Tanki is trying at the moment to make it better by some sort of moderation AFAIK, but in my view that simply won 't work. Certainly not with the delicated (unofficial) rules in an XP/BP. It 's too bad, because I really would love to combine regular and XP battles. I do admire the perseverance of the Tankers that keep on playing XP/BP and thus keeping the dream of an official XP/BP gamemode alive. Nothing better IMO than a good XP where everyone does their best to follow the rules! Maybe one day there will be that official XP/BP gamemode: the very same day this guide becomes totally obsolete... and also the very same day I will be buying that Pro Battle pass! ;)

(very young player by the way! ;)) What 's your opinion about @doughnut2100 's question? Would like to hear your view on the matter.

Went on it in alone in a Private Battle: still some lag. Not much, but noticable. (Cologne ofcourse, Edinburgh is too cramped for sure, only good for certain weapons like close-rangers) edit: better skip the next post...red paint being discounted again...

Agree, also all the ones that due to Smart Cooldown have already "left"... ;)

With only Hornet M3 and Rail M2 you will be in for a tough ride from Major till General and Rail M3. IMO you better use a solution inbetween: too many Rail-paints, especially Prodigi 's on the battlefield. Agree with you that the question if a possible inbetween should be Firebird M2, Smoky M2 or something else is better to be responded by someone(s) else too. If you want I could give you a reply with one of my alts? ;) (good choice btw. Hunter M3. Mine too...)

If you are planning to only use the Rail M2 all the way to Rail M3: definitely worth it! You go from: 88-135 to 103.6-157 damage and that 's really quite a difference you will notice. It 's a long path towards General and Rail M3 from First LT so personally I would want to be sure that I kill every hull that is possible with the maximum available damage. So I would leave a lot less badly damaged hulls to be easy prey for others. Also if fully micro-upgraded you get a 22.5% discount on the Rail M3. Many Tankers advice to only micro-upgrade M3 's. Ofcourse those are the best without a doubt. But if you are dealing with late upgrades, like in your case from Rail M2 towards Rail M3 I believe that it surely can be worthwhile. Leave the last steps for MU discounts along the way, saves you a lot of crystals. (p.s. might read my next reply to doughnut2100, about only using Rail M2 towards Rail M3)

If you really like/love your Wasp M1 and are planning to stick with it for a very long time: than micro-upgrading the protection/HP is worth it IMO. If you want to go to another hull like Hornet M1, than definitely don 't MU your Wasp M1! (a few steps are ok though, as long as they don 't harm your crystal-stack)

As long as they only can press 234 at the same time in a Pro Battle: not a problem. -_-

I would still advice the Smoky M2. Early obtainable "big" bang for the buck! Consider it myself at least a M2.5 Also I believe it will last longer than the Firebird M2: if I 'm wrong than I hope someone will correct me on this. (always: if you are certain about the Firebird M2 and there is a good sale: go for it) Ranking straight to M3 's good be quite hard. You need to earn more crystals and what M3 do you want? Considering your only hull is the Hornet M2 (M3) Brigadier: Thunder M3. Good on Hornet, but because of the self-damage I prefer a bit more HP. So I rather have Thunder in combination with one of the medium hulls. (Viking being my own favourite with Thunder: no doubt) It 's in my view a lot easier to be effective with the Thunder with a medium tank. Also on Brigadier: Isida M3. I agree with Goldrock in his "what to mount on..." series, that it is better on a Wasp or Hunter. The Hornet 's drift is really an issue IMO with this close-ranger. MJ General: Freeze M3. Made for the Hornet IMO! Drifting is not/less an issue, because you can already stop them in their tracks ofcourse, and the only ones that (without N20) can run away from you are Wasps, and Hornets at least have a chance to get away. Especially in combination with the Hornet M3/M4 you 'll have a very decent combo. Not OP in anyway also... Shaft M2. No comment. Next M3 weapon will be the Rail M3, which you will certainly get I presume... ;) So from the M3 weapons I would recommend the Freeze M3 in combination with your Hornet. Considering ranking: I still stick with the Smoky M2 as best option for you. Disclaimer: Smoky M2, Hornet M3, Freeze M3 is the path I will follow myself, so I 'm pretty prejudiced. :)

Great job! http://en.tankiforum.com/index.php?showtopic=230879&do=findComment&comment=4066839 (from 1:36 )

Nice! Just great that the high-rankers who loved to play full 234 drug battles amonst their owns, and were the only ones rightfully complaining IMO about Smart Cooldown, get the option to play an old-fashioned 234 again! Ok, you need a Pro Battle pass, but earning 5000 crystals as a high-ranker should not be too much of a problem A daily gift in crystals will help as well. Good move Tanki! B) p.s. for the rest of us it 's a possibility too, but if you are a former hardcore drugger, you shouldn 't expect a shooting gallery like in the old days: everyone there will be loaded with drugs.... :D

"Please change it or Tanki Online lose a very lots of player..." Here we go again...even more players "leaving"...yep, the servers are very, very empty nowadays -_-

^ Where did you follow those lessons in exaggeration? I like the new visuals. Railgun looks stunning with that vortex. Isida looks nice too, and the clear color-difference between healing and attacking is useful. Only criticism: the beam of the Isida is quite thick. A bit thinner might be better.