Guide [Issue 28] What to mount on: Dictator

[GoldRock 6,165]

 

What to mount on: Wasp
What to mount on: Hornet
What to mount on: Hunter
What to mount on: Viking

Welcome, readers! Many times in the past, the newspaper has focused on the weapons which make our game so dynamic and versatile. But what about the other half of these weapons? Yes, hulls. Without the right hull, many weapons can be rendered useless. But if you can find that right combination, regardless of whether it's extremely popular or hardly seen, you can be sure to dominate all of your battles. So, here's the fifth in the series; I'll be taking a look at Dictator, in order to see which weapons suit this hull best.

Dictator/Smoky.


Very powerful in many situations, especially at the higher modifications.

With this combination, it seems that Smoky's considerable recoil and reload rate is well-balanced by Dictator's higher health and larger size. An important characteristic of Dictator is the fact that it is still maneuverable, and it can travel at a decent. albeit slower speed. It's not quite as sluggish as its heavier hull counterparts, although it doesn't possess the high speeds that lighter hulls can take advantage of, either. Some argue whether Dictator is a medium or a heavy hull. Previously it has been classed as both. It seems that the fact that this is in-between those two categories means that the hull works particularly well with Smoky. You may not see the hit-and-run tactics which can be used more often with light hulls, but this combination can take considerable damage whilst being able to traverse across most maps without the user falling asleep on the way, meaning it can reach the scene of the action when it matters. Coupled with Smoky's good range and critical hits, this is a combination which can deal significant damage whilst having significant protection. This is surely what makes it work so well. 

Overall effectiveness: 8/10

Dictator/Firebird.


A nice combination for the use of Firebird in a defensive situation.

Firebird is famous (infamous, some would say) for its high rate of damage. If you let this weapon get too close, then you're pretty much destroyed, even if you can escape the flames engulfing you. The after-burn effect should be able to finish you off. This is potentially a problem with this particular combination, however/ Due to Dictator's reduced speed, it may be frustratingly difficult to get players within the range of this dangerous weapon. However, the combination also has its positives. Use it defensively in a more crowded map, and you'll find that attackers will be forced to run into your path having a hard time taking you out due to Dictator's ability to withstand a good amount of enemy fire. In addition, Firebird's quick turret rotation speed does help to make up for the slower turning speed of Dictator, and that allows the user to control the immediate, surrounding area. However, the fact that Firebird is somewhat limited by its range does limit the rating of this combination, too. That means it really isn't always versatile in many battle situations.

Overall effectiveness: 7/10

Dictator/Twins.


Twins can be deadly, but it's not so suited to Dictator's characteristics.

This, to be fair, isn't such a bad combination. Dictator would have just enough speed to move around the map and cause some trouble, whilst having a solid amount of health in order to allow Twins' infinite reload to be taken advantage of. For me, the major problem here (and probably the main reason why this combination isn't so common) is the build and shape of the Dictator's hull. The fact that the turret is slightly raised can make it harder to deal with combat at close quarters, and it can prove troublesome when trying to angle your line of fire to pummel opponents with rapid-fire Twins shots. This makes the combination pretty awkward to use. Twins really do work well on a hull which has a lower center of gravity firmly located towards the middle of the hull, as this allows the user to take advantage of its recoil to flip or knock off the aim of opponents. Putting Twins on Dictator means that this advantage is reduced. Also, where Dictator's speed/health balance can be effective with some weapons, health is highly valued with Twins. Because Dictator's speed isn't really as significant as Viking's, for example, it can be argued that Dictator is the awkward 'in-between' hull in terms of Twins, where you'd rather have either a little bit more health or a little bit more speed!

Overall effectiveness: 6.5/10

Dictator/Railgun.


This had its own game-mode until the new kids knocked it off the block.

Back in the day, this combination had its own unofficial game-mode. It was known as ДP, and it was popular amongst clan players. However, after the physics changes, players found that Hornet's increased speed and drifting feature made it much more fun with Railgun, and so the XP mode exploded across the game instead! Dictator/Railgun battles are still played occasionally, though they have generally died out. Now, let's take a look at the combination itself. Formerly, Dictator was quicker, lighter and generally had less health than Viking, though it actually had more health at the highest modification and , when unlocked at Generalissimo, it's particularly sought after by players who wanted this 'next-level' hull. However, Dictator is now heavier, slower and better protected which is potentially why the ДP mode lost popularity. The gameplay with this combination is arguably less versatile. Nevertheless, it still can be effective, especially because Railgun mounts well on the shape of Dictator, making this hull particularly good for long-ranged sniping. Also let's not forget the days of the Fear Machine (Railgun's former name), when this combo was the best one available in the game!

Overall effectiveness: 7.5/10

Dictator/Isida.


Simply put, there are clearly better options for this short-ranged weapon.

You may have noticed that the ratings for the Isida combinations of this series have been steadily decreasing. This is really because Isida is the shortest range weapon in the game, so it's is all about speed! Once an Isida latches onto an opponent, its range increases, making it much harder to escape. In addition, Isida has a health-stealing feature, allowing it to regain health as it damages other players. This means that the overall protection of a hull isn't actually as important, since Isida can be used to keep a user alive for longer in sticky situations. Let's not forget the ability of Isida to heal team-mates. This is something which requires a good amount of speed unless you want to be outrun by your own teammates as you try to help them. Basically, this combination lacks in all of these areas due to its reduced speed. It would be effective in more static situations, such as tightly enclosed maps where it could survive for a considerable amount of time when healing teammates or damaging opponents, but apart from that, this combination is not that effective.

Overall effectiveness: 6/10

Dictator/Thunder.


Dictator is well suited to Thunder's features, making this pretty robust.

Thunder is a good weapon for dealing a fair amount of damage to multiple tanks at once from range. The health of Dictator allows it to stay alive longer in many different scenarios, whilst its speed is just enough for it to be able to keep away from close-ranged opponents. Also, the shape of Dictator actually makes things more interesting here. It can allow for some better shots, both at levels above and below a user as well as potentially providing more opportunities to take advantage of using splash damage against props or the ground to damage opponents. The fact that Dictator can still be maneuvered so that it can significantly tilt both upwards and downwards whilst possessing a higher amount of health like the heavier hulls means that this combination can be used extremely effectively at medium to long range. Overall, the characteristics of Dictator fit really well with the mid-ranged nature of Thunder making this combination very balanced both in terms of damage and protection.

Overall effectiveness: 8/10

Dictator/Freeze.


This can be good in defensive scenarios, but it doesn't always work well.

This combination isn't too bad, actually. The fact that Dictator has a higher amount of health and half-decent speed means that this combination can be an effective positional defender, moving between different points of a base or gradually approaching midfield areas as needed. However, the fact is that Dictator just doesn't have the high levels of speed that lighter hulls possess, nor is it a fortress like Mammoth, so this combination can't always assure that Freeze is used to the maximum effectiveness. Also, Dictator is a little bulky, making attempts to freeze and circle an opponent much more difficult. Therefore, this somewhat reduces the potential effectiveness of Freeze's main, special ability. Nevertheless, this is still a good combination which can have an impact on a battle; it's just that the components of this combo don't really compliment each other that well.

Overall effectiveness: 7/10

Dictator/Ricochet.




Very effective, well-balanced and quite  dangerous.

Well, here's a combination which certainly works well. For starters, the actual, aesthetic appearance of this combo matches up well. The unusual, yet sleek shape of Dictator, though subjective creates controversy, it does suit the futuristic appearance of Ricochet, meaning that this is a favorite in terms of appearance for some. In addition, the very nature of Ricochet as a weapon is rather bolstered by Dictator's build. Ricochet is all about angles; after all, its special feature enables it to bounce its projectiles off the various props and obstacles in maps. The fact that the turret is raised enables a user of this combination to take advantage of the higher level of the turret in order to fire projectiles upwards/downwards toward opponents on different levels of a map. In addition to this, the hull is large enough to handle the weapon's recoil with ease. Overall, this combination is certainly one of the most effective ones you'll see on a battlefield, particularly at higher modifications.

Overall effectiveness: 8/10

Dictator/Shaft.


Not bad at all, but Dictator doesn't offer this weapon anything special.

Admittedly, this isn't a bad combination at all. Dictator has a decent amount of speed for getting from one sniping position to another, and its health is considerable enough to withstand enemy sniper fire for quite some time. However, Dictator's shape could be seen as rather awkward for this weapon. That the turret is raised and parts of the hull jut out, it isn't very good for staying camouflaged under foliage. On the other hand, Viking is nice and low with a stable centre of gravity These are great characteristics for Shaft, which Dictator unfortunately lacks. Nevertheless, Dictator would still enable a Shaft user to play fairly effectively. It just wouldn't add much to the weapon. The hull lacks speed, and its health is inferior to that of Titan or Mammoth. So in this situation, it is again awkwardly in-between the classifications of medium and heavy hulls. Overall, this isn't such a bad choice regardless, as it can be quite a good combination for moving between different positions in one's base.

Overall effectiveness: 7/10

Overall rankings:
Dictator/Firebird - 7/10
Dictator/Isida - 6/10
Dictator/Freeze - 7/10
Dictator/Twins - 6.5/10
Dictator/Ricochet - 8/10
Dictator/Smoky - 8/10
Dictator/Thunder - 8/10
Dictator/Railgun - 7.5/10
Dictator/Shaft - 7/10

So there you have it, my educated opinions on each of the combinations involving Dictator, from the perspective of the hull itself. This is clearly a hull which works better with some weapons than with others, due to its unique build and characteristics, though it can be very effective. Next up will be Titan, so make sure you look out for that article. Thanks for reading! Feel free to let me know your feedback below, or to share your own thoughts. It's all appreciated!

See you in the battles!

[Jtipt.The.Killer 196]

Nice...but i still prefer railgun as the best turret for dictator. Deathmachine :lol:

[Mr.I3oSS 557]

This expanded my Tanki Knowledge.

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Gr8 job goldilocks

[magnaboy2 656]

The fact that the turret is slightly raised can make it harder to deal with combat at close quarters, and it can prove troublesome when trying to angle your line of fire to pummel opponents with rapid-fire Twins shots. This makes the combination pretty awkward to use. Twins really do work well on a hull which has a lower center of gravity firmly located towards the middle of the hull, as this allows the user to take advantage of its recoil to flip or knock off the aim of opponents. Putting Twins on Dictator means that this advantage is reduced.

.___. I don't like what you said there,twins works very good on dictator in close quarter situations,because the height of twins allows you to shoot over your enemy,instead of shooting against the back of an allied tank,so you're not wasting any shots...
While on a ull which has a low center of gravity the exact opposite would happen....
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Viking is nice and low with a stable centre of gravity These are great characteristics for Shaft, which Dictator unfortunately lacks. Nevertheless, Dictator would still enable a Shaft user to play fairly effectively. It just wouldn't add much to the weapon.

With a shaft mounted on a dictator you will add a good thing to the gun,you'll be able to target and shoot enemies who are on a much higher *platform* then you...

Anyways,these are just my opinions,BTW,I played with dictator+isida m3 before rabalance all the time,and I can tell you,it really deserves a higher ranking then 6/10 :|

Great article overall!!!! ^-^
 

[SonicTemplar 10]

ooh nice, but I don't have dict except at m0. loved the hornet and vik one. Good Luck in the mammoth one then titan.

Edited October 31, 2014 by SonicTemplar

[Lord-of-the-Snipers 1,620]

Good article!

 

Nice detail those added links to the previous "what to mount on..." articles.

 

edit: a suggestion: put those links on all "what to mount on 's..."

Edited November 1, 2014 by Lord-of-the-Snipers

[pizzaslad 471]

,BTW,I played with dictator+isida m3 before rabalance all the time,and I can tell you,it really deserves a higher ranking then 6/10 :|

 

Great article overall!!!! ^-^

 

Any time that thing was on drugs you just had to put on a Nitro and run! It still caught up to you.

 

 

Rail/Dictator a 7.5? You can make some awesome shots with that combo due it the turret's position. Way more than you could ever do with a Viking You could also use some peek-a-boo tactics with Dictator that couldn't be done with the turret was in the middle of the hull.

Edited November 1, 2014 by pizzaslad

[jazz20 1,181]

Dictator is great for catching gold boxes. Probably the best hull to use when going on a hunt.

[Amagi 1,728]

I remember when Dictator-Railgun combos were popular....

[magnaboy2 656]

Any time that thing was on drugs you just had to put on a Nitro and run! It still caught up to you anyways. 

 

 

Rail/Dictator a 7.5? You can make some awesome shots with that combo due it the turret's position. Way more than you could ever do with a Viking You could also use some peek-a-boo tactics with Dictator that couldn't be done with the turret was in the middle of the hull.

Haha yea,it was such a nice combo,especially on noob ranks like 2nd Lieutenant ^-^

I also agree with what you have just said,the turret position is way better then viking in most of the cases...

[B_L_4_C_K_G_O_L_D 171]

remember he times of the very popular rail/dictator combo, they were pretty good back in the days, but now, very few players have the dictator as a main hull, all now are on the hunter as medium, but gave me some interest for buying it

[Quora 125]

I guess dictator suits every turret but ideal combo with dictator, for me would be freeze.

[didi1804 10]

you are great! thank's for this topic!

[TheChang 28]

I recently started using Thunder and Dictator on one of my alt accounts, and am really liking it. Even when someone is right in my face, the blast usually hits the back of their hull and doesn't hurt me at all. I really enjoy Thunder and Dictator.

[dilsharox 2,395]

thunder/rico+dic is way better than smoky+dic

[Ok_Bye 4]

dictator/smoky

[Barrett.50 4]

I'd say Shaft cuz its got less speed than Viking but more health cuz shaft is a range gun so U don't need speed 2 catch up but  faster than heavy hulls if U don't want 2 be that slow and have a bit better turing speed (especially in madness where if u can't turn fast enough u fall).

Edited November 1, 2014 by Barrett.50

[Piety 70]

I'm quite adequate with dictator. Dictator-Isida works well for me :)

[lukey0 27,543]

I almost always used Dictator Ricochet in battles and went really well. It might be hard to control at first but I think it deserves a 9 or 9.5 out of ten.

[rorax111 0]

Nice...but i still prefer railgun as the best turret for dictator. Deathmachine :lol:

DEATHBLOSSOM!

[Promissory 569]

 

Dictator/Twins.

 

Twins can be deadly, but it's not so suited to Dictator's characteristics.

 

Overall effectiveness: 6.5/10

 

 

 

Dictator/Isida.

 

Simply put, there are clearly better options for this short-ranged weapon.

 

Overall effectiveness: 6/10

 

 

Man, I could say you never tried any of these combos. When using twins, use the height of dictator at your advantage, and you will rule! Isida auto aiming makes it one of the best combos with Dictator! I think this one is downrated. 

 

However nice guide, but as a Dictator user, these 2 ones are wrong.

[danilo8667 234]

Nice.I always use Dictator M2 with Fire M2, sometimes with freeze M2, thunder M1 and ricochet M1.

[millartery 11]

i think rail is best :D

[aBdUlLaHkInGg 39]

Nice but I would prefer railun for dictator.

[Magnificence 126]

Hmm Nice topic.