Guide [Issue 45] Tips for the Sneaky Tanker

[sonofchrysalis3 3,719]

Sun Tsu, one of the wisest military minds of the human species, wrote a collection of strategies, advice, and council that we now read in a book entitled The Art of War. In this fascinating book, which I would strongly recommend to anyone, he is quoted as saying “All warfare is based on deception.”

 

This statement is true of any type of war, be it in the pathetic theater of the real world or in the carefree frolics of the virtual and imaginary. Video gaming warriors the world over use the simple art of dishonesty to defeat their opponents, from the grassy battlefields of Pokemon: Omega Ruby to the blasted-out urban arenas of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.

 

Tankionline is also a great place to trick someone into losing; not by taking advantage of them as people, but by taking advantage of their disadvantage.

 

Below is a list of my favorite battle-bending tips. You will notice that none of them break the rules. As a warrior, you may freely use any necessary means to achieve victory, but as a Tankist, you have a responsibility to obey all the rules of the game and not behave in a manner contrary to them.

 

With that out of the way, here are Tankionline’s most popular devious devices for dominating the game:

 

 

 

1.) In Deathmatch, ask a broad question and kill the tankers who stop to respond.

 

 

I learned this the first day I played. You can’t control your tank when you are typing in the battle chat box, which makes you a sitting duck for marauding enemies. Use that weakness to your advantage by asking a question that will start a distracting discussion (my favorite is “which is the best turret?”). Lots of other tanks will screech to a halt and sit there, ready to be butchered.

 

 

2.) Use a repair right before your enemy runs out of reload or before you die, whichever comes first.

 

 

So imagine that you are being besieged by a tank wielding a Firebird. The flames are steadily melting your armor, and in mere seconds, your poor tank will explode. What to do? Your Twins’ constant pummeling is not going to kill the enemy before you are killed.

 

Watch your health bar carefully, even if it means you have to stop firing your turret so you can concentrate. Just before it hits zero, mash the 1 key. You will be completely revived, and you will often find yourself in the particularly interesting situation where your flustered enemy has no reload left to shoot with, and you have no damage to show for it. When this happens, put a brick on the space bar, sit back, and watch as the antagonist flees.

 

 

3.) Lay mines on drop zones.

 

 

This tip is so good, it has been featured in a v-log and in Night-Sister’s unquestionably authoritative article “The Pathological Miner”. Drop a bomb on a landing spot and, provided you don’t die too quickly, the next enemy to take a supply from that spot will get a good look at the moon as they tumble past it.

 

 

4.) Lie when they ask “was gold?”

 

 

The second most ridiculous misuse of the battle chat box can also be a game-changing opportunity if you play it right. This question is asked by wandering tankers who drop into your battle with the sole desire to nab a Gold Bil. His logic is “If it hasn’t dropped, then it will soon. If it has dropped, then it won’t soon.”

 

If the tanker who asked the question is your enemy, respond “yes, it just did.” He will leave immediately in search of a different battle. This will leave your enemy shorthanded and under pressure to make one tank fight like two. Your team will have a number advantage.

 

If the tanker who asked is your ally, respond “no, not yet” or “no but probably will soon.” The ally will stay to see if a Gold Box does indeed drop, and you will have one extra teammate to help out.

 

 

5.) Organize a pack of Mammoth Isidas and haunt a CTF map.

 

 

One of the best ways to hoard experience points and crystals while doing pretty much nothing is to call together a wolfpack of indestructible Isidas. The Tanki community is packed with friend-material, so if you try, you can do this easily.

 

After you have a gaggle of friends with heavy hulls (mammoth works best) and Isida turrets, find a good CTF map and join on the same team. Island is a perfect map to attack, and Sandbox is a great place to bewilder the local Hornet Railguns.

 

Have at least two of your team members camp upon the flag post while the others push for the enemy base. Skilled Mammoth Isidas are extremely hard to kill, especially in groups, which means you and your main marvins will have a smashing time looting battlefunds.

 

 

6.) Drop a mine if you flip over in a high-traffic area.

 

 

I just can’t tell you how funny this is. Tankers who see a helpless opponent on his back, spinning his tracks in the air, will almost always jump at the chance for an easy kill. In their enthusiasm, they will often ram the flipped tank and push them across the ground as they pump lead into them.

 

If this happens to you, press the 5 button. A mine will drop and your enemy will run right over it, destroying them and compensating for the loss of a kill when you self-destruct a few seconds later.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

Every tanker who plays the game develops his own unique strategy for beating the enemies and leading his team to victory. Such strategies are usually pretty basic and straightforward, but every now and then, one may think outside the box and come up with a sneaky trick to boost performance. Do you have a sneaky tip to share? Feel free to tell us, but be prepared to face the possibility that it will be used against you.  ;) 

 

Edited July 29, 2017 by Hexed

[KillerGnat 3,135]

Good Stratus, but one question: how on earth do you get Sun Tsu's "Art of War" in Equestria?

[Quarks 2,255]

Teh usefulness here is great. A topic that is enjoyable and won't create massive controversy, great.

 

That last sentence was hypocritical, for those who are in TWG, you know what I am talking about.

 

[sonofchrysalis3 3,719]

Good Stratus, but one question: how on earth do you get Sun Tsu's "Art of War" in Equestria?

The same way we get Tankionline.

[personia 4,036]

Stratus, your articles this week have been freaking amazing. Easy to read, good for learning. All amazing.

[Darren4Turbo 4,913]

Wow, fascinating! Stratus.

 

You will be someone special when you will be an adult, probably a professor or a reporter.

Edited December 22, 2015 by Darren4Turbo

[KillerGnat 3,135]

The same way we get Tankionline.

Oh,  :mellow: Maybe I should've guessed that. 

[greyat 2,972]

5.) Organize a pack of Mammoth Isidas

I promise you, you will be in for one of the most boring matches you will have ever experienced.

[viratno2 146]

It looks like you do most of the articles around here, have seen 3 more of yours here, not criticising but anyway good job.

[Bugs.meeny 1,013]

Nice one

[Benefactor 6,888]

I promise you, you will be in for one of the most boring matches you will have ever experienced.

That herd would be hard to defeat, though.

[Rebellion 640]

"When this happens, put a brick on the space bar, sit back, and watch as the antagonist flees."

 

TWINS ISNT THAT EASY -.- ​Been using it since brigadier and unless you shoot forward exclusively and have the mindset of a recruit you won't get anywhere. Turning your turret is key. 

 

Proof: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_2_4hZ5o-Q&feature=youtu.be

 

 

Otherwise, fantastic article! :)

Edited December 21, 2015 by Rebellion

[Xanazuto44 19]

my type of playing is that, whenever i use a turret like smoky, thunder, rico, rail, hammer or any turret that shoots out projectiles and NOT like freeze, firebird, isida, shaft and vulcan (simply because freeze, firebird and isida wouldnt work this way, shaft needs time to charge up its shot to get the max dmg, and vulcan needs time to fire the shots, and vulcan also doesnt deal much dmg using this tactic) ok so for example, i use railgun, and im hiding behind a building that has 2 ways out, left or right (its common for railgunners to use the "peek-a-boo" tactic so i use it, and quickly hides behind a building/wall before my opponent can shoot me, and when my railgun has reloaded, i charge it up, move to the other exit of the wall/building (for example i first go to the right side of building to use peek-a-boo tactic, now i go left) and shoot the opponent. BE WARNED, to do this, u need to understand (and memorize) where the enemies are exactly, or else the shots will miss (perhaps thunder's splash dmg will cover this weakness). being me, i have this ability to spot anything that moving, even if its tiny (except for micro-organisms xD) so i tend to memorize my opponents movements, and location unconciously

[nrs1998 24]

A Good Tanker with common sense knows most of these tips given in the article.

These are not the real pro advises which one could not think at all.

Edited December 21, 2015 by nrs1998

[suhas_best 334]

A Good Tanker with common sense knows most of these tips given in the article.

These are not the real pro advises which one could not think at all.

There are tankers lower than your rank mate. Hope you understand. You were a noob once too. Stop underestimating others ;)

[benlovespi 0]

Would it work to jump over another tank with a light hull and place a mine under them while flying over? If that works, it would be very useful.

[yoshi_micah 0]

I use all these tactics alot of times

[sonofchrysalis3 3,719]

Would it work to jump over another tank with a light hull and place a mine under them while flying over? If that works, it would be very useful.

That works like a charm. About half of my mine kills are dropped from above.

[benlovespi 0]

That works like a charm. About half of my mine kills are dropped from above.

Thanks! That will help a lot. I'm still trying to learn how to use mines effectively, and this will definitely help because I LOVE light hulls!

[qianrshci2015 0]

im gonna try this out today and see how well it works mwahahahahaha!

[qianrshci2015 0]

though for point 1 about asking which is the best turret it may only work if the people in the battle speak English at all and if they want to answer you

[asdeninlaid2 13]

Something that is freaking HILARIOUS to do. Never gets old. Mostly works in a polygon,  during gold rush, go over tanks and place a mine. An enemy is bound to hit it. Not to mention the fact the corpse could help you once it blows up.

[comandobob 15]

great read. i enjoy reading your tactical and strategic guides and ill be keepin a sharp lookout for your next one. if i had to give a little tidbit of advice to any tankers newer to this game id advise you to never use the same attacking or defending strategies more than a few times switch things up so as to not be predictable but also look for those who do not change their attacking or defending strategy. there are tankers out there who use the same attacking strategies over and over like clockwork so if you recognize those patterns then you can use that to develop your own strategies around theirs.

 

thats my bit of advice there. take care and ill see you on the battle field.  ;)

Edited December 22, 2015 by comandobob

[Soup.Or.Man 3]

I have a problem with number 4. Since you say no for a person who join your team, wouldn't that mean you have less of a chance to get the gold bil?  :mellow:  :o  <_<

Edited December 22, 2015 by Soup.Or.Man

[comandobob 15]

I have a problem with number 4. Since you say no for a person who join your team, wouldn't that mean you have less of a chance to get the gold bil?  :mellow:  :o  <_<

that depends. he/she may take the gold him/herself but you may be able to get on top of their tank and get the gold yourself, had they not been there you may not have got that gold. its a toss up but id say the more people on your team the better even if you don't get the gold you will most likely get more crystals if your team wins the match. so i would say the more on your team the better