[Issue 5] [Guide] Returning a Flag (TWG)

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

Returning a Flag can be extremely difficult in the world of Tanki. It requires a special concoction of stealth and wits. If you follow some basic tips, you can effectively troll innocent noobs who steal your flag return your flag swiftly, leaving minimal damage done to the enemy-flag-bearer.

Some basic tips:

1. Know your Maps.
This is pretty self-explanatory; try to know where good hiding spots are in the Map you are playing in. For example, in Rio, there are 2 very common and quite effective hiding spots, both located under the 2 ramps (one located under the ramp leading up to the flag platform at Red Base, the other located under the ramp leading up to the top of the main building, next to Blue Base).

2. Get High Drug Up!
You heard me! It's 4:20 already! Just kidding!

Ok, all jokes aside, try to use or collect as many drugs as you can, when attempting to return a flag. Drugs can be the difference between returning and not returning a flag. For example, a Nitro can give you the stealth to sneak through defenders' eyeliner and let you get a direct, clear shot at your target, this can also help you take the flag (once it's been captured) and capture it, yourself, whilst defenders are lying stunned, bedazzled by your covertness. A Double Damage (DD) can be the difference between killing the person holding your flag and not. A light hull with a high damage turret and Double Damage will completely wreck anyone who dares to mess with you have a great chance of returning the flag as they will usually have the advantage of infiltrating enemies' defences and kill the flag-bearer whilst you leave them in awe, stunned by your awesomeness sneakiness. A Double Armour (DA) isn't always the best drug to take first, as the cooldowns prevent you from taking a Double Damage anytime soon. It can, however, help you get through enemies' barricades, with the aid of a sneaky Repair Kit. I hate to be Mr.Obvious, but to have a maximal advantage, try to have all 3 of your drugs activated. With all 3 drugs activated, you can slip through enemies' fortification, get defence from any resistance shown by the flag-bearer holding your flag and lastly, kill the enemy in minimal shots, but make sure; if you have a clear shot at the enemy (and a good chance of returning the flag) take the shot and make sure you hit! Returns, in really good circumstances, can offer you 100+ EXP.

3. Work as a team.
This is also a fairly self-explanatory title but keep in mind that teamwork is what helps you win a match (and the occasional raiding druggers!). But seriously, there's a team chat; use it! If you have managed to find out the location of the person hiding with your flag, make sure tell your team about it, but make sure you use the Team Chat and not the 'To All' Chat because you never want to blow your cover. If you see a fellow teammate close to the person holding your flag, help him by supporting him in killing the flag-bearer, so that he can return it. Another great way of returning is to provide a distraction by getting some of your team to go one way and you go the other way, so you can slip through enemies' defences.

4. Don't be an EXP-Hog.
Don't be one of those noobs people who return the flag despite it have only travelled exactly 1 centimetre! Firstly, you don't get any EXP for it and secondly, you're just wasting time, it's unnecessary as the flag auto-returns after 30 seconds. I know that this bit isn't exactly about returning the flag, more so, about not returning the flag, but don't return the flag if it means that the enemies have to travel further to take your flag. For example; in Sandbox, if the enemy has lost the flag behind the flag post, don't return it. If you do, you're a noob! you're not helping your team(mates) at all. If the enemy has to travel further, that's a good thing! Those few seconds can be the difference between returning your precious flag and not!

5. The Effective Combos:
The best combos for returning your flag are usually made up of Long/Mid-Range turrets or High Damage/Rapid Firing turrets mounted on a light (or the occasional medium) hull. Here, I will analyse and rate what combos are best for returning flags. Of course, this can not necessarily be true for different sized Maps and also keep in mind that these are based on my views.

⁃ Hornet+Railgun.
Of course, we have the classic ol' XP! My reason for this is because Hornet provides speed and the Railgun packs a huge punch, which can make your enemies drop dead like flies! This is very effective in pretty much every type of Map (Long, Mid and Short).

⁃ Wasp+Railgun.
How can we have XP in this list without BP? This combo is chosen for the exact same reasons as XP. However, BP does give you the slight edge of killing enemies, giving the ability to expose as little as possible of your hull. What I mean by this is, that the turret is mounted very close to the end of one side of Wasp, which means that you only expose minimum of your tank but do maximum damage. Hornet has the turret mounted at nearly the middle, which means that you have to expose half of your tank to shoot.

⁃ Hornet+Smoky.
The Legendary Hornet-Smoky returns! A brilliant combo for returning flags! Smoky provides extreme-stealth as it's very hard to see what angle you are being shot at. Smoky's biggest advantage is its fast firing rate and critical hits. Smoky's reload time is very little but when you land contact on a light hull, it packs a real punch! When it lands a critical hit; beware, it will deal a huge amount of damage!

⁃ Wasp+Smoky
Another lethal combination; Wasp and Smoky. Mixed with some good hiding spots, you'll be able to kill your enemies in no time. You have a rapid firing rate so you can take down the enemy in only a few seconds.

⁃ Hornet+Thunder.
Hornet and Thunder inflicts maximal damage with minimal accuracy required, meaning that you don't have to hit the target exactly, even if you hit close by, it will inflict damage. A good tactic is to equip a Double Damage and attempt to hit a big crowd, to get maximum kills.

⁃ Wasp+Thunder.
Effective, and stealthy. Your covertness can take down an enemy in seconds, 3 shots (on average) to a Hornet/Wasp and they're dead! Especially effective in Night Maps, when your enemies can't tell where you're shooting from. The only problem is that getting too close to the enemy can make you self-destruct due to your splash effect.

⁃ Hornet+Hammer.
Having the capability of wreaking havoc wherever you are, this combination is devastating, if you can get close enough. Make sure to come with a Double Damage turned on and all you have to do is get close to your enemy. With a Double Damage, you can take them down within 1-3 shots (if it's a light hull).

⁃ Ricochet+Viking.
I can't elaborate how annoying this combination is, when you're trying to hide! I've been trolled so many times with its ricocheting capabilities. This combination is deadly. Try to drug up with a Nitro (to get to the flag as quickly as possible) and try to grab a Double Damage as well. My advice is to take the Nitro first, so you can spend some time getting to the hiding place of the unsuspecting victim and take a Double Damage as late as possible (keep in mind that the cooldowns after taking a Nitro isn't too long, so you won't have to wait long to activate your Double Damage). This combo, in my opinion, is most effective when used to kill victims unsuspecting tankers hiding next to a wall, or even better; under a ramp/tunnel. If they are hiding next to a wall, try to hit the wall at the precise angle for your shots to ricochet off the wall and hit them. If at a tunnel, hit as low down on the tunnel as possible. This lets you kill your opponent without them being able to even touch you. This combination also works decently with Hornet.

⁃ Isida+Hunter/Wasp.
You may be rubbing your eyes in uncertainty, wondering why I've written this combo down. This combo, is in fact deadly against an opponent with no drugs. I remember countless times, hiding in Brest, all the way up top in the fort, (which I liked to call "Snipers' H.Q!") near the ramp, until a drugged-up, party-pooping Isida came and completely took me down in seconds. Wasp is best for bigger Maps but the occasional sneaky Hunter+Isida can surprise you in Noise (when drugged up). If you're on Blue team, all you have to do is get to the top level and you should be able to find the flag very quickly, just drug up and try to surprise them.

⁃ Firebird+Hornet/Wasp.
I'm talking from experience here, but when I'm holding a flag, this is one of my biggest terrors! A Firebird with a Double Damage is more destructive than Arnie Schwarzenegger with a machine gun! Firebird inflicts the highest damage of any turret in the game, meaning that they can finish a light hull off, in a matter of seconds, literally. When you're a Firebird, you can pretty much go 'kamikaze' and go straight to killing the enemy. In small range maps, sneak 'round the corner and scorch your enemies!

Well, that's all for now, guys. I hope you enjoyed this and I hope that I have helped you to become a better sneak flag-returner!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Quarks 2,255]

1st, and well written, I like this a lot.

[F1ASC0 1,705]

Awesome!

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

1st, and well written, I like this a lot.

 

 

Awesome!

Thanks Guys. I had a lot more time to write this one, I tried to include humour as well, as I don't often, people who know me, know that I'm very light hearted but people who read my previous Articles wouldn't think that! I'm happy to hear that it worked! :D

[canadian_tank 226]

+1

[Gohan1310 131]

Like :D

[Quarks 2,255]

Thanks Guys. I had a lot more time to write this one, I tried to include humour as well, as I don't often, people who know me, know that I'm very light hearted but people who read my previous Articles wouldn't think that! I'm happy to hear that it worked! :D

Yes, humor does go over well, and, unlike me, you did not cover a controversial topic. 

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

Like :D

 

 

Yes, humor does go over well, and, unlike me, you did not cover a controversial topic. 

Thanks! No, you just chose a bad topic, if you did a different topic it would've gone well! Your Articles in the PM were quite funny.

[Quarks 2,255]

Thanks! No, you just chose a bad topic, if you did a different topic it would've gone well! Your Articles in the PM were quite funny.

Nobody has ever commented on my humor, except that it is bad. You must have low standards.

[Gandolf_Th3_White 100]

nice man

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

nice man

Thanks!

 

Nobody has ever commented on my humor, except that it is bad. You must have low standards.

It's not bad! :D

I liked the one on how to write a Guide.

[dilsharox 2,395]

+1

[Lan.Mareez 72]

good job friend good job indead :)

[fordmustang12345 3,910]

+1.000.000.000

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

+1

 

 

good job friend good job indead :)

 

 

+1.000.000.000

Thanks Guys! :D

[missingknight 408]

Nice article :).

(But that picture in the spoiler is freaky!  :ph34r: :lol:)

[Zenyth 6,494]

Good article

But I have a point to add, if you have some health left after killing the enemy with your flag and you are going to use a repair kit don't do it immediately. Wait till the last second because you can't return until the dead corpse vanishes.

Also minebombing can really help when attacking from higher altitude. Specially for turrets with low reload.

[fightermalikio20115 374]

Nice,m8 =)

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

Nice article :).

(But that picture in the spoiler is freaky!  :ph34r: :lol:)

  

Good article

But I have a point to add, if you have some health left after killing the enemy with your flag and you are going to use a repair kit don't do it immediately. Wait till the last second because you can't return until the dead corpse vanishes.

Also minebombing can really help when attacking from higher altitude. Specially for turrets with low reload.

  

Nice,m8 =)

1. Haha, it was supposed to be, IG!

2. Thank you, very good advice. Dunno if I'll add it yet, though. But thanks! :)

3. Thanks Malik!

[personia 4,036]

This was great! Well written and funny, with helpful tips the whole way through. Definitely a +1.

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

This was great! Well written and funny, with helpful tips the whole way through. Definitely a +1.

Thank you! That is exactly what I was trying to do - an informative guide with a touch of humour, glad to hear that it worked! :)

[GrenLantern 410]

Amazing work thanks for letting me be in it! Keep doing what you do fellow clan mate! ^_^  ^_^  B)  ^_^  ;)  :)

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

Amazing work thanks for letting me be in it! Keep doing what you do fellow clan mate! ^_^  ^_^  B)  ^_^  ;)  :)

Thanks Bro. I needed someone for the pic, it's great that you came!

[Hex 11,520]

Nice article, great for the newcomers, but just a read for the higher ranks, +1

 

 

 

Contradiction be like: 'gotta find that downvote button!'

 

 

:ph34r:

 

 

 

 

Edited January 17, 2016 by Hexed

[Quarks 2,255]

Nice article, great for the newcomers, but just a read for the higher ranks, +1

 

 

 

Contradiction be like: 'gotta find that downvote button!'

 

 

:ph34r:

 

 

 

 

probably not, he is sometimes critical though.