Guide [Issue 56] The Mid Ranker's Handbook: Product Kits

[Zenyth 6,494]

 

Previous articles in the series:
- The Mid Ranker's Handbook: Gameplay

- The Mid Ranker's Handbook: All About Crystals

 

---

 

Product kits are lucrative deals which offer equipment sets several ranks before they ordinarily unlock, and hence an opportunity to have an edge over others on the battlefield - albeit at a high (though discounted) price. The said price is highly achievable with a bit of planning while you slog away diligently to foot the kit's bill. I believe the current kit system strikes a great balance between advantage to the buyer and effects on the gameplay. However, looking at the variety of product kits on offer, it is necessary that you find out sufficient information about them and their modi operandi.

This "Product Kits" segment of "The Mid Ranker's Handbook" will be focused on comparing and appraising the best product kits that Tanki Online offers. With brand new kits unveiled after Tanki Online's 7th birthday this year, besides the existing ones and the changes in the contents and prices caused by the July-end update, we have a lot to talk about. My reviews will comprise a general factual overview and gameplay section of each kit.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMLPrACSPIs

Video credits to and @Pizzarrific

 

This introductory blather is bothering me. Shall we start with the real business now, readers? In this issue, we'll be having the M2 kits, all in the ballpark of 150k-250k. For the sake of convenience, I have divided them into three types — (I) Light M2 kits, (II) Medium M2 kits and (III) Heavy M2 kits. I've lined all of them up below, now let's get on with it!

 

(I) Light M2 Kits

(II) Medium M2 Kits

(III) Heavy M2 Kits

Mini-Contest

 

Also, take a look at the rating criteria, if you will!

Rating Criteria

• [H] Hull - versatility, suitability for turret, longevity, quality of upgrade from previous modification
• [T] Turret - versatility, longevity, quality of upgrade from previous modification
• [P&M] Paint and Module - camouflage quality, protection spread, protection relevance
• [O] Other - value for money, early-unlocking advantage, utility in other fields like parkour, gold-hunting, etc.

 

Stuff I'd like to point out before you start reading -

1. All of the kits have been tried and tested by me in regular conditions. The reviews are based on both opinions and facts.
2. Comparisons featured in the article are between kits. All the kits are significantly better and profitable than individual items.
3. I have avoided repetition of points, so I suggest reading all the reviews. For the same reason, I have written shorter reviews for a few of the kits.

Edited January 3, 2018 by Yisroel.Rabin

[Zenyth 6,494]

Light Kits M2

---

 

Firebolt
Stealthy slaughterer.
Unlocks at - Captain
Price - 182,765 crystals
Contains - Firebird M2, Wasp M2, Rustle, Badger T-C M2

Ah, the famous Firebird-Wasp. Firebolt was one of the many kits introduced after Tanki's birthday this year and although you wouldn't seen too many Firebolts, it's still a great kit to have. It opens up the unofficial Firebird-Wasp format for you to enjoy with your friends and clanmates. In regular battles, it is equally deadly. Of course, because of Wasp's low health you wouldn't want to go in the open and hope that no one notices and fires at you. Stealth is very, very important as a Firebird-Wasp. Firebird's clip is limited and to utilize it to your best ability, you need to wait for the right opportunity. With the right amount of patience, stealth and skill, you can burn down tough defenses despite having low health. Sometimes you can attempt to be acrobatic, using Firebird's cone angle to put some burn on unsuspecting enemies. It is mainly adept at CTF, TDM and DM modes on medium and large maps.

 

Jumping by turning your hull in the air

 

Wasp M2 is visibly the better of the two light hulls by far. Its top speed and acceleration shows a sudden surge from M1 to M2. With only 2.5 health points less than Hornet, you can't really complain or question the superiority of Wasp M2. Rustle doesn't exactly give you great camouflage but isn't flashy. Badger T-C M2 module's 25% Thunder protection means you can survive three shots of Thunder M2 and the Isida and Freeze protection also helps in tight situations.

 

█████████ [H] 9

█████████ [T] 9

███████▌[P&M] 7.5

████████ [O] 8

 

Fireworks

Speedy attacker.
Unlocks at - Third Lieutenant
Price - 171,535 crystals
Contains - Hammer M2, Hornet M2, Spark, Lion T-B M2

Fireworks was introduced after Tanki's seventh birthday, making its name very indicative of the time it was introduced. I would get this kit if I couldn't afford Pitbull kit. Health is a big problem with Hammer-Hornet and you will have to be very cautious when attacking, so that you at least manage to get in all three shots, if not more. I would personally try to eliminate one or two defenders before going for the flag in CTF. It is abysmal in small/medium map CPs, TDMs and DMs. I would only play DM in large maps like Dusseldorf. The aim should be inflicting damage and getting minimum punishment in return, which makes use of the peek-a-boo tactic important. (obviously for short-range kills!) Also, the recoil is a major problem when dealing with enemies directly near you or in rough terrain.

Hornet M2 could be called a below average upgrade from M1, perhaps a reason why it unlocks ahead of all the M2 hulls. The increase in top speed, acceleration and health points from M1 is quite less than the increase from M2 to M3. Micro-upgrading doesn't go a long way, either. The module that comes with the rather flashy Spark paint is Lion T-B M2. It is a decent module for most maps and modes.

 

██████▌[H] 6.5

██████▌[T] 6.5

███████▌[P&M] 7.5

███████ [O] 7

 

Tornado
Ticket to XP/BP battles.
Unlocks at - Warrant Officer 5
Price - 164,185 crystals
Contains - Railgun M2, Hornet M2, Spark, Lion T-B M2

Firstly, do not buy before practicing XP at a lower modification! The advent of the recent paints and modules update brought about several changes to the XP/BP format, including removal of the requirement of protective paints of M2 Wasp and Hornet. However, you wouldn't find a lot of XP/BP format battles until you hit Major. You will have to rely on duels and battles with clanmates. That means that you will have to use this combination in regular battles. Tornado has received a facelift since the modules update, the Spark LGC module which had heavy Ricochet protection making way for the Lion T-B module which has a much better quality.

Tornado is quite good in CTF and TDM. In CTF, it can take a flag or two, but I would go for the role of an attacking camper. Your main job would be clearing the way for the main attackers, eliminating threats from the midfield and all this while still being available as a defensive assistant when matters get difficult for your defense. Perfecting your peek-a-boo tactic, taking calculated risks, improving your driving and knowing your turret's reload time and auto aim capabilities can contribute hugely to your gameplay.

 

████████ [H] 8

████████ [T] 8

███████▌[P&M] 7.5

███████ [O] 7

Similar kit - Mosquito

Unlocks at - Captain
Price - 199,420 crystals
Contains - Railgun M2, Wasp M2, Savanna, Ursa T-B M2

Nimble and agile! Mosquito kit is a nightmare when skilled players use it. This kit also opens up new avenues in the form of the XP/BP format for you. Mosquito possibly requires a larger skill-set than Hornet (a topic I don't want to moot), with Wasp's better manouevrability, speed and lesser HP. Given its lower weight and stability, it requires regular practice to exercise the "shooting while driving" process with ease.

 

Mosquito is a versatile camper

 

Ursa T-B M2 is quite suitable for Mosquito (also named "Mozzie"). Smoky is the number one enemy of Railguns for obvious reasons. 25% (although lesser than the Savanna LGC module) Smoky, 25% Railgun and 25% Ricochet (another turret which is the culprit of many cases of annoyance) makes it a good fit with BP M2.

 

█████████▌[H] 9.5

████████ [T] 8

█████████▌[P&M] 9.5

██████ [O] 6

Stinger
Doesn't necessarily die after the sting.
Unlocks at - Warrant Officer 4
Price - 121,950 crystals
Contains - Isida M2, Hornet M2, Fracture, Shark T-B M2

Stinger kit along with Avalanche kit is the earliest M2-M2 kit on offer. Unlocking as early as WO4, it gives you a huge advantage as you'll be facing a lot of M0s and cheap M1s. The idea of Isida M2 and Hornet M2 at the rank at which a couple of M1 turrets unlock sells the Stinger kit. Isida M2 is a fairly above average upgrade, although the transition from M2 to M3 is even better. Damage, healing, self-healing, reload time and range shows a good improvement. Stinger's Shark T-B module fares well in mid and long range combat. One thing though, getting this kit beyond the rank of WO5 or so is not a favourable investment.

Gameplay with the Stinger kit can be a bit chaotic, if you don't balance your healing and killing roles well enough. Assessing the skill and strength of your teammates as well as enemies can be important if you want to decide whether to kill the enemy or heal the teammate beside. Another decision you have to make is choosing between attack assistance and defense assistance. If there are heavier Isidas around, you would want to assist attackers, and if not, then I would balance out both by zipping around from base to base. A point to note would be that beyond the rank of, say Major, tanks get beefed up more and more, so, consequently, the healing job should slowly take over and be your main objective later on.

 

███████ [H] 7

███████ [T] 7

██████▌[P&M] 6.5

████████ [O] 8
 

Similar kit - Avalanche

 

Unlocks at - Warrant Officer 4
Price - 107,955 crystals
Contains - Freeze M2, Hornet M2, Cedar, Shark T-C M2

 

Freeze-Hornet is quite common, possibly more than any other combination with Freeze. Avalanche is decidedly a low-end M2 kit like Stinger and Tornado, but also the cheapest M2 kit around. Like Isida, Freeze M2 is an above average upgrade. It is very popular among the Lieutenant ranks because of its low price. However, after the Lieutenant ranks, it becomes downright underpowered. 

 

Circle-strafing with Freeze

 

Freeze-Hornet gameplay has two types — 1) direct attack and 2) defensive assistance and flag pursuit. The former involves the usual circle-strafing tactic and surprise attacks on enemy bases. Defensive assistance is pretty difficult because of Hornet's low health, but Freeze's expertise in slowing down escaping tanks is much needed.

 

██████▌[H] 6.5

███████ [T] 7

████████ [P&M] 8

████████ [O] 8

 

---

 

Overall Ratings - Light Kits M2

(approximate)

 

████████ [Firebolt] 8

███████ [Fireworks] 7

███████▌[Tornado] 7.5

████████▌[Mosquito] 8.5

███████ [stinger] 7

███████▌[Avalanche] 7.5

 

 

(II) Medium M2 Kits

(III) Heavy M2 Kits

Mini-Contest

[Zenyth 6,494]

Medium Kits M2

 

Aborigine

You can't be critical of this one.
Unlocks at - Captain
Price - 205,985 crystals
Contains - Smoky M2, Hunter M2, Savanna, Ursa T-B M2

Back to being a rookie? No way. Aborigine may contain the very simple combo that everyone of us would have used to get our very first kill, but look at its avatar at M2 and things are a lot different. Smoky M2 is possibly the most feared of the M2 turrets, shown clearly by the massive improvements in range, reload time, min/max damage, impact force and critical damage. That means that Smoky M2 is your best bet when you come up against M3s. However, I feel that Aborigine's value has downgraded since the paints and modules update. I believe that 40% protection against the powerful Smoky M2 (which the then Savanna LGC module had) is more beneficial than an additional 10% and 5% against Ricochet and Railgun respectively. Savanna paint occasionally helps you go unnoticed in bushes.

 

Successful and rapid counterattacks = high score

 

On the battlefield, you have the privilege of versatility. You can contribute to the defense, shoot and annoy enemies (deflecting aim also counts!) from the sides of the map, or maybe attack and capture flags. You can target long-ranged weapon users and cajole them into going off on a tangent to their actual role. Another thing I found effective was the counterattacking strategy. On the Kungur map, I would stay behind cover and fire at the enemies until my team took the enemy flag. The enemies, often disorganized, would go after the flag and return, leaving the base relatively vulnerable. That's when the opportunity comes and you capitalize by taking the flag home (go back through a different route than the previous attacker, obviously!). Another thing to keep in mind is the critical chance. Every time you get a critical shot, waste a few shots to make sure you get another critical in time. This is easier said than done as we often get carried away in battle.

 

████████▌[H] 8.5

█████████▌[T] 9.5

█████████▌[P&M] 9.5

████▌[O] 4.5

 

Similar kit - Northerner

Unlocks at - Captain
Price - 193,020 crystals
Contains - Smoky M2, Viking M2, Winter, Kodiak T-E M2

Smoky-Viking is widely used as a midfielder and its ways are almost identical to those of Smoky-Hunter. It's up to a person's own liking when it comes to choosing between the Northerner kit and Aborigine kit. At M2, Viking is readily named by many as superior to Hunter. The major difference between the two kits is the module, which in Northerner's case is Kodiak T-E. It is a good, versatile module with coverage from multiple ranges. Another point that makes this kit better in comparison is that Hunter M2 unlocks at the same rank as the Aborigine kit. So, if you buy Aborigine you're technically getting no real advantage there. On the other hand, Northerner gives you Viking M2 two ranks earlier and that's definitely good.

 

█████████▌[H] 9.5

█████████▌[T] 9.5

███████ [P&M] 7

██████▌[O] 6.5

 

Anaconda
The Eric Dier kit.
Unlocks at - Warrant Officer 5
Price - 141,525 crystals
Contains - Vulcan M2, Dictator M2, Python, Panda D-B M2

Anaconda is another kit that was introduced after Tanki's 7th birthday this year - and like the two kits we reviewed before this one, it's mainly a combination for rovers. Although, I could prefer to use Anaconda as a defensive-minded midfielder. Anaconda spells trouble for enemies in maps with varying altitude. Dictator's height paired with Vulcan's brutal 33° transverse auto-aim in the vertical plane is a great combination. You would want to frequent maps like Rio, Opposition and Future with this kit to utilize it. You can potentially play an important role by holding bridges and other important passages and cutting off attack lanes with incessant fire. Hiding behind walls is better than pursuing an open onslaught. You aren't a Mammoth. For the same reason, it does not hold out well enough in DMs.

You would want an Isida to help you out from time to time, especially since this kit doesn't give you any protection from the overheating effect of Vulcan. Alternatively, you could purchase the cheap Fox S-A module and get some "self-reliance". The module which accompanies the kit, Panda D-B M2, is of rather low quality. Freeze and Shaft are the two of the rarest occuring turrets of Tanki, and hence you won't get enough out of this module. Another thing that I'd like to point out is the quality of Vulcan M2. The parameters of Vulcan increase nearly twofold from M2 to M3 than from M1 to M2. What does that mean? You'll probably need MUs to make sure your Vulcan stays competitive after a few ranks.

 

███████ [H] 7

█████▌[T] 5.5

███▌[P&M] 3.5

████████ [O] 8
 
Similar kit - Vesuvius

Unlocks at - First Lieutenant
Price - 177,660 crystals
Contains - Vulcan M2, Viking M2, Blacksmith, Griffon T-C M2

Vesuvius evokes a picture of an ageing beast, waiting to unleash its power. I open my eyes, and see Vulcan on a Viking, nice. I move across and see what the module protects against - Railgun, Shaft and Vulcan. No.. yet again, we have a kit that lacks the valuable Firebird protection that you'd need. While the protections aren't bad for a long range fight in the Kungurs or Serpuhovs, they aren't what I'd call optimum. 

Gameplay-wise, I would follow a strategy similar to that of Anaconda, clinging to precious cover and shooting at the attacking waves. Vantage points are beneficial. Also, target the less stable hulls first if they're at a distance, you could make them suffer with your excellent impact force.

 

████████ [H] 8

█████▌[T] 5.5

████▌[P&M] 4.5

█████▌[O] 5.5

 

Boar
Tall and robust.
Unlocks at - Warrant Officer 5
Price - 152,350 crystals
Contains - Ricochet M2, Dictator M2, Sandstone, Griffon T-A M2

Boar is another kit for the midfielder. With the unique ricocheting effect of its projectiles, Ricochet along with Dictator is a solid combination which can both suppress attacks and if the opportunity arises, support or initiate attacks on its own. What most people do, is use Ricochet as an ordinary peashooter, hence failing to avail themselves of the chief functionality of this turret. Boar kit can potentially be an asset to teams in maps such as Noise and Highland. With its ricocheting effect brought into play, it has the ability to hold off enemies along walled passages and corridors with obstacles and create an impasse. Understandably, doing the same requires a certain level of practice, which comes from experience. Ricochet's M2 stage is fairly mediocre when compared with other M2 turrets. That reflects in the lesser-than-expected value of the increase in damage, decrease in reload time, decrease in the energy per shot and finally, the increase in the range of minimum damage. 

Its pairing with Dictator is tried and tested, both in gameplay and gold-hunting. The strategy that I used for Anaconda somewhat holds true for Boar too. You should shoot from a lower altitude to put Dictator's height and Ricochet's auto aim (which is the joint highest in the game, along with Vulcan's) to use. The module Griffon T-A, which it shares with the Simoom kit, offers decent protection in long-range battles. However, I wouldn't aim for long-range kills much, since Ricochet's projectile velocity (which is higher than that of Twins but still significantly low) can make you miss a few shots from the clip. Besides all that, it's the modest price of Boar that appeals.

 

████████ [H] 8

████████ [T] 8

███████▌[P&M] 7.5

████████▌[O] 8.5

Similar kit - Juggler

Unlocks at - Third Lieutenant
Price - 163,515 crystals
Contains - Ricochet M2, Hunter M2, Digital, Griffon T-B M2

Ah, a Hunter kit at last. Ricochet-Hunter is not that common and so is this kit. Let's talk about Hunter M2. It's an average upgrade from M1, the increase in top speed and HP being slightly unsatisfactory. It is understood that this is because Hunter M3 unlocks late, but it also means that you'll need a few MUs to keep using it as your main hull. With Ricochet, Hunter's drift and relatively less stability can be a problem, but in general it doesn't disappoint.

 

Using Ricochet's special ability in attack

 

Juggler can clobber isolated defenders and if needed, capture flags in CTF. While defending, don't go for crowd control. In DM, target tanks one by one and you're fine. The Griffon T-B module is decent for mid to long range battles, but the 25% Railgun protection that you get with it doesn't totally assure you of surviving two shots of M2 Railgun; something the previous protection of the Digital paint did.

 

███████ [H] 7

████████ [T] 8

████████ [P&M] 8

███████ [O] 7

 

Chiropractor

The mobile sniper.
Unlocks at - Second Lieutenant
Price - 197,730 crystals
Contains - Shaft M2, Hunter M2, Loam, Lion T-B M2

Chiropractor is a good kit if you frequent CTFs and TDMs. While using it, avoid being predictable. You aren't going to last long if you stick to one sniping position, so switch spots often and keep your enemies guessing. Being a mobile sniper means you won't be able to get a full scope shot every time. If you're killing enemies from the frontlines and someone close by spots you, don't try to zero in on them - instead, employ the arcade shot and retreat, which will guarantee you a quicker reload and hence more shots to save yourself from dying. If the enemy who spotted you is quite far off, then use a quick scope shot (charge up a little and shoot immediately) and go back to cover. 

 

The Rio beach has good visibility and an easy retreat for Chiropractor

 

Shaft M2 has a very high 'skip potential', its attributes being very near to those of Shaft M3. In spite of its rather good upgrade from M1, if you have another M2 turret to use, just skip buying Shaft M2. Please note, I'm not saying that it doesn't do well and getting it in a kit is not a bad idea at all. Chiropractor comes with the Lion T-B module, which is undoubtedly a high-end one. Lastly, you should know that you won't be going on killing sprees as often as a Shaft-Mammoth would and so you're D/L won't be as high as that of a regular sniper's.

 

███████ [H] 7

█████▌[T] 5.5

███████▌[P&M] 7.5

███████ [O] 7

 

Firewall

Too good...
Unlocks at - Second Lieutenant
Price - 206,045 crystals
Contains - Firebird M2, Hunter M2, Hohloma, Grizzly T-E M2

Firewall kit is a death-dealing monster. Firebird M2 at Second Lieutenant in itself is already such a bonus! From M1 to M2, Firebird improves in leaps and bounds, even more than it does from M2 and M3. This is signified by the unrivalled increase in damage, reload time and burning time from M1 to M2. Firewall kit is good at CP, CTF and DM too. I would personally choose multiple-CP games over single-CP ones, since the latter generally needs better armour than what Hunter has. Additionally, Hunter's speed make it easier to travel from point to point and incinerate groups of enemies in multiple-CPs. 

In CTF, you can do well as a frontline attacker or a supporting defender. Make sure you go along closed and covered routes for attacking. When you're near the flag, use around 75% of your clip on the defenders, the afterburn will do its job. After that, make a quick exit. This way you will also have some energy left to kill any pursuing enemies. DM relies on the same principle - making efficient use of your afterburn and aiming for more than one tank whenever possible. The module which comes with Firewall is Grizzly T-E, which I wouldn't rate highly despite its versatility.

 

████████ [H] 8

█████████ [T] 9

██████▌[P&M] 6.5

███████ [O] 7

 

Minotaur

Minotaur spells devastation, D-E-V-A-S-T-A-T-I-O-N.
Unlocks at - First Lieutenant
Price - 203,225 crystals
Contains - Twins M2, Viking M2, Rhino, Grizzly T-F M2

Minotaur is another versatile Viking kit. The versatility here is in its ability to attack. It can single-handedly destroy weak or unorganized defenses. When pitched against better defenses, it can step into the shoes of the attacker who kills and displaces the defenders while another attacker makes short work of the flag. Strategy-wise, you can attack, run roughshod and still be successful because of Twins M2's firepower, but not every time. Instead, whack the enemy from behind. Use narrower paths to help you aim less and hit more. (for a start, try killing a Wasp running across the open areas in Esplanade, you'll have a hard time getting your aim right) Whenever possible, engage in head-on close-range combat, it's the best way to deliver maximum damage.

The module assigned to Minotaur kit is the Grizzly T-F M2. Now, prior to the paints and modules update, the Rhino paint's protective half (or currently the Rhino LGC module) offered 30% each against Vulcan and Hammer besides a minute 6% against Firebird. What adds a whole lot of value to this kit, is the aforementioned Grizzly module. While it still gives a (reduced) 25% protection against Hammer and Vulcan, it offers you an invaluable 25% against Firebird. You may not find enough utility as far as the Hammer and Vulcan protection is concerned, but you won't complain about the Firebird one, because Firebirds are... everywhere.

 

█████████▌[H] 9.5

█████████ [T] 9

██████ [P&M] 6

███████▌[O] 7.5

Similar kit - Jam

Unlocks at - First Lieutenant
Price - 218,640 crystals
Contains - Twins M2, Dictator M2, Cherry, Shark T-D M2

Jam kit is another "unusual" combination. It does really well in most scenarios, except at close quarters. The reason being excellently highlighted in @Thekillerpenguin's recent guide on Twins. Take a look below.

 

Normally, I would suggest driving Dictator backwards at close quarters due to the location of its turret. However, if you do so with Twins and someone is right next to your turret, you won't be able to hit them. Therefore, you can drive backwards at medium range to lower the distance of the turret to your target (helpful for Twins); but if you need to deal with someone up close, try to keep them in the front of your hull, between the two tread "prongs". You can then ram them and prevent them from moving easily.

Jam kit's module Shark T-D M2, with Twins, Thunder and Vulcan protection is decent to say the very least. It makes this kit ideal for battles like Polygon CP. Happy mayhem.

 

██████▌[H] 6.5

█████████ [T] 9

██████▌[P&M] 6.5

██████ [O] 6

 

Pitbull

Intimidating and expensive.
Unlocks at - Third Lieutenant
Price - 230,600 crystals
Contains - Hammer M2, Hunter M2, Atom, Lion T-A M2

Pitbull packs quite a punch at close range and hence, makes for a great ambush-style attacker. Hammer M2 is an average, or perhaps a slightly above average, upgrade, with good improvements in damage per pellet and damage per clip. Of course, the stability and drift problems of Hunter reappear at times due to Hammer's high recoil. To balance that you have the extra speed which you can use in bigger maps. In the said bigger maps, avoid open areas and creep up to the enemy base before unleashing your clip. Similar to what I said for the Smoky kits, if you have one shot left and no enemy nearby, waste it and wait for your Hammer to reload. This is often forgotten in the chaos of battle and can prove helpful at crucial moments. In DM too, try to avoid open areas as you don't need a constant line of sight. Besides that, always try to use the high recoil to your advantage by shooting and ramming enemies, which disorients and possibly flips them.

 

The route above is favourable for Pitbull - plenty of drops and cover on the way

 

The module Lion T-A is a great choice for Pitbull as your business will mostly be in the close-range zone. Firebird and Twins protection alone makes it top-notch. One shortcoming is Pitbull's steep price, although one can blame the Atom paint for dragging it up.

 

███████▌[H] 7.5

██████▌[T] 6.5

███████▌[P&M] 7.5

██████▌[O] 6.5

Similar kit - Glaze

Unlocks at - First Lieutenant
Price - 194,400 crystals
Contains - Hammer M2, Viking M2, Winter, Kodiak T-E M2

Glaze is pretty similar to Pitbull, except for its higher health, lower top speed and added insurance in the form of Viking's stability. Another difference, the Kodiak T-E module, makes Glaze more suited for medium maps than Pitbull, the latter being tailored for smaller maps or cramped areas in bigger maps.

 

█████████ [H] 9

██████▌[T] 6.5

███████ [P&M] 7

██████▌[O] 6.5

 

Simoom
Deadly with supplies.
Unlocks at - Third Lieutenant
Price - 164,065 crystals
Contains - Thunder M2, Dictator M2, Sandstone, Griffon T-A M2

At first glance, my mind hints that Simoom's quite an oddball, but the popularity of Thunder-Dictator makes me think otherwise. Thunder-Dictator is an uncanny version of the more popular Thunder-Viking. Considering the M2s of both hulls, Viking beats Dictator in HP (by a little), top speed as well as acceleration. Dictator is the better one of the two in turning speed, but loses out in turning acceleration; the probable reason for its awkward feel in cramped areas which require lots of steering. In general conditions, I would label Viking as the better hull for Thunder, more so if it's M2.

 

 

Thunder can be key in killing enemies backed by an Isida

 

Besides that, as you would recall if you read the previous article of this series, I deem Thunder M2 as a passable investment. The reason being that, a good number of its parameters (namely range, impact force and both regular and splash damage) being unusually close to those of its M3 counterpart. (See its Wiki page for reference.) On the battlefield, it doesn't disappoint as such but gains a fearsome character with liberal use of supplies, especially Double Damage . Another salient feature of this kit is the ability of Dictator to create excellent angles for shooting while it turns or rocks back. Although this can also be executed by using Viking, I feel the length and shape of Dictator makes it easier.

The 25% Thunder protection of the Griffon T-A module lessens self-damage when enemies get too close for comfort but it's the lack of short-range protection which make Simoom feel like a bull in a China shop in smaller maps. Hence, it's better off in medium and medium-large maps where you can put Thunder's longer range to use. Nevertheless, you should still play in Polygon and similar maps, especially in the CP mode for the sake of splash damage. In DM mode, stealing kills is the best choice. Avoid close combat, and shoot towards clusters of tanks or the enemy base in team battles. Use splash damage to kill retreating opponents or those using cover.

 

███████▌[H] 7.5

██████▌[T] 6.5

████████ [P&M] 8

████████ [O] 8

Similar kit - Annihilator

Unlocks at - First Lieutenant
Price - 253,200 crystals
Contains - Thunder M2, Viking M2, Atom, Lion T-A M2

A much more orthodox pairing in comparison to Simoom. As highlighted earlier, Viking M2 is "superior" to Dictator M2 in normal conditions and is a great choice to use with Thunder. The only thing that blights the superiority of this kit is the price. Annihilator is valued at almost a hundred thousand crystals higher than Simoom, making it the costliest of all the M2 kits available. Besides, the Lion T-A module is great for short-ranged combat, but unfortunately it lacks the highly necessary Thunder protection that you'd want. These two shortcomings make for a lower rating as far its value for money and module quality is concerned.
 

█████████▌[H] 9.5

██████▌[T] 6.5

██████▌[P&M] 6.5

█████ [O] 5

 

Voltage

Gold box machine.
Unlocks at - Warrant Officer 5
Price - 131,160 crystals
Contains - Railgun M2, Dictator M2, Electra, Grizzly T-D M2

Voltage contains the once-legendary Railgun-Dictator pair. It does well in CTF and multiple-CP battles. You can camp for prolonged periods of time when assisting your teams by delivering long-range shots. Yet again, Dictator's height is very useful for shots directed above you. One thing that can make you suffer is Dictator's size; you're a soft target even behind fortifications. I found this kit particularly good in Kungur CP. I would pick a good zone from which I could shoot at two or more than two points, put a mine or two on approach paths and that'd be all for me to get going for a long time. That aside, it's also good at gold hunting, as would any other turret with recoil on a Dictator. 

Voltage kit's value for money has definitely spiralled upwards after the paints and modules update. Earlier (referring to what currently is the Electra LGC module) the only decent protection it had was 30% against Isida but now you get the Grizzly T-D module with decent protection from Isida, Twins and Smoky.

 

██████▌[H] 6.5

████████ [T] 8

███████▌[P&M] 7.5

████████▌[O] 8.5

 

---

 

Overall Ratings - Medium Kits M2

(approximate)

 

████████ [Aborigine] 8

████████ [Northerner] 8

██████ [Anaconda] 6

██████ [Vesuvius] 6

████████ [boar] 8

███████▌[Juggler] 7.5

███████ [Chiropractor] 7

███████▌[Firewall] 7.5

████████ [Minotaur] 8

███████ [Jam] 7

███████ [Pitbull] 7

███████▌[Glaze] 7.5

███████▌[simoom] 7.5

███████ [Annihilator] 7

███████▌[Voltage] 7.5

 

---

 

(I) Light M2 Kits

(III) Heavy M2 Kits

Mini-Contest

[Zenyth 6,494]

Heavy Kits M2

---

 

Atlas

A great bargain!
Unlocks at - Captain
Price - 188,520 crystals
Contains - Smoky M2, Titan M2, Loam, Lion T-B M2

Atlas kit possibly has the highest early-unlocking advantage among all the other M2 kits. Both Titan and Smoky M2 unlock at Colonel. It goes without saying that this kit is also aimed for the defender. However, it's clear that you can't go for excessive crowd control with Smoky in spite of the impressive pushing power of Titan. You will have to resort to defending from the flanks or be a secondary defender. Atlas can also be used perfectly well as a midfielder, although only in medium maps. If playing CP, I would stick to medium maps with multiple control points. Smoky lacks the qualities to be "very effective" in single CP games. It is also a good combination for most DMs.

Coming to the subject of Titan M2, you wouldn't want to miss M2. It shows unmatched upgrades from M1 in weight and armour. Lion T-B is needless to say, an outstanding module for small medium maps.

 

█████████▌[H] 9.5

█████████▌[T] 9.5

███████▌[P&M] 7.5

████████ [O] 8

 

Cyclops

The traditional sniper.

Unlocks at - Second Lieutenant
Price - 174,090 crystals
Contains - Shaft M2, Mammoth M2, Loam, Grizzly T-E M2

 

Finally a fitting kit for wholehearted campers. Cyclops is pretty good if bought in time at Second Lieutenant. Be a little late and its value depreciates because of the presence of M3 Shaft kits at as early of a rank as Colonel. Shaft-Mammoth needs some practice. You're going to be targeted a lot by enemy Railguns and Thunders, not to mention the nuisance of Firebirds and Isidas sneaking up behind you as you aim for a kill in scope mode. All this cannot be eliminated, it's all a part of this combination's gameplay. Use it as an advantage, your team will benefit if you distract the enemies more and more.

 

Choosing your sniping spots is fundamental. Sniping spots should have great visibility of either one of the bases, or of the paths used by enemy attackers. A Double Damage or Repair Box spot nearby is a bonus. When sniping, ensure that you don't get carried away by kill streaks. Concentrate on your main task of locking down zones with your laser, killing off enemies from distance or assisting your defenders.

 

████████▌[H] 8.5

█████▌[T] 5.5

██████▌[P&M] 6.5

████████ [O] 8

 

Fortress
Strong but not long-lasting.
Unlocks at - Second Lieutenant
Price - 177,210 crystals
Contains - Thunder M2, Mammoth M2, Rustle, Badger T-C M2

Thunder-Mammoth represents strength and muscle. If you're using Fortress kit in team modes, you're the defensive linchpin. Although using this combination is pretty straightforward, one thing you must keep in mind is your positioning in CTF. Mammoth's super low speed is enough reason to say so. Make sure you are or can get into a position that has enough visibility of most, if not all base entrances. You should try and eliminate attackers from long range. Fortress is also good in CP, especially on medium maps. In DM mode, damaging more than one enemy is key, besides making sure that you don't get pinned by any enemy, especially when you're freshly spawned and vulnerable.

Mammoth M2 is an above-average upgrade from M1 with decent increase in HP and weight. Don't rest on that though, try to minimise damage, retreat and keep moving whenever possible to avoid close confrontation. The Badger T-C module is a good assistant in such cases. It gives you ample of room to stay alive when confronting Isida and Freeze.

 

████████▌[H] 8.5

██████▌[T] 6.5

███████▌[P&M] 7.5

███████ [O] 7

 

Similar kit - Guard

Unlocks at - Captain
Price - 202,085 crystals
Contains - Thunder M2, Titan M2, Urban, Grizzly T-D M2

Hugely similar to Fortress. Guard's combination is very rarely seen, perhaps because of the widespread popularity of Thunder-Mammoth. Guard is slightly less adept at crowd control, but it can probably switch to midfielding if required. I would not go for Guard kit if I were you and I have two solid reasons to justify my choice. First of all, the module Grizzly T-D M2. It has no protection against Thunder, and no matter how fat (or poufy if you're Manfred) you are, no Thunder protection is always a downside. Also, the then Urban LGC module had a whopping 40% protection against Twins, and that is no more. Furthermore, by buying Guard kit, you don't have the advantage of getting your turret "early" since Thunder unlocks at the same rank as Guard kit.

 

█████████ [H] 9

██████▌[T] 6.5

███████ [P&M] 7

█████ [O] 5

Mountain
The name is rather bland for its characteristics.
Unlocks at - Second Lieutenant
Price - 169,540 crystals
Contains - Vulcan M2, Mammoth M2, Blacksmith, Griffon T-C M2

I would have preferred another volcano, Etna maybe? Anyway, Mountain kit is another combination for the pivotal defender. Its playstyle is quite synonymous to that of Fortress kit. Avoid close fights, aim for ranged kills and be vigilant of your position in the base. Situational awareness is important (play around with that Q key once in a while!). Vulcan-Mammoth has consistently been used as a "flag-sitter" in CTF, which is easily justified by its good performance even when it's in the open. (just look at that health pool!)

 

Choose a commanding position

 

A friendly Isida (as in, not a regular team Isida but the one who stays near you for extended periods of time) can make the difference between you being a regular defender and a serious threat. If you have a friend who does that role for you or you found a random guy who's loyal, it only makes sense that you cover and protect him/her. If you don't have that luxury, then don't fret, you just need to be more wary of overheating. As seen in the Vesuvius kit, the Griffon T-C module doesn't have any Firebird protection.

 

████████▌[H] 8.5

█████▌[T] 5.5

████▌[P&M] 4.5

███████ [O] 7
 

Ram
Running out of superlatives.
Unlocks at - Captain
Price - 181,250 crystals
Contains - Twins M2, Titan M2, Rhino, Grizzly T-F M2

The name is very indicative of its playstyle. Ever heard of medieval battering rams? They were simple siege machines, which with the help of catapults and sapping, would bring down castle walls with ease. Well, unfortunately you can't do that type of ramming in Tanki but the door's open in the case of ramming enemies and steamrolling relentlessly through bases. It's very important that you use Titan to push and shove off enemies once they enter your base, it's the best way you can do something additional for your team in CTF. This works best in small, medium and medium-large maps. You should consider increasing your consumption of Speed Boosts for the same. 

 

Making hull contact with Titan is important

 

It excels in every mode except TDM, be it your regular Polygon DM, or a Highland CTF. In DM, it's basically an all out attack on everybody who comes across you. CTF and CP can involve more side jobs. For example, it can fare well as a part of those last-minute attack waves, if matters are close at the end of a gruelling battle. Grizzly T-F module is decent, as I said in the review of Minotaur. 

 

█████████▌[H] 9.5

█████████ [T] 9

██████ [P&M] 6

████████ [O] 8

---

 

Overall Ratings - Heavy Kits M2

(approximate)

 

████████▌[Atlas] 8.5

███████ [Cyclops] 7

███████▌[Fortress] 7.5

███████ [Guard] 7

██████▌[Mountain] 6.5

████████ [Ram] 8

 

 

(I) Light M2 Kits

(II) Medium M2 Kits

Mini-Contest

[GoldRock 6,165]

Mini-Contest

---

 

Can you write about your experiences using one of the product kits in this article? Pick a product kit that you own, and write whatever you like about your gameplay experience using it... or if you don't own any of the product kits, pick one and write about your perspective facing it on the battlefield!

 

Entries will be judged based on the grammar/phrasing, quality and depth of writing, knowledge demonstrated (show off your experience and expertise!) and how engaging your entry is to read. 

 

Let's see if product kit owners rule when it comes to writing about their experiences, or whether their opponents triumph!

 

Requirements:
- Entrants must be ranked between and .
- Entries must be posted in this topic.

- Entries must be no longer than 500 words in length.
- The contest will close at 23:59 UTC on 30th September, 2016.

 

The prizes are as follows:
1st place - 20,000 crystals.
2nd place - 15,000 crystals.
3rd place - 10,000 crystals.

 

Small consolation prizes of 5,000 crystals may be offered to any other deserving entries.

Good luck!

 

---

 

And that ends another episode of The Mid Ranker's Handbook! Have any suggestions, feedback, or perhaps your own thoughts about any kit? Comment below!

 

[Penguin40 1,714]

Nice one, I would have entered the mini contest had I not been a Brigadier. Tho I'm still in the midranks cause no M3s xD

[PracticeParkourStunt 2,542]

What does this mean?

█████████▌[H] 9.5

████████ [T] 8

█████████▌[P&M] 9.5

██████ [O] 6

Anyway, I am happy to see that you guys have finally made a video :D ! I can finally relax and see the guide rather than reading the whole thing (I don't like reading :P ). Hope to see more videos

[Zenyth 6,494]

What does this mean?

█████████▌[H] 9.5

████████ [T] 8

█████████▌[P&M] 9.5

██████ [O] 6

Anyway, I am happy to see that you guys have finally made a video :D ! I can finally relax and see the guide rather than reading the whole thing (I don't like reading :P ). Hope to see more videos

I suggest you read the spoiler in the very first post. Also, the video is like an introductory add-on, it's not a substitute for the article. :P

[GoldRock 6,165]

What does this mean?

█████████▌[H] 9.5

████████ [T] 8

█████████▌[P&M] 9.5

██████ [O] 6

Anyway, I am happy to see that you guys have finally made a video :D ! I can finally relax and see the guide rather than reading the whole thing (I don't like reading :P ). Hope to see more videos

As contained within the first post of this article:

 

Also, take a look at the rating criteria, if you will!

Rating Criteria

• [H] Hull - versatility, suitability for turret, longevity, quality of upgrade from previous modification
• [T] Turret - versatility, longevity, quality of upgrade from previous modification
• [P&M] Paint and Module - camouflage quality, protection spread, protection relevance
• [O] Other - value for money, early-unlocking advantage, utility in other fields like parkour, gold-hunting, etc.

Edited September 2, 2016 by GoldRock
Zenith ninja'ed me :c

[Hex 11,520]

In video:

 

0:44 - Lag will always be a part of Tanki ;)

2:06 - Sabotage *sigh*

2:55 - M0 Mult -_-

3:58 - I believe I can fly...

4:08 - Don't you dare call me a drugger :rolleyes:

[Destrod 2,634]

An excellent guide overall. Great use of knowledge and expertise

[Ninja 10,468]

I have Simoom and I kinda disagree with you on a couple of points, more in my contest entry. :)

[NewbieCake 3,067]

YESSSSSS gonna do the contest on my alt :P

[Lethal_Injection 586]

Great article. I must say I bought many product kits on this account to further my progress and prowess on the battlefield. My personal favorite of the three M2 kits I bought (Mosquito, Atlas, and Boar) is Atlas. It makes a formidable defender in many maps, and the impact force on smoky is amazing. Perfect for deflecting the aim of enemy railgunners. I would also make a note that titan M2 is superior to Mammoth M2 in almost every way, having higher speed, much more pushing power, and only 3 HP weaker in armor. It makes a great gold hunting hull in maps like Noise and Poly, as you can brute-force your way into a gold pile.

 

I wish I could enter the contest though, one rank too high :/

[Yisroel.Rabin 16,224]

I don't have the time to read the whole thing right now, but looks great, will read soon.

[Hex 11,520]

Ok so I read the whole thing and I can provide a good suggestion which will definitely make this series better:

 

Well as you know, we, high-ranked peeps get what you mean by 'turning the hull' in mid-air and some other tips and tricks as well, but, low-ranked people don't really get the idea right away. So, can you upload GIFs showing these tricks instead of the usual pictures taken in between of the trick. With the GIF, one could understand how you jumped at a certain angle and a certain amount of speed, what you did in mid-air and how you landed and continued your attack/something else.

Edited September 2, 2016 by Hexed

[NewbieCupcake 77]

These product kit reviews are always entertaining. Looking forward to reading some more.

[NewbieCupcake 77]

My Experience: Voltage Kit

 

It was the 5th of August, a tanker excitedly heads into his garage and immediately darts his eyes to the Voltage kit. Upon seeing the kit, the user clicks "Buy" and clicks "Yes" to confirm his purchase. His no lifing through Warrant Officer 4 had paid off.

 

Voltage is the only M2 kit I have purchased in my expedition through Tanki. I was very excited about this kit, as I was one of the very few with M2s on this rank, seeing most people are just beginning to save for M2s, I felt special. Railgun M2's piercing power is very good, especially at these ranks. Dictator M2 is a superb gold hull, Electra is an outstandingly eye appealing paint, and the protection module is relevant to the turrets that plague these ranks.

 

After purchasing this kit, I searched the server eagerly. I found a match: Polygon CTF. I entered the battle, and after about 30 minutes of playing, the fabled words appeared: Gold box will be dropped soon. It was my opportunity to see if Dictator was as good at catching golds as people claim it to be. And to my eyes, I took it without any competition.

 

 

After I caught the gold, unsurprisingly, the infamous words "Hacker" were spammed in the chat.. particularly by the Isida/Hornet/Guerilla. I simply ignored them.. but with four minutes left in the battle, again, the orange mystical letters were plastered in the 'Action Box'. I was really tempted to get this gold.. and Dictator did not disappoint.

 

 

I knew that with this kit and some no lifing in some Polygon CPs would allow me to see many golds. But just because the kit is good at catching golds does not mean it's necessarily good in battle. 

 

 

 

Railgun:

I wouldn't say Railgun is the dandiest M2 turret on market, but it's definitely not the worst. Being able to nail your enemies with pin-point accuracy across the map is one of the best feelings you can have, only to be followed by 4 asterisks in the chat, who wouldn't feel good about themselves? However, due note that if tanks ram into your side, sometimes your shot will go over them.

 

 

 

Dictator:

Again, just like Railgun it's not the best M2 hull out there.  Don't get me wrong, Dictator is awesome at gold hunting, but at certain times it can feel very awkward to use.. e.g.,

 

Protection Module:

Along with the kit, there comes a protection module. This time, it was Grizzly T-D M2.  And let me say, this is probably the best protection module at this rank. 25 protection against Twins, Smoky, and Isida. These turrets are not only annoying to face (especially with Railgun), but are also a plague in the common everyday matches. 

Conclusion:

I believe with this kit deserves a 7.5/10. It's what I call a 'bridge kit', a kit you purchase to save up for a better kit.

---

497 words, good luck all :D

Edited September 5, 2016 by NewbieCupcake

[TTK_229 1,080]

Is it just me, or were DDoS and blaster in that video?

BTW could SOMEONE tell me how to use spoilers? I want to make my submission look as fabulous as I am. :3

 

/spoiler

Hope this works!

 

 

 

Hope this works!

Edited September 2, 2016 by TTK_229

[DESTROYER_13 1,019]

Minotaur  :wub:

[NewbieCupcake 77]

I'm getting that next rank :P

[Zenyth 6,494]

Ok so I read the whole thing and I can provide a good suggestion which will definitely make this series better:

 

Well as you know, we, high-ranked peeps get what you mean by 'turning the hull' in mid-air and some other tips and tricks as well, but, low-ranked people don't really get the idea right away. So, can you upload GIFs showing these tricks instead of the usual pictures taken in between of the trick. With the GIF, one could understand how you jumped at a certain angle and a certain amount of speed, what you did in mid-air and how you landed and continued your attack/something else.

Yeah, I agree. Will include GIFs next time!

[Jwimmer 2,835]

Is it just me, or were DDoS and blaster in that video?

BTW could SOMEONE tell me how to use spoilers? I want to make my submission look as fabulous as I am. :3

 

/spoiler

Hope this works!

 

 

 

Hope this works!

For a spoiler. Do

[.spoiler]

your text here

[./spoiler]

But don't use the .

 

Will give you

 

 

your text here

 

 

[Pizzarrific 191]

In video:

 

0:44 - Lag will always be a part of Tanki ;)

2:06 - Sabotage *sigh*

2:55 - M0 Mult -_-

3:58 - I believe I can fly...

4:08 - Don't you dare call me a drugger :rolleyes:

Wow...you noticed way more stuff than I did in the video. And I was the one that edited it! The force is strong with this one.

[Penguin40 1,714]

Ahem. I have Predator on my WO4 account but that is an M1 kit hah, and I'm a Brigadier but wanna participate cause I'm really still in the midranks. I do have Mosquito and Tornado equipments (not the module tho), as well as Avalanche equipments. Can I participate?

 

On a side note, this is gonna help me a lot on my WO4 alt when I build my main enough xD And by enough I mean at least a few M3s with enough MUs, or maybe an M4.

 

Very nice job, Zenith. This is gonna help a lot of people in the mid ranks ;)