Review [Issue 58] MUs: Worth the Effort?

[Quarks 2,255]

 

With the recent balance update hitting the game this month, Marshal has now become the rank at which your power level goes OVER 9,000! with access to all M3s at that rank, and kits two ranks before that. This leads to an interesting question: does it make sense to Micro-Upgrade (MU) now?

 

 

M0s:

As usual, never MU your M0s, since they will be replaced very, very shortly. M1s come cheap compared to M2s and M3s, and saving crystals at this point is necessary so that you have an upper hand when buying early M1s. MUs cost a lot of crystals and these crystals could be much better spent on M1s instead of a partially MUed M0. Besides, each MU isn't very cost effective for the little it goes up making it an incredible waste of crystals. So MUing at M0 is still a really bad idea.

 

Bad bry, bad!

 

 

M1s:

So you've been smart not Micro-Upgrading your collection of M0s. You have, hypothetically, saved up enough crystals to buy a shiny new M1 and now you've hit a conundrum because the line is slightly grayer than it was before. Each Turret/ Hull should be upgraded, or lack thereof, in a different way.

 

Firebird "Has Pros and Cons": M2 Firebird is widely considered to be a beast in combat and is hard enough to counter in the M2 ranks, much less against M1s. However, it is incredibly expensive and while M2 Firebird is a beast, you get that at the loss of ability to invest in other M1s. So MUing Firebird should ONLY be done if you plan to use Firebird exclusively. 

 

Smoky "If you have the commitment, then YES!": M2 Smoky is the last unlocking M2, and in some regards, the best even with the recent update. Also considering that M1 Smoky is one of the earliest to unlock, you can pace your upgrades as you go along, but it still, as said above, very expensive. Probably the best Turret to upgrade, providing you have the crystals. You still might be more effective just buying an early cheap M2 and then buying M2 Smoky at its unlock rank or if it is in a kit.

 

Should've started earlier m8.

 

Isida "Eh, nope": Unlocking at Warrant Officer 1 and one of the first available M2s, it is just not worth the crystals. Not to mention that you can get M2 early in some kits, namely Osaka and Stinger. Isida M1 can be used all throughout the M1 ranks and even early M2s. Don't waste your crystals.

 

Freeze "ROFL": A cheap M2 and M1, there is no point in upgrading it. A waste of crystals, almost more so than Isida. Considering you can still freeze anyone, there is no real reason to MU.

 

Hammer "Maybe": An expensive M1, one of the most expensive, and a decent M2, Hammer is just middle of the road. Will M2 Hammer cause chaos, of course, but M1 Hammer still isn't outdated yet. It is an expensive proposition and depending on how you play and what you play with, whether or not you upgrade Hammer is up to you, though I would not recommend it, as it is still an M1.

 

Vulcan "Maybe": Very similar to Hammer, an average Turret that is well liked and rather trolly. Similar to Hammer, an M2 Vulcan would be great, but it is still an M1 and M2s are a short way away. You could, but I would not recommend it.

 

Thunder "No": Thunder unlocks very late, is the most expensive M1, and Thunder is a good M2 but unlocks only 5 ranks later it makes no sense. On a decent sale, you can get M2 Thunder much earlier then you will finish upgrading it. Don't bother.

 

Shaft, Ricochet, Twins "Maybe a little": While the Turrets act very differently and unlock at different times, they are similar in upgrading concepts. They can be used into the M2s and will be somewhat successful. If you want, you can pump in a few MUs, but for the most part, leave them as they are, you'll do fine.

 

Wasp "Only one worth it" M1 Wasp is asking to be pummeled with lead, plasma, and whatever Shaft projectiles are. The only way to survive if you only want to use M1 Wasp is MUing especially since M2 Wasp is amazing even if it unlocks late. Still, It would be more efficient just to buy another Hull, better use of your crystals.

 

Every Other Hull "Don't waste your Crystals"  These Huls just shouldn't be upgraded. Their M2 versions are good, but not worth the crystals. In fact, you probably won't even have enough to MU all the way.  

 

 

M2:

Here is where the change actually makes a difference. You are forced to use M2s for at least 3 more ranks (unless you bought an M2-M3 kit) IF you can afford a kit. So once again, is it actually worth it to MU up to the M3 level? Considering this is the probably the blurriest line, it makes the most sense to identify the Pros and Cons.

 

Pros: 

Having an M3 before most others is a definite advantage. Since much more people will still have M2 equipment, having M3s before anyone else means that you get to pwn everyone else. This leads to you being on top of the leaderboard, and thus more crystals to make up for the cost of MUing up to M3. 

 

You are also more prepared to fight those who do have M3s already. You won't be outclassed, but on par (unless they MUed too) with them. You have the ability to join battles with higher ranks without the inevitable lowering of K/D and minimal crystals for all the supplies you had to use to fight them. 

 

Cons:

You're out a lot of Crystals. MUing is still incredibly expensive and can put quite a hole in your pocket. It has the possibility to get in the way of lucrative sales if you start too early and it can severely narrow your weapon arsenal since you used all your money MUing.

 

This can limit your ability to adapt in battle, in some ways hurting how well you are able to do in terms of regaining crystals. For example, if the only turret you have is Rail, and almost half of the opposing team has a combination of Rail resistant modules or that one guy who bought Digital, you'll be unable to do sufficient damage to be helpful, thus impacting your crystal income. 

 

My Opinion:

 

At this point, you should already have a main that is the most used. If you have the crystals available and the time, I would recommend that you MU. The pros of having an early M3 outweighs the cons of losing crystals as you can definitely earn them back. Is it right for everyone, no it isn't, but if you can I would recommend at M2. 

 

Halfway there Jessie

 

 

M3:

Upgrade to M3+ (M4) if you can. You have reached the end of all modifications which means you won't have to bother thinking about the next modification. M3s can be upgraded on your time, whenever you want, though it is incredibly expensive. So go ahead, there is no reason not to, unless you want a full M3 Garage, then you should save your crystals for that equally expensive project.

 

 

MUing can be a great advantage in battle - and is, in some ways, more necessary than ever. So think through your purchases and upgrades. Dominate the battlefield, and rank up with your officially OP equipment. Good luck!

Edited January 3, 2018 by Yisroel.Rabin

[You.Have.to.die 519]

Wow, thank you I didn't know some of this!

Edited November 4, 2016 by You.Have.to.die

[TTK_229 1,080]

My personal MU philosophy: at most 20 MUs on Thunder, Viking (m1 only-m2 is so similar to m3...) And mammoth. Everything else (shaft, fire, hornet) 10 MUs. Only one MU for modules.

[DragonOfStorms 2,706]

I'm struggling over this decision myself. I'm fighting drugging M3 players quite often now, or at the least drugging M2/M2+ players. MUing Twins (gradually!) to M3 would give me a huge edge in battles, but the cost is now approximately 500,000 crystals! That's more than an M3 kit! I'm not a huge fan of the turret, either. If I don't MU, however, I'm faced with a long slog against opponents with better equipment and more supplies...

[ihatepasswordisback 152]

I'm struggling over this decision myself. I'm fighting drugging M3 players quite often now, or at the least drugging M2/M2+ players. MUing Twins (gradually!) to M3 would give me a huge edge in battles, but the cost is now approximately 500,000 crystals! That's more than an M3 kit! I'm not a huge fan of the turret, either. If I don't MU, however, I'm faced with a long slog against opponents with better equipment and more supplies...

play xp and while u do it and rush through ranks, you will have enough crystals to purchase m3s and mu them.

[BLASTER872 1,892]

I'm struggling over this decision myself. I'm fighting drugging M3 players quite often now, or at the least drugging M2/M2+ players. MUing Twins (gradually!) to M3 would give me a huge edge in battles, but the cost is now approximately 500,000 crystals! That's more than an M3 kit! I'm not a huge fan of the turret, either. If I don't MU, however, I'm faced with a long slog against opponents with better equipment and more supplies...

Simply, no. You might have an advantage at your rank but it won't last long. You'll regret it especially as twins has been nerfed, save for an M3 kit.

 

Meanwhile, play against WO4s and other lower ranked members of Tanki.

[GeeVuh 1,647]

I'm halfway up on my Smoky (On WO3 NotANewb). Was going to buy Tornado kit (M2 XP), but apparently it's worth it, so I think I'll follow through now.

[3x3cube 288]

Hhhh I use firebird SO extensively.. Upgraded that M1 44/50 now :D :3

[mat1tan161 1]

Hhhh I use firebird SO extensively.. Upgraded that M1 44/50 now :D :3

and .. its just not smart the difference on the long run in tiny just save and buy the m2 /m3 

 

i only upgrade m3.

 

save save and saev buy a kit and mu no bolsht no coler .

[goldboltxxx 33]

play xp and while u do it and rush through ranks, you will have enough crystals to purchase m3s and mu them.

HEY!

STOP reading my mind and copying me ;)

[LittleWillie 3,199]

This is a fair article but it is good advice only to certain gamers. This article might speak to the power-gamer but it does not speak to me, the daily-missioner.

 

(I should say at the start that one should only MU "strongly" during sales. I will buy low level MU steps off sale, up to at least 5. But most of the work must be done at sale prices.)

 

What is a quick turnaround for the next "m-level" on your equipment?  To a power-gamer it might "only be 4-5 ranks". To the daily missioner, the number of ranks isn't important. It is the number of experience points. Once you are into the officer ranks, 4-5 levels can mean months or a year of real-time.

 

As daily missioner, my view on MUing is that I can benefit from those upgrades for months of real time. So do it the sooner the better. I MU all new gear up to step 5 at least as soon as I get it.

 

Another point I differ from the author is in appropriate equipment. ANY turret or hull that has a long gap between m-levels is a perfect candidate to MU. Titan m1 comes very early and m2 at Colonel. There's a big gap from Wasp m1 t m2. Also from Hornet m2 to m3. Vulcan m2 to m3. All these are great candidates to MU.

 

Each MU step buys a lot. I have been playing with an m1 20/50 Titan on an account for 2-3 months. It is a bull in a china shop, game after game. It is still a WO (not much longer) so it is not even halfway thru the exp to reach the earliest m2 kit-buying Rank, Captain. I can upgrade that Titan to probably m1 40/50 and still have enough Cr for my kit at Captain. That means for the next 6-8 months I will benefit from having good gear now instead of saving everything for later.

 

So for players who level up gradually, MUing offers quite a bit. But maybe not as much for players who buy CR, or get power-leveled, or otherwise races as hard as possible to Legend rank.

Edited November 8, 2016 by LittleWillie

[baggadon 0]

I would like u to reconsider the damage level of each and every turret and especially thunder and fire as they are unbeatable while double damage . I dont want tanki to encourage the users to use only some turrents only

[Hassan_Ackbar 0]

"To upgrade or not to upgrade - that is the question!"

- MOHHAMAD  SULLUN  AZARJABI

[r_I_already_won0 2,339]

 It is still a WO (not much longer) so it is not even halfway thru the exp to reach the earliest m2 kit-buying Rank, Captain. 

 

Did I fail to understand your point or did you say that the earliest m2 kit-buying rank is Captain? Because you can get the Avalanche Kit (freeze and hornet m2) at WO4.  And the LATEST m2 kits unlock at Captain, most of them unlock earlier.

[LittleWillie 3,199]

Did I fail to understand your point or did you say that the earliest m2 kit-buying rank is Captain? Because you can get the Avalanche Kit (freeze and hornet m2) at WO4.  And the LATEST m2 kits unlock at Captain, most of them unlock earlier.

The particular kit that specific account would get unlocks at Capt. So... earliest way for that account to convert to Titan m2 would be at capt ... I meant. In the meantime a Titan m1 20/50 is Godzilla at WO.  And that "meantime" will probably last several months, so I am getting my MUing money's worth.

 

That's that angle I was trying to communicate.

Edited November 8, 2016 by LittleWillie

[GeeVuh 1,647]

The particular kit that specific account would get unlocks at Capt. So... earliest way for that account to convert to Titan m2 would be at capt ... I meant. In the meantime a Titan m1 20/50 is Godzilla at WO.  And that "meantime" will probably last several months, so I am getting my MUing money's worth.

 

That's that angle I was trying to communicate.

Same idea with my M1 30/50 Smoky. 

[bryanchua 33]

Everytime they mention the new reproters name I always somehow feel it is me :3

[bryanchua 33]

And why doesnt this article feature m3s?

[swiftbillyle 0]

 

 

Smoky "If you have the commitment, then YES!"

Yes, I had already done it fully upgraded and it helps me the most even against M3's. I had been upgrading it since I buyed it.

Edited November 9, 2016 by swiftbillyle

[Quarks 2,255]

And why doesnt this article feature m3s?

It does, that just doesn't need to be as in depth though.

[MSI 1,926]

Interesting..

[DESTROYER_13 1,019]

that one guy who bought Digital

*Cough modules cough*

[bc200214_777 582]

This helped me so much <3 thanks.

[Albrt_Gaming 2]

nice going bigtimerush

[TTK_229 1,080]

Good article...Hairbrush. :P