review Best Bang for your Buck - M2/Mk5 Edition

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

 

Welcome back to my second issue of the Best Bang for your Buck series! Today, I'll be taking a look at the Mk5 kits that will provide you with the most experience, crystals, and fun times, so do take a seat and have your notebook ready! Like last time, let me list the rules of how I chose kits to be in here:

 

First of all, no Mk1 kits. The Mk1 kits are widely considered as useless, and many Mk1 kits which are in the Garage perform… let’s say not as good as you’d like them to.

 

Secondly, I’m trying to limit myself to one turret and one hull per modification. Although you will see some recurring turrets and hulls, I did try to keep it diverse just because I would be considered very rigid.

 

Lastly, I am factoring in only the crystal kits.

 

There's also one big difference from last time. Instead of boring you with stat changes directly in the paragraph, I've made it easier for you to read by just putting them all into a spoiler directly below each piece of equipment. Keep in mind that I calculate each of these based on the difference from M1 to M2 in relation to its M0 counterpart (so the formula looks like ((M1 - M2) / M0)). Most of them are outdated, using stats from the old modification system, but should still give you a picture of how much the equipment upgrades.

 

This time and this time only, there’s a mini-contest where you can win 10,000 crystals easily. The catch? You have to be attentive and read the whole article to find out how you can win. The first and correct entry will automatically win, so be quick!

 

That's it for an intro, hope you enjoy the read!

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

 

GUARD MK5

Thunder Mk5

Titan Mk5

Grizzly Mk5

162350 

- 

 

Have you ever heard of a certain kit that has been neglected in the past like no other? A kit that has lost to Atlas for years simply because it had some mild imperfections before? Allow me to introduce you to Guard. It has put off by many because of the high price and the high unlock rank, but is it really that bad? On the contrary, it's actually very good! Yes, it's been dissed on in the Mid Ranker's Handbook by @Zenyth, but keep in mind that that was over two years ago. Since then, it's gotten the very-much-needed Thunder module to protect from the beastly splash damage of Thunder, which already eliminates one of the reasons he outlined for it being a bad kit. While the unlock rank remains the same, let me try to convince you just why you should grind for this kit while facing an onslaught of enemies.

 

THUNDER Mk5

 

Thunder Mk5 was once hailed as a turret that really couldn’t get any closer to Mk7 stat-wise, like today’s Titan and Wasp Mk5. However, it looks like a lot has changed since then, because it does have a gap between it and Mk7 - not large, but noticeable enough. First off, let’s take a look at the upgrade from Mk3. Thunder Mk3, like Vulcan Mk3, receives a massive boost from the upgrade to Mk3. However, the upgrade to Mk5 is a bit disappointing, which puts many people off of it. I hate to break it to you that if you buy this turret separately, you’re at a loss, because it’s really not that good. But once we start talking microupgrades, we see a big change from what was a mediocre turret at best into a much more deadly and fierce splash attacker that can attack, support, and defend very well. With enough damage to oneshot an unupgraded Hornet Mk7 for sure, this can get you a multitude of kills as well winning just about every battle in the Majors and the Generals. While you will also have to seek a medium or light hull to pair with Thunder as soon as you hit Marshal, have no doubt about this killing machine. Even with protections against you, all it will take is some cunning and some vengeance to take them down.

 

Upgrade stats (outdated):

Spoiler

 Thunder

 DMG: M0 —> M1 (39%), M1 —> M2 (15%), M2 —> M3 (24%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

 Impact: M0 —> M1 (46%), M1 —> M2 (18%), M2 —> M3 (28%), M3 —> M4 (28%)

 Reload: M0 —> M1 (-9%), M1 —> M2 (-3%), M2 —> M3 (-8%), M3 —> M4 (-5%)

 Rotation: M0 —> M1 (27%), M1 —> M2 (11%), M2 —> M3 (14%), M3 —> M4 (16%)

Range(max): M0 —> M1 (16%), M1 —> M2 (7%), M2 —> M3 (10%), M3 —> M4 (10%)

 Range(min): M0 —> M1 (19%), M1 —> M2 (7%), M2 —> M3 (12%), M3 —> M4 (12%)

 

TITAN Mk5

 

As discussed in the Mk3 edition of this review, Titan Mk5 is a monster when it comes to the upgrade from Mk5. Getting almost 40% more HP in the upgrade process, it's nothing short of an impressive upgrade, and costing only 90,000 crystals separately is really just icing on the cake. All you really have to do in any mode is to stand on the Overdrive drop zone and wait. That's it. Use your dome whenever a new one starts dropping, and you'll do yourself (or your team) a huge favor by keeping the control from others. Since you have so much health to work with, you're really just a tank (get it? tank of a tank? you know what, I quit). You don't even need to upgrade Titan to Mk7, since it's already so ridiculously close to it anyway. If I haven't convinced you by not just how good Titan Mk5 is, then nothing probably will.

 

Upgrade stats (outdated):

Spoiler

 Titan

 Protection: M0 —> M1 (21%), M1 —> M2 (41%), M2 —> M3 (14%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

 Top speed: M0 —> M1 (5%), M1 —> M2 (10%), M2 —> M3 (4%), M3 —> M4 (6%)

 Turning speed: M0 —> M1 (8%), M1 —> M2 (16%), M2 —> M3 (5%), M3 —> M4 (9%)

 Weight: Same as Protection

 Power: M0 —> M1 (13%), M1 —> M2 (27%), M2 —> M3 (9%), M3 —> M4 (15%)

 

PROTECTIVE FIELD GENERATOR

 

With the recent nerf to it that took away its healing, Titan's dome has become a bit worse. However, the protection it offers has increased yet again, making it near impossible to take out inhabitants of a dome unless you use one of three Overdrives: Hornet, Hunter, or Mammoth. Putting it down straight on the Overdrive drop zone is an excellent strategy which I recommend both for team games and for solo modes. I would say that it's now a 7/10 compared to the 10/10 it was once, but it's not bad by any stretch of the imagination.
 

Spoiler

Nope, the contest details aren’t here. Keep lookin’

 

 

GRIZZLY Mk5

 

Grizzly Mk5 is a very good module that really does become a necessity at those ranks. Although 25% may not seem to do much, take it to 30% and it will work WONDERS. While it's a commonly-known fact that you need a good Thunder module to survive in the high ranks, even a fully upgraded Mk5 Grizzly module will last you for the rest of your Tanki career. While I agree that the unlock rank of this module is virtually the same as this kit, you will get MUCH more value if you buy it in this kit. 

 

VERDICT

 

Guard is definitely a kit that proves its value on the battlefield, be it pretty much any map on any mode, especially DM, CP, and ASL on medium-ranged maps such as Polygon. Even though it had to endure many years of criticism, it finally has the chance to prove itself capable for any tanker, which is why I am giving it the spotlight for first pick. While Guard may not be easy to save up for and to get, it will reward anyone who has accepted the challenge immensely.

 

Guard your crystals tightly as you save for this kit, and it will guard your dream of getting to Legend in return 

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

 

CHIROPRACTOR Mk5

Shaft Mk5

Hunter Mk5

Eagle Mk5

164050  

- 

 

If you were to search up my forum activity as of today, I’m pretty sure that the #1 Mk5 kit I’ve recommended up until now is Chiropractor. Well, that’s obvious. I advertise Shaft wherever I go. But why does this kit hold such a special place in my heart? Because it’s the ultimate kit to kickstart your sniping career. Not only can it last you for a VERY long time unupgraded, but because you can also use it in a variety of scenarios and playstyles. Shaft-Hunter might just be one of the most versatile combinations in Tanki today, let alone in Tanki history.

 

SHAFT Mk5

 

You’re probably thinking “Pfeh. Shaft Mk5. So what? I don’t want to camp like those Magnums at the back of the map.” Well, guess what? I had the exact same question when I started to use this demon. But I think you’re forgetting something. That’s right, I’m talking about the arcade shots, more commonly known as the origin for the 3-shot spam alteration, Rapid-fire mode. Not only are these shots pretty powerful in their own right, but you can also give Smokies and other close-range turrets a run for their money in terms of fire rate and damage output. This is where I’ll introduce the first alteration you can buy - Short-band Emitter. This alteration increases your arcade damage while increasing the reload time between them. However, couple this with Double Damage and you’ve got a powerful marksman rifle that can 1-shot kill light hulls, 2-shot kill mediums, and 3-shot kill heavies. Another benefit is that if you scope in with this alteration and fire while not scoped in fully, you’ll do more damage than you would do without SBE because of the increased arcade damage. The most attractive part about this alt is that it is first-tier, meaning that it only costs 20K crystals, which is everything you could ever want.

Now we have something that does the opposite - makes the scoped damage higher while also slowing down your scope in time and keeping your arcade shots the same. Heavy Capacitors increases your damage noticeably, allowing you to one-shot heavy hulls of the same modification and to take a big chunk out of an opposing JGR. If you have a maxed Booster drone, you can take down any Juggernaut for that matter. It’s good for more of these games where you’d prefer to take it easy, such as Highways or Brest. While I have to admit that it’s not for everyone, you can help out your team in ASL if you take out the opposing Titans before they can place down their dome. The alt isn’t too expensive, setting you back 50K, but it’s not among with the cheapest.

A bit earlier, I talked about Rapid-fire mode. It’s been hailed as one of the best alterations of 2019, and I can definitely agree with that. You can pair it with pretty much any hull, especially Hornet, Viking, and Hunter, and get amazing results in DMs. While it did get its deserved nerf of the sniping damage reduction and decreased reload speed, it still remains very dangerous to go up against unless you have a Double Armor or protection against it. This is how I went from Colonel to Lieutenant General in record speed, even before the new Overdrives came out. However, it is quite expensive, leaving you with a huge 120K hole in your wallet, so don’t even think about getting it at full price unless you have mountains of crystals tucked away. 

Shaft Mk5, in its own right, is the best upgrade you’ll get in between the modifications when we’re talking statistics. After all, 56% of an upgrade from Mk1 isn’t far off from Titan’s or Smoky’s 61%, right? Another great bonus is that you get this at Second Lieutenant instead of Major, which is a long stretch of EXP away. This is why you’ll see many other fellow Shaft players sitting with Mk2/3 Shafts while you roll around in your sleek Mk5 Shaft (because it looks sexy as all hell).

I haven’t convinced you yet? Alright. You remember the patch notes that gave Shaft an extra 10% sniping damage? Well, this can allow you to cut back on some serious crystals if you plan to get Shaft separately or in another kit later on. Before the update, you had to microupgrade Shaft completely if you wanted the benefit of being able to oneshot any medium M2 hull. However, this requirement is now cut down to only 3 steps instead of 10 to achieve more than 2647.06 points of damage. This can allow you to focus your crystals on upgrading something else, like modules, or saving up for M3 kits. 

I guess that’s about it. Shaft Mk5 really is something that will make you think why you ever neglected it in the first place once you play around enough with it, and after a bit of training, you should be able to go into Sandbox CTFs and completely destroy XP/BP players with any alteration of your preference. Well, anything but Heavy Capacitors, of course. I won’t lie, this turret does take a lot of practice to fully master, but once you do, you’ll be stronger than anyone on the battlefield.

 

Upgrade stats (outdated):

Spoiler

 Shaft

 Sniping DMG: M0 —> M1 (26%), M1 —> M2 (30%), M2 —> M3 (20%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

 Arcade DMG: M0 —> M1 (26%), M1 —> M2 (29%), M2 —> M3 (20%), M3 —> M4 (28%)

 Arcade impact: Same as DMG

Sniping impact: M0 —> M1 (52%), M1 —> M2 (57%), M2 —> M3 (40%), M3 —> M4 (46%)

 Arcade reload: M0 —> M1 (-7%), M1 —> M2 (-7%), M2 —> M3 (-6%), M3 —> M4 (-5%)

Sniping reload: M0 —> M1 (-14%), M1 —> M2 (-11%), M2 —> M3 (-5%), M3 —> M4 (-6%)

 Rotation: M0 —> M1 (13%), M1 —> M2 (15%), M2 —> M3 (10%), M3 —> M4 (12%)

Max arcade DMG range: Same as Rotation

 Min arcade DMG range: M0 —> M1 (11%), M1 —> M2 (11%), M2 —> M3 (9%), M3 —> M4 (9%)

 

HUNTER Mk5

 

Hunter Mk5 isn’t skipping out on the upgrade process, either. While it does have a bit less impressive upgrade stats than that of Viking, it takes its role as a perfect Mk5 hull for anyone, with great stats across the board for both weight and speed. Although heavy upgrades are recommended for Hunter to excel the most, even a few upgrades will set you apart from the rest of the crowd who will still be going around in Mk3/4s. However, you may want to look for Mk7 hulls that gain big jumps in stats - such as Hornet or Dictator - once you get to the Generals/Marshals.

 

Upgrade stats (outdated):

Spoiler

 Hunter

 Protection: M0 —> M1 (38%), M1 —> M2 (15%), M2 —> M3 (23%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

 Top speed: M0 —> M1 (8%), M1 —> M2 (3%), M2 —> M3 (4%), M3 —> M4 (5%)

 Turning speed: M0 —> M1 (22%), M1 —> M2 (9%), M2 —> M3 (13%), M3 —> M4 (14%)

 Weight: Same as Protection

 Power: M0 —> M1 (26%), M1 —> M2 (10%), M2 —> M3 (16%), M3 —> M4 (16%)

 

EMP

 

Hunter’s EMP is as good as ever - resetting supplies, stopping enemies in their tracks, and making them lose the flag or the Rugby ball - the perfect defensive tool for just about any encounter. It’s also the perfect pairing with Shaft as well - if you get caught unawares in the heat of the battle, you can either fight back or make a quick retreat. If you’re also going Jug hunting and you get ambushed while scoped in with HCs, you can also fry nearby enemies to take the shot and then focus on the people near you who are now without supplies. I don’t think I need to keep going - it’s really a solid Overdrive at all ranks. 

 

EAGLE Mk5

 

The Eagle Mk5 module is where it starts to get really good, both against sniper shots and arcades. Not only is it a sign of prestige to have such a high-end module at those ranks, but it’s also enough to make any Shaft user stop dead in their tracks and run for their life, as it is very hard to go up against someone who won’t get destroyed by a fully charged sniper shot and THEN some. While light hulls won’t have the benefit of surviving a fatal shot just yet, its throughout the upgrade process to 30% where you’ll realize just how big of an advantage you have at close range, especially once you start running into RFM users. 

 

Spoiler

Not this one, either.

 

 

VERDICT

 

People may argue that Shaft is for campers and that it will never be as good as Railgun, but put a Shaft and a Railgun in a duel on completely equal terms, and I can guarantee that Shaft will win not only at range but up close as well. High damage pretty much everywhere as well as relatively low recoil makes it a very attractive package, and when paired with Hunter, it's easily one of the best M2 killing machines of today's time. While the paint does leave something to be desired, the module and the Overdrive propels this kit into a solid 10/10.

 

Just because you use a sniper doesn’t mean you have to hide in the bushes - go out there and show the world that you have the backbone to contend with even the fiercest of them all

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

 

Blizzard Mk5

Freeze Mk5

Hornet Mk5

Badger Mk5

175950 

 - 

 

This kit has been bought by many tankers seeking early-unlocking Mk5s that they can go on to MU to Mk7. While it’s not the flashiest of the Mk5 kits, being quite weak in comparison to others in terms of upgrades from Mk3, it makes up for it in its relatively low price and all-around usefulness. Where it also makes up is in its killing potential once you get it upgraded to Mk7.

 

FREEZE Mk5

 

Freeze Mk5 is by far one of the most popular Mk5 turrets due to the fact that it's quite powerful. In fact, it’s actually pretty good if you know how to use it and are up against Mk1s and Mk3s. The biggest problem with it is that it starts to drop off super quick in the Lieutenants and is close to useless in the Majors. However, it has quite a big jump in the upgrade from Mk5 to Mk7, which turns it from a mediocre turret into something that almost resembles the Shock Freeze alteration. It’s a lot of fun using the ages-old strategy of circle-freezing with this turret, but this becomes even easier when it becomes a complete monster.

 

Upgrade stats (outdated):

Spoiler

  Freeze

 DMG/sec: M0 —> M1 (29%), M1 —> M2 (12%), M2 —> M3 (35%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

 Rotation: Same as DMG/sec

Range(max): Same as DMG/sec

 Range(min): M0 —> M1 (10%), M1 —> M2 (4%), M2 —> M3 (8%), M3 —> M4 (11%)

 

HORNET Mk5

 

On the other hand, we have Hornet Mk5 - which, like Freeze, unlocks early when compared to its counterparts and has relatively bad stats when unupgraded. Once upgraded, though, you have a very fast hull that can easily outrun Wasp’s bomb and short-range turrets with quite a bit of armor as well. While it doesn’t have the stability that hulls such as Dictator and Mammoth possess, you have another ability which works well - drifting. Even if you take a hit, you can easily shake it off and tighten up your hitbox by drifting straight into a 90º position to possibly even save yourself from the next one. Freeze relies on agility, which is Hornet’s biggest forte. It’s a match made in heaven, really.

 

Upgrade stats (outdated):

Spoiler

 Hornet

 Protection: M0 —> M1 (32%), M1 —> M2 (15%), M2 —> M3 (29%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

 Top speed: M0 —> M1 (6%), M1 —> M2 (2%), M2 —> M3 (5%), M3 —> M4 (4%)

 Turning speed: M0 —> M1 (8%), M1 —> M2 (4%), M2 —> M3 (7%), M3 —> M4 (6%)

 Weight: Same as Protection

 Power: M0 —> M1 (21%), M1 —> M2 (9%), M2 —> M3 (19%), M3 —> M4 (16%)

 

SCOUT RADAR

 

Hornet’s Scout Radar is an unusual pairing with Freeze which works surprisingly well. With the newest nerf to Titan’s dome, you can sneak up on a group of enemies and freeze them all to ice very quickly. Given that you’ll also be seeing quite a bit of protections against you as well, this Overdrive will allow you to deal with maxed-out M2 modules as if they never had it in the first place. It’s also a valuable source of information in CTF games, as you never know where and when people will be coming for your flag, or to return theirs. I don’t think you CAN go wrong with this OD at all.

 

Spoiler

Just because this I'm talking about a kit that's easy to get doesn’t mean it’s this easy for you to get my 10K, either

 

BADGER Mk5

 

The Mk5 module which protects against Freeze is easily one of the most useful modules you can have at those ranks due to the fact that so many people will be running a very similar or even identical loadout to you. Even at 25%, you’ll be seeing some results when it comes to one-on-one engagements, and if you take it up to 30%, you should be able to win against just about every Freeze user you’ll meet.

 

VERDICT

 

Where Blizzard shines is the relatively cheap cost for an Mk5 kit and the potential for something great in it. Sure, it might look like nothing special in its base form, but it has the potential to be a very deadly combination in almost any regard once upgraded. Thanks to the fact that the turret, hull, AND the module are all useful (which not a lot of kits can say about themselves), it’s really no mystery why this turned into such a fan favorite and the most popular M2 product kit of all time.

 

You may look small, but you have the power to look into your enemies’ biggest weaknesses and bury them under a massive avalanche of freon

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

 

MINOTAUR Mk5

Twins Mk5

Dictator Mk5

Panther Mk5

168300 

- 

 

Dictator-Twins is certainly an odd pairing and not one you see every day. Many go for the Corsair Kit which has Viking Mk5 in because it has good stats for armor and speed as well as complementing the Stable Plasma alteration. Viking’s Berserk Reactor with Twins is also quite a sight to see, making your shots reload as fast as Vulcan. However, Viking has the huge downside of having pitifully low weight as well as awkward handling, which is why it is very easy for it to get slapped around by high-impact turrets. So why did I choose this particular kit? Read on!

 

TWINS Mk5

 

By the Mk5 modification, Twins gains just as much stat-wise as Shaft. It’s pretty powerful in its own right, as the damage turns medium tanks to rubble within mere seconds. Don’t forget that you also have quite a bit of impact force yourself, which can mess up any long-range turret user’s day. In my short time with Twins, I’ve also come to the conclusion that the splash is actually an advantage, not a detriment. You’d be surprised just how big that radius is. The first alteration for Twins, Plasma core accelerator, might just be my favorite and the best to pair with Dictator, as it’s more likely that you’ll be chipping people away from medium range rather than going straight up to them.

Upgrade stats (outdated):

Spoiler

 Twins

 DMG: M0 —> M1 (36%), M1 —> M2 (20%), M2 —> M3 (17%), M3 —> M4 (23%)

 Impact: M0 —> M1 (49%), M1 —> M2 (27%), M2 —> M3 (22%), M3 —> M4 (30%)

 Rotation: M0 —> M1 (33%), M1 —> M2 (18%), M2 —> M3 (18%), M3 —> M4 (21%)

 Range(min): M0 —> M1 (15%), M1 —> M2 (9%), M2 —> M3 (7%), M3 —> M4 (9%)

Range(max): M0 —> M1 (19%), M1 —> M2 (10%), M2 —> M3 (9%), M3 —> M4 (12%)

 Projectile speed: Same as Range(max)

Explosion Impact: M0 —> M1 (38%), M1 —> M2 (18%), M2 —> M3 (20%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

 

DICTATOR Mk5

 

Where Dictator Mk5 shines is in its amazing upgrade to Mk7. As you start to microupgrade it, you’ll notice it starting to improve bit by bit, and I’m not talking constantly here - I’m talking exponentially. The experience improves and just keeps improving. Eventually, the weight becomes so good that you can walk out straight on the frontline, get hit from all angles, and keep moving on as if nothing had happened. The fact that the armor for each M3 medium hull is also standardized means that you won’t be at a disadvantage anymore. It also feels a LOT faster, which means you can get to the container dropping halfway across the map with time to spare for you to fight over it. But that’s not a problem - you make sure your HP doesn’t reach 0, and your hull will do the rest, as it is after all a magnet, no?

 

Upgrade stats:

Spoiler

 Dictator

 Protection: M0 —> M1 (35%), M1 —> M2 (15%), M2 —> M3 (26%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

 Top speed: M0 —> M1 (6%), M1 —> M2 (2%), M2 —> M3 (5%), M3 —> M4 (3%)

 Turning speed: M0 —> M1 (21%), M1 —> M2 (9%), M2 —> M3 (16%), M3 —> M4 (14%)

 Weight: Same as Protection

 Power: M0 —> M1 (25%), M1 —> M2 (10%), M2 —> M3 (19%), M3 —> M4 (16%)

 

SUPPLIES OVERLOAD

 

With the recent buff to Dictator’s Overdrive, you now have even more incentive to be a good teammate and share with your friends in battle. Dictators have always been a key for a team to win in gamemodes like ASL and RGB, and I can guarantee you that nothing will feel better than helping your team and snatching that victory in the eyes of defeat. Plus, it’s great if you’re planning on going into MM in groups, as you’ll not only gain the respect of your friends but also your teammates, and if you keep giving Overdrive charge to the people who need it most, you’ll have hundreds of friend requests piling up very soon. While you need to watch over the Nuclear Energy box drop zone, you shouldn’t need to solely rely on it for your Overdrive, either - it’s quite easy to earn it as is.

 

PANTHER Mk5

 

The Panther Mk5 module is an excellent fit for anyone that intends to use Twins’s splash ability to the fullest. It’ll save you more often than not when you get caught by surprise and have to face off with someone too close for comfort. You’ll also have an advantage against other Twins users who can only contend at much closer distances.

 

Spoiler

 

So, you made it this far. I know I probably rattled your bones by throwing all these spoilers around, so here’s the contest details. For real this time.

Your task is to find the one thing that I specifically had made incorrect in this article and comment down below what it is to win. Your crystals will be dropped to you by me through golds, and while I wish I could cater to the lower ranks, I just don’t have any on my alt. So for now, it’s just going to be from Colonel to Legend.

Good luck, prize hunter!

 

 

 

VERDICT

 

Although this is an underrated kit that is not used by many, you’d be making a huge mistake to think that it's weak. While it has some core weaknesses in itself like a late unlock and a high price, you’ll definitely find that it can contend even with the plethora of M3 players you’ll find later on. It also provides an excellent source of income from gold boxes and containers, wrapping it all up nicely in a cute cherry package.

 

Underestimate the strength of this kit and you’ll find yourself in quite the jam

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

 

FIREFLY Mk5

Firebird Mk5

Wasp Mk5

Fox Mk5

141950 

 - 

 

Seems I’ve already sent shivers down your spine, huh? Just the name of this kit is enough to bring back PTSD-induced memories for tankers that have had to go up against the raw strength of this particular kit. This kit is probably the origin for the many Wasp-Firebird PRO battles you see at those ranks and up. Don’t get me wrong that tankers run away as soon as they see this kit, regardless of whether they have protection or not. But in the end, it doesn’t matter - as Firefly takes no prisoners.

 

FIREBIRD Mk5

 

Just look at the picture above you. You see the barrel with the molten-hot color as if it was just forged in some sort of armory? You see the metal parts covering the top and the sides? Some turrets have the problem of looking cool but not performing as well, or vice versa. It falls into neither of these categories. This is Firebird Mk5, ladies and gentlemen, and it’s not messing about. Not only is it one of the most beautiful Mk5 turrets to ever grace the earth, but it’s up there with the most fearsome of them all. This is due to the insane upgrade that it gets from Mk3, transforming it from a firestarter into something that can conjure up infernos within seconds, due to a massive increase in DpS and an even more colossal increase in burning time. Couple this with a particular alteration, Compact fuel tanks, and you’ve officially got the most broken Mk5 combo there is.

While Firebird Mk5 is as great as Smoky in terms of upgrades, it disappoints in the upgrade process to Mk7. If you’re determined on going Firebird-only, then go for it. However, I feel that you could make better use of your crystals by saving up for an Mk7 kit that will unlock in just a couple more ranks.

 

Upgrade stats (outdated):

Spoiler

 Firebird

 DMG/sec: M0 —> M1 (51%), M1 —> M2 (89%), M2 —> M3 (51%), M3 —> M4 (59%)

 Rotation: M0 —> M1 (21%), M1 —> M2 (35%), M2 —> M3 (20%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

Range(max): Same as Rotation

 Range(min): M0 —> M1 (7%), M1 —> M2 (12%), M2 —> M3 (6%), M3 —> M4 (8%)

 Burning time: M0 —> M1 (190%), M1 —> M2 (310%), M2 —> M3 (190%), M3 —> M4 (210%)

Temperature limit: Same as Burning time

Heating rate: M0 —> M1 (30%), M1 —> M2 (55%), M2 —> M3 (30%), M3 —> M4 (35%)

 

WASP Mk5

 

Even though I hate XP/BP (not at all due to the fact that I am absolute trash at it), I always preferred Wasp more than Hornet when I faced off against others even though Hornet looks much better visually. In fact, I feel that Wasp is the complete opposite of Hornet. While Hornet is a drift king, Wasp is more of an F1 car, both when it comes to speed and the grip you have in steering. It’s the ideal hull for CTF battles as well as having great abilities in parkour, making it nothing short of satisfying to use. The Mk5 modification in particular is where it shines the most, having a great upgrade from Mk3.

 

Upgrade stats (outdated):

Spoiler

 Wasp

 

 Protection: M0 —> M1 (26%), M1 —> M2 (36%), M2 —> M3 (14%), M3 —> M4 (24%)

 Top speed: M0 —> M1 (5%), M1 —> M2 (7%), M2 —> M3 (3%), M3 —> M4 (5%)

 Turning speed: M0 —> M1 (8%), M1 —> M2 (11%), M2 —> M3 (4%), M3 —> M4 (7%)

 Weight: Same as Protection

 Power: M0 —> M1 (15%), M1 —> M2 (21%), M2 —> M3 (9%), M3 —> M4 (14%)

 

N2-BOMB

 

At those ranks, you’ll start to notice more and more people being able to escape your bomb. However, most will still probably be sluggish and give you free kills. It’s especially good for clearing out key objectives, like the blue team in ASL - if you’re playing on a small enough map, you have the chance to take out their defenses completely, paving the way for an invasion by your fellow teammates. Take into account that this is also the fastest-charging Overdrive in the game and you’ve got a great product altogether.

 

FOX Mk5

 

Because of the wide popularity of this kit, people will likely buy the module as soon as they can, because they want to be protected from you. But surprise, surprise, you’ll find that with Mk5 Firebird, others’ protections won’t help them that much at all. This module, along with increasing your chances of survival against other maniacal Firebirds like you, has another very useful purpose. Incendiary Rounds for Smoky and Incendiary Band for Vulcan are two VERY dangerous alterations to go up against, which is why I recommend this module when it comes to getting up close and personal to them and then dishing it out with your full power. The main disadvantage of Fox Mk5 is in the fact that it requires many upgrades before you can see major results, but I can tell you that going along this road will be well worth it.

 

VERDICT

 

Unlocking late and costing quite a bit, this kit isn’t something you can get easily - you have to put in the effort and time in order to get it. However, once you do, you will become a god of the Mk5 ranks - burning the lower-rankers to a crisp as well as giving the high-rankers MAJOR problems (haha get it?). There’s really nothing you can go wrong with when buying this kit, and this is part of the reason why it’s become such an iconic one of the TO community. Be it in parkour or MM, this kit will ascend high above the others, regardless of upgrades or protections, because there is nothing that strikes fear into your opposition faster.

 

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s pure molten lava, and you won’t escape it

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

Guess what, it's the end of the article! I hope you enjoyed it, because it took me a very long time to write (almost 1.5 months, in fact), and you wouldn't believe just how long it took me to edit. As always, like your favorite parts of the article, and have a go at this one-time only contest! If your favorite kit(s) didn't make the cut, drop a comment down below and go at it with your reasoning (hate optional) as to why you think I should have included your kit. I'll be liking every comment on this article, so don't be afraid to voice your opinion!

 

Anyway, I hope to see you guys in the next and final edition of this series, where I'll be introducing 5 of the best M3 kits to spend your money on. Until then, take care and get some good stuff from the containers!

 

CONTEST DETAILS:

Spoiler

You thought that you did something smart there, didn't you? When I mentioned that there would be a contest with 10K crystals as a reward, you thought that you would just come down here and find out all the info without reading my article? 

 

Ha. Just read the whole thing.

 

[kaisdf 3,320]

Are you a mid-ranker? Are you stumped by what kits to buy? Never fear, the Newspaper is here! An in-depth review of five strong Mk5 kits, including a breakdown of individual stats. Also in the article - a hidden contest. Good luck!

[Sacrifice 2,278]

Did anybody else get pranked by the last spoiler?  

 

[Benefactor 6,888]

What spoiler? I just took the poll and the free cup of coffee.

[Vegas 960]

nice

[Blood_of_Skiller 7]

its too hard nowadays to find kits for crystals. thus only the buyers buy kits. chnage it immediately pls

[RaKaZa 104]

this article is only for buyers, where are garage kits? 

[ChicKenNooDleSouP 0]

Firebolt or Firefly...

[frankionline1 50]

in the top there is chosen for the firebold but you mean the firefly so thats the special mistake that you made??

am I right??

please give me 10k in golds

[Titan 741]

I hate the kit Jam . Pretty useless since I hate twins. Also not a very value kit.

[heavyduty4566 0]

you said dictator feels faster when in fact it does not increase

 

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

10 hours ago, Sacrifice said:

Did anybody else get pranked by the last spoiler?  

 

I left it in there as a rickroll-type thing for any diggers who wanted to claim the 10K easily.

10 hours ago, Benefactor said:

What spoiler? I just took the poll and the free cup of coffee.

That put a smile on my face.

Haven't seen you around here for a while, too. I hope life is treating ya well, buddo.

8 hours ago, Vegas said:

nice

Thanks! It's glad to see at least one positive comment here....

8 hours ago, Blood_of_Skiller said:

its too hard nowadays to find kits for crystals. thus only the buyers buy kits. chnage it immediately pls

The HTML5 version has crystal kits from time to time. While it's down to luck when it comes to getting the kit you want in the rotation, it's not impossible to buy them.

8 hours ago, XENON_N said:

This article is so full of shi*, that I needed to use middle click twice in order to reach the top. 

Well, uh, thanks for your opinion. If you hate it that much, just drop a confused reaction on each section so people can see that you're downvoting it. Go right ahead, I won't judge you.

7 hours ago, RaKaZa said:

this article is only for buyers, where are garage kits? 

Gone, reduced to atoms...

Just kidding, they're in HTML5.

6 hours ago, ChicKenNooDleSouP said:

Firebolt or Firefly...

Fixed.

6 hours ago, frankionline1 said:

in the top there is chosen for the firebold but you mean the firefly so thats the special mistake that you made??

am I right??

please give me 10k in golds

Fixed.
Did you find the spoiler in question?

6 hours ago, Symbolz said:

I hate the kit Jam . Pretty useless since I hate twins. Also not a very value kit.

That's a shame. I personally really like it.
Well, I guess everyone's entitled to their own opinion.

2 hours ago, heavyduty4566 said:

you said dictator feels faster when in fact it does not increase

 

How so? During the upgrade process Mk5 -> Mk7, I saw quite a big increase in general speed as well as stability.

[123tim456back 195]

On 11/15/2019 at 6:11 AM, Tidebreaker said:

Underestimate the strength of this kit and you’ll find yourself in quite the jam

That reference to the old Jam kit...M2 Twins Dictator lol

[123tim456back 195]

On 11/15/2019 at 6:17 AM, Tidebreaker said:

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s pure molten lava, and you won’t escape it

Regarding the contest, is this the mistake? The correct reference is "It's a bird! It's a plane!".

Also, fantastic article.  My only disagreement is blizzard, as freeze with a light hull just never worked out for me.  Hornet's OD is insane with long range turrets, and not so much melee and short range.  

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

2 minutes ago, 123tim456back said:

Regarding the contest, is this the mistake? The correct reference is "It's a bird! It's a plane!".

Also, fantastic article.  My only disagreement is blizzard, as freeze with a light hull just never worked out for me.  Hornet's OD is insane with long range turrets, and not so much melee and short range.  

Nope, that's not the mistake. I specifically worded it like that to make them questions.

Here's a hint for you: "You look, but you don't see."

Get cracking.

[0tsutsuki 21]

8 hours ago, Tidebreaker said:

Nope, that's not the mistake. I specifically worded it like that to make them questions.

Here's a hint for you: "You look, but you don't see."

Get cracking.

Does that hint mean we gotta read it or it's just invisible?

[0tsutsuki 21]

On 11/15/2019 at 3:36 AM, Tidebreaker said:

  Hide contents

Just because this I'm talking about a kit that's easy to get doesn’t mean it’s this easy for you to get my 10K, either

 

The grammar looks not so right. 

My suggestion: Just because I'm talking about a kit that's easy to get doesn't mean it's this easy for you to get my 10k

[0tsutsuki 21]

On 11/14/2019 at 5:56 PM, Tidebreaker said:

Keep in mind that I calculate each of these based on the difference from M1 to M2 in relation to its M0 counterpart (so the formula looks like ((M1 - M2) / M0))

Shouldn't the formula be m2-m1/m0? m2's got higher stats so you are going into negative

[0tsutsuki 21]

On 11/15/2019 at 3:18 AM, Tidebreaker said:

support, and defend

is a comma required? before the last word we only put an and, don't we?