Free-to-play. What, if any, are the options?

[LeGurp 62]

I have tried to wrap my head around this one for quite a while, but I just can't see how to play Tanki as an F2P-person. It seems to me that the only way is to make a new account every now and then and drop out again around the warrant officer ranks. The rank spread in MM games and the ever increasing advantages that well-invested players have, seem to create a threshold level around that rank above which you're basically cannon fodder. Third Lieutenants tend  to be thrown in with really powerful ranks here.

It may just be that my imagination is just too limited to find a good strategy, i.e. one where I can still be a valuable player in battles but not spend money that I frankly don't have. I know I cannot expect to "compete" with buyers, but it doesn't seem to make sense that free players should have to leave the game completely after a certain level.

Or is the game really that attractive for wealthy people to whom it makes no difference whether they have to buy the 20,000 tankoins every now and then? 

Surely there ought to be a working strategy for F2Pers, too, who want to slowpoke their way around, but not end up as useless tanki trash all the time - and I just haven't found it yet?

 

[Iron_Man 2,376]

There are quite a bunch. If plan really good and you might really end up with quite a good garage.

This is one of the golden tricks I know, the best of them all. Once you create an account, do not play for at least 10 - 15 days and claim containers, daily. Once you open them, even in the worst case you'll end up with quite a good load of supplies and sufficient crystals. The just MU your Mk1s to Mk2s. This way you'll have a very good advantage, though it isn't gonna last long but yes, it is quite a good one.

Golden Rule 2

Get Brutus, you need not MU is, unless you are a max GS fan. Base brutus itself gives you sufficient boost to get nearly double effect of your supplies. You don't get exactly double but you get something like 77% boost, when you use supplies. As long as you use good combos, this should do mighty fine.

So you have to upgrade it until 11th micro upgrade to get double effect. I would not advice you to go beyond that, at least if you plan to get a good account with decent K/D and good garage.

Stick to only 3/2 modules. If you start Upgrading Owl, stick to it. If you keep on upgrading all modules, at the end you won't end up with anything offering you real benefit.

Challenges are probably the best way to spend tankoins on. BP gives you a very huge boost. So that's the best way to spend tankoins, in my opinion.

That's all I can manage to think of, now. I will post if any others strike my mind.

[Maf 32,300]

I think the only way to comfortably play Tanki as F2P is to have multiple accounts and alternate between them, playing a little bit on each one to complete missions. Obviously don't buy multiple combos on each account — pick a maximum of two main turrets and hulls per account, and one drone.

Meanwhile, log in on every account every day to claim the one free container (and any free special missions during holidays like tanki birthday), and that way you can accumulate a lot of crystals and supplies to be able to use them comfortably and keep up with item upgrades becoming available. Containers will eventually also give you a good amount of turret and hull augments, so while you won't have any of the P2W turret augments, you'll at least have some status immunities to protect yourself from them.

[NikmanGT 4,362]

I don't think that's mostly true. I agree that many P2W components are there which can make competing against other players somewhat difficult.

But consider this, the tanki online is based on turrets and hulls, protections and drones, all of this is purchasable with crystals which can be easily obtained by anyone who plays for even a limited amount of time and nowadays, it is not that much difficult to grind for crystals considering many external and passive sources like containers etc. So it is not that difficult to get a good gear score based on all of this gradually through time.

As for the unique items, you can collect the Ultra containers with every event (weekend) now & from time to time, buy the bundles with your hard-earned tankoins.

Being buyer only gives a major speed up or head-start in one's own stats. I've seen many players and my friends getting Armadillo and crisis from UC based on their luck, though they are F2P.

And I'm not saying just for the sake of saying, I'm saying because I have 9.5K GS, and I'm F2P. The options and ways of F2P are not at all over.

----------------------------------------

Anything can happen, the next day there is 50% sale, but you nearly have 100-200k crystals and now grieving for not be able to give the garage a major boost but then suddenly opening a container gives you 300k crystals right before the sale. (Personal example)

 

 

 

[DestrotankAI9 1,513]

1 hour ago, Iron_Man said:

Golden Rule 2

Get Brutus, you need not MU is, unless you are a max GS fan. Base brutus itself gives you sufficient boost to get nearly double effect of your supplies. You don't get exactly double but you get something like 77% boost, when you use supplies. As long as you use good combos, this should do mighty fine.

So you have to upgrade it until 11th micro upgrade to get double effect. I would not advice you to go beyond that, at least if you plan to get a good account with decent K/D and good garage.

While this is a noble attempt to help a new player, I'm the information on drones and on challenges is incorrect.

Brutus (or any drone) gives ZERO bonus to supply strength without any MUs. The "50" in the wiki refers to the base strength of supplies with no drone, or with a drone with 0/20 mus - Boosted Damage or Boosted armor increase damage or armor by 50% respectively. I tested this with a low rank account and 0/20 Brutus just now and indeed - there was no difference with or without Brutus equipped.

So, I would certainly recommend @LeGurp, or any new player to use Brutus, but it will need to be Microupgraded. My advice is that buying and upgrading Brutus drone for a new player is a priority, it is almost certainly the most important thing you can do. I would upgrade constantly to 10/20 microupgrade level even without sales (but do NOT buy speed-ups), and then from 10/20 to 20/20 upgrade only on sales. Getting Brutus to 10/20 will help a lot, and 20/20 will be useful at higher ranks. Brutus is the best drone for a new free to play player because it is doesn't use batteries (which you will run out of at some point), or additional supplies, and as there are so many things to spend crystals on it will be the only viable drone to afford at first. It will also greatly increase the power of your Boosted Armor and Boosted Damage supplies faster than any other drone, as it is faster and cheaper to upgrade.

Also, you said:

1 hour ago, Iron_Man said:

Challenges. Sadly since there are no tankoins in silver tier anymore, I suppose it is really difficult to get BP but well yeah. If you ever happen to get lucky with coinboxes, just make sure you spend all you got on challenges.

This is wrong: You still get 100 tankoins in the silver tier of the challenge. The only thing that is changed is that the 100 tankoins is now available slightly sooner - the Nuclear Energy supply is on the final tier, and the tankoins on the previous one.

Not everyone has the time to complete challenges, but if @LeGurp can it is very beneficial. I would strongly advise your first 550 tankoins to be spent on buying your second and third module slots, as these are very helpful to have.

Edited October 13, 2021 by DestrotankAI9

[Iron_Man 2,376]

6 minutes ago, DestrotankAI9 said:

This is wrong: You still get 100 tankoins in the silver tier of the challenge. The only thing that is changed is that the 100 tankoins is now available slightly sooner - the Nuclear Energy supply is on the final tier, and the tankoins on the previous one.

Sorry. Didn't notice that part.

Updated the post >.<

Thanks

[DestrotankAI9 1,513]

7 minutes ago, Iron_Man said:

Sorry. Didn't notice that part.

Updated the post >.<

Thanks

Glad to help :P Good thing that the silver tier still gives 100 tankoins - there would be quite the uproar if it didn't  I mean ye, getting battle passes and even 2nd/3rd module slots would be kinda hard...

Edited October 13, 2021 by DestrotankAI9

[Incorp 2,084]

I would say open the weekly containers when you get one and buy a crystal kits.  At lower ranks the cheapest kit is 8k crystals I think, giving mk2 equipment. Worth it.

[DestrotankAI9 1,513]

15 minutes ago, Incorp said:

I would say open the weekly containers when you get one and buy a crystal kits.  At lower ranks the cheapest kit is 8k crystals I think, giving mk2 equipment. Worth it.

Oh no, I definitely wouldn't buy crystal kits with highly valuable tankoins - that would be a waste because tankoins are extremely hard to obtain, and crystals much easier. I think a new player should spend their first tankoins on the second and third module slots, and after that either on battle passes or (if very patient) saving for the fourth module slot.

The only other options are to spend a small amount on coinboxes to try for a big win (only advisable to do very rarely, as chances are you will lose), or saving for the 2000 tankoin bundles that sometimes appear. But in general I would say best options with tankoins:

1) Buy second and third modules slots
2) Save for battle passes, or fourth module if you think you can wait long enough (probably over a year needed, so not viable for most players)

[Incorp 2,084]

20 minutes ago, DestrotankAI9 said:

Oh no, I definitely wouldn't buy crystal kits with highly valuable tankoins - that would be a waste because tankoins are extremely hard to obtain, and crystals much easier. I think a new player should spend their first tankoins on the second and third module slots, and after that either on battle passes or (if very patient) saving for the fourth module slot.

The only other options are to spend a small amount on coinboxes to try for a big win (only advisable to do very rarely, as chances are you will lose), or saving for the 2000 tankoin bundles that sometimes appear. But in general I would say best options with tankoins:

1) Buy second and third modules slots
2) Save for battle passes, or fourth module if you think you can wait long enough (probably over a year needed, so not viable for most players)

No, use the ten thousand crystals from weeklies to buy a crystal product kit xD

[Iron_Man 2,376]

21 minutes ago, DestrotankAI9 said:

Oh no, I definitely wouldn't buy crystal kits with highly valuable tankoins

 

41 minutes ago, Incorp said:

cheapest kit is 8k crystals I think, giving mk2 equipment

 

[DestrotankAI9 1,513]

9 minutes ago, Incorp said:

No, use the ten thousand crystals from weeklies to buy a crystal product kit xD

Ooops, my bad :P Time to sleep for me then lol.

The advice I gave on tankoins is valid but eh... ye the crystal kits are worth it, especially the low rank ones xD.

Also yes, don't buy crystal packs in the shop with tankoins 
 

10 minutes ago, Iron_Man said:

 

 

Got me lol.

[2shots2kills 2,367]

Also, stick to one Combo only. If you want variety, either open a new account, or o wait until your main Combo reaches MK8, only then you can branch out and buy something else.

If you want max value, only play until you complete your daily/weekly missions, then wait until they reset each time. Clam your containers, upgrade your stuff and don't waste crystals on speed-ups.

Use Tankoins to unlock all three module slots and then keep them to buy a good battle pass.

 

[Incorp 2,084]

21 minutes ago, 2shots2kills said:

Also, stick to one Combo only. If you want variety, either open a new account, or o wait until your main Combo reaches MK8, only then you can branch out and buy something else.

If you want max value, only play until you complete your daily/weekly missions, then wait until they reset each time. Clam your containers, upgrade your stuff and don't waste crystals on speed-ups.

Use Tankoins to unlock all three module slots and then keep them to buy a good battle pass.

 

No, just mk7 the combo and start on something else. Seriously one combo makes you feel trapped, it's not fun. 

[2shots2kills 2,367]

13 minutes ago, Incorp said:

No, just mk7 the combo and start on something else. Seriously one combo makes you feel trapped, it's not fun. 

I disagree, if you stop at MK7 you are going to get stomped when you reach high ranks, and you will have trouble earning a good amount of crystals.

It's better to get MK8 and be perfectly competitive. As I said, if you really want to play something else, just open a new account. 

Edited October 13, 2021 by 2shots2kills

[NikmanGT 4,362]

I agree, at least make it above mk7 -15 to get the max output from the combo, then moving onto the next one will be appropriate. Just upgrading it to mk7 won't do because the enemy will show no mercy  in getting free kills out of you, better to upgrade first. 

[yellowghetto 3,206]

Complete missions every day. Leave matches with clearly unfair MM.

Simple. Be patient, don't waste of Supplies.

As mentioned above, I actually waited 3 months on an alt account. (yellowghetto3) and I look like a buyer. Open conts daily, and I have 4K every Supply, animated Paints, Hunter Mk4, and Tesla, Gauss Mk3.

Also in my advantage, it is a legacy account, meaning I had the free 3 Module slots.

[NikmanGT 4,362]

50 minutes ago, yellowghetto said:

Also in my advantage, it is a legacy account, meaning I had the free 3 Module slots.

Well that is a con for now, anybody who creates a new account has to first open the 2 slots with tankoins which they could have saved to buy the BP straight from the first to get a head start.

[PirateSpider 1,489]

Only play to complete missions.

5 hours ago, DestrotankAI9 said:

Brutus (or any drone) gives ZERO bonus to supply strength without any MUs. The "50" in the wiki refers to the base strength of supplies with no drone, or with a drone with 0/20 mus - Boosted Damage or Boosted armor increase damage or armor by 50% respectively. I tested this with a low rank account and 0/20 Brutus just now and indeed - there was no difference with or without Brutus equipped.

Unless they changed it recently, I remember it saying 33% increase without a drone and 50% increase with a drone but no MUs.

[TheCongoSpider 8,943]

2 hours ago, PirateSpider said:

Unless they changed it recently, I remember it saying 33% increase without a drone and 50% increase with a drone but no MUs.

Here. The previous base supply power was 33%. It was raised to 50% in May.

[PirateSpider 1,489]

1 hour ago, TheCongoSpider said:

Here. The previous base supply power was 33%. It was raised to 50% in May.

I guess they fixed the garage description bug since June then. Cause I remember it saying 33%.

[wolverine848 13,097]

10 hours ago, nikunj04 said:

But consider this, the tanki online is based on turrets and hulls, protections and drones, all of this is purchasable with crystals which can be easily obtained by anyone who plays for even a limited amount of time and nowadays, it is not that much difficult to grind for crystals considering many external and passive sources like containers etc. So it is not that difficult to get a good gear score based on all of this gradually through time.

All but the first module slots cost TKs, not crystals.  And some of the most potent augments are only available through bundles or Ultracontainers (which can be bought with $)

F2P tankers won't get drones as soon as P2W, and won't be able to upgrade them as fast as P2W tankers either. So they are at a double disadvantage right off the bat because their supplies will be weaker and whatever their drone is supposed to do (if not Brutus) will also be weaker at whatever it does.  Also, buying and upgrading Brutus might help with their supply problem - but that is all it will do.  Tying Drones to supplies was a HUGE nerf new F2P takers.

The accelerated experience offsets a lot of the freebies F2P tankers get.  They progress too quickly in two ways... 1) they can't save as much between ranks because they reach the next rank much sooner and 2) they end up playing higher-ranked experienced players much sooner than they should.  I'm talking in-game experience, not experience points.  These players are outmatched by the higher-ranked players by a LOT.

And then there's the ridiculous decision to charge TKs for module slots.  The "reasoning" was that they should be concentrating on hull and turret while in the lower ranks.  But guess what - that does not apply to P2W tankers who will buy a module slot at the first opportunity.

The game has added a lot of layers to the "tank".  Each layer costs (something), and only buyers don't have to choose between which "layer" to acquire.  The more layers added, the greater the power-gap between F2P tankers and P2W tankers.  There are more "layers" now in the game than there ever have been.  Thus the power gap is greater than it has ever been.

I feel sorry for the new F2P tanker in this game.  Many will struggle mightily and quit in frustration.  Not a chance I'd start a new account today, even with the many advantages I have from playing the game for 6 years.

[IMPULSE-WARRIOR 161]

@wolverine848 Has written the only post that actually says it how it is.

The layer analogy was a very good way to describe the appalling advantage buyers have over the majority of players, regardless of rank. 

[Catbird 117]

For me, as others have already pointed out, the strategy has been to capitalize on multiple accounts. I have currently 4 active accounts, 11 counting the semi-active ones. It's the best way I've found to offset 1) the cost of equipment 2) the speed of ranking up and 3) the rate of free containers. And I perform pretty well in general. While we talk a lot about the container-only equipment, the reality is that there are many viable options available for crystals, and you have to capitalize on those.

To give an example, when Tesla came out for f2p, I took out this account which previously had been there just to accumulate free containers, and was able to level up pretty quickly and succesfully. Of course the fact I was playing low ranks and the broken turret helped a lot, but it shows what is possible in theory.

At the same time, my top 2 accounts are Legend 15 and Legend 5 respectively, and I have container-only augments and maxed out drones and combos on both (while being completely non-buyer mind you). Maybe having access to that reduces the frustrations I'd have otherwise, and someone who's still working to level up might find it much less enjoyable. So maybe my experience is biased.

One recent change that's definitively very annoying is the protection slots for tankoins, since it means you have to get the weekly containers and challenge rewards i.e. play daily with the account. I can see that becoming an annoyance when creating a new account now. But it's not insurmountable either, and protections are less important at low ranks anyways...

Edited October 14, 2021 by Catbird

[PirateSpider 1,489]

2 hours ago, wolverine848 said:

The accelerated experience offsets a lot of the freebies F2P tankers get.  They progress too quickly in two ways... 1) they can't save as much between ranks because they reach the next rank much sooner and 2) they end up playing higher-ranked experienced players much sooner than they should.  I'm talking in-game experience, not experience points.  These players are outmatched by the higher-ranked players by a LOT.

This was and still is one of the worst decisions that the devs have pulled off. Now F2P players have to go with one combo (maybe two if they get super lucky out of containers) where as before they could play with multiple combos and still do well.

 

This was the primary reason why I first left 10 months ago.

 

Nowadays there are only two things that are allowing free players a decent chance:

1) shards which allows free containers.

2) able to earn stars from daily and weekly missions.