Three new Tier 11 vehicles launched, six old vehicles strengthened, World of Tanks 2.1.1 update brings major battlefield pace changes

As Christmas nears, World of Tanks players have been gifted the Tier 9 French special medium tank “Phantom” from this year’s event ambassador, Benedict Cumberbatch.

However, there is an even bigger present — the upcoming 2.1.1 version preview releasing in mid-January. This update focuses on strengthening older vehicles and introducing new ones, all involving Tier 11 tanks, impacting the top-tier combat power in the game.

First, three new Tier 11 vehicles cover the US, China, and Japan lines. Among them, the ARES 90C is the Tier 11 vehicle for the second-line US medium tank branch, bringing the entire line from Tier 8 to 10 forward, totaling four tanks introduced at once.

Tier 11 ARES 90C

This line features an overheat automatic cannon combined with emergency tracks, balancing firepower and survivability. So far, its burst damage is very strong, capable of dealing significant damage when flanking.

Tier 10 ARES 90

Taking the Tier 10 ARES 90, already available in the public test server, as an example: it has a single shot damage of 115, a short reload of 0.3 seconds, and a DPS of 383, showing impressive burst potential. Despite the overheat limit, the ARES 90 can fire 10 shells in a single burst, delivering 1150 standard damage within 3 seconds, which is quite formidable.

Besides the ARES 90C, the other two new Tier 11 vehicles are the Chinese WZ113G’s successor PZT-78 and the Russian experimental heavy tank’s successor STK-2.

The PZT-78 is characterized by a “sequential rocket booster,” functioning like a solid rocket that boosts the tank’s power-to-weight ratio, top speed, and maneuverability for several seconds. Additionally, its rockets can independently thrust left or right, aiding tank turns and maximizing tactical mobility.

The STK-2 inherits the experimental heavy tank’s hydro-pneumatic suspension and cold gun system. Its cold gun mechanism is described as more flexible than lower-tier versions, allowing accuracy to gradually build up even while cooling down.

STK-2

Besides new vehicles, the strengthening of six old Tier 11 vehicles is also noteworthy. These are medium tanks and tank destroyers introduced in version 2.0, which had conservative stats due to their unique mechanics and model sizes. This update adjusts and enhances their performance.

Image source: Bilibili creator Comet Chloy

Among medium tanks, four underperforming Tier 11 vehicles — 432U, Leopard 120, AS XX40t, and CS-67S — have been buffed.

·The most criticized 432 Project U has improved base DPM and hull weak spots, as well as skill performance. Now it charges faster and maintains overheat longer.

·Leopard 120 has enhanced fire control and gold shell reload speed, though the fire control boost is modest and barely noticeable.

·AS XX-40T received overall DPM and output improvements, with a significant boost to silver shell reload speed to 1380 and turret dispersion reduced from 0.12 to 0.09, marking a major upgrade.

·The already strong CS-67S got buffs in dispersion, accuracy, DPM, and reverse speed, resulting in a comprehensive performance enhancement.

On the tank destroyer side, two vehicles were adjusted: the Stag Beetle gained increased single shot damage and reload speed, raising its floor, along with improved turret dispersion. The Strv107 saw boosted fortress mode performance and faster switching, encouraging commanders to use fortress mode more confidently in combat.

Overall, World of Tanks places great emphasis on both new and old vehicles in the 2.1.1 update. The buffs to old vehicles are well-executed, and the new vehicle mechanics are very dynamic. We can expect more variability on the battlefield in version 2.1.1.