Where to Hit a Tank in World of Tanks: A Comprehensive Guide
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The best place to hit a tank in World of Tanks depends entirely on the tank you’re shooting at and the tank you’re shooting with. There’s no single “magic spot” that guarantees penetration and damage. However, as a general rule of thumb, aim for the lower plate, cupolas (weak spots on the turret), and rear armor for most tanks. Analyzing armor profiles and understanding weak points is key to consistently dealing damage.
Understanding Armor in World of Tanks
World of Tanks features a complex armor model that simulates the thickness and angle of a tank’s armor plating. This determines whether your shot penetrates and how much damage you inflict. Effective aiming is critical, but understanding the underlying mechanics is just as important.
Armor Thickness and Angle
A tank’s armor isn’t simply a flat value. The effective armor thickness takes into account the angle at which the shell impacts the armor. A shell hitting at a sharp angle must travel through more armor, increasing the effective thickness.
- Sloped Armor: Many tanks utilize sloped armor to increase their effective armor without adding actual thickness. This is particularly common on the front of the tank.
- Normalization: When a shell impacts sloped armor, it is slightly “normalized,” meaning its angle of impact is reduced. However, extreme angles can still lead to bounces.
- Overmatch: If your shell’s caliber is three times greater than the armor thickness, it will automatically normalize significantly, negating the effect of the angle and almost guaranteeing penetration. This is known as the overmatch mechanic.
Shell Types and Penetration
The type of shell you use dramatically affects your penetration capabilities.
- Armor-Piercing (AP): A standard shell type, AP shells have good normalization but lose penetration over distance.
- Armor-Piercing Composite Rigid (APCR): These shells have higher velocity and penetration than AP shells, but they have poor normalization and lose penetration rapidly over distance.
- High Explosive (HE): HE shells don’t need to penetrate to deal damage. They explode on impact, dealing splash damage. They are most effective against thinly armored targets or to reset capture points.
- High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT): HEAT shells have high penetration but don’t normalize and are easily absorbed by spaced armor or tracks.
Identifying Tank Weak Spots
Knowing the common weak spots on different tank types is crucial for success in World of Tanks.
Common Weak Spots
- Lower Plate: The lower glacis plate is often the weakest point on the front of a tank. It’s usually less armored and more vulnerable to penetration.
- Cupolas: These small observation turrets on top of the main turret are typically lightly armored and easy to target.
- Commander’s Hatch: Similar to cupolas, the commander’s hatch is a smaller, often weaker point on the turret.
- Rear Armor: The rear of the tank generally has the thinnest armor. A shot to the rear often results in significant damage and can even set the engine on fire.
- Sides: While often more armored than the rear, the sides of a tank are generally weaker than the front.
- Ammo Racks: While not always a visible weakspot, the location of the ammo rack varies by tank. Damaging the ammo rack can cause a significant reduction in reload time or even an ammo rack explosion, instantly destroying the tank.
Specific Tank Weak Spots
- German Heavies (Tiger II, E 75, E 100): Lower plate, cupola on the turret.
- Soviet Heavies (IS-3, IS-7): Lower plate, roof armor (especially on the IS-7).
- American Heavies (T29, T32, T110E5): Cupola, lower plate. The T29 and T32 have extremely strong turrets, making cupola shots the primary option.
- French Tanks (AMX 13 90, Bat.-Châtillon 25 t): Generally thinly armored, aim for any flat surface.
- Tank Destroyers (Jagdpanzer E 100, Object 268): Many tank destroyers have heavily armored casemates, but their lower plates and sides are usually weaker.
Practical Tips for Aiming and Penetration
Beyond knowing weak spots, practical aiming techniques are crucial for maximizing your damage output.
Aiming Techniques
- Take Your Time: Don’t rush your shots. Fully aim at your target’s weak spot before firing.
- Use Sniper Mode: Sniper mode zooms in for more precise aiming.
- Lead Your Shots: When shooting at moving targets, aim slightly ahead of their current position to compensate for travel time.
- Consider Your Gun’s Accuracy: Guns with poor accuracy require you to aim more carefully and reduce the distance to your target.
- Aim for the Base of the Cupola: If aiming for a cupola, aim for the base where it connects to the turret, as this area is often the weakest.
- Watch for Angling: Tanks will often angle their armor to increase its effective thickness. Adjust your aim accordingly.
- Use Autolock Sparingly: Autolock is helpful for tracking moving targets, but it doesn’t aim for weak spots. Use it primarily for flanking or tracking.
Penetration Mechanics
- Random Number Generator (RNG): World of Tanks uses RNG to determine penetration. Your shell’s penetration value can vary by +/- 25%.
- Know Your Shell Penetration: Understand the average penetration of your shells and choose the appropriate shell type for the situation.
- Consider the Distance: AP and APCR shells lose penetration over distance. Adjust your aim and shell type based on the range.
- Use Premium Ammunition Wisely: Premium ammunition (Gold ammo) often has higher penetration but comes at a cost. Use it strategically when you need to penetrate heavily armored targets.
- Crew Skills and Equipment: Certain crew skills (like Deadeye) and equipment (like Improved Gun Laying Drive) can improve your aiming and accuracy.
FAQs: Mastering Tank Weak Spots
1. What is the best way to learn tank weak spots?
The best way to learn is through experience, watching videos, and using online resources such as armor viewers. Playing the game regularly and paying attention to where you are getting penetrated will help you learn over time.
2. How important is it to use premium ammunition?
Premium ammunition can be very helpful against heavily armored targets but is not always necessary. Using it strategically when you need to penetrate tough opponents can significantly increase your damage output.
3. What is spaced armor, and how does it affect penetration?
Spaced armor is an outer layer of armor separated from the main armor of the tank. It is designed to detonate HE and HEAT shells prematurely, reducing their effectiveness. AP and APCR shells usually penetrate spaced armor without much issue, although they still lose some penetration value.
4. How does the caliber of my gun affect penetration?
Larger caliber guns tend to have higher penetration values. Additionally, if your gun caliber is three times larger than the armor thickness, the overmatch mechanic guarantees penetration, negating the effect of armor angle.
5. What is the overmatch mechanic?
The overmatch mechanic occurs when your shell caliber is three times greater than the armor thickness. In this case, the angle of impact is almost completely negated, and the shell has a very high chance of penetration.
6. How can I improve my aiming skills?
Practice! Use training rooms to practice aiming at specific weak spots. Pay attention to your aiming reticle and take your time to fully aim before firing.
7. What is angling, and how does it affect armor?
Angling refers to positioning your tank at an angle to the enemy. This increases the effective thickness of your armor, making it more difficult for enemy shells to penetrate.
8. How does normalization work?
Normalization is the reduction in the angle of impact of a shell as it strikes sloped armor. It helps AP and APCR shells penetrate angled surfaces.
9. What is the difference between AP and APCR shells?
AP shells have good normalization and moderate penetration, while APCR shells have higher velocity and penetration but poor normalization and lose penetration more quickly over distance.
10. How does camouflage affect my ability to hit weak spots?
Camouflage can make it harder for enemies to see and target you, giving you more time to aim at their weak spots. However, it doesn’t directly affect your accuracy.
11. Should I always aim for the lower plate?
Not always. While the lower plate is often a weak spot, some tanks have well-armored lower plates. It’s important to assess the specific tank you are facing and choose the appropriate target.
12. What is the best crew skill to improve accuracy?
The “Snap Shot” skill for gunners improves accuracy while traversing the turret, and the “Smooth Ride” skill for drivers improves accuracy while moving. The “Dead Eye” skill increase chances of damage to enemy modules.
13. How do I deal with heavily armored tanks?
Use premium ammunition if necessary, aim for weak spots, flank the tank to shoot at its sides or rear, or use HE shells to deal splash damage to exposed crew members.
14. Is it possible to penetrate the front of a Maus?
Penetrating the front of a Maus can be very challenging due to its thick armor. Aim for the cupola, lower plate (if visible and you have high penetration), or try to flank it. Premium ammunition is often necessary.
15. What equipment can improve my gun handling?
Improved Gun Laying Drive and Vertical Stabilizer significantly improve gun handling by reducing aim time and dispersion.