In addition to an immensely deep progression system and unique squad-based combat, Enlisted also has tank gameplay. Piloting a tank in Enlisted is more like its sibling War Thunder than anything else, especially the arcade-like World of Tanks. After all, the US Army used War Thunder as their simulator; they didn't use World of Tanks.
It's not easy being a giant, metal target that doesn't know where to go or what to do. Strap on those tanker boots and spend some time digesting these pro tips that are sure to make the next experience a better one.
10 Destroy Tanks With Armor Piercing (AP) Rounds Aimed At Weak Spots
As with many features of tank combat in Enlisted, the different ammo types are not immediately obvious in Enlisted. The primary thing to know is the AP rounds are for tanks. These shells are what will penetrate armor and destroy tanks.
The High Explosive rounds seem more fun because of the huge explosions, but they're not actually very effective unless the opponent is in a light tank. For the best effect, aim shots at areas on the tank that will cause the most damage - more on this later.
9 Avoid Allowing Easy Penetrating Shots By Being Aware Of Armor Angle
Tanks are shaped oddly for a number of reasons: radar avoidance, physical obfuscation, and very importantly, the effect of angles on the trajectory of incoming projectiles. The front of a tank is typically heavily angled in an attempt to deflect projectiles and the front also typically has the most armor.
The most vulnerable spot on a tank is the side, and a well-placed shot directly to the side has a high chance of destroying or crippling a tank. Therefore, at all costs, do not directly expose the side of the tank to an enemy tank. Attack head-on or try to angle the tank in relation to the enemy so that projectiles bounce harmlessly off the side. This tip will earn points in any modern tank game
8 A Green Targeting Reticle Means Big Damage
Pointing a tank's big gun at things in Enlisted will change the color of the crosshair (reticle). This is true for buildings but importantly it is also true for tanks. Green means a high likelihood of projectile penetration while yellow means there is a moderate chance. Red means there is no chance and black means there is nothing applicable to penetrate. As with other war games, understanding projectile penetration is a major piece of separation between skill levels.
It takes a long time to reload: make sure that the reticle is green before firing.
7 Use Machine Guns On Infantry For Maximum Killing Efficiency
For players coming to Enlisted from War Thunder, dealing with infantry is a new challenge. When there is a giant cannon available that creates satisfying explosions, sometimes it's hard to remember that the most effective anti-personnel weapon in a tank's arsenal is generally the machine gun(s). When there are enemy soldiers swarming within range, prioritize the machine gun first because it is easier to aim and has a more predictable effect.
Some tanks (e.g., german) have issues with machine guns overheating, so be aware that can happen, but when available, MGs are the more reliable option.
6 Fire High Explosive (HE) Rounds Against Hard Surfaces To Ensure An Effective Explosion
Big explosions will most certainly stop enemy soldiers. The tip here is to avoid aiming directly at soldiers because the round will not actually explode unless it hits a hard surface.
If infantry are advancing in an open field, aim at their feet. If there is a building near a group of soldiers on a road, aim at the wall of the building for maximum explosive effect.
5 Stay On The Move And Stay Out Of Tight Spots
Tanks don't hide. Not in Enlisted and not in any other game with armored vehicles. No matter what the situation is, the iron monster will always be a target. Given the attention that tanks get, it is important to keep moving and avoid being swarmed by soldiers or flanked by other tanks looking for a shot at the weak side or rear armor.
As mentioned in the "learn the maps" tip, don't get caught unaware on a narrow street where troopers can easily swarm and easily hit the tank with explosive packs.
4 Keep The Squad In The Tank At All Times
When the player exits their tank the entire squad will follow, which makes the crew vulnerable to getting their heads popped off. Driving a tank requires at least three soldiers, so losing someone could mean no more tank.
If for some reason exit is necessary, turn around and order those GI Joes to get back into the tank ('Control Vehicle' command). They're much safer there than outside following the player around.
3 Prioritize Destroying Enemy Tanks Before Infantry
This may come as a surprise because squishy, pink humans seem like the primary target of tanks - but, they are not. Those other tanks on the battlefield need to be priority number one. Establishing armor superiority for the team creates excellent opportunities to defend objectives or crash through and capture an objective.
Think of the tanks as a support unit, not the primary unit of death. Good soldiers will always kill more other soldiers than tanks will, but tanks will absolutely create more winnable battles for those soldiers, even without fancy skins.
2 Learn The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Each Tank in Enlisted
Enlisted borrows its tanks from sister-game War Thunder. Fortunately for players of Enlisted, that means access to the useful tank analyzer available in that game. Simply download War Thunder, then load up the tanks section and start researching. Using the x-ray feature when looking at a tank preview, the player can assess the weak and strong armor locations in addition to the mechanical layout of the tank.
The best Enlisted tank pilots study and learn from these x-rays so that they know exactly where to shoot a tank to destroy or cripple it in one shot.
1 Learn The Maps
The most basic but important tip for using tanks in Enlisted, and with real-life tanks too, is to learn the flow of each map and where tanks can be best leveraged for success.
When playing with infantry, take note of spots where the enemy tends to attack from one direction and where flanking positions are more limited or less common - tanks tend to do the most damage when there is room to move but also there is a lower chance of being swarmed from all directions.