History VideoGame / WorldOfTanks

* AluminumChristmasTrees:
** Many of the unlikely pairings between Axis and Allied tanks on the same team are TruthInTelevision: The Germans in particular would use practically anything they got their hands on that was still in functional condition (some to the point where they would start manufacturing it themselves), whilst the Allies looted a number of abandoned Axis vehicles and used them to swell their own ranks, particularly in the earlier, more desperate years of the war.
** Also applies to a surprising amount of the French tree. It's commonly assumed that most of the designs in it must have been 'paper tanks', too weird-looking and impractical to ever be produced in real life, particularly given the brevity of France's military role in the Second World War. [[http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1272&Itemid=102 Except that a lot of them were real.]]
** Contrary to popular belief, not all of the Japanese heavy tanks only existed as blueprints. The tier 3 Type 91 and the tier 4 Type 95 heavies both existed and were built. The prototype of the O-I tank was built and tested, and although no photos remain of the tank as a whole there is one remaining [[http://i.imgur.com/hkTivIt.jpg track link]] in existence in Wakajishi Shrine, Japan. The Type 4/5 heavies, the tier 9 and 10 tanks, were never finished, but [[http://cdn-live.warthunder.com/uploads/bc/502a1925326809424a1060bee9d44531e484e8/YFNcIiw.jpg photos]] [[http://wiki.gcdn.co/images/d/d8/Type_4_and_5_turret_bunker_mode.jpg remain]] of the turret that was built for the tanks and subsequently used as a bunker. However, the armor and speed stats of the Type 4/5 are mostly speculative.
** The first Italian Tank to be officially disclosed, the Progetto M35 mod 46, was never manufactured in real-life. But the technical documentation for its components exists in sufficient quantity for WarGaming to piece together an actual model of what the Tank would've looked like.

** The [=BLTZ9000=], a [[Franchise/{{Terminator}} time travelling tank from the future]].

* ArbitraryMaximumRange:

* ShortRangeLongRangeWeapon: All tanks can only engage slightly beyond [[ArbitraryMaximumRange the maximum sight range]] of 500 meters, while their real life counterparts [[RealityIsUnrealistic can do so from much, much further away]]. For example, the Tiger I with the 8.8cm L/56 can knock out an M4 Sherman at 2,000 yards/1,828.8 meters head on, which is about double the length/width (1,000 meters) of the largest maps in-game. The same goes for artillery, the lower tier versions of which are incapable of covering a map that spans 1,000 meters by 1,000 meters at the most, while even the lightest real-life self-propelled artillery could rain shells at ranges well beyond 10 kilometers. The devs have addressed this as an AcceptableBreakFromReality, since maps that big would lead to a lot of driving around with nothing to do.

* CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys: French tanks get a lot of flak from the fandom because they [[UnexpectedGameplayChange behave differently from others]], their [[CriticalResearchFailure alleged irrelevance]] to armored warfare, or [[AcceptableTargets simply because they're French]]. However, high-tier French tanks like the Batchat have garnered a lot of respect from the player base.

* RareVehicles: Some tanks only existed in blueprints, other had a few prototypes made. More than two Maus or a single Panther II[[note]]Only a single Panther II chassis was completed; it's in the Patton museum fitted with a turret from a different Panther.[[/note]] or E-100[[note]]A partially-completed Tiger-Maus chassis was captured by the British, then scrapped.[[/note]]? That's more than ever actually existed.
** A real life as well as in-game example is the Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. J, which is available only via a special code that can only be purchased from the Russian server. It's a Tier 3 light tank with 80 millimeters of armor, rivaling even Tier 5 and 6 heavy tanks.
** Imperial Japan never had the materials nor the Industrial capacity necessary to manufacture Heavy Tanks in any sort of appreciable numbers. This didn't stop [=WarGaming=] from introducing a Heavy Tank Branch in the Japanese Tech Tree for Patch 9.10 since they've somehow managed to find a sufficient amount of data and blueprints on their VERY obscure projects.

A mobile version, ''[[http://wotblitz.com/ World of Tanks Blitz]]'', was released in May 2014, for iOS and Android. A card-based MMORTS {{Spinoff}}, ''[[http://wotgenerals.com/ World of Tanks Generals]]'', was [[http://www.strategyinformer.com/news/19399/world-of-tanks-generals-announced-by-wargamingnet announced]] by Wargaming.net. There also are spinoffs ''[[http://worldofwarplanes.com/ World of]] [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarplanes Warplanes]]'' and ''[[http://www.worldofwarships.com/ World of]] [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarships Warships]]'' which is the same idea, [[RecycledInSPACE but with warplanes and warships instead]]. In 2020, World of Tanks partnered with TabletopGames publisher Gale Force Nine to release the [[https://www.gf9games.com/worldoftanks/ World of Tanks Miniatures Game]], a [[WarGaming tabletop model wargame]] based on the ruleset of ''Tanks'' (it self, a small-scale tank skirmish focused game spun off from ''TabletopGame/FlamesOfWar'') with World of Tanks themed changes to gameplay, and with 20 vehicle models released in its first year of sale.

** [[UpToEleven Taken to absurd heights]] with high tier American tank destroyers, especially the T95, which can take '''artillery''' shells to the face and [[NoSell not be hurt]].

** Tanks armed with just machineguns are this UpToEleven. Each individual round deals damage in the single digits, but they can [[MoreDakka spew out lots of them]].

*** The E 25 takes this UpToEleven. The same gun, except now it reloads in ''two seconds''.

** The M18 Hellcat tank destroyer goes UpToEleven since it set records as one of the fastest large [=AFVs=] of all time, easily reaching speeds of around 60 mph on good terrain, but only has 25mm armor at most on the front of the turret[[note]]Everywhere else is ''13mm'', which is lighter than most ''starter tanks''![[/note]] in stock configuration, though its upgraded turret has much better armor. In-game, it's as fast as the ''[[DemonicSpider T-50-2]]'' and is capable of mounting a 90mm main gun.

** The Maus, an ''extremely'' well-protected tank, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnBLe9ZwESM can take]] this trope UpToEleven.

** There is a considerable {{Hatedom}} for the T-54 and its Chinese knockoff, the Type 59, because of their ridiculously well-sloped frontal armor, which takes this trope UpToEleven and makes their survivability more akin to that of a heavy tank a tier higher. Most tanks a of equal or lower tier tanks often switch to HE ammunition and chip away since most of their AP rounds will do anything but deflect off the armor. If only its turret is exposed, its 200mm thick sloped armor makes it almost completely invulnerable to anything but a direct artillery hit. That said, its frontal hull and turret armor can be penetrated with premium rounds, which cost a lot of in-game credits and real world money.

** The American Tier 9 tank destroyer, the T95, sports a 155mm main gun that can destroy over half the tanks in the game with a single shot and has a top speed of only 13km/h, which is slower than a ''[[UpToEleven Maus going in reverse]]''.

* MoreDakka: As a general rule of thumb, any weapon below 57mm isn't going to rely on damage dealt in a single hit, it's going to rely on damage dealt over time. ''All'' weapons below 37mm (and including one that ''is'') are automatic cannons. Taken UpToEleven by those tanks that mount actual machineguns.

** '''Russia:''' Extra Combat Rations.

** The German VK 30.01 (P) is a Tiger prototype with a 60 km/h speed limit. Only qualifies when upgraded however, and acceleration remains somewhat poor, meaning that it won't always manage to reach its top speed. [[CarFu Don't get in the way of one going downhill, though]].

*** Turrets do not list how much HP they give or their gun depression. There's also no way to see the shape of the turret beforehand, which can lead to a nasty surprise when you purchase a stock ARL 44 (displayed with the elite turret) and suddenly... [[FanNickname barn]]. Also tied in with guns are the fact that certain turrets will improve the soft stats of some or all of the guns on the tank. The Chi-To in particular is very bad with this, as all you are shown in game is that it weighs a bit more[[labelnote:except...]]in reality, you're gaining ''80'' HP, 3.5° more gun depression, and a buff to all of the soft stats of both guns[[/labelnote]].

** The KV-2 exemplifies this trope: It can be armed with the same 122mm gun as the KV-1 or a new 107mm gun, which bites quite hard, but slows the tank down. [[TakeAThirdOption The third option]] KV-2 players can take, however, is the infamous 152mm howitzer - a gun known among the fandom as the [[FanNickname "derpgun" or the "trollcannon"]] for its abysmal accuracy, incredibly lengthy reload time - and truly ridiculous damage with HE shells, dealing noticeable damage to even Tier 10 tanks and described by the game's own wiki as strong enough to send "the tank on the receiving end of the shell ... off the map and hurled into the sun". Absolutely suicidal to venture out alone with and so must be played in a support role, or in a platoon of three. Still, if you want a good laugh and the chance to [[OhCrap put the fear]] of the RandomNumberGod into the enemy team, this is the tank to grab.

** The AMX 40, also (un)affectionately known as "[[FanNickname The Duck]]", a Tier 4 French light tank with acceleration slower than most ''heavy'' tanks, a rather piddly gun... and [[StoneWall armor equivalent to the KV-1 with completely retarded amounts of sloped armor]]. Place it in a Tier 3-4 match and watch as every shot that goes towards your general direction bounce off.

** Pretty much ''every'' Japanese heavy tank from Tier 6 and above combines colossal size, incredible armor, low speed, poor maneuverability and a powerful gun to devastating effect. They aren't called [[FanNickname Godzillas]] for nothing!

** For a few tanks that have a pretty good combination of mobility, frontal armor and heavy weight, ramming is considered a core part of their playstyle rather than just something fun when the situation presents itself. Such dedicated rammers are widely considered the only tanks where spall liners are considered worthwhile (since with only 3 equipment slots per tank there's usually better choices). The Panther/E-50 line of German medium tanks is particularly known for this, since they're heavier and have better front hull armor than most same-tier mediums and yet still have the speed of a medium tank, especially the Tier X E-50 M. And the Tier V premium medium tank Pz.Kpfw. V/IV is known as the [[FanNickname Rampanzer]] because it's the hull and engine of the Panther (already a good rammer) but 2 tiers lower and thus getting to ram ligher and less armored foes than the Panther can.

*** On the flipside, shooting a tank anywhere on its hitbox that is not a module will deal hitpoint damage and eventually destroy the tank. Even if every shot is placed on the tiny little commander's cupola on the top of the turret.

** A more recent patch added the ability for shells that ricochet to still strike another tank. Your disappointment becomes joy if you manage to hit another tank with that bounced shell. Bonus points for hitting a tank that was unspotted.

A mobile version, ''[[http://wotblitz.com/ World of Tanks Blitz]]'', was released in May 2014, for iOS and Android. A card-based MMORTS {{Spinoff}}, ''[[http://wotgenerals.com/ World of Tanks Generals]]'', was [[http://www.strategyinformer.com/news/19399/world-of-tanks-generals-announced-by-wargamingnet announced]] by Wargaming.net. There also are spinoffs ''[[http://worldofwarplanes.com/ World of]] [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarplanes Warplanes]]'' and ''[[http://www.worldofwarships.com/ World of]] [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarships Warships]]'' which is the same idea, [[RecycledInSPACE but with warplanes and warships instead]].

* {{Crossover}}: The Swedish PowerMetal band Music/{{Sabaton}} are huge fans of the game, which led to a cross-promotion with the band filming a music video for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPVm-QkWbBQ "Primo Victoria"]] that basically consisted of a ''World of Tanks'' LARP session. And the AceCustom Swedish Army Centurion tank they drive in the video is available in the game.

** Averted quite hard with the French [[UnfortunateNames BS]] self-propelled gun. Whether or not the tank is "BS" because it's good or bad varies heavily, though.

* UnfortunateNames: A few:
** "Assmann" is an available surname choice for German Crewmen.
** Heh, ''[[HehHehYouSaidX Dicker Max]]''[[note]]Funny for English-speaking players, as the name itself means "Fat Max" in German[[/note]].
** Having a ST-I in your nether regions is pretty much exactly as unpleasant as it sounds.
** The O-Ho heavy tank - that's exactly what people do when they hear the name!
** "Dickerson" is an available surname choice for American Crewmen. As is "Balls".
** Wargaming has unknowingly offended players of Spainish-Mexican ancestry by being historically accurate with the Spähpanzer 1C. Germany used Roman Numerals in their tank abbreviations, which leads the tank's abbreviation to be rendered as SP I C in-game.

The ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'' anime by Studio Actas [[SpiritualAdaptation is often considered to be]] TheAnimeOfTheGame. In a move that [[HilariousInHindsight surprised no one]], [[http://gs.inside-games.jp/news/423/42302.html the makers of the game and Studio Actas will cooperate in creating in-game exclusive content related to the anime]] in celebration of the creation of a Japanese server cluster for the game. The game is also getting an official ComicbookAdaptation, "Roll Out", written by Creator/GarthEnnis and drawn by [[Comicbook/JudgeDredd Carlos Ezquerra]] (both already veterans of tank warfare stories from ''Comicbook/{{Battle}}'' and Ennis's ''Battlefields'' stories), and starring Cromwells in the Battle of Normandy.

* GuestFighter: Several tanks in ''Blitz'', such as :

** The BLTZ9000, a [[Franchise/Terminator time travelling tank from the future]].

** [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 The Predator and Vindicator]]

* PermanentlyMissableContent: A few tanks are event only or have not gone on sale again.

* ParabolicPowerCurve: The Credit gain per fight reaches its peak at Tiers 6-8, and later tanks are usually not profitable unless played extremely well. As a result many plaers who play in the top tiers will maintain a favorite stable of tier 8 tanks for use as cash farmers.

A card-based MMORTS {{Spinoff}}, ''[[http://wotgenerals.com/ World of Tanks Generals]]'', was [[http://www.strategyinformer.com/news/19399/world-of-tanks-generals-announced-by-wargamingnet announced]] by Wargaming.net. There also are spinoffs ''[[http://worldofwarplanes.com/ World of]] [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarplanes Warplanes]]'' and ''[[http://www.worldofwarships.com/ World of]] [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarships Warships]]'' which is the same idea, [[RecycledInSPACE but with warplanes and warships instead]].

** Several tanks in ''Blitz'', such as :
*** [[Videogame/ValkyriaChronicles The Nameless]],
*** [[{{Dracula}} The T6 Dracula and the Helsing H0]] [[note]]Which are explicitely described as being the ''real'' Dracula and Van Helsing, reincarned into tanks to battle eachother once more[[/note]],
*** [[Anime/GirlsUndPanzer The Kuro Mori Mine, Hetzer Kame SP, and the Pz IV Anko]],
*** [[Franchise/StarWars The Pz Iv (-o-)]] with a [=TIE=] fighter paintjob.
*** [[Franchise/Warhammer40000 The Vindicator and Predator]]

* SkillGateCharacter: [=SPGs=] are necessarily limited in ability compared to other tanks, but at the same time, can be very forgiving, present much more explicit risks, and are usually a bad player's only chance of beating a "[[ThatOnePlayer Unicum]]".
** An experienced hand at the controls of an SPG can be an absolute terror, because the threat cannot usually be dealt with until relatively late in the match. But experienced hands are [[RuleOfFun just more likely to drive a tank]].