[UPDATE] Update 1.21 Common Test: New Events and Improvements

Greetings, Commanders!

We're launching the first Common Test of Update 1.21, featuring a new interpretation of the Steel Hunter mode with friendlier and simpler rules. You can also explore a new Frontline desert map and experience other improvements to this epic mode. Additionally, we’ve redesigned the Service Record page in the Garage for a better visualization of your performance statistics and combat achievements.

Let’s roll out!

Feature Availability During the Common Test

Steel Hunter: Reborn

Our exciting battle royale mode returns with a revamped format and big gameplay changes, making it more enjoyable than ever!

Steel Hunter: Reborn is a new variation on the classic Steel Hunter but with friendlier rules. It features respawns, reworked vehicle balancing, and even situational AI-driven opponents. It is still competitive and even more dynamic, but it's easier to get involved and play—especially for newcomers. As for Steel Hunter veterans, they will surely notice fresh game mechanics and experience the standard rules from a different perspective. Let's dig deeper into the details.

Respawn Mechanics

Now you will have a second chance to take revenge on your opponents at an early stage of battle! When playing solo, you’ll be able to automatically respawn in a safe location after your vehicle’s destruction—but only during the first five minutes of the battle. Platoon players will have two respawns per Platoon. You will be able to respawn next to your Platoonmate within the first eight minutes, but to do so, your ally must remain out of battle for 10 seconds. When you respawn, the following happens: You retain your vehicle tier. You return to the game with the default set of shells and abilities, as at the start of the battle. If you use up your respawn(s), you can get more when collecting Airdrop loot.

Marauders (AI-Driven Opponents)

Steel Hunter: Reborn features AI-driven enemy models called Marauders, which are weaker opponents than real players. They spawn at certain points on the map—destroy them to get additional Combat XP and loot, thereby boosting your progress in battle. There will be three different types of Marauders that demonstrate individual behaviors and react differently to your presence, as follows: Hares are small and dynamic vehicles that try to run away from you after being spotted. Wolves are aggressive, versatile opponents that will attack you from a distance. Bears are the most powerful enemies guarding the loot. They will engage you in close combat but will stop fighting when you move away from them.

Matchmaking Changes

In Steel Hunter, your experience and individual mastery have always been your main advantages. But in the battle royale format—where only the best wins—it may be challenging for new players to compete with more experienced Hunters. To make the gameplay more enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans, we’ll implement new matchmaking rules that will take your performance in the mode into account and try to automatically find opponents close to your battle results.

Progression System
	Steel Hunter: Reborn will have its own progression system with enjoyable in-game rewards. To get them all, you need to complete easy daily missions in the mode.
All rewards during the Common Test are not final and may not correspond to those that will be available when Steel Hunter: Reborn is released.

Other Gameplay and Balance Changes

• We also reduced the gap in power between vehicle tiers. If you are playing in, for example, a Tier V vehicle and you are opposed by a Tier VII tank, you have a better chance of defeating it.
• Now it's easier to cause damage in Steel Hunter. All special vehicles in the mode have less armor and fewer spaced screens, so you’ll have a better chance of penetrating your opponents. We’ve also increased shell velocity and implemented the lock-on (auto-aim) feature—which wheeled vehicles have—on all the mode’s special vehicles to make it easier to cause damage on the move.
• Collecting loot is now faster. It will take you three seconds to collect standard loot and five seconds to grab Airdrops.
• We decreased the cooldown time of the healing ability called Recovery. Now you can use it more frequently. Also, this ability will always be contained in every Consumables loot marked with green smoke.
• The number of players in solo battles will decrease from 20 to 15. You can also enter battles as a two-player Platoon. There can be a maximum of 10 Platoons per battle.
• We reduced reload time by 50% when upgrading your vehicle's gun, including autoloading ones.
• Finally, all special vehicles will be available from the start, and there will not be any vehicles for rent.

Frontline 2023

In the first launch of Frontline 2023, you’ll be able to experience same-tier 30v30 battles on a brand-new desert map called Fata Morgana. This huge 3×3 km location will take you to the heated sands of Northern Africa.

Fata Morgana has a wide variety of landscapes: Here you will find a rocky canyon, the ruins of an ancient castle, shady caves, and lush oases. But the most spectacular parts of this sandy locale are a huge oil refinery and a coastal town with traditional architecture. Check it out!

Balance Improvements

In the upcoming Episode of Frontline, all players will get an additional 1.5% bonus to their crew major qualifications for each General they have in their team. The maximum number of Generals on a team for which you can get a bonus is limited to 10.

Combat Reserves now get new levels all together and simultaneously. You will upgrade them to Level II upon reaching the Captain rank and to Level III upon reaching the Major rank.

Field Repairs will restore all damaged modules upon activation.

Minefield will now have a three-second activation timer after being deployed. During this time, mines will not be active and won't cause damage to enemy vehicles.

Service Record Page Update

The Service Record page in the Garage in its current form has not changed for a long time. To update it and make it more informative and useful, we’ve redesigned its interfaces, added WTR, and implemented the ability to customize your combat achievements.

In addition to the familiar parameters, such as the total number of battles fought and average damage, now your main statistics page will display several new ones: maximum blocked damage, assistance and damage records, as well as the total number of vehicles destroyed. Take a look!

We’ve also replaced Personal Rating with WTR as a more representative system of the player’s actual performance and reworked its visuals. It will be divided into the following five groups:

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Ace

Legend

Each group consists of three mastery levels, meaning there will be 15 levels in total, each with its own unique visual style. A certain number of WTR points is required to achieve each level. Now you can also get a better idea of how many WTR points you need to earn to reach a new level.

Your current WTR rating visualization will directly depend on your results: The more effectively you perform in a battle, the higher your mastery level.

The reworked Service Record page provides a better visualization of the WTR rating system and displays your performance progress in the game in a more understandable way. This will also make it easier for you to compare your own rating to other players’ ratings.

You’ll also have the ability to customize your combat achievements on the main statistics page in a few clicks. Show off your favorite medals and other rare achievements that you are most proud of—and spark envy in other Commanders!

Battle Pass 2023: Season XI

A new Season of Battle Pass will enter the live server soon, but before we roll it out for everyone, we're putting the next iteration to the test.

In Season XI, all Battle Pass core mechanics remain unchanged, but we’ve updated both Reward Tracks: Base Rewards will include pieces of Experimental Equipment, while Improved Rewards will contain gold.

As always, you’ll be able to earn Tokens, a special reward currency exclusive to Battle Pass. They accumulate over the course of the year from all the Seasons of Battle Pass you take part in throughout 2023. In Season XI, you can already earn enough Tokens to redeem rare Tier IX vehicles, including  IX BZ-58-2   and  IX KPz 3 Projekt 07 HK .

Join the Common Test and give your feedback, Commanders!