Steel Hunter

Welcome to Steel Hunter, one of the most exciting modes in World of Tanks. In this last-man-standing battle royale, you or your Platoon will fight in special vehicles on dynamic maps. In the latest version of this mode, we have added several new mechanics and features to the existing rules, aiming to make the game even more dynamic while remaining comfortable for both beginners and veterans.

Event Summary

• Choose to fight solo or join forces with a mate in a Platoon showdown. You can also search for a Random Platoon.
• In solo mode, you are one of 15 players fighting for victory. It’s every Hunter for themselves!
• When you play in a Platoon, the total number of players is 20.
• Eight special vehicles with unique abilities will join the hunt.
• When playing in any type of Platoon, you will be able to use Voice Chat.
• The total battle time is up to 15 minutes. Before each battle, you can choose from several spawn points on the map.
• Battles will unfold on three huge maps, whose playable areas will shrink with time. In Danger Zones, your vehicle won't receive damage, but pay attention to the countdown indicating when they will turn into Destruction Zones. Escape Destruction Zones as quickly as possible, as they will gradually cause damage until your vehicle is destroyed.
• You'll be able to upgrade your vehicles while in battle and get stronger with each new tier.
• Your main goal is to survive at all costs. Destroy all enemies and be the last Hunter standing.
• Collect special objects (loot) that randomly spawn on the map (Consumables and Supplies) but also remain after destroyed vehicles (Spoils of War). These objects contain resources, Combat XP, Combat Ability charges, HP, and repairs for modules.
• The most valuable type of loot is the Airdrop. Many players will want to get their hands on Airdrops, so you'll have to push yourself to the limit to get to them first.
• All special vehicles in this mode are equipped with the lock-on (auto-aim) feature—signature to wheeled vehicles. This will make it easier to cause damage on the move and against moving targets.
• The shell velocity is also higher in this mode for the same purposes.
• Enemy vehicles display their upgrade tier, allowing you to better assess your capabilities.
• There is a special type of AI-controlled opponent in the mode called Marauders. They yield Combat XP and Spoils of War when destroyed.
• Your mastery will be taken into account. The matchmaker aims to provide opponents of similar combat effectiveness.
• Сomplete daily tasks to gain Progression Points, based on your position at the end of the battle. These Points can be used to unlock the stages of the event's Progression. Each new Stage will bring you various rewards, as well as a special currency—Steel Seals.
• Steel Seals can be exchanged for various customization items in the in-game Store.

How to Start Playing

To enter the game, select the appropriate option (Solo, Random Platoon, or Regular Platoon) by clicking the event banner under the Battle! button.

If you choose to play in a Random Platoon, the game will find you a teammate with the most suitable skill level to match your own Steel Hunter statistics.

You can also offer to convert your Random Platoon into a Regular one. This option is available on the battle results screen.

Platoon Communication

Voice Chat

To use this feature in the game, you need to do the following:

1. Enable voice chat in the game settings.
2. Assign a voice chat key in the key bindings menu.

Voice chat works for both Random and Regular Platoons.

Chat Wheel

This feature is designed to improve communication with your Platoon mates in case you are unable to use the voice chat. Press the default Z key to activate it.

Special Vehicles

All eight special vehicles available in Steel Hunter: Evolution have different tactics, gameplay, and Combat Abilities. Each of them can be upgraded from Tier I to Tier VII while in the heat of battle.

Combat Abilities

Each vehicle has one regular and one ultimate Combat Ability unique to it:

Additionally, there are two Combat Abilities that are common for all vehicles:

	Recovery: Gradually restores a fixed percentage of the vehicle’s HP, but stops working if you take damage.
	Repair Kit: Repairs vehicle modules (like Large Repair Kits) and reduces stun duration.

Vehicle Upgrade System

To upgrade your vehicle, you need to earn Combat XP by picking up loot and causing damage to enemies. Don't forget that you can also choose Marauders as your opponents. They make for easier prey than real players.

Each vehicle has different modules available, and at each tier you will have a choice of two options.

Go wild and choose the configuration that best suits your play style!

Crew

Crew members are exclusive to the vehicle they come in and can’t be dismissed, injured, or sent to the Barracks. They do not earn Crew XP. Also, the commander of each vehicle has access to the following set of skills and abilities:

Maps and Danger Zones

The hunting will take place on three maps—Dreamland, Arzagir 4.04, and Firnulfir. Each of them has a different setting and unique game atmosphere. The scale of the battlefield is way bigger than in Random Battles.

Dreamland is a dangerous abandoned town with plenty of space to hide. Arzagir 4.04 is a vast desert laced with sand dunes and dried-out rivers. Firnulfir is a picturesque Scandinavian tundra that will enchant you with its northern landscapes, frozen ponds, and small abandoned settlements.

All three maps shrink with time, leaving less space to play and survive. If you’re in an area that turns orange, that means it's about to become a Danger Zone and you need to leave it as soon as possible. A special countdown will indicate how much time you have before it turns into a Destruction Zone. The fewer players on the battlefield, the less time you’ll have to escape the Danger Zone. When a Danger Zone turns red, it becomes a Destruction Zone.

You will have very little time to escape from it, as shown in a countdown. Once the countdown ends, your vehicle will receive continuous damage until it is destroyed or until you have left the Destruction Zone. But don't worry too much: the boundaries of the zones are clearly displayed, and you can easily identify each of them.

Looting

You can upgrade your vehicle with the help of special loot that contains Combat XP, shells, charges for your Combat Abilities, and more. You can pick up two or more loots at the same time. There are four types of loot available, as follows:

Respawn Mechanics

In the early stages of battle, you have a chance to take revenge on your opponents. When playing solo, you’ll be able to automatically respawn in a safe location after your vehicle’s destruction—but only during the first 5 minutes of the battle.

Platoon players will have two respawns per Platoon. You will be able to respawn next to your Platoon mate within the first 8 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 Combat Abilities, as you did at the start of the battle.
• If your respawn has been spent, you can get a recharge of it by collecting Airdrop loot.

Marauders (AI-Driven Opponents)

Steel Hunter: Evolution features AI-driven enemy models—Marauders—that are weaker opponents than real players. When they spawn at certain points on the map, destroy them to get additional Combat XP and loot.

There are three different types of Marauders that demonstrate individual behaviors and react differently to your presence:

• Hares are small, 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 who guard loot. They will engage you in close combat but will stop fighting when you move away from them.

Matchmaker

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 fairer for both newcomers and veterans, we are using special matchmaking rules. These rules will take your performance in the mode into account and help the game to try and find opponents close to your battle results. The rules apply both when playing solo and as part of a Platoon.

Vision/Aiming Mechanics

The vision system uses Vision Cones. Here’s how it works:

• Enemy vehicles and Consumables only become visible when they appear inside your Vision Cone, which is depicted on the minimap.
• Enemies can only be spotted from afar in the 120° sector around your turret position. Consider this when sneaking up on an opponent and when trying to prevent them from doing the same. Proximity spotting works, but only at a very close range.
• During battle, you may receive damage with no opponent in sight.

Progression

Steel Hunter features a Progression system comprising successive Stages. The Progression Stages are completed with Progression Points you earn In Steel Hunter battles and for completing special missions in the mode. Based on your performance, battles also yield credits, Battle Pass Points, and Steel Seals which can be exchanged for customization items.

SOLO		PLATOON
Position	Reward	Position	Reward
1	25	1	25
2–4	15	2–3	15
5–7	10	4–5	10
8–11	5	6–8	5
12–15	1	9–10	1

Missions

Completing missions will reward you with Progression Points, as well as a number of other valuable items.

Platoon-Only Missions

Post-Progression Missions

You can continue completing special missions after you max out the mode Progression to score more Steel Seals and bonds.

Battle Pass Points

Steel Hunter will also bring you Battle Pass Points. The number of Points awarded depends on your rank in the post-battle statistics. There is no Point Limit for vehicles in Steel Hunter. To learn more about Battle Pass, refer to our dedicated guide.

SOLO		PLATOON
Position	Reward	Position	Reward
1	10	1	10
2–6	8	2–4	8
7–10	6	5–7	6

Steel Hunter also has a permanent bonus to credits and Combat XP from WoT Premium Account and allows you to earn 50% more Steel Seals. Additionally, you can now take advantage of:

• Personal and Clan Reserves for extra Combat XP and credits
• A 15% bonus to credits and XP when playing in a Platoon

Event Shop

Here you can exchange your Steel Seals for unique vehicle customization items. The Shop is available from the beginning of the event and for some time after its completion.

Statistics

You can track your battle effectiveness in Steel Hunter via the Service Record → Statistics tab in your Garage. Select Steel Hunter from the dropdown menu of available game modes to see the number of vehicles you have destroyed, as well as your average damage per battle, number of wins, and other stats.

Performance in Steel Hunter

Steel Hunter requires more system resources than regular Random Battles. This is due to several key factors that are specifically related to the mode, including the large map sizes and the significant number of objects on them.

Players with low RAM may experience some performance issues while running the mode. To avoid any problems and ensure you play with maximum comfort, change the graphics settings of your game client in accordance with the capabilities of your CPU and graphics card.