Tank Playstyles

It is not always the tank type that shows you what way to use a tank. Not all heavy tanks are good at frontline slugfests (T-28, Neubaufahrzeug), not all medium tanks are generalists (Early Panzer IVs, T-50), not all lights are speedy flankers (Panzer 38(t), T-26), and so on. This page lists the various strategic classifications of tanks used on this wiki.

Spearhead
Heavily armed, armoured and survivable tanks adept at pushing the frontline. Focus on what’s ahead of you and let your allies hold the flanks, as you are too slow to react quickly and be effective in skirmishes, stick to the big centre-map battles. Most heavy tanks and some tank destroyers are best with this strategy, including the VK heavy tank line, SU series TDs, most of the Stug TDs, the KV line in Tier 2 and the Char B1 premium.

Tricks and Tactics
Spearhead tanks are well armoured and armed but slow tanks. They are great on the frontline, fighting along with skirmisher and support tanks to push the main frontline. Many spearhead players get tunnel vision and have poor rear armour which makes them vulnerable to being flanked and ambushed. However, they are adept in straight-up brawls and standard slugfests, so the spearhead strategy and related tanks are best for new players.

Cooperation and Countering
Spearhead tanks work best when they can actually fight. Spearheads love when they can charge into the enemy lines unleashing hell, ricocheting enemy shells and not have to worry about anything that isn't in their line of sight. Through shooting a spearhead tank's barrel and other modules, you can render a spearhead tank an armoured sitting duck.

German VK heavy line
Tier 1 - 3.

Soviet KV heavy series
Tier 2 - 3.

German StuG TD line
Tier 1 - 3.

Soviet SU TD series
Tier 2 - 3.

Skirmisher
Versatile jack-of-all trades tanks which are good in any role. From ambushes to scouting, patrolling the flanks to helping with frontal assaults, their only disadvantage is that being good at everything makes you the best at nothing. Most medium and some light tanks are best with this strategy, including the BT and T-34 line tanks, the Panzer IIIs and later model Panzer IVs, the 38(t) lights and a few tank destroyers like the E-10 and Hetzer plus a number of premiums.

Tricks and Tactics
Skirmisher tanks have good armour, armament and agility. They are effective in many different roles. The most common role of skirmisher tanks is holding the frontline and brawling with the enemy. When not fighting, patrolling around the frontline looking to do so. When a battle is won, they push forward and the frontline moves. They fight best in groups.

Cooperation and Countering
Skirmisher tanks work best in numbers with more powerful if less versatile allies to back them up. A skirmisher likes when they have dependable allies by their side and loves strength in numbers. A skirmisher tank spotted alone can easily be picked off by a larger group of tanks or by a sniper tank safely in an ambush position ready to take them out.

Scout
Fast, lightly armoured but variously armed tanks which are effective at ambushes, reconnaissance and flanking attacks. Their main disadvantages is their light armour and low survivability makes them unsuited for frontline combat and on smaller maps where getting past the enemy is much harder. Most light tanks and some SPGs are best with this strategy, including the BT and Stuart light tanks, the armoured cars such as the SD. Kfzs and Greyhound, and a few SPGs like the Panzerjager I and some premiums.

Tricks and Tactics
Scout tanks are very fast, fairly well armed but poorly armoured. They are most effective at harassing the enemy, particularly when they are able to get past the enemy spearhead and skirmisher tanks and bullying the enemy support and sniper tanks behind the line. They can also perform reconnaissance, marking targets for their team, and can also be good at patrolling and countering the enemy scout tanks.

Cooperation and Countering
Scout tanks work best when they can fight enemies on their own terms. A scout tank player has a great time when they can pester the enemy and run away before the enemy can pester them back. A scout tank's worst fear is when the enemy is expecting them. An alert sniper player or another enemy scout player who can keep up with them makes them unable to use their strategy of light skirmishing and forces them to fight on your terms instead.

Sniper
Very powerfully armed but weakly armoured and usually slow tanks which provide long-range firepower from behind the frontline. However their low survivability and speed makes them vulnerable to flanking attacks and sudden enemy pushes. Most SPGs and many tank destroyers are best with this strategy, including the Marder-Flakbus SPG line and the Soviet SPGs in the mixed SPG-TD line.

Tricks and Tactics
Sniper tanks have the most powerful guns in their tier, but are not well armoured or particularly fast. They are best at providing long-range fire support from behind the front line. By watching sightlines and making sure to check the minimap a good sniper tank player can lock down whole sections of the map without the enemy being able to retaliate.

Cooperation and Countering
Sniper tanks work best when the enemy isn't close enough to easily shoot back. A sniper tank player loves it when they can remain scoped in and not have to worry about being flanked or enemies closing in on them. As a teammate, make sure enemy scout and skirmisher tanks don't penetrate too far through your lines. If you are against a sniper, get near them when they aren't looking and don't get spotted by their teammates. A sniper tank almost never wins a 1v1 close quarters fight on your terms without amazing luck.

Support
Interesting gimmick tanks which back up skirmishers and spearheads on the frontline, which are highly effective in one role but need to have more versatile teammates to make up for their drawbacks. This class applies to many different tanks which don’t fit into the other types, such as the T-26 and T-28, the early Panzer IVs, the Panzer III N and the StuH 42, and short-barrelled early Tier 2 T-34 and KVs, along with the T-50 light, and a few premiums.

Tricks and Tactics
Support tanks have powerful guns for their tier which make them good at frontline fire support. By staying with skirmishers and spearheads and remaining near cover, they can use their usually short barrelled guns to greater effect than they could by mid-range sniping when they are close to the enemy, without getting hit too hard by enemy counterfire.

Cooperation and Countering
Support tanks work best when they have allies to support. A squad of 2 skirmishers plus a support tank and/or a spearhead tank is a great way to break the enemy lines. If a support tank is alone it usually does not last very long against the enemy compared to spearhead or skirmisher tanks. Going against one, use that to your advantage, by luring and separating it from its team and using a tank type which it can't fight well against.