Great photo, ceebmoj! It would have been rude not to

Rizzo, which gun are you using on the KV-1? I'm guessing the 85mm F-30 from the T-28. It's nice, but if you fancy a change try the 57mm cannon.. It's much more accurate and has higher damage output, it isn't brilliant for big heavy tank engagements but at tier 5 you don't get that so much, and you can annihilate smaller tanks with it - great fun!

As for progressing, I have the KV-1S and the following IS, as well as KV-2 and KV-3. The KV-1S is by far the most entertaining, as a nice quick platform for transporting a ludicrous gun always will be, and is no chore whatsoever to grind to the IS which I am currently finding a little better than the KV-3. It's that bit more manouvrable, so feels nicer to drive and easier to engage people with. Seems simple to me!

The KV-2 doesn't lead anywhere, save for over 100k XP to skip to a tier 6 artillery, so I wouldn't waste your time there just yet. A lot of us only have one because we were given it when the old KV split into two tanks, so while it's good fun with its silly 152mm trollgun, no progress past it in heavy tanks.

If you're interested in really heavy heavy tanks (the tier 8 KV-4 weighs a hundred tons!), and like yours to be extremely well-armoured if a lot slower, then consider going down the T-150 -> KV-3 line. The KV-3 is a good tank, I do not fear Tigers in it, but requires a more patient playing style than the IS. The tier 6 T-150 I've hardly played as I was already past it when it came into existence but it seems people play through it and get rid, rather than keeping it, so perhaps not that great.

I'd be looking at the KV-1S and onwards line. At tier 8 the IS-3 is also superior to the KV-4, so it stays good higher up!

I hated the AMX40, too slow to scout, too undergunned to fight, not quite tough enough to defend. I didn't do too badly in it in the end, but I found it such an arse to play..

I once asked in the public chat "What is this tank even for?!" and got a very prompt reply: "for suffer". Not wrong

I have always found the KV family of tanks quite easy to knock out, even when in my tier 6 VK 3601 H.

The IS family is another matter, though...

Interesting take on it - it could be because I drive mediums a lot, and I can easily get round a KV-4 and punch some holes in the back of it, whereas the IS-3 presents a problem as it's much harder to flank and can keep it's incredibly sloped front end facing me. I imagine with something like the long 107 on the KV-4 you can punch through that and not worry!

That being said, I never actually expected to lose against ISs in my KV-3. And now I drive an IS, even not fully upgraded, and don't expect to lose to KV-3s in it go figure! It's all very situational and you always give yourself a better chance than the enemy, driving them side by side is the only way to be sure, I guess. Give me a few months to get an IS-3 and we can platoon!


TEKNO, the A-20 is a scout tank and isn't meant to engage people, just spot them for artillery and all. Go hide in a bush near some enemy, and you get half the credit for your team attacking them, which is an interesting but sometimes rewarding play style. When you get to the T-34 you'll find you won't see anything above tier 7, and will rarely be outside tier 4-6 games. I always recommend new players avoid the scout tanks as it can really spoil the fun, and there are too many unknown enemy tanks to work out.

Get yourself progressing, the M4 is a great tank and to be honest so are all those that follow it. But beware that the M3 Lee is a bit st.. It's often the case that you have to go through a fairly nasty tank to get to good ones. Don't drop out of tech trees too soon, otherwise you miss all the good stuff!

I think when I said it's fairly dependent on situation I really meant very.

If you are in the right place with a KV-4 and you meet an IS-3 he is almost by default in the wrong place... if you are in the wrong place with a KV-4 you are probably dead already ... if you get a KV-4 fit a spall liner and learn how to hide from arty and don't get caught without cover because IS-3's will be the least of your problems

I tend to meet IS-3's in city maps on corners and it's here that I think the KV's got a few advantages.

The slope on the IS 110mm front armour counts for less... in the KV you shoot down at it reducing the angle. As the IS comes around the corner the angle gets reduced again and he also exposes a major weak spot just behind the front sprocket wheel.

The KV on the other hand gains angle on the armour which is already 70mm thicker at the front so that it bounces the odd shot from the BL9 not many but enough given that the Zis rarely bounces on the IS.

Anywhere with a bit of space to manoeuvre and I think the balance starts to swing back to the IS-3. At medium distances I think the IS-3 wins easily .... long distance 50/50.

I'm half way to the IS-3 and tbh I'll be interested to see what it's like from the other side because I got the same thing with the KV-3 and IS as you did

I've got a KV-3 and an IS-3. KV-3 is fully upgraded, full 100% crew and some bells and whistles. I relish coming up against ISs and IS-3s, but if they are good and know how ponderous me and my fire rate is they can use good timing to get to me, or flank me while I am dealing with someone else. Head-on 1-1 in a city, I've normallly got them beat.

In my IS-3 (which I still have to get top engine and BL gun for) I avoid head-ons with KV-3+s and stick to peeking over hills or staying hidden in the bushes on the flank then moving in behind.

VK 3601 H is the most fun tank I've ever played and can punch well above it's weight. Have now got the 88mm for it and it can certainly take some lumps out of some big tanks. Flanking a KV or IS that is concentrating on something else is great fun.

I do prefer the T50 to the A20 despite the higher tier games, not sure its much quicker but it doesn't lose speed in turns, meaning you can weave to avoid people getting a clear shot at you without slowing down. Looking forward to the T50-2 but apparently repairs are expensive. I'm actually tempted to start down the French line to the ELC AMX as they're rapidly becoming the bane of my life

Another thread about a tank I own - strange

I vote for moving up the trees. It gets much more interesting for me once you get past the first few tiers.

M3 is THE WORST tank to play in the game. Hateful and not one redeeming quality.
M4 is much more playable.

Likewise in other trees - T-28 was the first interesting tank I had for Russian Meds. Pz IV for German.
I'm enjoying AMX40 (more than others did though) but next level changes the game so am looking forward to moving on.

Once you start hitting these mid tiers you are often grinding 20 or 30k XP for the next tank + more XP for some necessary upgrades. So you get plenty of opportunity for your crew to gain experience.
Just in case someone else wants to start a conversation about a tank I happen to own, I currently have:

German:
VK3601H

Russian:
IS-3, KV-3, SU-152, SU-8, T-43 (sold, T-44 researched not bought yet)

French:
AMX40

US:
M4, M-10 (sold, M-36 researched not bought yet)

It's coming from the perspective of how unhappy I am in my IS-3 when I meet a KV-3 head on I haven't got the BL-9 yet, so maybe that tips the balance.