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Welcome back to another update in the BEST series! Today I will be going over the the polarizing category of Tier 9 TD's.
I will provide my own thoughts on the "best" tier 9 TD's and I apologize in advance if your favorite tier 9 TD is at the bottom of the list. This is purely my opinion, and you are free to put in your input. Hope you enjoy! (See spoiler)
See how things have changed! Found below is the original list for this specific topic, written over a year ago!
http://forum.wotblitz.com/index.php?/topic/87266-best-tier-9-tank-destroyer/page__fromsearch__1
*Note: Reviews are done in the style of WoTLabs.
What do you think is the best tier 9 TD? Let me know!
~DMG
Full Potato Division
T95 - BlueRock's premier tank of choice, the T95 has since gone from being a good tank driven by an infamous sh!thead, to a bad tank driven by many more less infamous, but just as stupidly, masochistic sh!theads. Poor speed, nerfed armor, and a gun that is marginally better than the T30 makes for an amphibian that lacks the ability to impact the game in a timely manner. Purely, awful.
WZ - 111G FT - The Chinese knock-off version of the Obj. 704, the WZ-111G FT is a terrifically awful TD given it's characteristics. Poor gun handling, middling speed, relatively weak armor, and a large profile (meaning poor camouflage) are all characteristics that plague the WZ. Notice how none of the aforementioned affect the 704. It still receives a 640 alpha strike, but that should be pretty standard when you start playing in big boi territory.
Tortoise - A TD named after a species of Testudines, this slow reptile is noticeably better than the T95, but still ranks extremely low on the list for the exploitable armor and slow speed. Gun arc is noticeably improved from the T95, and the DPM is near maddening. Strong penetration and cheap HESH rounds create a bunker-like experience not achievable by any other tank in the game. It would be so good if the armor of the giant "kick me" sign was improved, but here it sits, almost solely for that reason. Who remembers when the tank was broken back when the updates were still in the 1's and 2's?
Play for Fun Division
T30 - Yes, T30 fans, your tank is here. 640 alpha is common, do not point that out as unique. You have a T34, going against tier X tanks. No, it is not garbage, notice how it is in the play for fun division. Yes, a mediocre turret that will only bounce tier 8's and some tier 9's with 640 alpha can be fun. Yes, it can be a heavy tank. That doesn't mean it will always succeed in that role. I will concede that thick tracks will allow you to side scrape occasionally, but it is pretty slow to take key positions. This is one of these tanks that requires a platoon mate to really shine. For all of you General NK's out there, congratulations to you for acquiring the best support tank at the tier. For everyone else who follows my line of logic that a tank shouldn't have to rely on someone else to be considered good, you'll be smart to pass on this one.
SU-122-54 - The best DPM in the game comes at a price. It takes some serious knowledge of mechanics, positioning, and awareness to keep the IS-4 gun on steroids singing. Decently troll armor will bounce a few shots, but it is nothing reliable. The main problem with tank for most players, is that they have to rely on a hard numbers game. What I mean by that is the ability to say "I have 4000+ DPM and X amount of health, therefore I will kill the enemy before they kill me." What many players don't understand though is that your HP are a finite resource and multiple guns firing at you will always beat you when you try using -4 degrees to put your superior DPM into play. Great for masters, putrid for new guys and the teammates that watch them yolo and die.
AMX 50 FOCH - Previously the premier TD of the year, the nerf to the AMX 50 Foch's DPM was a serious buzzkill to some French fun. Yes, the cupola armor was buffed recently to make the TD play a little differently, but I think most would opt for more blistering DPM over some cupola armor that was already OK. The tank still zips around pretty well, but mobility in this case is only as good as you can surprise and burn.
Stat Padder Division
Jagdtiger - German TD's are always supposed to be fantastic because of great weaponry. The Jagdtiger is no exception. Some of the best accuracy, fantastic penetration, and extremely high DPM make this a consistent burner in the DPM stakes. Shots the SU-122-54 would miss, will hit AND penetrate with the Jagdtiger. Decent gun depression and arc allows you to hide the weaker hull of the tank and keep your gun firing. Extremely underrated, as it goes decently quick for being so large, but the TD's ahead of it are classically better or are noticeably more flexible without sacrificing too much in return.
Conway - If this review were written 2-3 months ago, this would undeniably be at the top of the list. One nerf later, it is not the cream of the crop, but still good. The tank has a surprisingly large mantlet, decent speed, and a gun that spits damage at a decent rate. New consumables that the tank has received compound the already speedy nature of the vehicle. Overall, the armor is poor, but it has junk in the right places to make it work. Not super OP, but a solid contender. Most players will find this more playable than the Jagdtiger with the better gun depression, turret, and better speed.
Obj. 704 - The most classical TD you'll find at tier 9, the 704 is a great trainer for basic high tier TD gameplay. Still sporting the original BL-10, the 704 packs monster penetration and standard 640 alpha. What makes the vehicle so great is that this weapon is placed on a decently mobile platform that carries stunning camouflage values. The tank isn't an armored behemoth, but it does carry spaced armor with decent slope to occasionally get the bounces the SU-122-54 and Jagdtiger don't receive the luxury of. I highly recommend the 704 as the first tier 9 TD that players purchase for it's strong base characteristics and classical play style.
Purple Division
WT. auf PZ. IV - when the Grille XV line were introduced, the Borsig and Grille were notably better than the WT. The WT wasn't considered bad by any means, but it was always looked upon as a TD with a controversial gun choice that had wonky gun angles. Fast forward to present day and the Borsig and Grille are in nerfed forms while the WT has had the gun angles improved for the 150mm gun. Able to comfortably make key shots, the Waffletractor can now reliably punch out damage in a timely manner without an extended set up time. The camouflage and penetration are almost on par with the 704, and the alpha is at the respectable bang of 640. Decent speed and a turret create the best flexibility among its peers. Armor is a concern, but TD's are better played classically (from the back) in the public meta.
Edited by Dark_Magician_Girl, 19 September 2019 - 12:08 AM.
