Fate of the WZ-132

[Cartoonman 188]

With the new tier 8 light tanks on the field now, the powercreep is strong once again.

 

That leaves the WZ-132, once one of the best tier 8 light tanks (akin to the 13-90), in the backburner. Is the WZ-132 still able to compete with the new contenders, or is it an obsolete piece of junk, left to hide in the bushes with it's 'better' camo? What are your thoughts?

[Angry_Ray 114]

Honestly? I think yes, it's simply been outclassed, power creeped, and retired by the new LTs. Look at the T-54LW, it out DPMs the WZ with a tradeoff of a little bit of pen. This is not an issue with gold spam and flanking. It is also out classed armor wise. Look at the RU251. The 132 is SEVERELY outclassed in terms of DPM with 1 less pen. The tradeoff is far less armor reliability.

 

The tank really becomes outmatched when you look at HP pools. The T-54 being the most comparable tank to the 132, has 1200 HP where the 132 has 950. That's an extra shot from most mediums and a few heavies. IMO the Ru251 and T-54LW will possibly even replace the 1390 for TCs, TBs, and tournaments. The WZ in these cases wasn't really even used.

[Cartoonman 188]

rip WZ-132. And i was planning on getting it.

 

Guess time to get LTTB

[Guthixnut 22]

I have not seen the exact stats but the Ru-251 has a far superior gun than the WZ-132(85mm).

 

The stats that make the WZ-132 different is its:

Camo (excluding its atrocious firing camo at ~3%)

Accuracy on the move (which is close enough to not really matter much).

Terrain resistance

[Gryphon_ 541]

The 105mm pen and 320 dmg with HE that RU251 has, is a decisive advantage over the WZ in close combat. Oh, and it reloads nearly 2 seconds faster.

[Rexxie 10,788]

The new lights are WG testing the "what if we just made lights better" waters. They are all meant to outclass their currents peers - the T21 cant hold a candle to the T37, the T71 (despite what garbad says) is blown away by the Walker, and the RU251 and T54LT obliterate the WZ-132. If you were wondering why this is the case, there's your reason: intentional powercreep. If things go alright, the old lights will be buffed.

[Assassin7 4,353]

that makes Sense, Rexxie. the new lights DID seem a fair bit more powerful than the old ones. I was a bit worried they might break the game meta, it seems alright so far, though I have only see a couple of the new tier 8s. mostly walker bulldogs.

[Kittenpaw 29]

That leaves the WZ-132, once one of the best tier 8 light tanks (akin to the 13-90), in the backburner.

 

Um... there were only two tier 8 light tanks previously... meaning the WZ132 was always the shittiest tier 8 light. It simply remains the case. Though I would venture to say the new American tier 8 light looks like a shitmobile. SO perhaps the WZ132 is no longer the worst tier 8 light now??

 

That said, German lights are/were mostly utter shit. Nothing wrong with having one actually worth playing now in that tank line. Same can be said of the Russian light(s?). Who the hell owned an MT25 prior to this patch?

 

I think they did a great job with the American lights, they fit the theme that was already american lights. Which is to say, utter shit camo with punchy, low alpha, DPM guns. (random shitty derp tier 8 aside).  

 

The German light tanks needed a cheery at the end of the grind. 

 

Curious how the Russian ones will perform.

 

 

I still think the 132 has it's niche. There is just competition for that niche now, which is fine. Think of the entirety of a tank line as well. The 59-16, Type(s), and WZs are all very fine scouts. Not many shittiers in that bunch, unlike the other scout lines.  

[Cartoonman 188]

The new lights are WG testing the "what if we just made lights better" waters. They are all meant to outclass their currents peers - the T21 cant hold a candle to the T37, the T71 (despite what garbad says) is blown away by the Walker, and the RU251 and T54LT obliterate the WZ-132. If you were wondering why this is the case, there's your reason: intentional powercreep. If things go alright, the old lights will be buffed.

 

I woefully hope so. A recent Q/A from the devs made it seem quite apparent that they did not intend to ever 'fix' the WZ-132 cause it has 'better camo' than the new tier 8's. 

 

 

 

 

I still think the 132 has it's niche. There is just competition for that niche now, which is fine. Think of the entirety of a tank line as well. The 59-16, Type(s), and WZs are all very fine scouts. Not many shittiers in that bunch, unlike the other scout lines.  

 

Ah, I see. I still hope to get it, but I do they at least make it somewhat on par with the rest of the light tanks. 

[Rexxie 10,788]

I woefully hope so. A recent Q/A from the devs made it seem quite apparent that they did not intend to ever 'fix' the WZ-132 cause it has 'better camo' than the new tier 8's.

 

That was said by Tuccy, a community manager. The same community manager in the same set of Q/A said the T-34-3 will not be buffed. So I'm not really under the impression tuccy knows anything at all.

[Meirzin 284]

I personally find the t49 way more enjoyable than the 251, haven't gotten the t54l yet.

And the 132 and 13 90 still seem fine.

[Korb3n_Dallas 198]

I soooo want all these new lights. Just unlocked the tier 7 German last night, and I am only on the tier sixes in the US and Russian lines.

[PlanetaryGenocide 676]

And here I am a quarter of the way through the 131... 

 

I'll probably not bother playing the 132 until they at least bring its HP up to be on par with the new tanks, if I want to play a tier 8 light I'll stick with the good old 13 90

[Guardian54 80]

If the T49 begins looking away from me with his derp, My WZ-132 can CIRCLE him to death with the top 85mm. I found this impressive.

 

Now if they'd buff the 100mm guns to be straight upgrades instead of alternative (except vs high tier due to APCR pen) they'd be competitive against the RU251 again. The WZ-132 is still useable, but it is an aging warrior long past its prime now...

[Korb3n_Dallas 198]

It still has it's place. Did 2800 damage last night in a stronghold battle that looked like a loss.