AMX 50Bae

[Animactus 217]

Thanks to tourney/cw gold, I will be completely skipping the AMX 50 120 and will be jumping straight into the 50B, a tank that has been on my shopping list since it's release that I only made decent progress on grinding towards about 2 months ago. I do however understand that I will be missing out on the learning of playing the tier 9 version but am pretty set on my decision. 

 

So what tips do you 50B drivers have regarding equipment/consumable loadout and tactics? Which camo patterns look the sexiest? 

 

 

 

[PityFool 7,737]

Run food if you can afford it. I just play this thing waaay too often for that to be viable for me...

 

As far as playstyle.. You will kinda work it out, the key is not taking early damage, but dishing it out in return. This thing is fast enough to meet meds at common positions and it can really turn a game if you drop 1600 damage into a med taking a strong position, tundra and mines come to mind. 

[Rexxie 10,788]

Lava camo best camo.

[Pompous 301]

Honestly I've swapped away from GLD with the most recent aimtime buffs. Being able to run vents/optics for extra view range is pretty great, and I really haven't felt the loss of the GLD at all.

[Folterknecht 2,257]

I m not quite sure why GLD would make sense on that tank, since the aimtime was buffed ... I m running mine with vents, Vstab and optics (optics because I play mostly solo random). And that brings me to the point - the play style really depends on whether u play solo or platooned. 

 

I like to play mine behind mediums as fire support, with enough room for safe reloads. Try to conserve HP for the end game, thats the time when you should play more agressive and use your HP as armor. At the beginning 1600 Clip damage isnt enough to take out tanks, but mid/endgame when everyone is on lower HP, this tank is really great for overwhelming the opponents.

 

And dont forget that this tank is really hvy and can make good speed ... .

[RunninKurt 31]

where is the camo net option?

[Animactus 217]

Run food if you can afford it. I just play this thing waaay too often for that to be viable for me...

Oh I put rations on just about anything, if the 50B doesn't burn to much then I'll probably run it.

 

I m not quite sure why GLD would make sense on that tank, since the aimtime was buffed ... I m running mine with vents, Vstab and optics (optics because I play mostly solo random). And that brings me to the point - the play style really depends on whether u play solo or platooned. 

Makes sense, I play pretty much exclusively platooned for maximum fun.

 

 

where is the camo net option?

I figured that after IOC showcased its effectiveness, it would be implied. 

[Rexxie 10,788]

By the way, if someone could check out what kind of damage the 50b does while ramming now, that'd be great. Ramming was changed so the thickness of your armor (and your victim's) matters much more now. The 50b has 230mm armor on the part that contacts people while ramming - that's pretty boss.

[Paaranoja 1,112]

 

So what tips do you 50B drivers have regarding equipment/consumable loadout and tactics?

 

 

Grind 120 so you are already awesome when you get 50B.

[Folterknecht 2,257]

@Para:

 

I found the 120 pretty different compared to the 50B. 15sec shorter reload allows for more offensive playstyle and the frontal armor also works much better against morons in t8-9 tanks.

[Paaranoja 1,112]

@Para:

 

I found the 120 pretty different compared to the 50B. 15sec shorter reload allows for more offensive playstyle and the frontal armor also works much better against morons in t8-9 tanks.

 

 

Exactly, 120 is gimped 50b that gets, on average, weaker enemies. If you can master 120, you will be absolute beast in 50B.

 

Its like when you practice with a heavy ball, and once you get a regular ball your shot is way more powerful.

[Buffalo444 112]

I m not quite sure why GLD would make sense on that tank, since the aimtime was buffed ... I m running mine with vents, Vstab and optics (optics because I play mostly solo random). And that brings me to the point - the play style really depends on whether u play solo or platooned. 

 

I like to play mine behind mediums as fire support, with enough room for safe reloads. Try to conserve HP for the end game, thats the time when you should play more agressive and use your HP as armor. At the beginning 1600 Clip damage isnt enough to take out tanks, but mid/endgame when everyone is on lower HP, this tank is really great for overwhelming the opponents.

 

And dont forget that this tank is really hvy and can make good speed ... .

 

 

Not sure what the 50B's I am facing are running, but when an E100 has the time to turn and punch you in the mouth after lighting you and you still haven't aimed in enough to get a shot off, you could use aimtime help.

However, could just be baddies.

[Rexxie 10,788]

Well, it's an E-100 and a 50b. The E-100 doesn't need to aim, it doesn't really matter how quick the 50B does if you can only pen his LFP reliably.

[Buffalo444 112]

Just saying that I see a lot of 50B's sitting still for what seems like longer than most tanks. However, that could just be due to the clip reload and them not wanting to risk shots on "maybes". I don't run the tank so I couldn't tell you.

[Tedster59 989]

Just saying that I see a lot of 50B's sitting still for what seems like longer than most tanks. However, that could just be due to the clip reload and them not wanting to risk shots on "maybes". I don't run the tank so I couldn't tell you.

 

not sure, but those ones are just asking to get clicked.  don't be those idiots.  arty loves 50b's (and other french tanks) because lol 30mm side armor.

[_Dia 2,082]

Vstab, Vents or Optics depending on your preference for how you want to play it, and GLD.

I don't think the aim time buff justified removing GLD. It's not as if the aim time got better than the pre nerf 57.

[CraBeatOff 5,741]

I love the 50B. Now this should be supremely ironic if you realize that I have rage sold this tank TWICE. My first I dunno 80-120 games in it, I just couldn't adapt to the tier 10 play. I had boss results in the 50 100 and 50 120 but couldn't make the 50B work. But I kept applying myself and I figured it out, eventually. I took  my DPG from 2200 (50 100 level) to 3100 in my last 100 games, so my running average is much much higher than even that total number. 

 

Fud is best. The extra accuracy is the best part of that, but its not negligible what it does for movement and dpm. 

 

I've run both GLD and Optics during the last 100 games or so. Both are good, the adjustments are minimal to playstyle. Drivers choice, and you will see fabulous results with both. 

 

It has a ton of ammo. 32 APCR, 4 HE (fuck waffles) and the rest AP. Load APCR for your first clip unless you're up against an incredibly soft line-up. If you can make a 1600 - your trade (if any) HP difference in the first 40 seconds of a match, it really matters. 

 

Now, about gameplay choices...as noted above the 50B is the medium denier. I got most of those 100 recent games during the medium mayhem mission because I was sick of being swarmed and outplinked by meds in my IS-7 and E5 (62A hull down rapes E5 hull down!). The 50B's job is not to take medium positions though, its too big and it has downtime and its always spotted. Its job is to DENY medium positions. Tundra, Mines, Abbey, Highway, Hidden Village, etc. You need to drive your 50B (fast) to the place that can hurt the mediums, try to trade 1600 for 320 or 390 (or none?) and then get out and reload. 

 

On the last 50B battle I played (sorry at work, no replay, if someone pesters I can post later) I drove middle on Abbey, with our medium pack. Their Leo1 and 62A were there. The Leo shot our 62A who was in front of me rushing for abbey. I sent 3 into the Leo. The 62A then pushed and I hit him with my 4th and tracked him causing him to take some more shots. I did this without ever entering the Abbey of course, because doing so would be death (something I've learned via trial and error error error). The 50B is too big and not camo'd enough to poke around inside the Abbey. But 8 degrees of depression means I can fight into that road early using my speed. So, drop  1600, take 320 from the 62A. Cool. Drop down the road reload. At this point I can either use my speed to get around onto 2 line as needed, but since the enemy pressed a T32 and the 62A into the Abbey during reload, I went low road (now with AP loaded) and clipped out a T32, trading 320 again for 1400 or 1500. The 62A enemy died to the others in the Abbey. Its now about 75 seconds into this match and I've done over 3k, trading about 640 of my own HP, leaving a Leo1 dead (he tried to rush me lower town when I was clipping out the T32, but got 1 shot from the 2 line middle), a 62A dead (tracked for dmg + another couple hundred left him without enough to brawl out Abbey) and a T32 dead. No doubt my pubbies traded on their HP poorly, and we lost a single 62A, but thats 2 10s and an 8 for 1 10, with all our other guns alive and me still healthy. 

 

There was more goodness to that battle, but the opening is just a recent example of medium denial in the 50B. You don't want to go straight up tangle with mediums, their superior DPM, profiles and armor (at least for the 50M and RU ones) will screw you over. You just are there to punish them heavily for being far from their HT buddies. The 50 100 and 50 120 should have taught you specific positions where you can flee to safety, which are limited because of the previous parameters noted, hugeness, softness. That retreat is key. (French) Autoloaders win their games in the first and second clips, because the early spike, crossed with however much you trade for it are your match influence. 

 

Once the medium denial job is done, you need to of course decide if you're cleaning up their meds, moving into the frontal fight or trying for a flank. The 50B is versatile, it can do all those things. It can go trade vs low alpha heavies (or even high alpha ones in the right situation), it can crush flanks with its big spike. But the way you do it is key. You can't peek into multiple guns as even small ones can add up to wreck you. Making sure your trades are 1v1 is key. 

 

Some other 50B notes:

If there is an E-100 blockading your team, load APCR and go hurt him, badly. Try to stay undrawn until you arrive and naturally try to time his reload. Trade down your pubbie's HP. 

 

Isolate Isolate Isolate....as long as you can re-treat or are sure you can kill the target. Otherwise isolating is bad and gets you killed. 

 

HE those Waffle fuckers. 515x4 = fuck you alphashitlord. I have just once clipped a waffle100 from full to dead. It was so worth it. The 50B carries more than enough ammo, enough such that you're extremely unlikely to run out during a 15 min game unless you're shooting the ground every reload on purpose. 

 

When in doubt, snipe early. Being un-seen is key and this tank is big enough to do it. Find where the battle line is drawn and then punish an exposure. A batchat cannot just drive into a frontal fight and trade like a 50B does. Its gun doesn't handle nearly as well, it doesn't have hp or armor to trade, and its rounds are too derpy and clip-dump time is too long. 50B can do all those things, it just can't scout or use as much terrain as the Bat. 

 

The 50B armor isn't useless - its front is actually quite good for baiting shots from many players. Just don't expose the roadwheel/side and peek only the tip. Its only 170mm, so it will show up green on their reticle, but its like 70 degree sloped. To quote a 704 "wtf how did you bounce 286mm pen G ?" I baited his shot and then clipped him out, sorry bro. 

 

Absolutely pick on 8s. You have more in your clip than their entire health pool and only need 7.5-10s to dump it all. On maps where I cannot crush a medium early, an 8 HT works just as well, or TD. On Westfield the 50B can drive up and clip someone over the top before the enemy can react. You obviously can't just sit on top but you can trade 390 from an IS-3 for their entire tank. Or clip out an ISU whose shot you dodge or hit the dirt because he panic snapped you. 

 

Don't trade with T57s, their DPM is too high. 

 

As Rexxie promulgates, you should ram dudes whenever there is a safe opportunity!

 

As noted elsewhere. save health or trade very conservatively. The 2100 pool is very solid and crossed with your spike potential and speed means you can clean up very very effectively. 

[Shade421 2,952]

And Crab steals my thunder, GG. 50B is badass, amazing solo or platooned. Just resist the urge to take those huge risks, it does not survive well when it gets isolated.

[JPEG 0]

Great write up Crab. +100 internets.

[CraBeatOff 5,741]

And Crab steals my thunder, GG. 50B is badass, amazing solo or platooned. Just resist the urge to take those huge risks, it does not survive well when it gets isolated.

 

Surely you've got something to add! I was super fast and lazy in my run-down. 

 

I didn't address angling up the gun to bounce shots for example! Or make a graphic on baiting shots with the front. Or talk about intra-clip juking!

 

Great write up Crab. +100 internets.

 

Thanks. I like to bury my best stuff deep in threads that few read!

[Drunken_Walrus 1,887]

I get more fires in this than even my 140, I so wish I could grab food, but it's not happening anytime soon. At least it's all engine damage so PM will actually help.

[PityFool 7,737]

I get more fires in this than even my 140, I so wish I could grab food, but it's not happening anytime soon. At least it's all engine damage so PM will actually help.

I don't get many fires in mine... You shouldn't really be getting shot in the sides and rear. But even then, I dropped medkit for food.

[CraBeatOff 5,741]

I've burned maybe 1x in the 200 games or so. I do get a bunch of crew deaths from HE, so I keep the medkit. I've been running sans food recently to make it so I can shoot a little more APCR and break even or profit. Food + APCR = amazing, but I'm not good enough at avoiding dmg (only 1.9 DD:DR, as opposed to 2.3+ from the truly good) to make a profit with fud regularly. 

[3MAJ86 126]

Here is the example of what Crab mentioned. Dishing out nice early dmg. If you have the time, have a look how i had a nice start, and then derped like a noob I am