Crew Perks Update: A Revolutionary New System

Commanders!

Update 1.26 introduces major improvements to the crew perk system, which aim to enhance overall gameplay, increase the value of perks, and create a more balanced experience for all players.

It introduces new perks, rebalances existing ones, and provides flexible perk management options.

The Evolution of the Perk System

We constantly strive to enhance the gaming experience, making it more engaging and rewarding for all players. Following extensive testing, including an early trial this year, the upcoming update to the crew perk system is a testament to this commitment based on your feedback.

By evolving the perk system, we aim to meet several goals:

  • Create more diverse gameplay
  • Increase the value of perks as a core part of the game
  • Narrow the gap between new recruits and veterans

This update ensures that every battle is fairer and offers more tactical choices, regardless of your experience level.

Main Changes to the Crew Perk System

Maximum Six Perks per Crew Member

Each crew member can now have a maximum of six perks, including zero perks, which don't increase the XP cost for subsequent perks. Directives will not effectively grant you a seventh perk under any circumstances.

We deemed this change among the most essential ones to ensure balanced progression and prevent overpowered crew configurations. Plus, it allows us to add new perks without increasing the perks' combined impact on your battlefield performance.

Excess perks on existing crew members will disappear, and players will receive nation-specific Crew Books as compensation.

Bonus Perks

Crew members with multiple roles benefit from the "bonus perk" system. This allows the perks of additional qualifications to be trained alongside the main perks without requiring extra XP or increasing training time.

The new system provides flexibility and is fairer for players who utilize crew members with additional qualifications. Up to three perks can be trained for each additional qualification without any extra XP cost.

Shared Perk Effectiveness

In crews where multiple members share the same role, such as two Loaders, the effectiveness of their perks is now shared between them. To achieve 100% effectiveness of a perk, both crew members must fully train it.

This change promotes balance between vehicles with smaller and larger crews.

Rebalanced and New Perks

Over a dozen new perks have been introduced, including Commander's Coordination, which briefly improves aiming time after spotting an enemy. Additionally, existing perks, such as Sound Detection and Firefighting, have been rebalanced for greater utility.

The aim is to enhance strategic choices by offering more varied and useful perks. For example, Commander's Coordination can give a critical advantage in battle by improving aiming time after spotting an enemy.

Interactive image. Click through the tabs to view the crew perks available in-game. The effectiveness values are given for perks trained to 100%.
 — new perk.  — reworked perk.
 
COMMANDER
 
GUNNER
 
DRIVER
 
LOADER
 
RADIO OPERATOR
COMMANDER
Recon
Increases view range by 2% and reduces the penalty to damaged observation devices by 20%.
Emergency
Increases the crew efficiency bonus by 5% for 15 s after taking enemy damage. The effect does not stack.
Mentor
Increases the amount of XP earned by 20% for all crew members. Enables the Commander to replace knocked-out members with 65% effectiveness.
Coordination
Increases aiming speed by 12.5% for 15 s after you spot an enemy vehicle. The effect does not stack.
Sound Detection
Perk with a situational effect
Issues an alert about enemy SPG fire with a 0.1 s delay and identifies the direction of the shot. Decreases the negative effect of stunning by 10%.
Practicality
Decreases consumable cooldown time by 10%.
GUNNER
Snap Shot
Decreases gun dispersion during turret rotation by 7.5%.
Deadeye
Increases the chance of critically damaging enemy vehicle modules and injuring enemy crew members with all types of shells by 3%.
Designated Target
Increases the time before an enemy vehicle is no longer visible inside the Gunner's viewing area by 2 s. Enables identification of damaged modules with a 0.5 s delay.
Concentration
Perk with a situational effect
Decreases the gun dispersion of a stationary vehicle by 3.5%. The effect starts 3 s after the vehicle stops.
Quick Aiming
Increases aiming speed and turret rotation speed by 2.5%.
Armorer
Reduces the range of potential damage and penetration to ±20%. Decreases gun dispersion by 1.5%.
DRIVER
Clutch Braking
Increases hull traverse speed by 5%.
Smooth Ride
Decreases gun dispersion when firing on the move by 4%.
Off-Road Driving
Reduces speed loss on moderately soft terrain by 5% and makes speed loss on soft terrain equal to 100% of the resulting value.
Reliable Placement
Increases HE shells damage absorption by 10% and decreases damage received from falling by 30%.
Controlled Impact
Increases ramming damage to enemy vehicles by 20%. Reduces ramming damage to your vehicle by 25% and to your suspension by 50%.
Engineer
Increases the top forward and reverse speed of your vehicle by 1 km/h. Reduces the penalty to a damaged engine by 20%.
LOADER
Adrenaline Rush
Perk with a situational effect
Decreases gun loading time by 5% if your vehicle has under 25% of its hit points left.
Safe Stowage
Increases ammo rack durability by 25%.
Intuition
Decreases the time of changing shell types in a loaded gun by 60%.
Perfect Charge
Increases shell velocity by 10%.
Close Combat
Perk with a situational effect
Decreases gun loading time by 2.5% at distances of 50 m or less from the enemy vehicle.
Ammo Tuning
Increases minimum potential damage and minimum potential penetration by 2%.
RADIO OPERATOR
Situational Awareness
Increases view range by 3%.
Side by Side
Increases the crew efficiency bonus by 2.5% at distances of 50 m or less from an allied vehicle of the same type.
Jamming
Decreases the time your vehicle remains spotted by the enemy by 1 s.
Signal Interception
Decreases the time to determine whether your vehicle has been spotted by the enemy by 0.75 s.
Communications Expert
Perk with a situational effect
Increases the crew efficiency bonus by 2.5% if the amount of damage you assist with exceeds your vehicle's initial hit points.
Firefighting
Increases fire extinguishing speed by 80%.
GROUP PERKS
Brothers in Arms
When fully trained for all crew members, increases the crew efficiency bonus of the entire crew by 5%.
Concealment
When fully trained for all crew members, increases vehicle concealment by 80%.
Repairs
When fully trained for all crew members, increases the repair speed of the vehicle's damaged modules by 80%.

Post-Progression System

After training all six main perks (and obtaining golden frames around their portraits), experienced crew members can help train new recruits. Half of the Crew XP earned by six-perk crew members in battles will contribute to a single Post-Progression, rewarding players with a Universal Training Guide after reaching 100,000 XP milestones.

This encourages continuous progression and rewards experienced players with valuable resources for training new crews.

Perk Reset Options

Resetting a crew member's perks will also affect zero perks, allowing you to choose an entirely new perk setup. Two new buttons in the Barracks enable players to reset and then assign perks for all crew members. Players have a 30-day grace period to reset perks as many times as needed. Afterward, each crew member (including newly created ones) will have one free reset.

We want to allow players to experiment with different perk configurations to find the best fit for their playstyle.

Changes to Directives

  • The Duty Comes First directive is replaced by the Thorough Preparations directive, which gives a crew the Practicality perk.
  • The Increased Focus directive is replaced by the Heightened Vigilance directive, which gives a crew the Sound Detection perk.
  • The obsolete directives you already have will be converted into the respective new directives.

Proximity Spotting and Proximity Perks

Proximity perks activate when an enemy is within 50 meters of your vehicle in all game modes, ensuring these perks function effectively regardless of the gameplay context. For instance, the Close Combat perk accelerates gun loading by 2.5% when an enemy is within 50 meters.

However, the proximity spotting circle, which guarantees automatic spotting of enemies, differs by mode: its radius is 50 meters in Random Battles, Frontline, Grand Battles, and so on, but only 25 meters in Onslaught.

This means you may encounter situations in Onslaught where proximity perks activate because an enemy is within 50 meters, even though they are not spotted due to the reduced 25-meter proximity spotting radius. For example, if an enemy is 40 meters away but hidden behind a wall, the proximity indicator ("lamp") will light up, signaling the perk activation, yet the enemy will remain unspotted.

This is an intentional feature designed to enhance tactical gameplay, allowing savvy players to exploit this mechanic for strategic advantages.

Changes in Crew Setups

Currently, some vehicles have crew configurations where:

  • A crew member has a secondary qualification that someone else in the crew has as their major qualification, or
  • Multiple crew members have a secondary qualification that no one in the crew has as their major qualification.

In the new perk system, for the absolute majority of such crews, only a single crew member keeps this qualification as their major qualification (in the former case) or their secondary qualification (in the latter case). This simplifies the system and makes it more convenient without decreasing the effectiveness of crews. The XP invested in the perks of crew members who lose their secondary qualification will be compensated for in the usual manner.

Example:

The AMX 50 B currently has no designated Loader, but three crew members (Commander, Gunner, and Radio Operator) have Loader as their secondary qualification. After the new perk system is implemented, only the Gunner will keep Loader as their secondary qualification.

Vehicles with Modified Crew Setups

Expand
Vehicle Old Crew Setup New Crew Setup
China
IV M5A1 Stuart  
  • Commander (Loader)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator
  • Commander
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator
France
IV B1  
  • Commander (Gunner, Loader)
  • Gunner
  • Driver (Loader)
  • Radio Operator
  • Commander
  • Gunner
  • Driver (Loader)
  • Radio Operator
VIII AMX 50 100  
  • Commander (Loader)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Commander
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator
IX AMX 50 120  
  • Commander (Loader)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Commander
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator
X AMX 50 B  
  • Commander (Loader)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Commander
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator
IX Char Futur 4  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII Bat.-Châtillon Bourrasque  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX Char Mle. 75  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
V AMX 13 (FL 11)  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VI AMX 12 t  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VII AMX 13 75  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX AMX 13 90  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
X Bat.-Châtillon 25 t  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII Lorraine 40 t  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
III Somua S35  
  • Commander (Loader, Gunner)
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Gunner)
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver
VII AMX 13 57  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VII AMX 13 57 GF  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX Bat.-Châtillon 25 t AP  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII Somua SM  
  • Commander (Loader)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Commander
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator
VI M4A1 FL 10  
  • Commander (Loader)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Commander
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator
VIII Bat.-Châtillon 12 t  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
X AMX 13 105  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII ELC EVEN 90  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
Germany
VII Spähpanzer SP I C  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
X Rheinmetall Panzerwagen  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII HWK 12  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX KPz 3 Projekt 07 HK  
  • Commander (Gunner)
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
  • Commander
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
IX KJPZ TIII Jäger  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
Italy
X Rinoceronte  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
Sweden
VI Strv m/42-57 Alt A.2  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX Strv 103-0  
  • Commander (Gunner)
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
  • Commander
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
X Strv 103B  
  • Commander (Gunner)
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
  • Commander
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
X Kranvagn  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII Emil I  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX Emil II  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII UDES 03  
  • Commander (Gunner)
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
  • Commander
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
VIII Strv S1  
  • Commander (Gunner)
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
  • Commander
  • Radio Operator (Loader)
  • Driver (Gunner)
VIII EMIL 1951  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX UDES 16  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
X UDES 15/16  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII UDES 14 Alt 5  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX UDES 03 Alt 3  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII Bofors Tornvagn  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
U.K.
VIII FV1066 Senlac  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII LHMTV  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX GSOR3301 AVR FS  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VII GSR 3301 Setter  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII GSOR 1008  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IV A25 Harry Hopkins I  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
X Concept No. 5  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII GSOR 1010 FB  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VI Staghound Mk. III  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
V AEC Armoured Car  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII FV601 Saladin  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VII FSV Scheme A  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII Charioteer  
  • Commander (Gunner)
  • Gunner
  • Loader (Radio Operator)
  • Driver
  • Commander
  • Gunner
  • Loader (Radio Operator)
  • Driver
VIII Charioteer Nomad  
  • Commander (Gunner)
  • Gunner
  • Loader (Radio Operator)
  • Driver
  • Commander
  • Gunner
  • Loader (Radio Operator)
  • Driver
USA
VII T71 DA  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
II T1 HMC  
  • Commander (Gunner, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner
  • Loader
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner
  • Loader
  • Driver
III T56 GMC  
  • Commander (Gunner)
  • Gunner
  • Loader
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator
  • Commander
  • Gunner
  • Loader
  • Driver
  • Radio Operator
VIII ASTRON Rex 105 mm  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
V ARMT  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IV T82 HMC  
  • Commander (Gunner, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner
  • Loader
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner
  • Loader
  • Driver
U.S.S.R.
VIII IS-3A  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
X T-100 LT  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
VIII LT-432  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
X Object 780  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
IX Object 590  
  • Commander (Loader, Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
  • Commander (Radio Operator)
  • Gunner (Loader)
  • Driver
Collapse

Crew Perks Selector

Use the interactive widget below to select a vehicle, try different crew setups, and see the effects of the new and improved crew perks.

Interactive image. Learn how perks can affect the characteristics of your vehicle: Find a vehicle using the search field, then select perks for each crew member.
There are two types of perks:
  • Orange. Perks have a situational effect and work only under certain battle conditions.
  • Green. Perks have a permanent effect and work throughout the battle.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
vehicle icon
 
 
 
 
 
 

The perk values displayed in the summary section are also affected by the Brothers in Arms perk and the Commander bonus.

Compensation Rules

Players with crew members exceeding the six-perk limit will receive compensation in the form of nation-specific Crew Books. This allows them to invest the exceeding Crew XP into other crews without losing progress, ensuring a smooth transition to the updated system.

The amount of XP compensated in nation-specific Crew Books is equal to tanker XP divided by 4.5.

Example:

You have several tankers of the German nation whose total amount of XP invested in perks above the sixth equals 9,000,000. You will receive a German Training Manual (giving 2,000,000 XP on use).

When you log in to the game for the first time after the update, you will see an informational window showing how many Crew Books you received.

Crew Interface Updates

The updated interface features an intuitive layout that makes it easier to manage and assign perks to individual crew members. You are also able to choose several perks at once during perk selection and then apply them all with a single button click.
Tooltips for each perk provide additional information, including the intended effect on vehicle parameters and more.

Upgrade to Vehicle Comparison

The vehicle comparison in-game now includes detailed crew perk information, enabling players to make more informed decisions when comparing different vehicles and their setups.

Grace Period for Crew Resets

For the first 30 days after Update 1.26, players can reset perks as many times as they like.

This grace period allows ample time to familiarize yourself with the new system, experiment, and find the ideal perk setup for your playstyle. After this period, each crew member will have one free reset to use at any time.

To activate the 30-day grace period, you must log in to the game before the January 2025 game version update is applied.


The revamped crew perk system is our next step in enriching the World of Tanks experience, providing more strategic depth, and rewarding progression. Whether you're a seasoned tank commander or new to the battlefield, these changes will enhance your gameplay and open up new tactical possibilities. Train your crews, experiment with new perks, and dominate the battlefield like never before!

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