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While most Italian medium tanks pride themselves on autoloader systems, the Serpente takes a completely different approach with its double-barreled gun system, making it one of the most distinctive vehicles to grace the battlefield.
But what makes this tank truly special, and more importantly, how do you play it effectively? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the mechanics, strategies, and tactics that make the Serpente both a fascinating addition to any garage and a formidable opponent on the battlefield.

The Unconventional Italian

Breaking the Autoloader Tradition

Italian medium tanks have long been synonymous with autoloader systems, designed for rapid bursts of damage followed by critical reload periods. The Serpente, however, breaks this tradition entirely. Instead of following the familiar autoloader path, this Tier IX premium tank embraces a double-barreled gun system more commonly found on Soviet heavy tanks.

This isn’t just a cosmetic difference – it’s a fundamental shift in how the tank operates and, by extension, how you should play it. The Serpente represents a bold departure from Italian tank design philosophy, creating a unique hybrid vehicle that combines the mobility of a medium tank with the burst damage potential of a double-barrel system.

Statistics

Technical Specifications and Performance

Core Statistics

• Tier: IX
• Nation: Italy
• Class: Premium Medium Tank
• Top Speed: 55-60 km/h
• Health Pool: 1,600 HP
• Damage per Shot: 420 HP
• Average Salvo Damage: 840 HP
• Ammo Capacity: 40 rounds

Firepower Analysis

The Serpente’s armament is centered around a 120mm gun with impressive specifications:

• Penetration: 254mm (241mm at 500m)
• Shell Velocity: 1,050 m/s
• Damage per Minute (DPM): 2,021.82
• Aim Time: 2.49 seconds
• Reload Time: 12.46 seconds (8 seconds for alternate gun)

Mobility and Protection

With a top speed of 55-60 km/h and a power-to-weight ratio of 19.09 hp/ton, the Serpente is exceptionally mobile for its tier. However, this mobility comes at the cost of armor protection:

• Hull Armor: 80mm / 45mm / 35mm
• Turret Armor: 100mm / 80mm / 50mm
• View Range: 390 meters
• Camo Rating: 14.82% stationary / 11.12% moving

The Double-Barreled Mechanic: Understanding the System

How It Works

The Serpente’s defining characteristic is its unique firing system, which operates fundamentally differently from both traditional Italian autoloaders and conventional single-barrel guns:

1. Salvo Preparation: Unlike autoloaders, the Serpente requires time to prepare each salvo before firing
2. Double-Shot Fire: Once prepared, the tank fires both barrels in quick succession
3. Brief Lockout Period: After firing, there’s a short gun lockout period before the next salvo can be prepared
4. Enhanced Accuracy: The salvo mode provides improved aiming speed, stabilization, and accuracy for double shots

Optimal Firing Strategy

The key to mastering the Serpente lies in understanding when to use its salvo mechanics:

• Salvo Mode (Recommended): Offers enhanced aiming, stability, and accuracy for double shots with relatively short preparation and lockout times
• Preparation Time: Not lengthy compared to other double-barrel tanks, making it more forgiving
• Post-Salvo Cooldown: Brief lockout period allows for repositioning and tactical planning

Strategic Gameplay Guide

The Mobility-First Philosophy

The Serpente’s basic armor means that mobility is your primary form of protection. This isn’t just a playstyle preference – it’s a survival necessity. The tank’s exceptional speed (60 km/h forward) should be leveraged for:

• Flanking Maneuvers: Use your speed to create attack angles that catch enemies off-guard
• Repositioning: Constant movement makes you a difficult target to hit and track
• Surprise Attacks: Your mobility enables quick strikes followed by rapid retreats

Offensive Tactics

1. Burst Damage Opportunities: Look for situations where you can dump an 840 HP salvo into exposed enemies
2. Hit-and-Run Tactics: Engage with salvo fire, then relocate before enemies can return fire effectively
3. Multiple Attack Angles: Use your mobility to create confusion and force enemies into difficult positioning choices
4. Support Flanking: Work with team mates to create crossfires that enemies cannot easily escape

Defensive Considerations

Given your limited armor protection:

• Avoid Head-On Engagements: You’re not a brawler – pick your battles carefully
• Use Terrain for Cover: Your speed gets you to cover quickly, but you still need to reach it
• Watch for Artillery: Your thin armor makes you vulnerable toarty shots – always be aware of your position relative to arty threats
• Manage Vision Control: Use your mobility to maintain advantageous sight lines

Advantages and Disadvantages

Strengths

• High Burst Damage: 840 HP average salvo provides significant damage spikes
• Excellent Mobility: 60 km/h top speed enables aggressive positioning
• Unique Mechanic: Double-barrel system offers tactical depth different from standard mediums
• Enhanced Accuracy: Salvo mode provides superior stability and precision
• Forgiving Mechanics: Shorter preparation/lockout times than other double-barrel tanks
• Premium Perks: Credit earnings and tank experience bonuses typical of premium vehicles

Weaknesses

• Limited Armor: Basic protection makes positioning critical for survival
• Low DPM: 2,021.82 DPM is lower than many contemporary medium tanks
• Ammo Limitations: 40-round capacity can limit sustained engagements
• Skill Dependency: Requires good game sense and positioning to excel
• Learning Curve: Double-barrel mechanics demand practice to master

Competitive Analysis: How It Stacks Up

vs. Traditional Italian Mediums

The Serpente fundamentally differs from its Italian medium tank brothers:

• No Autoloader: Instead of Italian autoloader damage bursts, you have double-barrel salvos
• Different Positioning: Less dependent on reload timing, more on momentum and positioning
• Unique Role: More suited to flanking than the direct combat role of autoloader mediums

vs. Soviet Double-Barrel Tanks

Comparing to heavy tank double-barrel systems:

• Better Mobility: Medium tank speeds in a double-barrel platform
• Better Penetration: 254mm vs. typical heavy tank penetrations
• Lower Health: 1,600 HP vs. heavy tank health pools makes mistakes more punishing
• Different Role: More tactical flexibility than the heavy tank commitment

Equipment and Crew Recommendations

Equipment Selection

• Stabilization Equipment: Essential for maintaining accuracy during movement
• Enhanced Gun Laying Drive: Reduces aim time to capitalize on your burst damage potential
• Improved Ventilation: Boosts all crew skills and module performance
• Rammer: Increases DPM to offset your lower damage-per-minute baseline

Crew Skill Priorities

1. Commander: Sixth Sense, Situational Awareness
2. Gunner: Snapshot, Sniper
3. Driver: Smooth Ride, Clutch Braking
4. Loader: Safe Stowage, Intuition

Conclusion: A Tank That Rewards Mastery

The Serpente represents one of the most interesting additions to the Tier IX lineup in recent memory. Its unique combination of medium tank mobility and double-barrel burst damage creates a vehicle that’s both challenging to master and highly rewarding to play well.

Success with the Serpente demands a fundamental shift in thinking from traditional medium tank gameplay. Rather than sustained firefights, you’ll excel through opportunistic strikes, aggressive positioning, and tactical retreats. The tank rewards players who can think several moves ahead, using their mobility to create situations where their burst damage can make the most impact.

While its basic armor and moderate DPM might initially seem limiting, those who invest the time to master its unique mechanics will find the Serpente to be a genuinely distinctive and effective addition to their arsenal. In a game filled with variations of familiar tank archetypes, the Serpente stands out as a true innovation – a medium tank that plays like no other.

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran looking for a new challenge or a player interested in exploring unconventional tank mechanics, the Serpente offers an experience that’s both educational and entertaining. Just remember: in this tank, your greatest weapon isn’t your gun – it’s your speed.

Statistics

About

Despite being a light tank, its large size and lack of armor mean it is best played more like a medium tank, using its good mobility and view range to its advantage while avoiding direct combat. The LTC 2 is a non-premium vehicle, and there is a similar premium version called the ATAC 2 available on the Russian server. 

• Tier and Class: It is a Tier X Japanese sniper tank destroyer.
• Firepower: 105 mm gun with gun cooling.
• Armor and Role: paper hull and poorly armored turret. Tank should stick to long-range engagements.

Playstyle Notes

The Ashigaru is poised to be a unique Tier X vehicle, blending the surgical accuracy of a Japanese TD with the quick-repositioning potential of a wheeled chassis. It functions best as a second-line sniper that uses its speed to quickly establish a powerful firing position and exploit the unique gun-cooling mechanic for devastating, highly-accurate strikes.

Statistics

About

Despite being a light tank, its large size and lack of armor mean it is best played more like a medium tank, using its good mobility and view range to its advantage while avoiding direct combat. The LTC 2 is a non-premium vehicle, and there is a similar premium version called the ATAC 2 available on the Russian server. 

• Tier and Class: It is a Tier IX American versatile light tank.
• Firepower: 90 mm gun with 10-shell autoloader.
• Armor and Role: can pull off some bounces from 90 mm caliber guns or lower on the upper plate. It is more of a sneaky damage dealer and flanker rather than a scout.

Playstyle Notes

The LTC II is not a brawling light tank. Its playstyle is one of high-risk, high-reward:

1. Early Game: Use its mobility for careful, passive scouting, as its camouflage is not top-tier.
2. Mid/Late Game: Leverage the massive 2,000 HP clip for aggressive assassinations. Wait until an enemy is isolated, unload the full clip in just a few seconds, and then immediately run to cover for the long 40-second reload.
3. Survivability: The Reserve Track mechanic is a unique tool that gives it an extra layer of protection against being immobilized while retreating.

This tank rewards patience and impeccable timing, as exposing yourself during the long reload is a death sentence.

Statistics

About

It is a fictional/concept vehicle, often jokingly referred to by the community as the “Mini Jagdpanzer E 100 Krokodil” or a “fat Jagdpanther,” as its design follows the lineage of the casemate-style tank destroyers.

• Tier and Class: It is a Tier IX German tank destroyer.
• Firepower: 150 mm barrel deals 650 damage on average.
• Armor and Role: very similar playstyle to something like the Jagdtiger or Jagdpanzer E 100, but with better armor and a harder-hitting gun.

Playstyle Notes

While the frontal armor is strong, the limited mobility and casemate design (no rotating turret) mean it must commit to its position. Its effective armor thickness will heavily rely on angling, and any exposed side or rear will be highly vulnerable. Like many German TDs, knowing where to go and sticking to the right position will be crucial for success.