As you already know, in World of tanks experience (“XP”) is very important. However, understanding how to use your XP efficiently, isn’t easy when you are new to the game.
There are basically three types of XP:
- XP related to your crew
- XP related to your tank
- Free XP
In this post we will look at free XP. The other two types will be explained in other posts. 5% of the XP you earn in a match will be added to your pool of free XP. You can not increase or reduce this amount. Free XP can be used on any tank and module. You can use free XP to open a new tank, or in opening a module. You can use free XP in combination with XP earned on a tank.
Let’s look at an example. You are playing a T-28, a Russian tier IV medium tank, and want to play the next tank, the KV-1:
T-28 leads to KV-1
To unlock the KV-1 you need to have earned 10.650 XP on the T-28. Let’s say you have only earned 9.000 XP on the T-28, but that you also have 2.000 free XP. Then you can use all of the T-28’s 9.000 XP and 1.650 of the free XP to unlock the KV-1. (9.000 XP + 1.650 free XP = 10.650 XP needed for the KV-1.) But be sure you have chosen the right moment to unlock the KV-1.
If you want to use the free XP for modules instead, you can do it like this:
- Play the T-28 until you have earned the necessary 10.650 XP
- Unlock the KV-1 using only XP from the T-28
- Use 2.350 of your free XP to unlock the 122 mm gun (for example) on the KV-1 BEFORE you start playing it
Converting XP to free XP
You can add extra free XP by playing a tank after you have unlocked every module on it and you also have unlocked every tank it leads to. To continue with the example with the T-28: The T-28 only leads to the KV-1. Once you have unlocked all modules on the T-28 and you also have unlocked the KV-1, you will continue to earn XP on the T-28 that will be added to this tank, but that you will not be able to use on anything. However, it need not be “wasted” XP. If you have bought gold and are willing to use it, you can convert XP from a tank to free XP.
The exchange rate is 1 gold for 25 XP, so if you have earned 1.000 “wasted” XP on your T-28, it will cost you 40 gold to convert it to free XP.
So if you can afford it, you really should pay for XP conversion. Some of my clan members never play any tank on higher tiers unless they have unlocked all modules on it by using free XP. On some tanks this is not necessary, but on most, especially the stock guns are simply to weak to be any good. (On a lot of tanks you need to unlock a turret to fit a better gun, and before you can mount a better turret, you often need to mount tracks that are better than the stock tracks.)
If you do not have the money to buy and use gold, you can change the strategy in the opposite direction to avoid earning any “wasted” XP on a tank. Take a look at your average XP earned on a tank, and once you realize that in the next battle you will earn more XP than you need to unlock the next tank, use free XP instead.
Last notes
- On one occasion there was a possibility to use free XP on crew skills, but I am not sure if this will be possible again any time soon.
- On the RU server in march 2015, players earned 10% free XP instead of 5% for a few days.
- I have only seen a discount on the exchange rate to convert free XP once (on the EU server), so don’t wait for it. I believe the discount rate was 1 gold for 50 XP.
wotnewbie 