Big changes are an understatment

"Balance 2.0" is the hopeful catch-phrase that has been tossed around Armored Warfare for some time now. Today, the details of sometime the most interests me came out; premium vehicles.

For convenience, I copy-pasted from here

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Premium and Reward Vehicles

As a general rule, Premium and Reward vehicles will be completely rebalanced to fit the Balance 2.0 requirements, but will not be reduced in Tier. These rebalances do not constitute “nerfs” - for more information, please see the Compensations section.

There are two groups of Reward and Premium vehicles in Armored Warfare:

• Unique vehicles (for example, IS-7 or T92 Light Tank)
• Edition vehicles (for example, T-80 SHARK or Wiesel WOLF)

Both groups are treated a bit differently. The Edition vehicles will – when it comes to their rebalances – remain copies of their fully researched original counterparts (including the Premium ones - if MBT-70 changes, so does MBT-70 MERC for example). This rule concerns the following vehicle editions:

• All MERC vehicles
• All ICE vehicles
• All WOLF vehicles
• All SHARK vehicles

The changes to the existing vehicle trees and their progression counterparts will, however, make some vehicles change their designation and performance for the better. These include:

• T-72 ICE will be changed to T-72A ICE (with appropriate performance changes)
• T-80 SHARK will be changed to T-80U SHARK (with appropriate performance changes)
• Wiesel 1 WOLF will be changed to Wiesel HOT WOLF (with emphasis on guided missiles)

One unique case will be Centauro 120 WOLF. To keep the “follow the original” rule, Centauro 120 WOLF will become the first and only Tier 9 Premium vehicle. From Update 0.19 launch, the Centauro 120 will no longer be sold in any form. Period.

Unique Premium and Reward vehicles will be rebalanced individually, but there will be some notable changes. Possibly the biggest change will be the shift of some vehicles a Tier higher. These include:

• BMPT Terminator (Founder’s Pack and Reaper) moving from Tier 6 to Tier 8
• M1134 moving from Tier 7 to Tier 8
• WZ-1124 moving from Tier 5 to Tier 6

These Tier changes will happen free of charge. For example, players who purchased a Tier 6 BMPT will essentially now have a free Tier 8 Premium vehicle. However, these vehicles will in the future have their price changed to correspond to their new Tier and will no longer be available for the old (lower) price.

And last but not least, several unique Reward and Premium vehicles will be overhauled in order to work in Balance 2.0:

• The Type 59 Legend will receive a 105mm gun, making it essentially equal to Type 79
• The Object 155 will be overhauled to the T-55M1 variant and will be moved to Tier 4

A special case was made for the XM1 FSED, which will be removed from the game and replaced by the M1A1 AIM (with the same American-themed camouflage) at Tier 8. XM1 FSED owners will receive the M1A1 AIM for free instead of their older vehicle.

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As you can see, there will be a lot going on, almost too much to take it all in. However, I am looking at what I got and how it's going to be changed going forward.

WZ-1124 moving from Tier 5 to Tier 6

I have asked about the error (should read WZ-1224) and the changes to make it a more appropriate tier VI.

The Type 59 Legend will receive a 105mm gun, making it essentially equal to Type 79

Sounds pretty minor to me, have to wait and see if the changes are really that noticeable.

Now, the biggest news from that same article and an irresistible point of sale would be....

One unique case will be Centauro 120 WOLF. To keep the “follow the original” rule, Centauro 120 WOLF will become the first and only Tier 9 Premium vehicle. From Update 0.19 launch, the Centauro 120 will no longer be sold in any form. Period. 

I think this could be a terrible mistake. On the World of Tanks forums, the should-have-been-killed-long-ago gag is when a single or small group of players see an exclusive high tiered, clan reward tank, they ask how they can get their hands on one. Of course, all heck breaks loose and the false leads on collecting codes from unsuspecting players and/or bombard WarGaming about how to obtain one.

Sadly, I could so easily see something just as similar happening here too. I hope I am proven wrong.