Continuing our series, we look at another iconic open location: Malinovka. In the World of Tanks community, it is known as a paradise for fans of passive spotting and precise long-range fire. This map represents an absolute test of patience and tactical thinking, where victory or defeat is decided by mere meters in positioning and the ability to effectively use concealment. If you want to survive longer than the first minute and become an indispensable asset to your team, you must understand the specifics of the local “magic bushes” and key strategic points.
While on other maps you might correct your mistakes with thick armor, here, any unpremeditated move into the open field is deservedly punished by an immediate return to the garage. Success on this map stands on a fragile symbiosis between brave light tanks and prepared tank destroyers in the rear lines – neither can achieve much on Malinovka without the other. Let’s take a detailed look at how to get the most out of this open landscape for every vehicle class.
Light Tanks
Malinovka is a map tailor-made for light tanks. Your performance in the role of a spotter doesn’t just influence the battle, it directly dictates the development and result of the match. Therefore, make every effort not to fall apart in the first minute of the game.
North Spawn The most famous bush at the northern base, highly popular among light tank players, is the one at E4. At the start of the battle, you will usually spot some tanks heading to the “balcony” or those just starting their climb to the hill, but most of the time, your team isn’t ready to hit anything anyway. After the initial phase, this bush carries a relatively high risk. Since almost everyone knows about it, it becomes a frequent target for blind fire, which can cost you your life.
Especially if there is an EBR in the game, it is worth utilizing the bush near the base, as inexperienced wheeled vehicle players likely have no better ideas than to circle frantically in the center of the map. This allows you to stay off their radar while remaining able to spot tanks lurking at the spawn.
If no allies head toward the water and only a few TDs remain at the base, I recommend choosing a safe option in one of the rear bushes (it doesn’t necessarily have to be the specific one shown in Image 3). This allows you to reveal tanks moving along the water while giving you a safe exit route in case your allies fail to destroy them.
However, if right after the start of the battle you see that more players remain at the base than just two slow tank destroyers, and there is no EBR among the enemy ranks, you can take a risk and try to reach the bushes in the center of the map. From there, after some time when the enemy base is no longer guarded, you can move aggressively toward the buildings in front of you and utilize the bushes next to them, which will reveal the tanks on the balcony.
If someone else has already taken the previous positions, try the side under the hill. You can spot from there as well. For example, from the balcony, you can reveal the enemy balcony. If the enemy spotter is impatient, you might manage to reveal them as they try to move through the center to get closer to your teammates.
You can also reveal the enemy balcony from the last bush. However, at this position, there is a higher probability of encountering an opponent trying to reach the same bush compared to the previous position. Additionally, from here, you are also able to spot careless players heading to the hill.
During the course of the battle, you can, of course, move between any bushes. Under normal circumstances, however, you should in no case head to the hill. This is because the fighting there is face-to-face, which significantly limits your options. Furthermore, by doing so, you weaken your teammates’ chances of controlling the rest of the map.
South Spawn
The southern base also has an iconic bush. Although you are able to quickly reveal slow and clumsy tanks starting out from the northern base, it is not as worthwhile as the battle progresses due to the high risk of blind fire.
Those who want to play it safe from the southern base should choose one of the following two positions. The bush near the building in the middle is especially suitable when an EBR is present. Here, you can reveal enemy tanks without him revealing you.
If you have sufficient support at the base, you can choose the bush by the water to inform your allies of a potential push. However, you must leave in time if your teammates do not stop the enemy’s advance soon enough.
If you want to take a risk, head for the bushes in the middle of the map immediately after the start of the battle. However, you must not head there diagonally across the open field. Pass at least the first building from the water side on the left before turning toward that row of bushes.
A light tank’s potential can also be utilized under the hill; however, the position near the balcony does not offer the same opportunities as the following bush.
From this final spot, there is a better view of the enemy’s forested hill, where tank destroyers and medium tanks usually linger. You will also spot players heading for the hill.
From this side, you can try to drive all the way down under the enemy balcony. But never drive there through the water, it only slows you down and exposes you to fire from enemy tank destroyers camping at the base. You must always reach this position from the top! But remember, once you get there, you have very few options for retreat.
Medium Tanks
Medium tanks have the widest range of uses on Malinovka. It doesn’t matter what type of “med” you bring to this map, you can truly play with anything here. Sniper medium tanks can take up TD positions, more durable machines can serve as support for heavy tanks on the hill, and fast mediums can try to quickly reach the area under the enemy balcony.
Another option is to drive the line along the water. However, I haven’t highlighted this in the images because I think it’s foolish to go there immediately at the start of the battle, as you don’t know the enemy team’s deployment. You might find yourself back in the garage without firing a single shot.
North Spawn
Therefore, when spawning at the northern base, it is more tactical to choose positions in area 1 and wait for what your light tank reveals. If you don’t want to play along the water, you can also use the TD positions next to both large rocks at the base for initial shots, but I recommend not getting in the way of the clumsy tank destroyers and moving quickly to areas 2 and 3.
If you are playing with a more durable medium, don’t delay and head straight for the hill. In case you want to break the stereotype of playing this map, you can head under the enemy balcony with a fast medium. But don’t peek too often, so you don’t draw unnecessary attention.
South Spawn
From the southern side, it is definitely not as easy to stay hidden by the water, because as soon as you peek out, you get spotted. Therefore, feel free to push all the way to the enemy side.
When playing on the balcony, do not drive directly into the bushes at the edge. Instead, try to stay as far behind them as possible when firing (though this applies to any bushes on any map).
Unlike the northern side, you have the option here not to go all the way up the hill, but to stay in area number 6. From there, in addition to the path to the hill, you can see other enemy positions. To be fair, you can stay under the hill on the northern side as well, but you won’t have as many shooting opportunities at other positions from there.
Heavy Tanks
Heavy tanks struggle the most on this map because they become easy targets in such an open environment. The limited maneuvering space for this vehicle class doesn’t help either.
North Spawn
On Malinovka, you essentially have only one option, and that is the hill. This is where the crucial heavy tank battles take place. In cases where artillery is present in the game, try to stay as hidden as possible behind the windmill.
From the hill, you have the opportunity to shell the enemy balcony, a chance to wait for enemy tanks peeking near your own balcony, or to return fire at tanks waiting below the hill.
If you are driving a faster heavy tank, you can try your luck with a push along the water. Under no circumstances should you stay in the TD positions at the base.
South Spawn
On the hill, in addition to taking cover behind the windmill, you can choose a second position by the rock. However, it does not provide as effective protection against SPGs as the windmill does.
From this side, you can also shell tanks below the hill, but if they are even slightly smart, they will be camping deep in the forest near the red line, so you won’t see them easily.
You can push along the water from the south spawn as well. But if you have a Maus or some similarly sluggish tank, stay by the building in area 3, from which you have countless shooting angles.
I occasionally see individuals trying to drive through the center along the swamp. Do not do that!
Tank Destroyers
If anyone should be looking forward to this map, it is tank destroyer players. Cooperation with spotters is essential. As mentioned in the introduction, there is an unwritten symbiosis between these classes on Malinovka, if a spotter is unable to outplay their counterpart, you won’t get much shooting done as a TD. Conversely, if the TDs are unable to hit anything, your efforts as a spotter go to waste.
North Spawn
The northern base offers six initial positions. However, area 1 is perhaps only suitable for Swedish tank destroyers from the Strv line, as there is a relatively high risk of being spotted after firing. Additionally, an enemy push often reaches all the way to this position.
Typical positions are found in areas 2 and 3, from which you can see all positions near the enemy base as well as the balcony.
If you want to support the hill, try area number 5. If you see that no one or only a few players from your team are heading to the hill, use area number 6 instead.
South Spawn
On the southern side, the balcony is tricky; you tend to get spotted there more often than you actually get to shoot. Therefore, I recommend choosing any other position.
From firing areas 1 and 2, you have a good view of the positions near the enemy base.
However, unlike the northern spawn, I wouldn’t recommend driving toward the water if I were you. Instead, try area 5, where it is necessary to knock down as many trees as possible for concealment.
Artillery
Artillery has an easy task on Malinovka, as you only need to back into the forest near the redline and you can start firing at almost everything. Supporting heavy tanks on the hill is crucial, or you should focus on static tank destroyers. Try to finish off tanks with low HP.
Conclusion
Malinovka is a paradise for campers and light tanks. Like every battle on an open map, the contribution of the spotter and the accurate aim of the tank destroyers are fundamental. The activity of medium tanks is also important. When a capable team comes together, you can have a very good game here. You cannot achieve much on this map on your own.
What positions do you like on Malinovka? Let me know in the comments. Now you know how to play on Malinovka. If you want to know how to handle another open map, check out my previous guide.
