Gun Marks Explained: How to 3‑Mark Tanks Faster

A complete guide to World of Tanks Marks of Excellence: how MoE works, what the 65/85/95% thresholds mean, the best tanks to mark, and the exact strategies, builds, and tools that help you hit 95% faster. If you want a shortcut, our Gun‑Mark Boost Service can secure progress while you focus on the fun.

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What Are Marks of Excellence?

Marks of Excellence (MoE) are barrel stripes awarded for sustained combined damage performance compared to other players in the same tank. Your progress is a percentile versus the server population for that vehicle, based on a rolling sample of recent battles.

1 mark: 65% percentile
2 marks: 85% percentile
3 marks: 95% percentile

Source: Wargaming Wiki (Barrel Marks) and community trackers like Tomato.gg and gunmarks.poliroid.

How MoE Is Calculated (Plain English)

Combined damage matters

MoE uses your average combined damage: direct damage + assisted damage (spotting + tracking) over a rolling window.

Rolling 100‑battle average

Your progress primarily reflects the last ~100 battles in that tank (older games fall out of the sample). Consistency beats spikes.

Percentile vs same‑tank players

You’re ranked against all players’ recent averages for that exact vehicle on your server. To reach 95%, your average combined must exceed 95% of those players.

The 65/85/95% Thresholds

Crossing 65%, 85%, and 95% grants 1, 2, and 3 marks. Thresholds move with the meta, server skill, and balance changes. For up‑to‑date numbers per tank, check trackers like Tomato.gg.

Example (EU, Sep 2025, Tomato.gg): Object 140 ≈ 3925 combined for 95%. If you’re pushing higher tiers next, see Tier 9 and Tier 10 research options.

Why Progress Sometimes Drops

Bad sessions lower your rolling average; it’s expected—take breaks.
Meta shifts: balance patches or events raise/lower server averages.
Tank popularity spikes add more data from a wider skill range.

Best Tiers and Classes to 3‑Mark

Easier candidates

Tier 6–8 TDs and heavies with reliable DPM/armor — consider Tier 6, Tier 7, and Tier 8 tank research.
Tier 8 premiums you know well (stable credit economy and crews).
Vision‑capable meds with good camo and gun handling.

Harder candidates

Tier 10 lights (vision ceiling is highly skill‑compressed).
Glass‑cannon TDs without turrets on corridor maps.
Autoloaders with long downtime in fast games.

Tank Setup: Equipment, Crew, Field Mods

Core builds

Heavies/TDs: Rammer + Vents + Stabilizer (or Turbo where mobility matters).
Mediums: VStab + Rammer + Vents; flex to Optics on larger maps.

Vision builds

Lights/Meds: Optics + Low‑Noise Exhaust + Vents/IRM for bush play.
Run Food when safe; it stabilizes handling and vision thresholds.

Leverage field modifications: accuracy/aim‑time nodes and dispersion trade‑offs often pay.

Ammo & Economy: Use the Right Round

AP/APCR for consistency and credit efficiency.
HE for tracks/soft targets and cap resets; free assisted via tracks.
Don’t starve your sessions—stable ammo mix prevents tilt spirals.

Map Strategy: Where Combined Comes From

Open maps: establish early bushes/angles; farm assisted before shooting.
City/corridor: pre‑aim common lines; track for assisted; preserve HP.
Endgame farming: save HP to clean up; don’t throw a 1vX for +0.

Session Planning and Mindset

Warm‑up 3–5 games on a forgiving tank before pushing your mark.
Set mini‑goals (e.g., 500 assisted by 10:00, 2.5k by mid‑game).
Stop after two poor games in a row—protect the rolling average.

Tracking & Tools

Use community trackers to see live thresholds, recent averages, and where you stand on your server. Keep an eye on combined damage, assist composition, and session deltas.

Tomato.gg: current MoE numbers and trends per tank.
Poliroid MoE: historical charts and expected values.
Replays: review lost damage windows and mis‑rotations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Shooting before allies get vision—lose assisted potential.
Peeking into crossfires; throwing HP eliminates endgame farming.
Greeding for damage in lost games; take safe farm and survive.

When Getting Help Makes Sense

If you’re stuck around 90–94% or can’t stabilize sessions, a done‑for‑you boost or fast tank research can save weeks.

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Quick Takeaways

MoE is a rolling 100‑game percentile: protect bad streaks.
Farm assisted early, direct damage late; keep HP for cleanup.
Build for your map pool: vision on open maps, gun handling elsewhere.
Track combined and thresholds with Tomato.gg/Poliroid.

FAQs

Does platooning help or hurt MoE?

It depends. Good platoons create safe openings and shared vision; bad ones steal assisted. Solo is simpler; 2‑man vision stacks can be strong.

Do arty hits count for assisted?

Yes—if you spot or track the target, allied damage (including SPG) contributes to assisted.

Why did my % drop after a 4k game?

If a higher old game rolled out of the 100‑battle window, your average can still decline. Percentiles also shift daily.

What server has the easiest MoE?

Thresholds vary per server and patch. Check current numbers. Focus on your own consistency first.

Is 3‑marking Tier 11 different?

Same logic, but faster games and higher averages. Prioritize positioning and reliable DPM; avoid risky clip trades.