This article is considered accurate for the current version (1.58) of the game.
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In response to the Legion embarking on aggressive northern offensives, the Firebrand is designed to conflagrate and eradicate their garrisons with ease. Built using the aggressive frame of the Widow, the Firebrand is a pure force of nature when paired with a secondary armoured escort.
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— In-game description
The Noble Firebrand Mk. XVII is a WardenDestroyer Tank. It is equipped with a hull-mounted heavy flamethrower. Its most distinctive features are the low profile chassis, and the short-barreled flamethrower nozzle at the front.
The Noble Firebrand Mk. XVII has 2200 HP and is disabled under 30% health. It has "Heavy Armor" resistance: it can soak small arms fire, shrapnel, and 12.7mm machine guns, and it is immune to Flamethrowers. But heavy explosives and anti-tank weaponry are a real threat to it. It has subsystems that have a chance to be disabled by heavy explosives and anti-tank weaponry if hit specifically: Tracks: 20% (Anti-Tank Mines always disable them), Fuel Tank: 45%, Turret/Cannon: 20%. It has Tank Armor. With it, in best case scenario, penetrating projectiles only have a 17% chance of penetrating and doing damage. That chance goes up quickly if the armor is worn or if it is shot from up close, or on the side or rear from a direct angle, or with ammo that has penetration bonuses. It takes 150 Basic Materials to fully repair it from 1% to 100% health with a Hammer. Its health, subsystems, and Tank Armor can be instantly repaired at a Garage for 100 Basic Materials.
The Noble Firebrand Mk. XVII is both a strong and weak tank, as its armor it sports the lowest armor penetration chance in the game, at a low 17%, meaning that if it gets hit directly in the front, it has a high chance of deflecting the round. However, if it gets hit, it significantly affects the Tank Destroyer's health, quickly increasing its chance of being destroyed. As such, great care must be taken to ensure that incoming fire isn't detrimental to the tank.
Its main armament, the Heavy Flamethrower, which is a heavier version of a Flamethrower, still operates as a niche tool. When used directly against infantry, it can become one of the fastest kill tools (right behind explosions, which will instantly kill a player). While it is tempting to charge hunkering infantry, it's better to flush them out with fire and heat. The near-nonexistent damage and quick emptying of a canister forces the crew to conserve ammunition against flammable targets. Setting enemy structures ablaze will also deny enemy infantry their use, slowly damaging it and preventing them from repairing it. 6 seconds of continuous firing on any Tier 2 structure creates a self-sustaining medium-intensity fire on it. Shooting more than 2.5 magazines in one go at the same target structure is pointless as its fire cannot grow bigger.
Although it is possible to use a tank without a Commander, it's not recommended as it will limit your awareness on the battlefield.
Standard Equipment Loadout
Like with every other armored vehicle, the crew should ALWAYS equip themselves with a Gas Mask and multiple Filters to avoid dying to Gas Grenades. Additionally, they should bring a Hammer and Basic Materials to repair the tank. These tactics can be buffed by wearing either a Tank Uniform or an Engineer Uniform.
Tips
Like all vehicles that use flame ammo, they can be quickly submitted into them without accessing their inventory
While this can be done for all vehicles, it should only be done if they can carry/use large items
Equip the flame ammo and walk up to the vehicle
Submit the flame ammo into the vehicle - pressV
Gallery
The Noble Firebrand Mk. XVII from the front
The Noble Firebrand Mk. XVII from the rear
The Noble Firebrand Mk. XVII firing its flamethrower at maximum range
The Noble Firebrand Mk. XVII introduced in the Update 1.50 ('Inferno') Dev Stream