The Unofficial Repository of X.5 Information
(or 8.5, 9.5, Clan Wars Matchmaking and You!)
Disclaimer:
Simply put, the definition of X.5 varies widely. And some folks--good people, I'm sure--don't have the right idea about the premises and purpose of X.5. You might say the X.5 theory is in a nebulous state of affairs. There doesn't seem to be many resources on it, and the ones that do come up in search aren't necessarily extensive explorations of X.5.
X.5s and skeptics are welcome to add in their experience because primary accounts are key, here, in understanding X.5. But please, be as specific as possible, because discourse without definitions is chaos. Mi casa is your casa.. zu casa.. whatever. You know what I mean
What is X.5?
The X.5 methodology accepts the inevitable reality that when you advance to a new TH, you are fresh fish in Clan Wars. Everyone who's been at TH10 or 9 for even a week longer has a plethora of advantages over you. Going X.5, then, is to mitigate the appearance of developed opponents, especially by cutting out the weight of infernos and x-bows which are found to be significant for War Matchmaking Rating (MMR). Once you have developed counters (troops, spells, and traps), that is the time to build new defences. By that point, you'll have upgraded offensive power and will be able to face down TH10s with infernos, or 9's with crossbow, while also denying them 3*, perhaps 2 or even 1 because of your own new defences. That means, yes, ideally, but a few weeks in, you are now finally facing war opponents of your TH level as equals. And aren't we all for equality in war? (Or something as close as possible to it)
It should be noted that the MMR formula designed by SuperCell includes troop, hero, wall and spell levels in its calculation. You are still being weighed a little more heavily each time you complete troop or spell research or forge a better sword of the BK, and will face X.5-appropriate opponents--not "easier" ones. So I must emphasize again that the X.5 method does not seek to exploit MMR for the purposes of netting a free win, but to place your clan's new TH10s or 9s on equal footing in clan wars.
There are of course, exceptional variations of the X.5 method, but that will be discussed later on.
The "Schools" of X.5:
I've noticed that there are three major 'schools' of X.5, which present the player with very different challenges and benefits. Each of them brings in their own breed of praise and denouncement, but let's bear in mind that, just as how each person has the right to eat whatever cereal they'd like for breakfast, or prefer red bicycles to blue ones, as long as it remains within the confines of the law, it is their right with how they play this game.
1. "The Mainstream X.5" AKA "The Transition Method": You delay new buildings exclusively to pursue offensive upgrades, and traps too (they have little MMR impact). Ideally, this suppresses your MMR, bringing in lower TH10s, TH9s, or Th8s (depending on your TH) as a mirror. Whether you attack your mirror or not is up to your clan's strategy; for example, sometimes it's better to let higher TH10s wipe out the top, and you can concentrate on sweeping out tougher TH9s with ease. The net effect would be relatively stronger attacks cascading down the roster for a high star war.
Once you have a decent freeze completed and/or troops, it's time to drop down new bowstrings and death star laser lenses ("Fire at will, commander!"). This should not take you longer than a few weeks at the 9.5 level; even shorter for a 8.5. In that time-frame, you should've been warring as much as possible to learn how to tackle the next-level defences.
A ballpark figure, but I'd wager 95% of people mean this method when they're talking about X.5.
If a 8.5 could share their experience, that would be fantastic.
2. "The Reverse Maxer": Delaying new buildings extensively to max heroes and walls. The rationale is that since one spends a great deal of time grinding heroes and walls at the very end of their TH, why not upgrade in reverse? This might be a little extreme at the TH9.5 level, given how long you are expected to spend at TH10. The thoughts and experiences of anyone attempting this whether at the 8.5 or 9.5 level would be appreciated. And godspeed. For your sanity's sake.
3. "The Early Bird" (or "Calculated Premmie"): You prioritize lab research and tech up without maxing. The extent of how much this type of X.5 rushes will vary. The farther you go, the greater the effect on modifying the MMR for easier targets. If you opt for this method, you should no doubt 6* every single war, despite likely sustaining a 3* on your own base. For a net of 6*, that's considered a favourable trade-off. Another great benefit is that you'll have a head-start on the time for researching and building TH9 or 10 upgrades. If you are adverse to gemming off build or research times, this might be the route for you. It can also be that case that some are barracks boost-purists who can farm to make up the premmie defences. But please refrain from the discussion of rushing vs. maxing, because it will derail this thread.
4. "Minmaxer" (or "True Rusher"): This isn't strictly a X.5 "school", but I include this, because in the perceptions of a minority, this and X.5 are one and the same. I'd like to respectfully inform you that is possible to rush so far ahead to game the MMR system that you're not a X.5 anymore. There are clans with TH10s who've left their farming troops at level 1, and maxed out the war troops; players who opt to go defenceless in favour of extreme offence, etc. Criticism aimed at those gaming the system in this manner should not be directed towards the X.5 community. They may stem from the same principles revolving around engineering the MMR, but Minmaxers take it to extremes which are irrelevant to the X.5 discussion, and they do not share the same goals as X.5.
Is X.5 Right for Me?
Perhaps, perhaps not.
1. X.5 is demanding of the individual player. Delaying new defences leaves you vulnerable war and in farm (if you have sour luck with being sniped). The key is to expedite the development of your offensive capabilities, so that you might make that leap as soon as possible to becoming a full-fledged TH9 or 10.
2. X.5 runs on a schedule. If you are not an active farmer who can keep the lab, and all (or at least 4) builders busy throughout the X.5 cycle, then X.5 may not be for you. Also remember that the best defence is having no loot. Stockpiled loot as a 8.5 is very, very enticing and vulnerable to many players. The same goes of 9.5 to a lesser extent, though the prevalence of BArch armies does mean your storages are better protected.
3. X.5 makes you an easier target. If you are trophy pushing through the higher leagues (relative to your TH), X.5 will actually work against you in too many ways. I wouldn't advise it, but if you are willing to the take the risk, that is your perogative.
4. You must be adept at wars. Going X.5 leaves your base vulnerable relative for its TH level. If you aren't bringing in the stars, then you are only detracting from your clan. This is how X.5 can work against you. Having too many X.5s who fail to at least 5* (or for some, 6*) will spell disaster for war.
5. **Speculation** on relation to clan composition: It may be that the utility of taking an X.5 depends on your clan's MMR affected by your clan's composition. For example, if there's a significant weight of TH9s in your clan, going 8.5 is questionable, because you will still have to contend with a horde of presumably TH9s and perhaps 10s. The same conundrum applies for TH9.5s. From what I've gathered from testimonies, I believe it's most beneficial if the X.5s are in the top echelons of the clan, creating a bottleneck of MMR matchups so that the X.5s are or are near the top of the pyramid.With all of this in mind, also know that the jury is out there on whether the X.5 method works well under all circumstances. From a purely mathematical perspective on MMR, there is enough support for X.5 for it be viable. Yet it's possible that there is a specific set of unknown circumstances which only engineered clans can benefit the most from. The least one can do, though, to maximize the potential gain from having X.5s would be to refresh your war search every 10 minutes.
More to come, depending on how this thread goes. Feel free to add your thoughts!
Originally Posted by Harrisman24
I've slipped something into the "What is X.5" section.
