War Thunder is Gaijin Entertainment's free-to-play vehicular combat game simulating air, ground, and naval warfare from WWII through modern era. With over 2,500 vehicles across 10 nations, the sheer breadth of content is staggering. The game spans three combat modes (Arcade, Realistic, Simulator) each offering fundamentally different experiences from casual to full simulation. The tech tree grind is notoriously long but each vehicle researched feels like a genuine achievement. War Thunder's damage model is the most detailed in gaming — individual crew members, modules, and ammunition are modeled and can be damaged independently. The combined arms mode where tanks, planes, and helicopters fight simultaneously is unique in the genre.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough.
Essential Tips
1. Stick to one nation's ground or air tree until you reach your desired BR range
Stick to one nation's ground or air tree until you reach your desired BR range. Splitting research across multiple nations spreads your progress too thin and leaves you with weak lineups.
2. Side climbing (flying to the side of the map while gaining altitude) wins air battles
Side climbing (flying to the side of the map while gaining altitude) wins air battles. Fighters that arrive at combat altitude with energy advantage dictate every engagement.
3. Angling armor at 30-45 degrees to incoming fire increases effective armor thickness by 15-40%
Angling armor at 30-45 degrees to incoming fire increases effective armor thickness by 15-40%. The Tiger I's flat 100mm front armor becomes 115-140mm effective when properly angled.
4. Crew skills are invisible power
Crew skills are invisible power. A maxed reload crew reloads 30% faster than a stock crew. Prioritize Reload Speed and Repair Speed for ground vehicles.
5. Premium time during events and sales is the best value for accelerating research
Premium time during events and sales is the best value for accelerating research. Wait for 50% off sales (usually anniversary events in October/November) to buy premium time.
6. APHE ammunition is the most lethal shell type — it penetrates then explodes inside the tank, spraying shrapnel
APHE ammunition is the most lethal shell type — it penetrates then explodes inside the tank, spraying shrapnel. If your tank has APHE, use it as your default round.
7. In Ground RB, bring a plane in your lineup even if you primarily play tanks
In Ground RB, bring a plane in your lineup even if you primarily play tanks. Earning enough spawn points to spawn a fighter gives you enormous impact on the match outcome.
8. Learn enemy vehicle weak points
Learn enemy vehicle weak points. Every tank has spots where armor is thin — the T-34's turret ring, the Tiger's flat lower front plate, the Sherman's hull machine gun port.
9. Don't rush to top tier
Don't rush to top tier. The grind becomes exponentially longer and top-tier gameplay has more frustrations (guided missiles, thermals). Many players find the most fun at BRs 3.7-6.7.
10. Use the armor analysis tool in the hangar to study your vehicle's protection and identify weak spots on enemy vehicles you commonly face
Use the armor analysis tool in the hangar to study your vehicle's protection and identify weak spots on enemy vehicles you commonly face.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive:
For Fighter Pilot (S-Tier):
- Air superiority fighters are the most impactful aircraft role. Shooting down enemy bombers and attackers protects your team's ground forces. Energy fighting (maintaining speed advantage through altitude) wins dogfights. Nations like Germany (BF-109) and USA (P-51) excel at fighters.
- Core gear: Fighter aircraft, ammunition belts (Air Targets), radiator management
- Stat priority: G-Tolerance, Stamina, Keen Vision
For Bomber Pilot (C-Tier):
- Bombers deliver heavy ordnance to destroy bases and ground targets. Strategic bombers (B-17, Lancaster) are slow and vulnerable to fighters. In Ground RB, light bombers with precision bombs are more useful. Bombing requires altitude and accuracy.
- Core gear: Bomber aircraft, maximum bomb load, defensive turret belts
- Stat priority: Defensive gunner accuracy, bomb drop precision
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how War Thunder's systems interact is where the real optimization lives:
battle rating matchmaking + tech tree progression: Each vehicle has a Battle Rating (BR) determining its matchmaking bracket. Combined with tech tree progression, each nation has separate air, ground, and naval tech trees with vehicles unlocked sequentially.
crew skills + vehicle modification: Each vehicle slot has a crew with skills (reload speed, repair speed, g-tolerance for pilots, vitality). When paired with vehicle modification, each vehicle has modification upgrades (engine, ammunition types, armor, weapons) unlocked through playing that specific vehicle.
combined arms battles scaling: Ground Realistic Battles feature tanks, planes, and helicopters simultaneously. Earning enough spawn points in a tank lets you spawn a plane for close air support or air superiority. The interaction between ground and air creates emergent gameplay not found in any other game.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| T-34-85 | Tank Commander (USSR) | The iconic Soviet medium tank at BR 5. |
| P-51D Mustang | Fighter Pilot (USA) | American fighter at BR 4. |
| Tiger H1 | Tank Commander (Germany) | German heavy tank at BR 5. |
| Leopard 2A6 | Tank Commander (Germany, top tier) | Modern German MBT at top BR with one of the best guns in the game — the L/55 120mm firing DM53 APFSDS with 630mm penetration. |
| F-16A | Fighter Pilot (USA, top tier) | American jet fighter at top BR with AIM-9L all-aspect missiles and excellent maneuverability. |
Location Efficiency
Eastern Europe (All BRs): A ground battle map featuring open fields and a town with close-quarters fighting. The map rewards both long-range sniping and urban brawling depending on which area you contest. The town center is the most contested area.
Normandy (Low-mid BR): A WWII-themed ground map with bocage hedgerows, villages, and beaches. The hedgerow terrain creates ambush opportunities and limits long-range sniping. Historically appropriate for mid-war BR vehicles.
Sinai Desert (All BRs): An open desert map with long sightlines and scattered rocky outcroppings for cover. Favors vehicles with good gun depression and accuracy for hull-down long-range engagements. One of the most popular maps.
Berlin (Mid-high BR): An urban ground map with destroyed buildings and rubble creating close-quarters combat zones. Side shots and flanking through buildings define the gameplay. Heavy tanks and vehicles with strong frontal armor excel.
Kursk (Mid-high BR): A massive open field map based on the historical Battle of Kursk. Nearly flat terrain with minimal cover creates long-range tank duels. Vehicles with accurate long-range guns dominate. One of the most open maps in the game.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Bringing a single vehicle in your lineup. When it's destroyed, you leave the match and waste potential impact. Bring 3-5 vehicles of similar BR for a full match.
- Rushing forward at match start. Aggressive players die within the first minute to enemies who reached good positions first. Advance carefully and use terrain cover.
- Ignoring sound cues. Engine sounds, track sounds, and gun reports reveal enemy positions. Play with headphones and listen for nearby vehicles before peeking.
- Shooting the front of a heavy tank with standard ammunition. Learn weak points — shoot the turret cheeks, lower front plate, or flank for side shots where armor is thinnest.
- Grinding with a vehicle you hate just because it leads to one you want. The grind is long — play vehicles you enjoy at BRs you find fun, and progress will come naturally.
Efficiency Quick Reference
| Aspect | Optimal Choice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Fighter Pilot | S-tier, best overall |
| Starter | Bomber Pilot | Most forgiving for learning |
| Equipment | T-34-85 | Best resource-to-power ratio |
| First area | Eastern Europe | Varied engagement ranges, balanced gameplay |
| Priority mechanic | battle rating matchmaking | Everything else builds on this |
Pro Quick Tips
- Stick to one nation's ground or air tree until you reach your desired BR range. Splitting research across multiple nations spreads your progress too thin and leaves you with weak lineups.
- Side climbing (flying to the side of the map while gaining altitude) wins air battles. Fighters that arrive at combat altitude with energy advantage dictate every engagement.
- Angling armor at 30-45 degrees to incoming fire increases effective armor thickness by 15-40%. The Tiger I's flat 100mm front armor becomes 115-140mm effective when properly angled.
- Start with Bomber Pilot, switch to Fighter Pilot when ready
- Invest in T-34-85 above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Eastern Europe → Normandy → Sinai Desert → Berlin → Kursk
- battle rating matchmaking + tech tree progression together are stronger than either alone
For full build details, check builds. For progression path, see the walkthrough.
