War Thunder throws you into massive multiplayer battles with tanks, planes, and ships from World War II through modern times. This free-to-play combat simulator rewards skill and teamwork, but the learning curve feels steep at first. New players often struggle with the complex damage models, research trees, and battle rating system that makes War Thunder unique among war games.
Table of Contents
- Choosing Your First Nation and Vehicle
- Understanding Battle Rating and Matchmaking
- Essential Combat Mechanics
- Research and Progression Strategy
- Common New Player Mistakes
- Your First 10 Hours Game Plan
Choosing Your First Nation and Vehicle
Start with either the United States or Soviet Union for your first nation. Both offer forgiving vehicles and clear upgrade paths. The US tree features reliable planes like the P-51 Mustang and versatile Sherman tanks. Soviet vehicles pack heavy armor and devastating guns, perfect for aggressive playstyles.
Pick one game mode initially - either aviation or ground forces. Spreading yourself across multiple modes slows your progress significantly. Aviation feels more accessible for shooter game veterans, while ground combat offers deeper tactical gameplay.
For your War Thunder nations guide consideration, Germany excels at long-range combat but requires precise aim. Britain dominates early air combat but struggles with weak tank guns initially. Japan offers nimble fighters but paper-thin armor. Save these nations until you understand the core mechanics.
Check out our comprehensive War Thunder overview for detailed nation breakdowns and vehicle comparisons.
Understanding Battle Rating and Matchmaking
Battle Rating (BR) determines which vehicles you face in combat. Each vehicle has a BR from 1.0 to 12.7, and you'll fight opponents within 1.0 BR of your highest vehicle. A 3.7 BR tank faces enemies from 2.7 to 4.7 BR.
Your lineup matters more than individual vehicles. Build balanced teams around similar BRs rather than bringing one high-tier vehicle with low-tier support. This prevents uptiers where you're consistently outmatched.
The War Thunder battle rating system creates three main gameplay phases:
- Low-tier (1.0-4.0): Forgiving combat, simple mechanics
- Mid-tier (4.0-8.0): Complex systems, steep learning curve
- High-tier (8.0+): Modern vehicles, advanced technology
Stay in low-tier battles for your first 20-30 hours. You'll learn faster without facing guided missiles and thermal imaging systems.
Essential Combat Mechanics
Realistic damage models separate War Thunder from arcade shooters. Tanks have specific weak spots, crew members, and ammunition storage. Planes can lose control surfaces, engines, or pilots individually. Study armor layouts in the hangar before battle.
Crew skills dramatically impact vehicle performance. Prioritize these upgrades first:
- Keen Vision: Spots enemies at longer ranges
- Vitality: Keeps crew alive longer
- Weapon skills: Reduces reload time and improves accuracy
Map knowledge wins battles. Learn common camping spots, flanking routes, and capture point approaches. The minimap shows teammate positions - use this information to avoid isolated fights.
For air combat, energy management beats raw speed. Altitude and velocity combine into potential energy. Trade altitude for speed when diving, climb to regain energy advantage. Most dogfights end when one pilot mismanages their energy state.
Research and Progression Strategy
Focus your research points (RP) on one vehicle line per nation. Spreading research across multiple branches slows progression dramatically. Complete one tank destroyer line or fighter series before starting another.
Premium time doubles your RP and Silver Lion income. The 7-day premium trial gives you enough progress to unlock several new vehicles. Save it for active playing periods rather than casual sessions.
Daily tasks and special events provide bonus rewards. These objectives change every 22 hours and offer significant RP multipliers. Complete simple tasks like "destroy 5 enemies" or "play 3 battles" for easy bonuses.
Your War Thunder grinding guide priorities should follow this order:
- One main vehicle line to BR 4.0
- Supporting vehicles at similar BRs
- Crew upgrades for your main vehicles
- Alternative ammunition types
- Secondary nation or game mode
Avoid the temptation to immediately research top-tier vehicles. You'll struggle without proper crew training and supporting vehicles.
Common New Player Mistakes
Rushing into combat kills more new players than enemy fire. Take 30 seconds at match start to check your minimap, identify objectives, and plan your approach. Patience beats aggression in War Thunder.
Ignoring crew training handicaps your performance severely. Spend Silver Lions on crew improvements before purchasing new vehicles. A well-trained crew in a basic tank outperforms untrained crews in advanced vehicles.
Playing alone wastes War Thunder's team-based design. Follow teammates, coordinate pushes, and communicate enemy positions. Solo flanking maneuvers rarely succeed against organized teams.
Wrong ammunition selection reduces your effectiveness. Start each battle with default ammunition, then switch based on targets you encounter. Armor-piercing rounds work best against heavily armored enemies, while high-explosive shells destroy light vehicles effectively.
For the War Thunder tank guide essentials, learn to angle your armor. Position your tank at 15-30 degree angles to incoming fire. This increases your effective armor thickness without reducing your offensive capabilities.
Tunnel vision during combat prevents situational awareness. Check your minimap every 10-15 seconds. Listen for audio cues indicating nearby enemies or friendly callouts.
Your First 10 Hours Game Plan
Hours 1-3: Complete the tutorial missions and play against AI opponents. Learn basic controls, ammunition types, and damage indicators. Don't skip this foundation phase.
Hours 4-6: Enter your first multiplayer battles at BR 1.0-2.0. Focus on staying alive rather than getting kills. Follow teammates and observe their tactics. Each death teaches you something new.
Hours 7-10: Start researching your first BR 3.0-4.0 vehicles. Practice specific techniques like leading targets, angling armor, or energy fighting. Begin upgrading crew skills systematically.
During this learning period, experiment with different War Thunder best planes to find your preferred playstyle. The P-40E Warhawk offers excellent ground attack capabilities, while the Bf 109 F-1 excels in air-to-air combat. Each aircraft teaches different skills.
Set realistic goals: survive 5 minutes per battle, land 3 shots on target, or capture one objective point. Small improvements compound quickly in War Thunder's complex systems.
For detailed mission walkthroughs and advanced tactics, check our War Thunder walkthrough guide.
Start your War Thunder journey by downloading the game, picking the US or Soviet tree, and completing tutorial missions. Focus on survival over kills in your first 20 battles - you'll progress faster by learning the game's unique mechanics than by rushing toward higher-tier vehicles.