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.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Eastern Europe
Key resources: Varied engagement ranges, balanced gameplay Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for P-51D Mustang upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Normandy
Key resources: Historical atmosphere, ambush gameplay, WWII immersion Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for P-51D Mustang upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Sinai Desert
Key resources: Long-range engagements, hull-down gameplay, sniper positions Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for P-51D Mustang upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Berlin
Key resources: Urban combat, flanking opportunities, CQB experience Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for T-34-85 max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Kursk
Key resources: Long-range gunnery practice, open field tactics Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for T-34-85 max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Eastern Europe — Normandy)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on P-51D Mustang once accessible
Mid Game (Sinai Desert)
- Push P-51D Mustang to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for T-34-85
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Berlin — Kursk)
- Max out T-34-85 — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Sinai Desert farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency 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.
- Farm Sinai Desert during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More War Thunder Guides
- War Thunder War Thunder Overview
- War Thunder Best Builds
- War Thunder Tier List
- War Thunder Walkthrough
- War Thunder Beginner's Guide
- War Thunder Tips & Tricks
- War Thunder Weapons Guide
- War Thunder Combat Guide
- War Thunder Boss Guide
- War Thunder Maps & Locations
- War Thunder Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy War Thunder, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Crafting Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Crafting Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Crafting Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
