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.
War Thunder features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Europe | All BRs | Varied engagement ranges, balanced gameplay | Bomber Pilot |
| 2 | Normandy | Low-mid BR | Historical atmosphere, ambush gameplay, WWII immersion | Bomber Pilot |
| 3 | Sinai Desert | All BRs | Long-range engagements, hull-down gameplay, sniper positions | Fighter Pilot |
| 4 | Berlin | Mid-high BR | Urban combat, flanking opportunities, CQB experience | Fighter Pilot |
| 5 | Kursk | Mid-high BR | Long-range gunnery practice, open field tactics | Fighter Pilot |
Eastern Europe — Starting Area
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | All BRs |
| Key Rewards | Varied engagement ranges, balanced gameplay |
| Recommended Build | Bomber Pilot |
| Key Equipment | P-51D Mustang |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of battle rating matchmaking — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Normandy.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Normandy — Early Game
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Low-mid BR |
| Key Rewards | Historical atmosphere, ambush gameplay, WWII immersion |
| Recommended Build | Bomber Pilot |
| Key Equipment | P-51D Mustang |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering tech tree progression — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for P-51D Mustang if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Sinai Desert.
Sinai Desert — Mid Game
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | All BRs |
| Key Rewards | Long-range engagements, hull-down gameplay, sniper positions |
| Recommended Build | Fighter Pilot |
| Key Equipment | P-51D Mustang |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- T-34-85 becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master crew skills for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Berlin — Late Game
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid-high BR |
| Key Rewards | Urban combat, flanking opportunities, CQB experience |
| Recommended Build | Fighter Pilot |
| Key Equipment | T-34-85 |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- T-34-85 should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- combined arms battles mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Kursk.
Kursk — Endgame
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid-high BR |
| Key Rewards | Long-range gunnery practice, open field tactics |
| Recommended Build | Fighter Pilot |
| Key Equipment | T-34-85 |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Helicopter Pilot for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Eastern Europe → Normandy → Sinai Desert → Berlin → Kursk. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two 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 Crafting Guide
- War Thunder Classes & Characters
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