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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-34-85 | S | Tank Commander (USSR) | The iconic Soviet medium tank at BR 5. |
| P-51D Mustang | A | Fighter Pilot (USA) | American fighter at BR 4. |
| Tiger H1 | A | Tank Commander (Germany) | German heavy tank at BR 5. |
| Leopard 2A6 | B | 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 | B | Fighter Pilot (USA, top tier) | American jet fighter at top BR with AIM-9L all-aspect missiles and excellent maneuverability. |
S-Tier: T-34-85
The iconic Soviet medium tank at BR 5.7 with good armor, mobility, and the excellent 85mm gun firing APHE (Armor Piercing High Explosive). APHE rounds that penetrate cause a shrapnel cone inside the tank, often one-shotting. The T-34-85 is many players' first great tank.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Tank Commander (USSR) |
| Key Mechanic | battle rating matchmaking |
| Recommended Build | Fighter Pilot |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using T-34-85: Pairs naturally with Fighter Pilot thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: P-51D Mustang
American fighter at BR 4.7 with excellent high-altitude performance and .50 caliber machine guns. The Mustang excels at energy fighting — diving from altitude with a speed advantage. The M2 Brownings have high ammunition count for sustained engagements.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Fighter Pilot (USA) |
| Key Mechanic | tech tree progression |
| Recommended Build | Bomber Pilot |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using P-51D Mustang: Pairs naturally with Bomber Pilot thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Tiger H1
German heavy tank at BR 5.3 with the legendary 88mm gun. The 88mm KwK 36 offers excellent penetration and accuracy. The Tiger's flat armor must be angled at 30-45 degrees to maximize effective thickness. One of the most satisfying tanks to play when angled correctly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Tank Commander (Germany) |
| Key Mechanic | crew skills |
| Recommended Build | Tank Commander |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Tiger H1: Pairs naturally with Tank Commander thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Leopard 2A6
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. The Leopard 2A6 combines excellent mobility, a world-class gun, and acceptable armor. The premier top-tier tank.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Tank Commander (Germany, top tier) |
| Key Mechanic | vehicle modification |
| Recommended Build | Naval Captain |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Leopard 2A6: Pairs naturally with Naval Captain thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: F-16A
American jet fighter at top BR with AIM-9L all-aspect missiles and excellent maneuverability. The F-16 dominates in dogfights with its superior sustained turn rate. Carries a mix of guided missiles and bombs for multi-role capability.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Fighter Pilot (USA, top tier) |
| Key Mechanic | combined arms battles |
| Recommended Build | Helicopter Pilot |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using F-16A: Pairs naturally with Helicopter Pilot thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Eastern Europe
- P-51D Mustang → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Tiger H1 → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- T-34-85 → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
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 Combat Guide
- War Thunder Boss Guide
- War Thunder Maps & Locations
- War Thunder Crafting Guide
- War Thunder Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy War Thunder, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Weapons Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Weapons Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Weapons Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
