War Thunder: Beginner-to-Advanced Guide

How War Thunder's modes, Battle Rating, research and economy actually work, plus practical tank, plane and naval tips for climbing the tech trees without burning out.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the "Sky Odyssey" major update (2.59, released September 16, 2026). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

• Pick one nation and one branch (ground or air) to start. Spreading research across everything makes progress feel painfully slow.
• Arcade is for learning, Realistic is where the game is best. Arcade has markers and fast respawns; Realistic Battles (RB) have more authentic flight/ballistics and much better rewards.
• Battle Rating (BR) decides who you fight. You're matched against vehicles up to 1.0 BR above or below your lineup's highest BR.
• Bring a full lineup. In Ground RB, more vehicles in your lineup means more chances to respawn and earn.
• Learn weak spots. Use the in-game X-ray/Protection Analysis in the hangar to see where enemy crews and ammo sit.
• Crew skills matter. Level up your crews' Gunner, Driver, Commander and Awareness skills; better crews reload faster and spot better.
• Don't buy early premium vehicles with real money. Low-tier premiums don't speed up much; save that for a high-tier premium or a Premium Account when you're committed.
• Research modifications first, not the next tank. Parts, FPE (fire extinguisher) and better ammunition turn a stock vehicle into a competitive one.
• Complete daily tasks and use the daily login rewards; they add up.
• Turn off chat if it bothers you. Focus on your own map knowledge and positioning.

Game Modes

Mode | Ground | Air | Naval | Summary

Arcade (AB) | Enemy markers, easier ballistics, respawn-heavy | Simplified flight, instant action | Available | Casual; lower rewards

Realistic (RB) | No enemy markers, planes and helicopters join, spawn points (SP) | Realistic flight model, one life | Available | The core competitive mode; best rewards

Simulator (SB) | Cockpit/gunner view only | Cockpit only, joystick friendly | Limited | Hardcore; niche but rewarding

Events rotate in custom modes. As of Sky Odyssey, Nuclear Escalation, Naval Enduring Confrontation and Bullet Hell became permanent modes, selectable from the hangar's mode dropdown.

The Tech Tree and Nations

War Thunder has ten tech tree nations: USA, Germany, USSR, Great Britain, Japan, China, Italy, France, Sweden and Israel. Each has ground, aviation (planes and helicopters) and, for most, naval trees.

• Ranks (I–VIII): research vehicles within a rank to unlock the next rank.
• Foldered vehicles: some vehicles are grouped; research them in order.
• Premium vehicles: bought with Golden Eagles or real money; give bonus Research Points (RP) and Silver Lions.
• Squadron vehicles: researched with Squadron Research Points from playing in a squadron.

Sky Odyssey additions include: a Greek aviation line in the Israeli tree (including the Mirage 2000-5EG and Rafale EG), Greek ground vehicles like the Leopard 2HEL, Osa-AKM and Tor-M1 (also in the Israeli tree), the EMBT for Germany and France, the Indian Arjun Mk 1 in the British tree, the Indonesian Harimau in the Japanese tree, the F-102A and F-14D for the USA, the MiG-35 for the USSR, the J-16 for China, and the AW159 Wildcat and H145M helicopters. A new Ground map, Darwin Hill, is set on the Falkland Islands.

Currencies and Economy

Currency | Earned by | Spent on

Research Points (RP) | Playing matches | Researching vehicles and modifications

Silver Lions (SL) | Playing matches | Buying vehicles, repairs, crew training, ammo

Golden Eagles (GE) | Real money, some events | Premium time, premium vehicles, crew training, converting RP

Squadron Research Points | Playing in a squadron | Squadron vehicles

Rules of thumb:

• Repair costs rise with tier. High-BR vehicles can lose you Silver Lions if you die early.
• The first win of the day per nation gives bonus rewards.
• Premium Account multiplies both RP and SL earned; buy it only when you know you'll play a lot.
• Keep a "grinder" lineup at a comfortable BR to farm Silver Lions for your top-tier repairs.

Ground Battles Fundamentals

Positioning

• Hull-down: put your hull behind a ridge and only expose your turret. Most tanks are toughest from the front of the turret.
• Angling: turning your hull slightly (often called "sidescraping" or angling) increases effective armor, but overangling exposes your side.
• Don't drive into the middle of the map in the first 30 seconds unless you know the lanes. Many first deaths come from pre-aimed long lines.
• Use flanks and cap zones smartly; capturing points earns score and spawn points for aircraft.

Shooting

• Aim for crew and ammo. A shot that hits the breech (gun) or the gunner disables return fire. Ammo racks cause one-shot kills.
• Know your ammo: AP/APHE for early tiers, HEAT/HEATFS for chemical energy, APFSDS at top tier. Each behaves differently against angled armor.
• Load less ammo: carrying fewer shells reduces the chance of an ammo rack detonation. Many players bring enough for the match and no more.
• Use the rangefinder (or your sight's range markings) to compensate for shell drop at long range.

Spawn Points and Air Support

In Ground RB, earning score gives you spawn points (SP) to bring in aircraft or helicopters. Close air support can win matches, but the enemy team will do the same. Bring an anti-air vehicle (SPAA) in higher tiers.

Air Battles Fundamentals

• Energy is life. Altitude and speed let you choose fights. Don't bleed speed in turn fights unless your plane is a turn fighter.
• Know your aircraft type: boom-and-zoom fighters (e.g. many US and German planes) dive in, shoot, and climb away. Turn fighters (e.g. many Japanese planes) fight in slow circles.
• Mouse Aim is the default control mode; it's good for learning. Instructor assist helps prevent stalls.
• Target bombers from above and behind, not from their gunners' firing arcs.
• Sky Odyssey changes bomber survivability by reworking bomber damage models. Bombers are tougher and more distinct depending on engine layout.
• Missiles at top tier: several radar missiles (AIM-7, AIM-120, R-77, PL-12, AAM-4, MICA-EM) were updated in Sky Odyssey. Use terrain and notch radar (fly perpendicular to the missile) to evade.

Naval Battles

• Destroyers and cruisers fight at range with guns; learn to lead shots against moving targets.
• Torpedoes win fights against bigger ships; keep an eye on enemy launchers.
• Capture zones and objectives matter more than raw damage.
• Crew management: repair and fire extinguishing are key; don't sail beam-on into multiple enemies.

Progression Tips

• Research modifications in order: survival and repair items (FPE, parts) first, then firepower upgrades.
• Don't rush to top tier. Top-tier matches are the hardest and most expensive. Mid tiers (roughly Rank III–V) are often the most fun.
• Use your best BR bracket for grinding. If a vehicle performs well, keep it in rotation even after researching past it.
• Crew training: Expert and Ace qualifications are expensive; buy them for vehicles you actually play.
• Events and the Battle Pass give free vehicles, decals and currency. Complete daily challenges.

Settings and Controls

Setting | Why

Graphics: lower grass and foliage | Easier to spot enemies (if allowed at your chosen preset)

Target markers off in RB | Standard in Realistic

Hit camera on | See what your shots did

Mouse Aim (air) | Best for beginners; switch to Instructor-off or Simulator control later

Keybind tip: bind a key to toggle between the third-person and gunner sight in tanks and use the binoculars for spotting. Learn the range/scope zoom keys.

Sky Odyssey UI note: the preset limit for lineups went from 18 to 25, and there's a redesigned preset dropdown and optional historical (NATO/USSR) marker styles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Grinding multiple nations at once before you understand the game.
• Driving straight at enemies with your side exposed.
• Going top tier stock (without modifications) — you'll be massively outclassed.
• Bringing one vehicle to Ground RB — you'll lose your spawn quickly.
• Ignoring spotting: use binoculars and scouting (on vehicles that can scout).
• Abandoning a vehicle to deny kills: as of Sky Odyssey, bailing out awards a half-value kill to the nearest enemy (or whoever fired the nearest munition).
• Chasing planes in a tank. Get cover when air strikes show up.

Advanced Tips

• Use the Protection Analysis tool to learn which enemy vehicles have weak spots against your ammo.
• Hunt SPAAs with aircraft only when you know where they are.
• Learn map lanes: most maps have predictable sniping positions and flanking routes.
• Use smokes and repositioning. Fire, then move; don't stay in the same spot after revealing yourself.
• Top-tier jets: track your altitude and missile warnings; your radar is your main awareness tool.
• Play in a squadron for squadron vehicles and coordinated play.

FAQ

What's the latest War Thunder update? "Sky Odyssey" (2.59), released September 16, 2026, with the Greek aircraft/ground line for Israel, Arjun Mk 1, Harimau, MiG-35, F-102A, the Darwin Hill map, and bomber damage model changes. Hotfixes (2.59.0.x) followed through late September.

What nation should I start with? USA, Germany or USSR are the most beginner-friendly for ground; the USA and Japan are forgiving for air. Pick what you enjoy most; you'll be playing it for a long time.

Is War Thunder pay-to-win? Premium vehicles and Premium Accounts speed up progression but don't unlock anything unavailable to free players except some specific premium/event vehicles. Skill and knowledge matter more.

Why do I keep facing higher-BR tanks? Matchmaking puts you in games up to 1.0 BR above your lineup's highest vehicle.

How do I earn Golden Eagles for free? Mostly through events, the Battle Pass, and occasional promotions.

What's the difference between Arcade and Realistic? Arcade is faster with markers and simplified mechanics; Realistic removes enemy markers, uses more realistic flight/ballistics, and pays better.

Sources

• War Thunder — Meet the Sky Odyssey Major Update
• War Thunder — Updates changelog
• War Thunder Forum — Dev Server opening with Sky Odyssey
• IDC Games — Sky Odyssey reveal