Right from the off, we’re going to assume you’ve heard of War Thunder. If you like your games with intense realism, endless tactical possibilities, and the ability to command a plethora of ships, planes, and vehicles, War Thunder will no doubt already be on your radar.
However, the adherence to realism and attention to detail found in War Thunder’s endless campaigns may have scared you off – perhaps you’re fearing an insurmountable learning curve? Don’t worry, though, there’s a reason hundreds of thousands of players return to War Thunder each day – once you’ve figured out the basics, it’s a bountiful playground filled with all your war gaming desires.
To put you further at ease, we’ve compiled a few beginner tips, things we wished we knew before we started playing, and advice to bear in mind as you launch into War Thunder for the first time.
Practice and patience
War Thunder is HUGE. If you’re ever going to get to grips with it and fight like a pro, you need to be prepared for the sheer scale of the game. One quick tutorial will not give you the ability to be an in-game god, you’ll need to combine hours of play with an inquiring mind. For many fans, this is the best part of the experience – the fact that the game offers so much choice and opportunities for experimentation in every detail of every battle. So sitting back and giving yourself the time and space to explore your options will make for a much more rewarding experience.
When you first dive in, try to explore all the menus, click around, and learn from every experience – be it a win or a loss. Fortunately, War Thunder doesn’t hold back in the early stages of the game, so you won’t need to rush through to the mid-game to enjoy what’s on offer. Right from the start, you’ll have access to a huge fleet of vehicles, and the first ten games you play with a tank or plane won’t incur repair costs, so take it slow and be sure not to miss anything as you learn.
Don’t sleep on the tutorials either, they offer valuable insight into the game’s basic mechanics, allowing you to expand your knowledge base more thoroughly. Once you’ve got those basics down, you’ll be far better equipped to take on some of the more complex ideas in the game.
Method and machines
Remember that in your early games, function always trumps form. In other words, what you’re doing may not look choreographed on the battlefield – it might even look clumsy – but getting through enemy lines and claiming victory is far more important. Sure, your pals might be doing loopy acrobatics in a noble warplane and you’re just gunning for your life, but they didn’t get there by messing around. Yes, manoeuvres have their uses in War Thunder, but take things one step at a time. While the battle is raging, keep your eye on the enemy. And in training, be sure to learn the basics before you attempt any fancy showboating.
The best thing you can do before each battle is to become acquainted with your tools. Whether it be a plane or a tank, your vehicle is an extension of you for as long as you’re inside it, so learn its quirks and attributes in order to maximise its capabilities. If you’ve practised on one type of plane and then switch to another without considering its stats, your skills could be rendered worthless and you could easily hand victory to the enemy.
This applies to all vehicles but for example, tanks that fall into the ‘light and fast’ category are going to be better for racing to objectives and performing nimble assaults. If yours is a heavy, beefy tank with thick armour, you’ll want to be prepared for slow movement and to act as a bullet sponge while your teammates work around you at speed.
Coins and countries
One of the more practical elements of the game is the currency you’ll use to purchase vehicles and upgrades. The system is pretty simple: Golden Eagles can be purchased with real-world money and used for upgrading your vehicle storage, training crews, and joining premium matches. Silver Lions are generated in-game by winning battles, however, and can be used to buy new vehicles, expand slots for your crew, or for repairs. Silver Lions can also be purchased with Golden Eagles. Don’t lose sight of your Silver Lions, as they will be absolutely crucial to the longevity of your game, especially if you get your butt handed to you in battle.
At some point, you’ll want to pick a country, and while many players choose to stay loyal to their chosen nation, you can change this decision – so don’t panic. It benefits you as a new player to choose carefully though, as each country has its own specialities and tech trees that you will jump straight onto when you start. The longer you stay on your tree the more you’ll learn.
For example, if you think you’ll stick with planes, the USA might have better tech for you to commit to, while Germany can be quite tank-heavy. Equally, if you’re already invested in the world of war vehicles, you might have a nationality that suits your tastes or produces some of your favourite machines.
The biggest tip for new players of War Thunder is to take your time and read everything you can. Utilise online communities and play with friends, learn from every battle, and try your hand at different approaches until you find your niche. There is no one set way to play War Thunder, so download it today and start playing it your way.
