War Thunder throws a lot at new players. This guide gets you into good battles quickly and steers you away from the most common early mistakes.
1. Start in Arcade Battles
There are three modes. Arcade Battles (AB) is the forgiving one: simplified physics, aiming aids, respawns and lead indicators. Realistic Battles (RB) is where most veterans play, with real ballistics and few markers. Simulator Battles (SB) is the hardest, with cockpit views and full realism. Learn in Arcade, then graduate to Realistic when you are comfortable.
2. Pick a beginner-friendly nation
The USA and the USSR are the standard first choices — deep, forgiving low-tier lineups and endless community guides. Germany is strong too, but faces tougher matchmaking in places. Whatever you pick, focus on one nation at first rather than spreading thin.
3. Understand Battle Rating
Every vehicle has a Battle Rating (BR) that decides who you fight. Low BR (roughly 1.0-3.0) is the best place to learn: simpler mechanics, no complex missiles or thermals, and cheaper mistakes. Your lineup's BR is what matchmaking uses, so avoid dragging a single high-BR vehicle into an otherwise low-BR lineup.
4. Mind the economy
You earn Research Points (RP) to unlock vehicles and modifications, and Silver Lions (SL) to buy and repair them. Losing expensive vehicles you can't afford to repair can put you in the red, so at low tiers repair costs are gentle — another reason to learn there. Golden Eagles (GE) are the premium currency; you never need to spend real money to progress, only to speed things up.
5. Build a lineup, not a single vehicle
A strong "pick" in War Thunder is a full lineup at one BR — several vehicles plus an anti-air and a plane for close support — so you can keep respawning. That matters far more than any single "best" tank.