War Thunder Beginner’s Guide: It’s quite a challenge to make it to the top of War Thunder‘s air battle leaderboards. The virtual skies are teeming with skilled pilots who are difficult to keep pace with and nearly impossible to evade. For newcomers to one of the best plane games, the idea of taking on these aerial aces instead of simply dodging them can be daunting. If you prefer ground-based combat, be sure to explore the best tank games.
War Thunder’s Ground Forces game has similar realistic penetration and ballistic mechanics as the air battles, but the latter involves increased speed and maneuverability, making it an entirely different experience.
Moreover, there are no specific pathways that lead to major points of contention, so a battle can quickly turn into a chaotic scene of burning wrecks and bullets. Your objective is to be the one flying the still-intact plane amidst the chaos. This guide will help you achieve that goal.
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Keep it Simple
As a beginner pilot, it’s tempting to think that victory means performing crazy stunts and acrobatics while engaging in aerial combat. But let me tell you, those endless loop-the-loops you’re doing won’t help you or your team. In fact, it’s better to stop doing them altogether.
Although these manoeuvres can be useful in War Thunder, it’s best to keep things simple when starting out as a fighter pilot. Focus on flying straight, mastering your plane, and taking down easy targets. By doing so, you’ll rack up more kills and gain confidence in your abilities. So forget about trying to recreate scenes from Top Gun, and concentrate on building a solid foundation of flying skills.
Just so you know, when you perform a barrel-roll with your plane, it’s actually a technique used to decelerate quickly. It doesn’t give you or your aircraft any special abilities or powers.”
Know Your Airplane Better
To do well in War Thunder, it’s important to know your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t try to be good at everything – instead, focus on what you excel at. For example, if you’re good at maneuvering in tight spaces, go for a nimble turn-fighter. But if you’re better at conserving energy during attacks, opt for a heavy fighter.
To figure out which plane is right for you, spend some time checking out their stats in the hangar between matches. This will help you determine whether you’re more suited for an aerial ballet or sniping from above.
Avoid head-ons
Believe it or not, many pilots get lured into a dangerous head-on confrontation, despite it being an obvious piece of advice to avoid it. But even if you’re skilled enough to dodge a collision, chances are slim that either of you will come out unscathed. So, if you see a plane heading straight towards you, don’t take it as a noble challenge. Act quickly and steer away to save both your lives.
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Fire with Extreme Prejudice
As a pilot in War Thunder, you have to be strategic when using your plane’s limited ammo and long cooldown times. It’s crucial to choose the right moment to fire your guns if you want to survive the entire match. Keep in mind that your plane’s guns are not effective beyond 500 meters, and prolonged firing will decrease accuracy.
To take down enemy fighters, a few quick bursts of your machine guns are usually enough. It’s better to target slower planes and make a solid approach rather than taking a hasty shot. This approach will make it easier to eliminate your targets and prevent you from being stuck in lengthy dogfights.
Boom and Zoom
If you’re a heavy fighter in War Thunder, the boom and zoom tactic should be your go-to strategy. It’s simple: climb to a high altitude, dive on an enemy below you, use the speed gained during the dive to catch up to your target, take them down, and climb back up before losing any more energy.
This tactic is especially effective for heavy fighters that can’t turn-fight. By staying at high altitudes, you’ll avoid getting caught up in dogfights and have more time to select and take out your targets. Just remember, this strategy requires patience and restraint, but it’s lethal when executed properly.
Watch your Six
If you want to survive in War Thunder, being observant is key. It’s not about just being able to shake off an enemy that’s on your tail – it’s about never getting into that situation in the first place. Make sure to constantly check your surroundings, especially above you, so you can spot and avoid any potential threats.
Having good situational awareness will also be useful when you’re on the offensive. If you know where your teammates are, you can rely on them for backup if you find yourself under attack. And keep an eye out for any distracted enemies – they can be easy targets for you to take down.
Master the Split S
Performing a Split S maneuver can come in handy when you’re trying to evade an enemy or attack them. Essentially, this move helps you trade altitude for speed and direction change, allowing you to quickly move in the opposite direction.
To execute the maneuver, simply complete a half-turn to fly upside-down and then perform a half-loop to fly parallel to the ground. This move works best when used on an enemy moving in the opposite direction below you, giving you a perfect opportunity to attack them head-on.
If you’re being tailed, performing a Split S can give you a speed boost and change of direction, potentially allowing you to outmaneuver your pursuer.
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Know Your Enemy
When it comes to understanding your own aircraft, simply reviewing its stats won’t suffice. It’s important to know your own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of other pilots. By taking the time to research troublesome planes, you can identify their weaknesses and gain an advantage in your next encounter. For instance, the He 112’s powerful guns may make it a formidable foe, but its poor turning ability renders it ineffective against biplanes and light fighters.
Use Your Teammates
Even when you’re in the middle of an intense dogfight in a game, you can always find a safe spot by sticking close to your teammates. Although it may not be as noticeable as in the Ground Forces game, moving towards a group of friendly fighters is a quick and easy way to lose any pursuers.
What’s even better is that by helping out your friendly fighters, you can earn some bonus points while you’re at it. Plus, since your opponents are usually distracted by your teammate, you can take them out quickly. It’s always a good idea to stick close to at least one of your teammates too, since you never know when you might need each other.
Farm Ground Targets
If your goal is to climb the ranks and progress through the many planes in War Thunder, taking out the scripted ground units can be an effective strategy. In some matches, winning is determined by the number of ground units left for each side, so going into battle with the intention of targeting AA guns and armored convoys can also benefit your team’s objective.
You can use the points you earn to try out different planes and unlock upgrades, giving you a better understanding of which research path to pursue. Instead of spending countless hours perfecting your piloting skills, you can simply focus on farming with the best plane in the tier and learn from there.
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Conclusion
We hope you found this War Thunder Beginner’s Guide helpful and informative. By following these tips and tricks for air battles, you can improve your gameplay and increase your chances of success. If you enjoyed this guide and would like to explore more game guides, be sure to check out our other resources for more helpful information.
