War Thunder, Gaijin Entertainment’s popular free-to-play vehicular combat game, offers a staggering array of aircraft spanning numerous nations and eras. The thrill of progressing through the ranks and unlocking increasingly powerful planes is a core part of the game’s appeal. However, navigating the research system and efficiently acquiring new aircraft can be a daunting task, especially for new players. This comprehensive guide will provide you with the knowledge and strategies necessary to unlock better planes faster and dominate the skies.
Understanding War Thunder’s Progression System
War Thunder’s progression system is centered around Research Points (RP) and Silver Lions (SL). RP is used to research new vehicles and modifications, while SL is the in-game currency required to purchase vehicles, modifications, and crew training. The game is structured around tech trees, which are organized by nation and vehicle type (aircraft, tanks, ships). To unlock a specific plane, you must first research the vehicles preceding it in the tech tree.
Each nation has its own unique tech tree, showcasing the historical development of its military aviation. These trees are further divided into tiers, representing the increasing technological sophistication of the aircraft. Progressing to higher tiers generally requires more RP and SL.
Research Points (RP) Explained
RP is the lifeblood of your progression. It’s earned by participating in battles, completing daily tasks and special events, and through the use of boosters. The amount of RP earned per battle is influenced by several factors, including your activity level (time spent in combat, damage inflicted, kills achieved), the type of vehicle you’re using, and whether you have a premium account or premium vehicle.
Silver Lions (SL) Deciphered
SL is equally crucial. You need it not only to buy planes but also to repair them after battles, purchase ammunition, and train your crew. SL is earned in battles, similar to RP, but can also be acquired through selling items on the War Thunder Market, completing wagers, and through daily login rewards. Effective SL management is essential for sustainable progression.
Optimizing Your Research and Earning Strategies
The key to unlocking better planes quickly lies in maximizing your RP and SL earnings. Here are several strategies to help you achieve this.
Maximize Your Battle Activity
This might seem obvious, but consistently high activity in battles is the single most effective way to boost your RP and SL gains. Focus on staying engaged in combat, actively seeking out enemy targets, and supporting your team. The more damage you inflict and the more objectives you complete, the greater your rewards.
Staying alive longer also significantly increases your RP earnings. A dead plane contributes nothing. Practice defensive flying techniques, learn to evade enemy fire, and prioritize survival alongside offensive maneuvers. Remember that assisting allies with cover fire or spotting enemies can also contribute to your activity score.
Leveraging Premium Account and Vehicles
Investing in a premium account or premium vehicles can dramatically accelerate your progress. Premium accounts grant a significant bonus to both RP and SL earnings, typically around 50-100%. This bonus applies to every battle you play, making it a consistently beneficial investment, especially if you play War Thunder regularly.
Premium vehicles, often unique or rare planes, also offer increased RP and SL multipliers. Furthermore, they are often fully upgraded, allowing you to jump directly into battles without spending RP on modifications. Some premium vehicles are exceptionally powerful and can provide a competitive edge, further boosting your earnings. Choose premium vehicles that suit your playstyle and the nations you enjoy playing.
Strategic Use of Boosters and Wagers
War Thunder provides various boosters and wagers that can temporarily increase your RP and SL gains. Boosters, once activated, provide a percentage bonus to RP or SL earnings for a set number of battles or a specific duration. Wagers are challenges that reward you with SL for completing specific tasks in battles, such as achieving a certain number of kills or winning a series of matches.
Use boosters strategically. Activate them when you know you’ll have time for several productive battles, maximizing their impact. Wagers can be a bit more challenging, as their success depends on your skill and the match’s outcome. Choose wagers that align with your strengths and the vehicles you enjoy playing.
Completing Daily Tasks and Special Events
War Thunder features daily tasks and special events that offer additional RP and SL rewards. Daily tasks are relatively simple objectives that can be completed in any game mode. Special events, often tied to historical anniversaries or in-game promotions, provide more substantial rewards for completing specific challenges.
Make it a habit to check the daily tasks and ongoing events each day. Completing these tasks can provide a steady stream of bonus RP and SL, contributing significantly to your overall progress. The rewards from special events can sometimes be substantial, offering unique vehicles or large amounts of currency.
Focus on a Specific Tech Tree
While it might be tempting to dabble in multiple nations and vehicle types, focusing your efforts on a single tech tree can be more efficient. Spreading your RP across multiple trees dilutes your progress, slowing down your advancement in any one area.
Choose a nation and vehicle type that aligns with your interests and playstyle. Concentrate on researching the vehicles within that tree, progressing steadily towards your desired aircraft. Once you’ve reached your goal, you can then consider branching out to other nations or vehicle types.
Mastering the Art of Effective Research
Beyond maximizing your earnings, understanding how the research system works is crucial for efficient progress. Here are some key aspects to consider.
Understanding Research Efficiency
Vehicles are most efficient at researching vehicles in their own tier or one tier above or below. Researching vehicles that are significantly higher or lower in tier than the vehicle you are using will result in a reduced RP gain. For example, using a Tier I plane to research a Tier V plane will be incredibly slow and inefficient.
Always aim to use vehicles that are within the optimal research range of the vehicle you’re trying to unlock. This will maximize your RP gains and speed up your progress. The game displays a research efficiency penalty if you are outside of this range.
Prioritizing Key Modifications
Modifications significantly improve the performance of your aircraft. Some modifications, such as engine upgrades or improved armament, can have a dramatic impact on your plane’s capabilities. Prioritize researching these key modifications to enhance your aircraft’s performance and increase your chances of success in battles.
Focus on modifications that address your plane’s weaknesses or enhance its strengths. For example, if your plane is slow, prioritize engine upgrades. If its armament is weak, focus on researching better cannons or machine guns.
Crew Training and Expertise
Your crew plays a vital role in the performance of your aircraft. A well-trained crew can significantly improve your plane’s maneuverability, gunnery accuracy, and repair speed. Invest in crew training and expertise to maximize the effectiveness of your aircraft.
Focus on training skills that are relevant to your aircraft’s role. For fighter pilots, skills like G-tolerance, stamina, and keen vision are crucial. For bomber crews, skills like bomb accuracy and gunner accuracy are more important.
Choosing the Right Game Mode
War Thunder offers three primary game modes: Arcade Battles (AB), Realistic Battles (RB), and Simulator Battles (SB). Each mode offers a different gameplay experience and different RP and SL rewards.
Arcade Battles are the most accessible mode, featuring simplified flight models and respawns. Realistic Battles offer a more realistic flight experience with limited respawns and more complex flight controls. Simulator Battles provide the most immersive experience, with first-person view and realistic flight physics.
Generally, Realistic Battles offer the best balance of RP and SL rewards for skilled players. Arcade Battles can be good for quickly earning small amounts of RP and SL, while Simulator Battles are best suited for experienced players seeking a challenging and immersive experience.
Tips for Specific Aircraft Types
Different aircraft types require different playstyles and strategies. Here are some tips for maximizing your performance with different types of planes.
Fighters
Fighters are the primary combat aircraft in War Thunder. They are designed to engage and destroy enemy aircraft. To be successful in a fighter, you need to be skilled at dogfighting, energy management, and target selection.
Focus on maintaining your energy advantage. Use your speed and altitude to outmaneuver your opponents and position yourself for attack. Avoid getting drawn into prolonged turn fights, as this can deplete your energy and make you vulnerable.
Bombers
Bombers are designed to destroy ground targets and ships. They are typically slower and less maneuverable than fighters, making them vulnerable to enemy interceptors. To be successful in a bomber, you need to fly strategically and work with your team.
Fly at high altitudes to avoid enemy fighters. Coordinate with your team to provide fighter cover for your bombers. Prioritize key targets, such as bases and airfields, to maximize your impact on the battle.
Attackers
Attackers are versatile aircraft that can be used to engage ground targets and enemy aircraft. They are typically faster and more maneuverable than bombers, but less agile than fighters. To be successful in an attacker, you need to be adaptable and able to switch between different roles as needed.
Use your speed and maneuverability to evade enemy fighters. Focus on attacking ground targets that are threatening your team. Provide air support for your team by engaging enemy aircraft when necessary.
Conclusion: The Skies Await
Unlocking better planes in War Thunder is a journey that requires dedication, strategic thinking, and a good understanding of the game’s mechanics. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can accelerate your progress, maximize your earnings, and ultimately dominate the skies with the aircraft of your dreams. Remember to stay active in battles, leverage premium accounts and vehicles, complete daily tasks and special events, and focus on a specific tech tree. With patience and persistence, you’ll be soaring to new heights in no time. Good luck, and happy flying!
What are the primary ways to research new planes in War Thunder?
The two main currencies for unlocking new planes in War Thunder are Research Points (RP) and Silver Lions (SL). Research Points are earned by playing battles in vehicles within the same nation and are used to unlock new vehicles and modifications. Higher-tier vehicles generally require more RP to unlock, so efficient gameplay and the use of premium vehicles or accounts can significantly accelerate the process.
Silver Lions are used to purchase the unlocked vehicles and modules, as well as for crew training and repairing vehicles. SL are earned through combat performance, completing daily tasks, and participating in events. Managing your SL balance is crucial, as frequently purchasing and crewing new vehicles without a consistent income stream can lead to financial constraints.
How do premium vehicles and premium accounts impact plane research?
Premium vehicles offer a significant bonus to both Research Points and Silver Lions earned in battles. These vehicles typically feature unique characteristics or historical significance, providing a different gameplay experience while boosting your progress. They are purchased with Golden Eagles (GE), War Thunder’s premium currency, and can drastically reduce the time required to unlock desired aircraft.
Premium accounts provide a flat bonus to both RP and SL earned in all battles, regardless of the vehicle used. This bonus applies across all nations and game modes, making it a versatile option for players who enjoy playing a variety of vehicles. Combining a premium account with premium vehicles can result in exceptionally fast research and resource accumulation.
What is the role of modifications in improving a plane’s performance and research?
Unlocking modifications for your planes is essential for improving their performance in combat. Modifications can enhance various aspects, such as engine power, maneuverability, firepower, and survivability. Investing RP into researching these upgrades is a critical step in maximizing the effectiveness of your aircraft.
Furthermore, some modifications offer a small bonus to RP gain when using that specific aircraft. While this bonus is not significant on its own, it can contribute to overall research efficiency, especially for vehicles you frequently use. Prioritizing performance-enhancing modifications over those offering only minor RP boosts is generally recommended.
How does crew skill affect a plane’s capabilities and performance?
Crew skills play a crucial role in enhancing the performance of your planes in War Thunder. Skilled crews improve various aspects, such as piloting proficiency, gunnery accuracy, aircraft maintenance speed, and visibility. Investing crew points into relevant skills can significantly impact your combat effectiveness.
Each plane has a dedicated crew, and their skills are leveled up independently. Focusing on skills that directly benefit the plane’s role, such as pilot vitality for survivability or weapon maintenance for improved accuracy, is a strategic approach. Crew training costs Silver Lions, so managing your SL balance and prioritizing key skills is important.
What strategies can players use to maximize RP gains during battles?
Actively participating in combat and achieving high scores is the most effective way to earn RP in battles. Focusing on objectives, destroying enemy vehicles, and assisting teammates contribute significantly to your overall score and, consequently, your RP reward. Avoiding unnecessary risks and playing strategically to survive longer battles will also increase your earnings.
Utilizing boosters and orders can further amplify your RP gains. Boosters, obtained through daily rewards or purchased with Golden Eagles, provide a temporary bonus to RP earned. Orders, also obtained through daily rewards, offer specific objectives that, when completed, grant bonus RP. Combining these with efficient gameplay can substantially accelerate your research progress.
How does the research tree structure impact plane progression?
The research tree in War Thunder is structured to guide players through the development of each nation’s aviation technology. Planes are organized in tiers, representing their historical period and technological advancement. Unlocking higher-tier planes requires researching a sufficient number of planes in the preceding tiers.
Understanding the research tree allows players to plan their progression strategically. Focusing on specific branches that lead to desired aircraft and efficiently researching the required number of preceding vehicles can optimize the unlocking process. Ignoring unnecessary branches and prioritizing key aircraft minimizes wasted effort and accelerates progress towards desired goals.
What are Warbond shop items and how do they aid in unlocking planes?
Warbonds are a special currency earned by completing daily battle tasks. Accumulating sufficient Warbonds allows players to purchase various items from the Warbond shop, including premium vehicles, boosters, decorations, and supply boxes. The shop’s inventory rotates monthly, offering different rewards each time.
Premium vehicles acquired through the Warbond shop can significantly accelerate plane research, similar to premium vehicles purchased with Golden Eagles. These vehicles provide increased RP and SL gains, making them a valuable asset for unlocking new aircraft. Regularly completing daily tasks and utilizing Warbonds strategically can provide a steady stream of useful rewards.