For those who are new to war thunder tanking
Usaflag.png USA
Early American tanks are a good mixture of mobility and protection. These are the tanks that you will have the hardest time penetrating, especially from the front. This level of protection combined with great mobility makes them a powerful nation when used correctly. The best way to use these tanks is in front line combat and flanking. The ability to quickly move from the front line to the flanks of larger tanks makes early American tanks highly versatile; however, they seem to lack the necessary damage to finish enemies off before having to re-position.
Germanflag.png Germany
Early German tanks are defined by their huge damage potential. As for protection, they have decent front armor but bad side armor--never let the enemy see your side. When these tanks penetrate your armor you will be destroyed in quick order, so when facing them make sure you are angled for the best protection. When playing these tanks, try to get close to or on the flank of an enemy tank to make sure your shot will penetrate. Also, try to aim shots carefully, since your reload time is longer than those of tanks of other nations and you might not get a second shot. Early German tanks can be devastating when they are in the right position, picking off enemies in a single magazine/round. However, they are vulnerable to return fire.
Ussrflag.png USSR
Early USSR tanks are defined by lackluster armor but good gun penetration and good rate of fire. These tanks are easy to penetrate and are destroyed quickly. When playing these tanks try to stay in the second rank or on the flanks. Sniping is also an option with them because the guns fire at relatively high velocities. Remember to seek cover when an enemy starts to shoot at you, as you will not survive many hits. These tanks are powerful weapons in the correct hands, capable of selecting targets of importance and dispatching them in quick order-however, one must be mindful of one's surroundings since the only protection early USSR tanks have is natural cover or distance.
First Match
It is recommended that your first game be Arcade since the hit and penetration indicator reduces the importance of knowing all about the enemy tanks.
The objective of the most games is to capture and control strategic points. These will appear on the map with letters A through D. To capture these points, just enter the circle and remove all enemy tanks from it. The capture of these point results in a nice reward so it is suggested to attempt to capture as many as possible. It is not suggested to just run straight at a point through open areas, as this will likely result in a quick death. When approaching a point, try to use cover and terrain features to conceal your approach as much as possible.
Try to remember that a potential kill is not worth exposing your tank to enemy fire. Try to surprise your enemies by attacking on their flanks, even when sniping. When you must move into an area that an enemy tank is aiming at, remember to pre-angle your armor and aim your weapon to do as much damage as you can with your first shot. This means aiming for driver's view ports and the cheeks of the turret.
The reward at the end of a match is largely determined by whether you have won or lost the match, and the outcome of the match is largely determined by who possesses the capture points. This, coupled with the fact that a point capture carries a higher reward than an enemy kill, means capturing points is a first priority. Remember, getting 5 kills and a loss will result in a smaller reward than 3 kills and a win.
