Before choosing a vehicle in War Thunder, make sure the game runs on your platform and set up the controls for the device you will use. Only then should you compare ground vehicles by role, rank, Battle Rating, and battle mode. This order avoids treating a Premium vehicle, a high-rank machine, or a particular nation as an automatic beginner choice.
Check your platform and PC requirements
On PC, the Steam page lists 64-bit Windows 10, a 2.2 GHz dual-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, a DirectX 11-compatible graphics card, a broadband connection, and at least 70 GB of free space. The recommended configuration requires 64-bit Windows 10/11, an Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 3600 or higher, 16 GB of RAM, and 95 GB of available space.
The minimum and recommended figures describe different compatibility levels. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee comfortable performance in every situation. If your machine falls between both configurations, keep some free-space headroom and check how the game behaves before drawing conclusions about your controls or vehicle choice.
War Thunder is listed on Windows, Linux, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Steam specifies that these platforms can play together on the same server. The page does not detail exact feature parity between every version, so rely on the advertised compatibility without assuming that all options are identical everywhere.
French is available for the interface, full audio, and subtitles. Select the language you intend to use before looking for control names; the labels will then match what appears in the game.
Match the controls to your device
Choose the device you will use while learning: keyboard, controller, or joystick. Then open the Controls page on the official wiki and identify the axes and sensitivity settings that apply to your hardware. The documentation covers controller and joystick axis configuration, so a profile designed for one device should not be copied blindly to another.
Change one setting at a time and check the result before moving on. This makes each adjustment traceable, especially if you alternate between several devices.
The documentation also covers propeller pitch, mixture, and radiator axes, along with a guide to Manual Engine Controls. For tanks, automatic transmission is enabled by default. Manual mode gives you control over engine speed, gears, and neutral steering; read the relevant section before using it and do not apply its settings indiscriminately to other controls.
- Identify the device you will use for the session.
- Locate the axes and sensitivity settings on the Controls page.
- Keep automatic tank controls until manual engine control serves a specific need.
- Test one change at a time so you can identify its effect.
Filter the ground vehicle catalog
Once the controls are ready, open the Ground Vehicles catalog. Its filters sort vehicles by country, role, rank, Battle Rating, and battle mode. The listed roles are medium tank, light tank, tank destroyer, SPAA, heavy tank, and ATGM vehicle.
Start with the role you want to learn, then narrow the results by the displayed rank and Battle Rating. This leaves you with a manageable comparison based on visible catalog criteria rather than an unsupported claim about the best starting vehicle.
Check whether each result is marked Regular, Premium, or Squadron. That label identifies the vehicle category; it does not show that the vehicle suits every beginner or automatically accelerates progression. Filtering reduces the number of choices, but it does not remove the learning curve attached to the selected role.
The catalog includes Arcade Battles, Realistic Battles, and Simulator Battles. The available sources do not compare their difficulty, rewards, or progression speed. Choose a mode to try, but keep that choice separate from your assessment of the vehicle itself.
Avoid these first-session shortcuts
- Installing without checking the requirements: 70 GB is the minimum figure, while 95 GB is the recommended amount.
- Copying a universal control profile: the useful settings depend on whether you use a keyboard, controller, or joystick.
- Assuming one nation or role is officially superior: the catalog provides filters, not a ranking of the best starting options.
- Turning battle modes into a difficulty or profitability ranking: their presence in the catalog establishes no such hierarchy.
- Building a complete progression route from these pages: they do not provide a universal order for research, modules, or crew training.
Questions to settle before the first match
What should I check if the controls do not match my device?
Return to the Controls page, identify the device in use, and review the relevant axes or sensitivity settings. Change one setting at a time.
How can I choose a ground vehicle without an official ranking?
Filter first by role, then by country, rank, Battle Rating, and mode in Ground Vehicles. Compare the remaining vehicles and check whether each one is Regular, Premium, or Squadron.
What should be verified before playing?
Confirm the platform, language, device, controls reviewed, vehicle selected, and mode chosen. These checks do not promise a victory; they ensure that the first decision rests on the relevant criteria.
Check access, stabilize the controls, and narrow the ground catalog with precise filters. That sequence gives you a verifiable starting point without imposing a supposedly universal nation, vehicle, or mode.
Also see the War Thunder game page.
