The technology of war has changed dramatically throughout history, from spears and clubs to fighter jets and battleships. War Thunder captures the awesome diversity, power, and complexity of many of these weapons of war. With numerous nations and tech trees to choose from, it can be hard for a beginner to know where to start.
Though one can always just choose to use whatever vehicles they find coolest or most aesthetically pleasing, many beginners will naturally wonder what starting nations are actually the best. Every nation in the game brings something unique to the battlefield, but some of their offerings are objectively better than others, especially for new players. Here are the best starter nations for players new to War Thunder.
America And Germany
The U.S.A. is an excellent nation for beginners to start with. America has been steadily growing with each update, and some players shy away from it due to its extensive aviation, ground, and naval tech trees, but it's an excellent all-around nation, not lacking in any significant area. It also boasts a strong helicopter tree, for players looking interested in that area of the game. The grind is a little longer due to its large trees, but players will always have fallback vehicles if something goes wrong with their main.
Germany has some of the best early ground and aviation vehicles, so players still working their way through the lower ranks and building up their tech trees in these areas won't be unnecessarily punished simply for being new. The nation's naval presence isn't as strong, however, so new players won't be winning many German naval victories without using some mods.
Germany's mid-tier vehicles are powerful and have some interesting playstyles that make this nation one of the most fun to learn. War Thunder is tough in ways that even some of the toughest shooters aren't, so whatever players can do to help keep themselves motivated will help. The only significant issue with Germany is their late-game aviation, which is weaker than some nations, so players looking to focus on that area in the end-game may be better served elsewhere.
China And Diversifying
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China has some of the most underrated tech trees in the game. Not only are they stronger than they are credited with, but they also allow the player to experience vehicles and mechanics from other nations, increasing the player's knowledge of the game overall and seeing some of its coolest skins. China's top-tier isn't the best, but that shouldn't be beginners' concern anyway. China's current lack of ships and helicopters is an obvious downside for players interested in focusing on those areas, but the nation is otherwise well-suited for beginners.
In some ways it's advantageous to dedicate oneself to a single nation as a new player in War Thunder, thoroughly learning the strengths and weaknesses of its military and mastering its vehicles, but that isn't the only option. Jumping back and forth between different nations won't give the player as deep an understanding of any individual starter nation, but it will provide beginners with a more well-rounded understanding of army compositions and strategies overall, which can be useful in itself.
War Thunder is available for PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.