War Thunder Ground Battles: Choosing Ammunition and Aiming

Match the shell to the target

War Thunder models ammunition types with different behavior. Armor-piercing rounds defeat armor through penetration and internal damage; high-explosive shells rely on blast and work best against lightly protected vehicles or exposed components. Vehicles may also use specialized ammunition such as APCR, APDS, HEAT, or APFSDS, each with distinct penetration, angle behavior, and post-penetration effects. Availability depends on vehicle and modifications.

Do not assume the shell with the largest penetration figure is always best. Check vehicle protection analysis and ammunition details, then consider armor angle, distance, target layout, and chance to hit. Some rounds penetrate well but create a narrower damage path; others produce more fragments or perform differently against sloped armor.

Situation	What to consider	Practical response
Heavily armored front	Thickness, angle, range	Aim for a viable weak area or reposition
Light vehicle	Armor and explosive effect	A suitable HE round may work
Sloped armor	Impact angle and shell behavior	Do not rely on a raw penetration figure
Long range	Shell velocity and drop	Use the rangefinder and practice adjustment
Protected ammunition	Internal layout and crew	Aim to disable modules or crew

Learn the protection profile

Use in-game protection analysis to examine an opponent’s armor from different angles with your current shell. It can reveal where a shot may penetrate and what lies behind the armor. It is a planning aid, not a promise: range, movement, terrain, and impact angle change outcomes.

Avoid automatically firing at the strongest part of a tank’s front. Consider the lower front plate, turret ring, side armor, or another exposed area only when that vehicle’s layout makes it viable. A weak-spot guide for one variant may not apply to another; verify the name and configuration.

Aim for a useful effect

A penetrating shot can leave the opponent operational if it passes through without hitting crew or critical modules. The X-ray view shows crew and components. In battle, decide whether to disable the gun, damage the engine or transmission, or hit crew. If the enemy is aiming at you, disabling the gun may create time to reposition; if the target is unaware, a shot through crew or ammunition may finish the engagement.

A non-penetrating hit can still damage external modules, tracks, or barrels depending on shell and location. Use that moment to change angle, retreat, or coordinate instead of repeating the same shot against an impenetrable surface.

Manage ammunition and range

Carrying less ammunition can reduce rounds stored in vulnerable areas on many vehicles, but stowage behavior depends on vehicle design and game mechanics. Review the X-ray layout and test changes in the hangar. Carry enough for a typical match while understanding your vehicle’s storage; do not copy a count from another model.

At distance, rangefinding can help with elevation, and the gunsight provides vehicle-specific information. Practice on a test drive to learn shell velocity, drop, reload time, and sight behavior. Stabilizers, crew skills, and modifications affect how quickly you can make an accurate shot.

Build a repeatable firing routine

Before firing, identify the target variant, choose the best available shell, estimate angle and range, and decide what component to hit. After a hit, inspect the damage indicator and decide whether to follow up or reposition. If a shell repeatedly fails, change the angle or target point rather than assuming aim alone will fix it.

Use protection analysis and test drives to learn common opponents. The goal is not memorizing one universal weak spot, but understanding why armor and ammunition interact. That knowledge improves shot selection across vehicles, maps, and battle situations.

Diagnose a failed shot

When a hit does not work as expected, check the hit camera or damage indicator. Was the shell stopped by armor, did it penetrate but miss crew, or did a component absorb the effect? Each outcome suggests a different response. More penetration is useful only if the round can reach a vulnerable area; an angle change or a follow-up shot at a module may be better.

Practice several shell types for your current vehicle in a test drive. Learn which ammunition you can research, how its velocity compares, and whether it suits close or long engagements. Do not carry only specialized rounds if they leave you helpless against other targets. A balanced selection, adjusted for the vehicle’s storage layout, gives you options without overloading the rack.