War Thunder FAQ: Things People Actually Google

Add them as friends in the Gaijin network / in-game friends list, then create or join a squad from the hangar before queuing.

You generally need to be in a squad and queue the same mode. Big BR gaps can still make matchmaking awkward — bring lineups that are not worlds apart.

Voice chat is optional; many squads use Discord. Bind a squad marker / ping so you can call targets without a speech.

Premium account boosts research and Silver Lions income. It is the most straightforward “play more, progress faster” purchase if you already enjoy the game.

It does not fix a bad lineup or bad habits. A premium account on a bankrupt top-tier death spiral still feels bad — see the Silver Lions guide.

Premium vehicles are different from premium account time. A premium tank/plane can help grind a nation; premium account helps everything you play.

There is no legit free Golden Eagles generator. Sites and videos promising free GE want your login or malware.

Official GE comes from the Gaijin store, trusted platform stores, and official events / rewards — not random “drop your password” bots.

If you already typed your password into a fake site, change it everywhere and contact support (see the ban / account guide).

Matchmaking looks at your lineup’s top battle rating. A single higher vehicle can pull the whole lineup up.

Compression means many brackets feel crowded — especially near popular ranks. That is a balance/matchmaker reality, not a personal curse.

Use a tighter BR spread (see the lineup guide + BR spread tool). Sometimes the fix is leaving one research project out of the lineup until you are ready.

Nickname changes are handled through official Gaijin account / store options and usually cost GE or follow a cooldown rule that can change over time.

Search the current official FAQ for “change nickname” rather than trusting a three-year-old screenshot on Reddit.

Offensive names can get forced changes or punishments — do not test that policy.

Update GPU drivers, cap FPS to something stable, and turn off expensive extras first (SSR, heavy AA, dense clouds, extreme vegetation) before you touch resolution as a last resort.

Play in Fullscreen (not always Borderless) if you are chasing frames. Close browser-heavy overlays if they hitch the game.

Wired Ethernet beats bad Wi-Fi for RB. Packet loss feels like “the game is broken” even when FPS is fine.

Verify game files in your launcher if the client started crashing after an update.

An SSD is strongly recommended. War Thunder’s client is large and hitchy on slow HDDs, especially during map loads and asset streaming.

Exact download size changes with updates — check your launcher before you wipe a drive to “make space.”

You can mute / report players through the in-game systems. Use reports for cheats and serious misconduct; do not spam reports as a salt button.

Typing slurs or threats in chat is one of the fastest ways to turn a normal evening into an Account ticket (see ban appeal guide).

“Best nation for beginners?” — pick a tree you care about. USSR / USA / Germany are popular because of vehicle variety and guides online, not because other nations are fake.

“Why is repair so expensive?” — economy balancing. Use cheaper lineups when broke; tools on this site help you estimate the damage.

“Should I play Arcade or Realistic?” — Arcade is more forgiving for learning buttons. Realistic is what most long-term ground/air grind culture assumes. Try both.

“How long to grind a tree?” — depends on premium, skill, and how often you play. The RP calculator is for your averages, not influencer montages.

Client news / patch notes, the official War Thunder Wiki, the official forum, and Gaijin support beat random screenshot advice.

WT Charts is an unofficial fan site. We translate common searches into practical checklists — we do not replace official support.