I have put together some tips for new pilots, people who want to learn flying and bombing, why, because I want competition I want to see people enjoy flying, as well as tanking and being on the ground, mainly I want to stop seeing planes kamikaze unintentionally…
Until Gaijin writes their own guide this should help!
I play on console but might help PC players too:
Basic Controls / Options:
The default Mouse Pointer setting is not great for new players and I’ll explain why: Less maneuverability, less able to dogfight and you have no rudder, elevators, airlerons mapped by default.
Suggested:
Select Screen Joystick Mode, this is selectable in Game Options.
Controls, on PS5 (sorry PC players try map my control to yours, if you like?)
I will go though the mapping below, but first I noticed alot of feedback on certain planes may not be justified.
First mapping:
Pointer Control - Clear mapping, you don’t want it.
Look Around R3 L stick - it is very important whilst flying to see around cockpit without looking left and rolling left… the dafault option does exactly that, my mapping allows me to see anywhere, without changing plane direction.
Zoom - L2
Guns / Cannons / Rockets -Not going to cover cannons and Mgs, it is your preference, but reccomend eqch type can fire separately to each other, I’ll explain why later.
Airlerons - R
Elevator - R (inverted axis under axis setup)
Rudder - L
Throttle - L3 + L (L3 Modifier) - for my throttle it is also on my rudder L stick, but sometimes I want to use rudder without affecting throttle so I added modifier to stop using rudder and throttling down for example)
Gear (triple tap D pad down) - used very rarely
Extend flaps - D Pad down (hold and release on button set up)
Raise flaps - D pad down fast press - the reason I have to use a modifier, is on console if you selct dpad up you cannot use your commo rose to request targets etc)
Air Brakes - Triangle Double tap - but seems like these were removed from our planes, SBD3, Stuka etc
These are my controls and you can chose your own the freelook is no longer on same stick and pitch and roll, big reason I did this, also the dpad up and right in the future will conflict with other mappings.
Spawning:
Alot of planes start at reasonably high speed, approx 350 up to 450, the throttle is usually down at 70pct though, bear with me…
New players, do not just continue towards target without reducing your speed! Alot of planes have compression, or controls stiffening over certain speeds, usually over 450-500, depending on the plane.
Some planes vary in responsiveness, my reccomendation is to fly that plane in practice mode, my other reccomendation is to Google that plane model number ie. BF109 G6 Warthunder, when you click on the wiki page, scroll down and see flap limits, these are critical and mean that if you are going over that speed, even if trying to pull up they will very unlikely save you.
I usually roll to the left and pitch the plane to bleed off some of the spawn speed, usually 300-350, depending on planes. I will try and accelerate without diving until last minute, also not a steep dive, remember limits and compression!
I cannot stress how important knowing individual planes limits is, it makes a massive difference! For example:
The FW190 fighters combat flaps won’t rip till 700, which is very difficult to even reach, however if you deploy them as you fly normally, unless straight and level they significantly improve stability of the plane! (This plane has electronic assisted elevators, airlerons, hence the ease of rolling)
The spitfire, has Very Low speed, 200 so so not deploy them, your planes is already able
Yak is similar, you don’t need to deploy flaps unless below limit then of course they help! The different rule applies for BF110, 109, 410 all planes, use Warthunder Wiki!
Gunning tips:
Some planes have armour, P47, IL2 but before people cry and say OP, here are some tips below:
Use mgs on any plane at further range (so long as getting hit indicator doesn’t really matter), always lead the target, that doesn’t necessarily mean the indicator is accurate, you may need to shoot ahead… there are many experts in this game who can pilot snipes, take out key things like engines, aim only for wings, these are just something you can learn over time.
Cannons - These are not broken in-game, it just varies on the cannon used, but the basic advice I will give is save cannon fire until enemy planes are at the very least filling up you whole gun reticle, if you shoot cannons close and are patient you will see results! (Some cannons have HE, but if you imaging they have significant damage drop off, unless 200-250 meters maximum you will do alot better.
There are different calibre cannons in game, Moscow has lowest caliber for example, but Normandy or Berlin planes will be more powerful, for example IL2 in Moscow, previously I would complain and say it was OP, emptied my guns and it was still flying! Now I wait, I focus on one area and use cannons only when very close to enemy planes, I see IL2s go down much quicker now, but if you fly one and look at wiki you can see why they are so tough… there is armour plating everywhere!
If this post is helpful, I might add more tips, I know it’s long, but think it might help…
Other things, some planes engines cut out when pulling negative G A20 for example, I thought it was a bug until I ready this was common, spitfire has similar traits…
There are many more expert pilots, but I feel these tips will do for now, please please don’t derail this with kamikaze is best posts, that is up to you, but I want people to understand how to fly, learn to actually fly not crash!
I am happy to talk any new pilots through, just add me PSN, in game name same: WidowMakeruk73
We can talk over in game voice chat / discord if PC…