As a wide-eyed recruit first stepping into the dense forests or sweeping sands of War Thunder, staring down the barrel of an advancing Panther or T-34 seemingly oblivious to your shots pinging harmlessly off thick sloped armor can be demoralizing. You need credits and research points to stand a chance, but early grind progression is actively working against you.
However, certain premium tanks exist specifically to empower newcomers – easing them into core tank mechanics while accelerating grind efficiency to unlock contemporaneous machines. They teach you how to carry games sooner. For those willing to invest in a premium account and tank, the American T14 heavy, German Ru 251 or Russian IS-6 represent fool-proof options to help acclimate total beginners, specifically demonstrating armor angling, speedy flanking, or balancing firepower and protection across shifting Metas.
I’ve played War Thunder off and on since 2013. Between the Air Force, Ground Forces, and Naval trees, I have over 300 vehicles unlocked across five nations. I’ve experienced every BR spread from reserve biplanes to top tier MBTs. Premium tanks enabled my progression during periodic returns to the game. I purchased them to quickly relearn mechanics and settle back into the groove of carrying teams match after match. Their economic booster effects eased the transition immensely while their capabilities compensated for any skill rust.
In this guide, I’ll cover why the T14, Ru 251 and IS-6 make fine additions for genuine newbies struggling through early matchups. I’ll analyze their strengths suited for inexperienced pilots along with playstyle advice. Let’s showcase why these beasts maintain consistently positive K/D ratios after years still dominating their respective Battle Ratings.
Why Invest In a Premium Tank as a Beginner?
Dedicated War Thunder enthusiasts will grind their way up the regular tech trees through blood, sweat, and cannon shells. No shortcuts. Stock vehicles with minimum modules unlocked. Hundreds of matches pitting barely functional machines against fine-tuned killers. This baptism by fire breeds veterans wise to each vehicle’s nuances necessary for competency across Battle Ratings. They know when and how to leverage their tank’s specific arrangement of firepower, mobility, and protection.
Green newcomers lack the intrinsic vehicle familiarity and map knowledge to compete in this environment reliably. They’re essentially handicapped, struggling to unlock better modifications desperately needed just to achieve baseline functionality. This early progression tax burns out many potential long-term tankers.
However, by purchasing a premium tank tailored to their preferred playstyle, new recruits initialize themselves on more even footing against the opposition right from the first match. My recommendations below come mastered in their roles to enable carrying teams match after match. Their amplified silver lion and research rewards accelerate new tech tree unlocks to break past challenging walls.
If you love armor history and have some discretionary income, invest in yourself as a future War Thunder veteran. Premium tanks supply the tools necessary for competency until the core trees catch up. Compliment them by running premium account time to further boost earnings. Here are the ideal picks for beginners in Ground Forces enduring the hardest early advancement.
T14 Heavy Tank – Mastering the Lost Art of Armor Angling
The T14 presents an exceptionally forgiving heavy tank experience for total newbies starting their War Thunder journey within the American tech tree. It shares the same Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) and rear-mounted Wright Continental R975 radial engine as the fully-upgraded M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo at a lower 3.7 Battle Rating. You gain enhanced frontal turret armor with 102mm effective thickness when properly angled compared to the Jumbo’s more vulnerable rounded mantle.
This extra protection rockets vehicle survival rates during the initial skill building phase. As a heavy tank, the T14 reaches only 35 km/h forward – slower than most mediums andlights. However, you won’t be actively flanking in dramatic sweeps anyway. The T14 teaches you to directly face adversaries while leveraging your armor’s thick defensive stats and sloped angle of deflection to negate enemy shells.
The 102mm effective turret armor can reliably deflect shells up to the dreaded 88mm KwK 36 L/56 mounted on elite Panzer IVs and StuG IIIs. Angled properly, even the deadly long 75mm KwK 40 cannon of early Panther Ds struggle penetrating your 32mm upper glacis hull armor boosted to 90mm effective thickness after normalization.
That buys you time to line up eliminating return fire with the same capable 76 mm Gun M1 as the Jumbo. 104mm of penetration with the default M62 APCBC shell chews through opposition fronts even at 500m distance. Carry some M79 AP and M42A1 HE shells to deal with more heavily armored beasts.
I adore zipping around maps at 60+ km/h in light tanks, but I credit the T14 for disciplining my angling techniques during chaotic brawls. Tracking target weak points while manually rotating your hull to maintain deflection angles trains muscle memory. The T14 provides room for error and bouncing mistakes that punish other contemporaries. New recruits should leverage its padded armor to directly stare down enemies unflinchingly. Surviving stagnant sniper duels and close quarter scrums builds confidence to eventually transition knowledge into more vulnerable vehicles requiring finesse.
Recommended Playstyle
- Trundle directly towards high traffic areas
- Prioritize travel routes with hills or buildings for hull down potential
- Angle upper glacis towards threats while slowly reversing if overmatched
- Precision aim for enemy gun mantlet, turret cheek, and lower frontal plate weak points
- Fire APHE for detonation damage then switch to solid AP against angled/sloped locations
RU 251 Light Tank – Flanking and Spanking with German Speed
If you prefer light tanks zipping around delivering nasty flanking blows quickly before repositioning safely, Germany’s premium RU 251 is ideal for learning these indispensable skills. Like most lights, you sacrifice any meaningful armor in favor of blistering velocity and a deadly cannon foreshadowing equipment still years ahead of opponents.
Weighing just 22 tons with a power-to-weight ratio nearing 20 hp/ton, the 250 horsepower Maybach HL234 engine rockets the RU 251 to 60 km/h across flat land. Quick shifting through the transmission enables maintaining top speed across gently sloping terrain. The lower weight but monstrous power plant gives exceptional maneuverability circling lumber targets.
The 90mm cannon is the exact same as the much heavier, bulkier Indien-Panzer medium tank two ranks higher with over triple the mass. You gain access to the weapon’s fearsome penetration potential including the standard DM12A1 APDS round punching through 194mm armor at point blank. The RU 251 teaches you to surgically eliminate enemies via exploiting mobility to repeatedly strike at thinly armored side and rear profiles. After confirming kills, immediately fall back behind cover through escape paths planned beforehand.
The full rotation speed of the turret also enables firing accurately even while moving at max throttle. You’ll need to lead targets slightly accounting for distance shell ballistics drop and flight time. But with some practice judging rangefinder markers, you can unleash devastating drive-by demolitions minimizing vulnerability windows thanks to speedy getaways.
The RU 251 epitomizes guerrilla “shoot and scoot” doctrine. Let heavily armored allies spot and bait enemies into the open. Then sweep around to their exposed sides opening juicy instant kill chances. Alternatively, passive scouting by utilizing binoculars for long-distance spotting nets decent rewards too. Just beware letting enemies pinpoint your paper-thin armor!
Recommended Playstyle
- Rush to traditional medium tank routes to set early traps
- Hide hull behind hills, rocks, buildings while exposing only turret
- Relocate every 1-2 shots to another concealed cage
- Move erratically while firing APDS on fast approaches
- Carry 5+ smoke shells to block line of sight for getaways
IS-6 Heavy Tank – Balancing Firepower, Protection, and Psychology
The Russian IS-6 represents one of the most notoriously overpowered premiums in War Thunder history even after consecutive nerfs. At 7.3 BR, it sports the lethal 122mm D25T cannon launching scary BST-1 APHE and BR-482B APHECBC shells competitive even in 8.3 matches. Meanwhile, its pike nose armor design with effective 140mm slope thickness frequently deflects shells even from bigger guns 1+ BR higher that shred contemporary IS-3 heavies. This damage output and survivability combo earns salt from receiving ends of your rampages.
But crucially for newcomers, it feels so mighty with ground shaking explosions and weighty metallic clangs of deflection that boosts confidence. The psychological dominance tanks perceived as nigh-invulnerable exerts itself upon matches. Lesser experienced opponents cower, avoiding confrontations once your crimson IS-6 is spotted lumbering towards them. They assume you outskill them when in reality an average player inside an IS-6 appears more threatening. This grants you more room for practice compared to fairer matchups.
With splendid all around characteristics, take time acquainting yourself with varying playstyles. Balance aggressively pushing contested zones to draw attention then equalizing enemies using terrain and angular manipulation to withstand barrages. Alternatively, shield advancing allies from harm while they disable distracted opponents for you to mop up.
The premium matchmaking also prevents full rank V uptiers preventing frustration as a new player. For low rank progression, the IS-6 accomplishes everything required while forgiving minor positioning errors. The psychological intimidation to enemies and confidence boosting invincibility aura imparted to you sustains pushing the bounds of your still developing skills.
Recommended Playstyle
- Play aggressively towards contested zones early
- Shield friendlies using hull as portable cover
- Wiggle turret left/right between shots to throw aim
- Research terrain obstacles for temporary shield
- Prioritize targeting enemy cannon barrels to disable
Additional Premium Tank Options for Each Nation
While the American T14, German Ru 251, and Russian IS-6 represent well-rounded selections catering to varying preferred playstyle for newcomers, alternative premiums exist too providing unique benefits. I’ll briefly overview extra standout choices.
France – The Somua SM heavy tank at 7.3 BR packs the deadly 100mm SA47 cannon that obliterates nearly anything it pens through a combination of auto-loaded shells. Learning to exploit the intra-clip reload of 3.5 seconds between tremendous first shot damage and mobility allows skilled ambushers to wipe multiple enemies.
Britain – The AC IV Thunderbolt VII td at 5.0 BR dishes tremendous 17-pdr anti-tank fire but on the slow heavy Churchill VII hull. Ideal for teaching you armor angling techniques necessary for survival to balance lacking speed or turret traverse.
Italy – The black cat prem at 4.0 BR is a modified M4A4 Sherman lending familiar well-rounded characteristics. Upgraded ammunition choices combining AP, HE, and smoke shells expand tactical options given mediocre armor.
China – The ZTZ96A w/ ERA at 9.7 BR enters top tier competition but provides increased survivability to player mistakes thanks to explosive reactive armor modules mitigating penetrating shots against its vulnerable turret weak spots.
Japan – The JSDF Type-74 mod G/Kai at 8.7 BR introduces new players to various advanced APFSDS long rod penetrators effective particularly against Russian and Western composite armor that require learning precision weak point targeting.
I could elaborate extensively on every nation’s premium tank gems optimized for beginners. However, the all-around efficacy across critical categories of the T14, Ru 251, and IS-6 cement them as my personal top recommendations for newcomers to minimize progression frustrations.
Final Advice – Invest In Yourself Wisely Early
New War Thunder recruits hunger for progression satisfaction unlocking shiny new tanks while gradually improving personal skills through experience over time. However, the inherent grinding nature of free-to-play titles actively works against those aspirational goals early on. Stock tanks with minimal modules pit you against specialized killers. Veteran opponents already overmatch your capabilities in equally ranked machines.
Alleviate these tensions by investing currency into premium account time and an ideal starter tank fitting your preferences. The T14, Ru 251, and IS-6 shine as archetypes for their heavier armor, flanking mobility, and balanced stats respectively. Their amplified lion bonuses ease financial burdens while accelerated research reduces the pain of unlocking critical modules.
Consider it an investment into yourself as a future tanker. Short term reduction in immediate progression pace occurs by spreading playtime around new tech tree additions. But the long term efficiency gains manifest themselves dramatically soon after. You hit deadly effectiveness thresholds sooner before the opposition equally ranks up. Certain premiums like the IS-6 even dominate 1+ battle ratings higher thanks to sheer capability gaps.
So for those courageous recruits willing to suffer the necessary pain intrinsic to becoming advanced War Thunder commanders, lesson the burden with premium assistance. Let these beasts carry you until ready to carry others onwards to victory!