Your player level in War Thunder is the number shown next to your name in every match. It goes from 1 to 100, and it simply reflects how much experience you’ve earned in battles across your whole account — all nations and all vehicle types combined. Hitting certain levels also gives you a new military rank title, ending with Marshal at level 100.
If you’re looking to unlock new vehicle tiers instead, that’s a separate system — see how to rank up in War Thunder. This guide is about raising your account level.
Table of Contents
How player experience works
- You earn account experience in every battle, in proportion to the Research Points (RP) you earn. Anything that raises your RP also levels your account faster.
- Experience counts from every nation and branch — aircraft, tanks, helicopters and ships all feed the same level.
- The curve gets steeper: early levels arrive within a few battles, while the last stretch to 100 takes a very large amount of experience. Players on the official forum, using War Thunder Wiki figures, put the total at roughly 14.5 million RP to reach level 100.
Because level is driven by total earnings, it measures time and activity — not skill. A level 40 player who studies maps and weak spots can easily out-play a level 100.
1. Earn more RP per battle
The fastest way to level up is to make every match count:
- Play objectives. Capturing zones, scouting, assisting and damaging targets all raise your score and RP.
- Get kills against players. Gaijin added a skill bonus that awards extra RP for destroying enemy players.
- Stay in the fight. Use your backup vehicles instead of leaving after one death — your reward is based on your whole match.
- Win more. The winning team receives a bigger reward multiplier.
2. Play higher-rank vehicles
Higher-rank vehicles generally earn more RP per battle than rank I and II vehicles. Once you’re comfortable, playing at ranks where you’re still competitive gives the best experience per hour. Don’t jump so high that you’re constantly out-matched, though — a good match at rank IV beats a bad one at rank VII.
3. Collect daily bonuses
- First win of the day for each nation gives a large multiplier — rotating through several nations is one of the best boosts for free players.
- Daily login rewards often include RP boosters.
- Battle tasks and Battle Pass challenges reward extra RP, Silver Lions and boosters.
4. Use boosters and premium time
RP boosters increase the RP you earn for a number of battles, which also speeds up your level. A premium account adds a large bonus to both RP and Silver Lions for every battle. Neither is required, but if you’re planning a long gaming weekend, that’s the time to activate them.
5. Choose the mode that suits you
| Mode | Best for levelling when… |
|---|---|
| Arcade | You want short, fast matches and easy rewards |
| Realistic | You know the maps and want higher rewards per battle |
| Simulator | You’re experienced with sim controls and want top rewards per match |
You’ll level fastest in whichever mode you actually perform well in.
What do you get for levelling up?
- Military rank titles shown in your profile as you pass level milestones
- Bragging rights — the level badge appears on your profile and in battle
- A record of your progress across all your nations
Higher levels don’t make your vehicles or crews stronger. Crew skills are levelled separately with crew experience earned on each crew.
Common myths
- “High level means high skill.” Not necessarily — level reflects total playtime and earnings.
- “I need level X to research vehicles.” Vehicle research depends on how many vehicles you’ve researched in each rank, not your player level.
- “Level affects matchmaking.” Matchmaking is based on vehicle Battle Rating, not account level.
FAQ
What is the max level in War Thunder?
Level 100, which carries the Marshal rank title.
Does naval or helicopter play count toward my level?
Yes. Experience from all vehicle types and nations goes toward one account level.
Is there anything after level 100?
No. Experience keeps counting, but the level and title stay at 100.
How long does it take to reach level 100?
It depends on how much you play and how much RP you earn per match. For most players it takes many hundreds of hours.
Keep going with our other War Thunder guides: squadron points, using binoculars and naval battles.
Hi, I’m Emam Hasan — an English teacher and the founder of Anirban Lexicon Center in Mirpur, Dhaka. I run Takedownloads to share honest game guides, tips and app reviews that help players choose well and play better. Alongside teaching, I work in digital marketing and SEO, and I enjoy turning complex topics into simple, helpful lessons anyone can follow.
