Beginner's guide

Everything you need for your first ten missions.

1. Set up your profile

When you start the game for the first time you choose a player name and a nationality. Your nationality also sets the game language, so pick the one you are most comfortable reading. You can change both later from the main menu.

2. Learn the controls

The left side of the screen holds the movement joystick. Push it forward to drive, pull back to reverse and move it sideways to turn the hull. The right side is for aiming and firing. Because you see the world from inside the tank, the direction your hull faces and the direction your gun points are what matter most – take a moment in the first level to get a feel for how quickly the tank turns.

3. Read the cockpit

The cockpit view limits what you can see, just like a real tank. Enemies outside your view can still fire at you, so get into the habit of turning to check your flanks between shots. The aiming reticle in the centre is where your shell will go; lead moving targets slightly.

4. Habits that win missions

• Don't sit still. A stationary tank is an easy target. Move between shots.
• Fight one enemy at a time. Angle your approach so that you face a single tank instead of being caught between two.
• Use distance. Shots from far away are harder for enemies to land on you, and harder for you too – find the range where you can hit reliably.
• Finish what you start. A damaged enemy still shoots back. Keep firing until it is destroyed before switching targets.

5. After each mission

Finishing a mission earns rewards you can spend in the Hangar. Upgrading early makes the later missions noticeably easier – see the Hangar guide for what to buy first.