Flash cones are broken in War Thunder — across all nations and vehicles

Game Discussion General Discussion
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1

So- fellas. This looks like smtin that has happened to you right?

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I made a bug report about the 40mm Bofors guns with this issue — but after digging deeper, it turns out all guns with these so-called flash cones don’t even work properly in War Thunder. Let me explain.

Background

Anti-aircraft guns — especially autocannons (like 20mm, 37mm, 40mm, etc.) — generate a massive flash and shockwave when they fire. This blast can:

  • Blind the gunner
  • Reveal your position to enemy aircraft
  • Obscure your tracers and target

That sounds exactly like the behavior of SPAA (Self-Propelled Anti-Air) guns in War Thunder. But here’s the kicker — there’s a critical detail that no one seems to notice (or care about):

Flash cones are supposed to stop this from happening.

Flash Cone Examples:

Sammanfattning

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How a Flash Cone Should Work

With some help from ChatGPT, here’s a surprisingly good visual showing how a flash cone functions:

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Flash cones are designed to redirect the muzzle flash and shockwave forward, away from the crew and aiming systems. This helps maintain visibility and reduces sensory overload.

But in War Thunder?
They don’t do anything.

If they worked as intended, we wouldn’t get flashbanged every time we fired. This affects everyone — it makes it way harder to track and hit both air and ground targets.

Sammanfattning

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I mean does this Breda twin Bofors gun setup seems to blind you?

No. No it does not

Guns Affected (That have cones, but don’t work right):

Sammanfattning
  • 12.7 mm NSV
  • 14.5 mm KPV
  • 20 mm Oerlikon 204 GK
  • 20 mm GAI C01
  • 2 cm Flak 38
  • 20 mm Scotti-IF 20/70 mod.41
  • 23 mm AZP-23
  • 3.7 cm Flak 36/37
  • 37 mm M1939 (61-K)
  • 40 mm Bofors L/60 cannon
    • (Includes: 40mm Automatic Gun M2, Lvakan 36, M266 Automatic cannon, Lvakan 48, 40 mm Mle51 T1)
  • 57 mm Bofors L/70

…and probably more I’ve missed.

TL;DR

Flash cones in War Thunder are purely cosmetic right now.
They should drastically reduce flash and visual obstruction — but they don’t. That’s a major gameplay issue for SPAA and similar vehicles. And i think this needs to be addressed ASAP

Thank you for reading and share your thought’s.

Edit: This affects the whole game as some aircraft feature the cone too. and ships too of course.

All players are affected by this no matter the game mode their vehicle will have this flaw,

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5 Likes
2

I dont play GRB let alone doing autocannon tank with ship gun caliber but after they fixed afterburner maybe this can be the next priority?

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3

Please, I can’t see what i’m shooting at half the time so adjusting aim is hard, specifically I cant see my dang tracers.

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4

Entirely doable, and necessary, I main SPAA for most games because I get outright sick of having CAS show up en masse and blow my team up with zero counter-play. AA already have it tough without being able to leave spawn sometimes, or gang up on by enemy CAS, let alone have their position revealed from their house-sized muzzle flash.

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5

Nice post :)
Here is a video that features a lot of clips where the L/70 fires:

If you are wondering about the status of the bug report you can privately message a technical moderator and ask, no guarantee that they will be able to answer though.

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6

As of now i consider that specific bug report bigger than just the 40mm bofors. This is a game wide issue, and its not been dealt with and its a massive issue.

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True, i just think the 40mm (being the biggest caliber) would be the most obvious to be able to show it visually on.

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With respect i think this issue should be wrapped up into one huge fix that should be taken into account as this issue is as big as it is and affects 100s of vehicles i feel this should be taken all in one big swoop.

This would make for a easier time rather than fixing vehicle by vehicle slowly over time, then they can ley into the issue and have it done with

But personally, if taken into smaller steps, the 57mm, 40mm, 37mm, 35mm should all be addressed first

Edit: yes, fair enough

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That wasn’t what i was talking about though :P i just ment for other players to see what you are describing in text.

1 Like
10

I really should make a infographic comparing War Thunder and other games.

War Thunder is far from realistic and it seems that’s not Gaijin’s priority. Hopefully it’s fixed along with any other unrealistic visual features the game has.

In my opinion ground vehicles is such poorly implemented I see more than a simple expansion from air battles.

And not to say some missing aspects in air battles like the wheel not turning while taxing the aircraft, actual breaking effects and few others.

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11

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Ehem, what. how can such a lilttle round to begin with make THAT big of a fkin muzzle flash.

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theyre ridiculously huge in game blocking view in 3rd person view
cv90 firing irl : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKA4gN0AnLA

1 Like