After playing the Infantry CBTs, I think War Thunder has the potential to become one of the best combined-arms games available. Below is my idea for how the infantry progression system could work while staying true to War Thunder’s historical focus.
Infantry Tech Trees
Instead of mixing infantry weapons into the existing tank and aircraft trees, infantry should have its own dedicated progression.
Tech Tree 1 – Assault & Gunner
This tree focuses on frontline firepower.
Assault
- Assault Rifles
- Battle Rifles
- Semi-Automatic Rifles
Gunner
- Light Machine Guns (LMGs)
Both classes would also unlock pistols alongside their primary weapons.
Tech Tree 2 – Recon & Specialist
Recon
- Bolt-Action Sniper Rifles
- DMRs
- Anti-Tank Rifles
- Pistols
Specialist
- SMGs
- Shotguns
- Special Weapons
- Pistols
This groups close-range and precision weapons into one progression while keeping the tree clean.
Tech Tree 3 – Special Weapons & Equipment
This tree would focus on gadgets rather than firearms.
Examples:
- Panzerfaust
- Bazooka
- PIAT
- RPG-2
- RPG-7
- Carl Gustaf
- AT4
- Javelin
- Stinger
- Igla
- Anti-tank mines
- C4
- Satchel charges
- Smoke grenades
- Frag grenades
This keeps launchers and equipment separate from standard firearms.
Weapon Progression
The research tree unlocks the weapon.
Attachments are unlocked by using that specific weapon , similar to Battlefield.
For example:
- 20 kills -New sight
- 50 kills - Barrel attachment
- 100 kills -Grip
- 200 kills -Final attachment
Each weapon has its own mastery progression.
Attachment Screen
I’d love to see a Battlefield-style weapon customization screen.
Each attachment slot would be displayed visually:
- Optic
- Barrel
- Underbarrel
- Magazine
- Stock
Selecting a slot would show:
- Locked attachments
- Unlock requirements
- Progress toward unlocking them
It would be much cleaner than a simple list.
Historical Attachments
To keep War Thunder authentic:
WWII
- Mostly iron sights
- Scoped sniper rifles only
- Historically correct rifle grenades where applicable
Cold War
- Mostly iron sights
- Limited historical optics
- Early night sights on appropriate weapons
Modern Era (approximately BR 10.0+)
- Full modular attachment system
- Red dots
- Holographic sights
- Magnified optics
- Lasers
- Weapon lights
- Grips
- Modern suppressors where historically appropriate
This avoids unrealistic combinations such as WWII weapons fitted with modern accessories.
Prototype Weapons
War Thunder already includes many prototype and limited-production vehicles.
The same philosophy should apply to infantry.
Prototype or trial firearms should be added if they are historically documented.
However, fictional or fantasy attachment combinations should not be added.
Vehicles
I’d like infantry mode to fully embrace combined-arms gameplay.
Vehicle categories could include:
- Transport vehicles
- Tanks
- Anti-air vehicles
- Helicopters
- (Potentially aircraft in the future)
Aircraft (Future Suggestion)
If fixed-wing aircraft are ever added, I think they should be limited rather than freely available.
Example team limits:
- 1 Fighter
- 1 Attack Aircraft
- 1 Bomber
- 1 Helicopter
Suggested cooldowns after destruction:
- Fighter: 2 minutes
- Attack Aircraft: 3 minutes
- Bomber: 5 minutes
- Helicopter: 2 minutes
This would encourage teamwork and prevent aircraft from dominating the battlefield.
Vehicle Cameras
For infantry mode specifically, I would prefer:
- Third-person camera for ground vehicles.
- Third-person camera option for helicopters.
This would make vehicle gameplay feel more natural and accessible, similar to Battlefield, while leaving War Thunder’s existing Ground RB and Simulator camera systems unchanged.
Final Thoughts
I think War Thunder Infantry should focus on what makes War Thunder unique:
- Historically authentic progression.
- Era-appropriate equipment.
- Combined-arms gameplay.
- Large-scale battles.
- Dynamic objectives.
- No fantasy attachments.
- Weapon mastery through gameplay.
With dedicated infantry tech trees and historically accurate progression, I think infantry could become a fantastic long-term addition to War Thunder.