Infantry Tech Tree & Progression Proposal

Game Discussion Infantry mode (WiP)
1

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.

6 Likes
2

Upgrades will be done through stupidly expensive modifications and you will like it

5 Likes
3

I think there are enough MGs and LMGs that they are easily their own line, Heavy weaponry should be its own line instead of being mixed partially with recon. There are 5 possible lines for a reason, and they refuse to add more so use all 5 instead of trying to make a bottleneck of a tech tree.

Also they mentioned themselves it starts post WW2, why do so many people still try to push that in, when this is just the result of the Enlisted devs not wanting to go past the WW2 barrier and gaijin deciding to do that themselves, since they see a market for it.

1 Like
4

The number of rocket launchers can be reduced and we can just add different warheads. HE/HEDP/OGHE/Thermobaric/Tandem HEAT/HEAT/SMOKE

Bunch of fun stuff

5

For aircraft I would also include strike drones as they do a good job in the anti-personal job they also have been known to be shot down by MANPADS so you can fight back.

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I would also have other squad stuff like medics, partisan troops, (Anti-Terror / SWAT units) and Engineers can build stuff / demolish buildings. Infantry only vehicles would be nice to see like APC, gun trucks MRAPs, armored work vehicles like bulldozer .etc.

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1 Like
6

From how its implemented right now, all the equipment will likely be modifications that you have to research for each gun. While it might sound tedious it will make balancing a lot easier as you can give older equipment or remove equipment from an overperforming gun to nerf it without changing its BR

1 Like
7

The only thing that might be unlock and play would be stuff like a APC because that would be a pain.

8

Could also see those being added in a similar way to the current humvees. Both could work

1 Like
9

I don’t think the whole concept of having random vehicle sitting in the map is great. Having a infantry vehicle tree would have more opportunity. The Humvees suck at this second there just food we need more options they should also have some way of defending them selves like a .50cal and some armor a tree would allow that. Would also allow for more special security vehicles.

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not meant to slug it out with a T-90 but meant as a fast support vehicle.

Also in such a tree vehicles like this as a troop transport / frontal spawn

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The way you can have this be balanced is a max of APC in a match spawning in at once or support vehicles. AFVs are a different topic but a tree for infantry only stuff is a must. Some ground vehicles we have can have infantry features and stay where they are maybe have that kind of stuff be a unlock to remind people.

This would be in my definition a support vehicle and capable of a first spawn

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This I would classify as a light APC + a ramp to get on top of a building (small pool spawn of frontal respawn capability at any given time)

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10

i kinda wanna suggest to make a whole new tree for all the equipments.
just like we have blue and green water Navy separated.
New tree could fit in some old wepons on the tree, like
light armored transporter(logies for construct and ammo),
Engineer Cars,
ligtht AT like Weasel,
artiliary transporter (82mm mortar transporter),
and possibly Air defense

Such that these vehicle are suspectable to be destroied by Inf with 1-2 shot of light AT in all direction, and should be encouraged to deployed by charging less respawn points.

1 Like