Stop chasing "Meta": How to Grind Effectively by playing what You Enjoy

The Academy - Players helping Players
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A few weeks ago, I responded to a player asking how to earn Silver Lions. I suggested an approach based on my own experience, and the comment got good engagement. You can find it here: Link to the comment

Recently, content creators like Spookston and TheCodMineMan have been analyzing War Thunder’s state; monetization, new player experience, game design priorities… Their videos highlight systemic issues. But they also made me realize: while systemic changes take time, there are things players can do right now to improve their own experience.

This is the first in a series of topics and suggestions I’ll be posting about those issues. Starting with this one: grind strategy.

The Real Answer to “How Do I Make SL?”

I see the same question repeatedly followed by advice like “Play X vehicle” or “Grind only Y.” People take that advice, hate the vehicle, and quit.

The actual answer? Stop chasing meta. I have 21.6M Silver coins without premium time. Not because of specific vehicles, but because of how I approached the grind.

The Principle

The grind isn’t about which tank you play. It’s about consistency and synergy with a vehicle. You make SL through kills, assists, and caps. If you hate the vehicle, you won’t perform well in it.

How to Actually Grind

Step 1: Pick 2-3 Vehicles at Your Current BR

Not meta picks. Vehicles you like or don’t know much about. This is important.

Why 2-3? So you’re not grinding one specific line and getting fatigued. Variety keeps it interesting.

Step 2: Play Them Repeatedly Until You Understand Them

This takes time. 20-30 matches minimum per vehicle. You need to:

  • Learn the weak points enemies have
  • Know your vehicle’s strengths and exploit them
  • Know your vehicle’s limitations and avoid them
  • Understand map positioning for that vehicle
  • Build muscle memory

Step 3: Stop Treating Wins as Mandatory

Here’s the dirty secret: SL comes from performance, not wins. A loss where you get 3 kills is more profitable than a win where you die immediately.

Focus on: kills, assists, capturing objectives. These generate consistent SL regardless of match outcome.

Step 4: Diversify Your Lineup

Don’t rely on a single premium tanks or aricrafts. Keep 2+ vehicles at the same BR. Rotation prevents crew fatigue and keeps you sharp and knowledgeable.

Step 5: Wait for Sales

Premium vehicles and talismans go on sale. Don’t buy at full price. A $40 tank on 50% sale is $20. Patience compounds.

What I’ve Learned

I discovered this method years ago because I refused to grind vehicles I didn’t enjoy. I played vehicles with history and character.

The result? 21.6M SL accumulated, no premium account, and I still enjoy the game because I’m not forcing myself to play meta vehicles I know don’t match my playstyle.

The Real Issue

Gaijin’s monetization wants you stressed about the grind. That stress drives premium purchases. The way around it isn’t premium time but rejecting the stress and finding your own rhythm and playstyle.

Play what you enjoy. Get good at it. SL follows naturally

8 Likes
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You missed play with others and get the related awards for playing with others.

Lots to be made there for teamwork, best squad, wingman and the rest.

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Wins give you 100% extra rewards. bad advice buddy

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That’s quite right, but in my opinion, there’s a problem with players in general. The problem is that players have a very bad obsession with trying to reach the top-tier tank as quickly as possible, which ends up preventing them from getting the necessary money to buy those ultimate tanks. For example, I decided to play all the tanks in the game a certain number of times, so I unlock tanks, but I only buy the ones I’m going to use immediately or soon. Then, when the 50% sales come around, I buy all the ones I’ve unlocked, and I repeat the same process in other nations. I still don’t have any top-tier tanks (which doesn’t bother me much because of how the matches are), but I’m calmly unlocking vehicles and maintaining around 60,000,000 credits to buy many tanks in the sales and squadron vehicles.

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Playing for the grind makes life worse.
Play to enjoy the vehicles you have, and you’ll never notice the grind.

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A.) there’s no fun in war thunder, devs seem to hate that with a passion, B.) he is talking about grinding not fun. Idk what to say here Alvis.

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What about rp? how to get them fast?

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I only have like 8 days of premium account

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Wait for a sale and buy premium account if you want. You essentially have to play with premium account as you’ll otherwise need days for a single new tank past rank 4.

If you have premium, spading a vehicle at the same tier or a tier below usually gives you enough RP to get the vehicles that are next in line.

As for tanks, get lineups. The “get one kill in (insert premium vehicle here) and die” mentality just gets you losses, which nets you 50% less RP if you’d have won.

In planes, try to stay alive. Bombing at high tiers might look easy at first, but what usually ends up happening is that a) you are second/third and get nothing or b) you get farmed like AI bots because that is what these players essentially are. Try to play for a win and not just go headon with the first guy and trade.

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Yeah, but why try using a brain when you can just hit the wall wiith your head until the wall gives up?

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peak post btw

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