Battle Ratings
General Information
Battle rating (BR) is a value used to determine matchmaking in War Thunder. Battle rating is a number assigned to every aircraft, ground unit, and naval vessel in the game that correlates with their effectiveness in combat. Roughly speaking, as a vehicle's capabilities and performance increase, so does its battle rating. Battle rating can also differ depending on the game mode. For example, if a vehicle may perform considerably better compared to its opponents in Arcade Battles than in Realistic Battles, it may have a higher battle rating in the former.
Battle rating does not correspond with real-life introduction dates, but rather, the vehicle's in-game performance. Even if major technological imbalances existed among the vehicles in real life, the battle rating system allows War Thunder to remain balanced at all ranks by only matching vehicles with similar in-game performance against each other.
Battle ratings exists in steps of 0.3 or 0.4 starting from 1.0 and ending at 13.0 (i.e. 1.0, 1.3, 1.7, 2.0, 2.3, 2.7, etc.).
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Matchmaking is based solely on battle rating; the rank of a vehicle is irrelevant. |
The battle rating of every vehicle can be found at the top of its stat card or in the lower-right corner of its icon in the Research screen. To check the vehicle's BR in different game modes, select the appropriate mode in the drop-down menu lower-right corner of the Research screen. Note that the BR of "Reserve" vehicles is 1.0.
The battle rating that the Matchmaker will use will always be displayed at the top of the screen, underneath "To Battle!".
Aviation
Air Arcade Battles
In Air Arcade Battles, matchmaking is determined by the total battle rating of a lineup, which is calculated based on the three highest BR aircraft of that lineup. Ground units and naval vessels in the lineup cannot be taken into battle and will have no effect on the calculation of total battle rating. Damaged aircraft, or aircraft that are on Crew lock, will not be factored into calculation either.
In general:
- Total BR will only be lowered if there is only one aircraft with the highest BR in the lineup (e.g. one 5.0, with all else 4.7 or lower).
- Total BR can be lowered by a maximum of one BR step below the highest BR aircraft (e.g. 5.0 to 4.7, 3.7 to 3.3).
- Only BR differences of up to 2.0 are taken into consideration; otherwise, total BR is taken from the highest BR.
Players will only be matched against other players based on their total battle rating. They may be able to see players with a total BR as low or as high as their own total BR ± 1.0. For example, if a player's total BR is 3.0, they can be matched with players with total BR between 2.0 and 4.0.
Calculation
If A is the highest BR in a lineup, B is the second highest BR, and C is the third highest BR, then the formula for Total BR is as follows:
- Total BR = (A ÷ 2) + (X ÷ 4) + (Y ÷ 4)
where:
- If A - B < 0.6, then:
- X = B
- If 0.6 ≤ A - B ≤ 2.0, then:
- X = A - 0.6
- If A - B > 2.0, then:
- X = A
- If A - C < 0.6, then:
- Y = C
- If 0.6 ≤ A - C ≤ 2.0, then:
- Y = A - 0.6
- If A - C > 2.0, then:
- Y = A
In other words, if the difference between A and B is less than 0.6, then B is substituted for X in the equation. If the difference is between 0.6 and 2.0, inclusive, then (A - 0.6) is substituted for X. If the difference is greater than 2.0, then A is substituted for X.
The value of Y is calculated the same way, except the difference between A and C is compared instead.
Once evaluated, the resulting value Total BR is rounded to the nearest battle rating step. For example, 3.1 (which is closer to 3.0 than 3.3) will be rounded down to 3.0, and 3.2 (which is closer to 3.3 than 3.0) will be rounded up to 3.3.
Values exactly between two steps are rounded up. For example, 3.15 (which is exactly between 3.0 and 3.3) will be rounded to 3.3, and 3.5 (which is exactly between 3.4 and 3.7) will be rounded to 3.7.
Example Calculation
Here is an example calculation of total battle rating, where:
- A = 6.0
- B = 5.7
- C = 5.0
First, the difference between A and B is checked. The difference is 0.3, so:
- X = B = 5.7
Now, the difference between A and C is checked. The difference is 1.0, so:
- Y = A - 0.6 = 5.4
Substituting these values into the equation:
- Total BR = (6.0 ÷ 2) + (5.7 ÷ 4) + (5.4 ÷ 4) = 5.775
The resulting value, 5.775, is closer to 5.7 than 6.0, so the value is rounded down to 5.7.
Thus, for a lineup whose highest BRs are 6.0, 5.7, and 5.0, the Total BR of the lineup is 5.7.
Tabular Examples
Some example lineups:
| A | B | C | Overall BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 8.0 |
| 5.0 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 |
| 3.7 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| 5.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
Pictoral Examples
Click Expand to view
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| Aircraft | Battle Rating |
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Aircraft with the highest battle rating |
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Aircraft with battle rating 0.3 below the highest BR |
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Aircraft with battle rating is between 0.6 and 2.0 below the highest BR |
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Aircraft with battle rating greater than 2.0 below the highest BR |
| Aircraft 1 | Aircraft 2 | Aircraft 3 | ⇒ | BR Result |
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Air Realistic Battles
In Air Realistic Battles, only the aircraft currently selected will be taken into battle, and its battle rating will be used to determine matchmaking. Players will only see aircraft with a battle rating ± 1.0 compared to their own.
Air Simulator Battles
In Air Simulator Battles, there are two battle rating ranges for each team, Allowed vehicles and Required vehicles. Any aircraft with battle rating in the Allowed vehicles range can be taken into battle. However, to enter an Air Simulator game, at least one aircraft in the lineup must be in the Required vehicles range. Players are matched with other players whose lineups consist of vehicles in the Allowed vehicles range.
Typically, in an Air Simulator game, lower battle rating vehicles can spawn immediately, while higher battle rating vehicles may require Spawn Points (SP) and may have a cooldown timer until they can be spawned again.
Ground units and naval vessels in the lineup are not taken into account and cannot be taken into battle. Neither can damaged vehicles or vehicles on Crew lock.
Air Arcade Assault
In Air Arcade Assault mode, there are battle rating ranges as follows:
- 1.0 - 2.3
- 2.7 - 3.7
- 4.0 - 5.0
- 5.3 - 6.3
- 6.7+
The battle rating of the highest BR aircraft in a lineup is used to determine which range a player will be matched in.
Ground units and naval vessels in the lineup are not taken into account and cannot be taken into battle. Neither can damaged vehicles or vehicles on Crew lock.
Ground Forces
Ground Arcade Battles
In Ground Arcade Battles, the battle rating of the highest BR ground vehicle, with players only able to see ground units with BR ± 1.0.
Aircraft and naval vessels in the lineup are not taken into account and cannot be taken into battle. Neither can damaged vehicles or vehicles on Crew lock.
Ground Realistic Battles
In Ground Realistic Battles, the batting rating of the highest BR ground vehicle or aircraft (including helicopters) is used, with players only able to see ground units and aircraft with BR ± 1.0.
For example, for a lineup consisting of a BR 5.0 ground unit and a BR 5.3 aircraft, the BR of the aircraft is taken, and vehicles with BR between 4.3 and 6.3 can be seen.
Naval vessels in the lineup are not taken into account and cannot be taken into battle. Neither can damaged vehicles or vehicles on Crew lock.
Ground Simulator Battles
In Ground Simulator Battles, battle rating is irrelevant in matchmaking. Only vehicles listed on the Allowed vehicles list can be taken into battle, with at least one vehicle from the Required vehicles list (if applicable) required to enter the game.
Any vehicle not listed in either the Allowed vehicles list will not be taken into battle. Neither can damaged vehicles or vehicles on Crew lock.
Ground Arcade Assault
In Ground Arcade Assault mode, there are battle rating ranges as follows:
- 1.0 - 2.3
- 2.7 - 3.7
- 4.0 - 5.0
- 5.3 - 6.3
- 6.7 - 8.0
- 8.3+
The battle rating of the highest BR ground unit or helicopter in a lineup is used to determine which range a player will be matched in.
Aircraft and naval vessels in the lineup are not taken into account and cannot be taken into battle. Neither can damaged vehicles or vehicles on Crew lock.
Matchmaking works the same way in both naval Arcade and Realistic battles. The battle rating of the highest BR naval vessel is used, with players able to see naval vessels and aircraft with a BR ± 1.0. Aircraft with BR up to one BR step (+0.3/0.4) above the highest BR naval vessel can also be taken. If the BR of the aircraft exceeds the BR of the naval vessel, its BR will be used instead. Aircraft more than one BR step higher than the highest naval vessel are not taken into account and will not be available to be used in the battle.
For example, for a lineup consisting of a BR 2.0 naval vessel and a BR 2.3 aircraft, the BR of the aircraft is taken, and vehicles with BR between 1.3 and 3.3 can be seen. For a lineup consisting of a BR 2.0 naval vessel and a BR 2.7 aircraft, the aircraft will not be taken into battle and vehicles with BR between 1.0 and 3.0 will be seen.
Ground units in the lineup are not taken into account and cannot be taken into battle. Neither can damaged vehicles or vehicles on Crew lock.
Squads
In any game mode except for Air and Ground Forces Simulator Battles, when playing in a squad, the Matchmaker uses the highest battle rating within the squad. For Air AB, the highest total BR within the squad is used.
For example, in Air RB, for a squadron consisting of a BR 4.7 aircraft and a BR 5.7 aircraft, the BR of the higher aircraft is used, and both players will be put into matches where they can see aircraft with BR between 4.7 and 6.7.
