Comprehensive Battle Strategy & Trajectory Guide
Welcome to War Tanks, the premier zero-dependency physics artillery battle simulator. Designed using high-performance HTML5 Canvas and native JavaScript vector math, War Tanks pits two commanders against each other on a procedurally generated, fully destructible landscape. Succeeding requires more than just firing at random; you must calculate angles, adapt to fluctuating wind speeds, select appropriate weapon payloads, and utilize terrain modifications to secure victory.
Calculating Trajectory Vectors
The core mechanic of War Tanks revolves around classical 2D kinematics. When a shell is fired, its position vector is updated each frame based on initial velocity, firing angle, gravity, and horizontal wind resistance. The basic motion of a projectile is modeled by the following kinematic formulas:
x(t) = v₀ * cos(θ) * t + 0.5 * a_wind * t²
y(t) = v₀ * sin(θ) * t - 0.5 * g * t²
Where v₀ represents firing power, θ represents the launch angle, g is gravity, and a_wind represents horizontal wind acceleration. Each frame, wind shifts dynamically, meaning you must adjust your launch angle to account for wind shear, especially when using lighter weapon payloads.
Destructible Terrain Tactics
Every mountain, hill, and valley in War Tanks is represented by a height map bitmap. Weapons don't just damage opponent tanks; they permanently carve craters into the ground. Understanding terrain deformation opens up powerful defensive and offensive strategies:
- The Bunker Defense: Fire a standard mortar shell directly in front of your tank. The resulting crater forms a protective pocket, shielding your chassis from low-angle direct tank fire.
- Sinking the Enemy: If your opponent is sitting on a steep precipice, do not aim for the tank. Target the terrain directly beneath their treads. Carving a crater under them forces their tank to fall, inflicting severe fall damage and throwing off their pre-calculated firing vectors.
- Clearing Blocking Peaks: Use high-yield Dirt Movers or heavy shells to level tall hills that block your trajectory. Flat terrains make direct, low-angle shots far easier to land.
Weapons Arsenal Overview
War Tanks features over 15 unique, procedural weapon types. Choosing the correct payload for the specific terrain layout is vital:
- Standard Shell: Reliable, medium-damage projectile with predictable aerodynamics. Great for early-game calibration.
- Dirt Mover: Low direct damage but massive terrain displacement radius. Used to sink enemies or reshape blocking ridges.
- Splitter: A shell that splits into 3 sub-munitions at the apex of its trajectory. Perfect for blanket coverage against hidden targets.
- The Roller: A heavy bomb that does not explode on impact. Instead, it rolls down terrain slopes, detonating only when it rests in a valley or impacts a tank chassis.