War Thunder's premium vehicle list changes with nearly every major update, and "best" always depends on your Battle Rating and which nation you actually play. Instead of pretending there's one universal winner, we ranked premiums by how well they perform relative to their BR and how much value (research bonus, crew XP, and playability) they add across ground, air, and helicopter trees.
S-Tier
- 2S38 (USSR) — an autocannon-armed light vehicle that punishes both ground targets and low-flying aircraft, making it one of the most versatile premium picks in the current meta.
- PzBtl123 (Germany) — a strong modern ground vehicle pick that holds its own at a competitive Battle Rating, valuable for both grinding and serious ranked play.
- F-4J Phantom (UK) — a premium aircraft that remains a relevant, flexible pick well past its introduction, thanks to strong multirole performance.
A-Tier
- Rooikat (UK) — an agile, hard-hitting light tank that excels at flanking and objective control rather than head-on armor duels.
- CV90105 (Sweden) — a mobile tank destroyer with a strong gun for its class, rewarding aggressive, repositioning playstyles.
- Merkava Mk.2D (Israel) — a well-armored, well-armed premium that performs consistently across its Battle Rating bracket.
- G-LYNX (UK) — a capable premium helicopter that adds real value to a nation's rotary-wing lineup, useful for both CAS and anti-armor work.
B-Tier
- AMX-30 Super (France) — a decent mid-tier premium that's solid but not exceptional compared to top-tier picks at a similar BR.
- Sho't Kal Dalet (Israel) — reliable and well-rounded, though outclassed by the newest premium releases at its bracket.
- Milan (France) — a useful anti-tank-focused vehicle, more of a specialist pick than an all-rounder.
C-Tier
- Older low-BR premiums with no modern equivalent — good research and crew-training tools early on, but largely irrelevant once you've moved past their bracket.
- Novelty or event-reskin vehicles with no meaningful stat advantage — fine if you like the skin, but not worth buying purely for gameplay value.
The takeaway
Buy premiums for the Battle Rating and nation you actually grind, not for what looks good in a sale trailer — a 2S38 or PzBtl123 pick only pays off if you're playing at the BR where they shine. If you're unsure where to start, a premium that trains crews for a tree you're actively grinding will save you more time than any single "best" vehicle on this list.
