Complete guide to gun convergence, and vertical targeting settings in War Thunder.

Explaining what these two settings do, illustrating the impact, and showing side-by-side comparisons for an easy understanding of how gun convergence and vertical targeting impact your shots in War Thunder.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Convergence
01:33 Vertical Targeting

[@valhallasrevenge]

the snail has had ten years to explain this to me. Tim does it in under four minutes. i tip my hat to you my good sir.

[@TimsVariety]

I owe the snail a lot for their lack of proper documentation, but at the same time I wish it didn't fall to youtubers and forum posters to explain this stuff....

[@CyberBot17]

I accidentally clicked on the video thinking "bruh, just 4 minutes, I already know about convergence... whatever I'm gonna let it play" holy shit I never even gave a thought what vertical targeting was, thanks Tim and thanks my personal procrastination

[@YesOfficer]

Same here, for some reason I always glanced over vertical targeting and just assumed I knew what it was. Boy was I wrong lol

[@reedman0780]

My first thought about vertical targeting is, its similar to the tank scope adjustment, if its set to 500, your crosshair placement shot will hit exactly at 500

[@th3narrat0r5]

Tim’s always got me for information I didn’t even know I needed to know

[@Cythil]

It is very good to know, even if you decide not to mess with the setting. At least then you will know why the guns behave like they do and how to adapt to that.

[@Knightlostinthyme]

I think Tim just knows the secret of the universe, he just I a kind wizard who wishes to teach us, for that I am eternally grateful

[@Rickardo9828]

I actually had no idea that your crosshair changed position depending on what gun convergence you have, I've used 400 for like the last 8 years and never changed it.

[@KaguyasBeat]

Straight to the point, easy to understand, excellent comparison footage. This is the best I've seen on this subject and I wish I had it over a year ago when I started back to the game. No one explained it and showed actual in game like you did to help with the understanding. This is awesome Tim.

[@TimsVariety]

I live to serve. o7 (Tons more guides on the channel if you're new here!)

[@ctrains123_]

This is the most undepth thang for vertical targeting I've seen. lol thanks for the upload tim!

[@kiri101]

This is the exact video new players need to understand this, great job!

[@Anti-Villain-Wolf]

Great information as always Tim

[@tucker2k4]

Excellent guide as always, and great job on the in-game visuals!

[@lalad0]

I REALLY liked this video, i hope to see some more of this style some day, they're really well made

[@pedrostrugala955]

Hello Tim! Nice video. I love this channel, it's the best WT channel for me I aprreciate your work and knowledge. Also I have a cool idea of a review of the La-200, it's a really curious jet.

[@TimsVariety]

I'll get to it eventually.

[@ODST_Parker]

I've been playing at 600m with vertical targeting off for years now, and I've never felt the need to change it. Even with planes like the MiG-15, I was able to learn the trajectories very easily with that setting.

[@cestaron634]

You forgot to mention one thing. If you turn vertical targeting on when you have the exact same guns (6 .50s or 4 20mms) these guns will then also be aimed up to have their intersection points (vertical intersection) at the range of your convergence.

[@TimsVariety]

I didn't forget, its just pretty self-evident. That seems fairly obvious, I didn't feel the need to explicitly mention it.

[@kimjanek646]

Good to know that the crosshair adjust for the ranges. I usually set them to 250-300m with LMGs to get the most out of those guns. I guess even with centered guns it an help to adjust the convergence to hit at a specific distance. Explains why I sometimes have issues landing shots at 400-500m that should be pretty easy, due to using guns with and without convergence. So you just have to aim directly at the target and don't have to account for drop. (No wait, it only adjust the reticle but doesn't change the trajectory) Man would that be neat, if we could actually put planes into some gun adjustment range.

[@ssd3337]

hope that they can make separate settings for vertical and horizontal convergences, it Basic changes the gun mounted angle, giving a bit of advantage in sim dogfight

[@Lazor217]

Do you have a decal in-game? I'd love to rep you. Youve been a huge help for me after not playing the game for a few months.

[@Panzerkampf1995]

Hey Tim, I was wondering if you had any advice for getting the P108As gun to work?

[@Razgriz_Swordsman]

Tysm Tim, excellent info as always! Is there any recommended distance for different gun caliber? Like for example: 800mts for .50 cals and so?

[@TimsVariety]

Everyone has a different personal preference, and over the years I've generally used 600m convergence 90% of the time regardless of gun size. The general idea being that my shots will still have a little centering, but won't spread any "wider" than my plane out at about 1.2km which is the farthest I usually take any shots.

[@kazline1455]

I usually watch your videos cuz they're entertaining to watch regardless of if i know the info already or not. But one question i got while watching Does the convergence account for your current air speed?

[@TimsVariety]

No, its a static calculation, but in actual practice the impact of airspeed will be rather small in any plane where convergence is likely to matter unless you're in a max speed dive or something. Faster jets usually don't have guns out in the wings and such, etc etc.

[@TheCoolParnell]

Does convergence or vertical targeting have any effect on a plane with one gun?

[@leogustafsson1104]

Should I have this settings turned on or off? What is best?

[@vincentclemmings235]

Are there any tips for aiming and gun convergence with top-tier jets? I mostly run between the F-16 & F-15 and have my gun convergence set to 400m (never bothered to change from prop settings). From a ballistics standpoint, would it be better to change to a farther distance or to disregard convergence entirely since these aircraft only have one cannon? Thanks!

[@TimsVariety]

GREAT question. Short answer - with top tier stuff that has only 1 gun, don't use vertical targeting, and consider turning off convergence. If you use convergence set it to a farther distance to avoid shooting cross-ways on longer range shots. In general, rely on the EEGS with radar/irst locks, its WAY more accurate than eyeballing it.

[@vincentclemmings235]

@@TimsVariety Thank you very much! I appreciate the response 😄

[@Taxxxic]

I know Tim normally does planes, but a helicopter guide on all the functions that we didn't know we needed to know would be cool.

[@TimsVariety]

I have a guide up on how to fly helicopters, planning to do a combat systems one at some point, but its going to be incredibly time consuming so its a lower priority.

[@Taxxxic]

@@TimsVariety I should've been a bit more specific on tip and tricks. There is always a ton of hidden knowledge in War Thunder. Though will await the combat system one, whenever it lands.

[@camilorodriguez5602]

couple questions: -does the vertical targeting also apply to gunpods?? like the belly gunpods on top tiers -how do you set the vertical distance? is the same slider from the gun convergence??

[@DerIKatze]

Can't say for gunpods, my assumption would be that they're the same as regular guns in terms of being affected by convergence. And setting vertical convergence is the same gun targeting distance setting, if you set it to 400m it will be converging both vertically and horizontally at 400m.

[@LightningFox512]

Interesting

[@randomexcessmemories4452]

As someone who rarely plays aircraft, is there a sort of "do it all" distance I can use? I only use aircraft for CAS in GAB and NAB, with the occasional AAB match here and there.

[@TimsVariety]

Everyone has a different personal preference, and over the years I've generally used 600m convergence, VT off, 90% of the time regardless of gun size. The general idea being that my shots will still have a little centering, but won't spread any "wider" than my plane out at about 1.2km which is the farthest I usually take any shots.

[@randomexcessmemories4452]

@@TimsVariety Thanks! I'll give that a try.

[@shitpost4204]

I always use 700m convergence with vertical targeting so that in close in shots my guns are arced upwards more so I lead less ;) idk if it actually helps or not but I pretend it does

[@ryansaeger9271]

Are fuselage/nose mounted guns also affected by horizontal convergence? It looks like they are. I wish there was a way to separate vertical targeting from horizontal. And then there's some planes like the Fw-190 that have wing and fuselage mounted guns. You dont want any horizontal convergence for fuselage mounted guns.

[@TimsVariety]

Short answer : Yes, and all guns share the same settings (unfortunately).

[@ErichVonKraut]

I do a lot of ground pounding and on the rare air to air, I often pick on bombers. So my convergence is set to 700m with no VT. I have often wondered if VT would be useful in my particular set of circumstances, but have never been able to work it out.

[@TimsVariety]

Personally, I find that VT can REALLY screw with accurate aim trying to hit ground targets. If you primarily do ATG, it might screw up your muscle memory for aiming the guns against ground targets.

[@ErichVonKraut]

@@TimsVariety That jives with my experience. Thank you for the reply.

[@angelfishgod]

Howdy Tim I was wondering if you knew if it was true that vertical targeting has no effect in Arcade Battles?

[@TimsVariety]

As far as I know it still functions the same as in RB. However, I don't know if it impacts the automatic lead indicator.

[@angelfishgod]

@TimsVariety I have read that the lead indicator takes into account the vertical targeting. It would be interesting to see it tested empirically.

[@JLich137]

This aint fuel mangement but Ill still take any Tim's videos lol

[@TimsVariety]

Soon.

[@JLich137]

@@TimsVariety Soon, later, it don't matter. I enjoy all your content. lol

[@JLich137]

@@TimsVariety I have some question about content creation. If you are willing to help answer, what is the best way to reach out to you?

[@TimsVariety]

@@JLich137 Email me, its in the channel "about"

[@Bombrothers]

neat

[@Slayer_Jesse]

I never messed with it simply because it doesn't remember my settings for each plane. If i change it, it changes it for all planes and messes with my muscle memory for aiming.

[@moblinmajorgeneral]

I always keep mine at 500m and off for that reason

[@semiedgv]

800m and off here ​@@moblinmajorgeneral

[@Topo842]

Too long, won't watch... ...great video as always!

[@nmcmm8341]

What's your setup Tim??

[@TimsVariety]

Can you be more specific?

[@nmcmm8341]

@@TimsVariety how your use setup like this video ? On or off or 500 m

[@TimsVariety]

@@nmcmm8341 ah ok, I wasn't sure if you meant like my PC specs or something. I've been using 600m for a while, so my guns still cut in a little but won't spread out wider than a plane until out past 1200m, which is farther than I really ever take shots.

[@HinataNarutoSasuke]

Omg im stupid i thought gun targeting distance was when lead indicator pops up in arcade modes... Now i got a 9.3 chinese jet and having very hard time to hit people... Maybe it was because of it. Also damn man switching from having 1600 mg ammo to 140 ammo jets is so freaking challenging for the last week all I'm doing is go in try to hit someone (fail and spend all ammo) then get hit by a missile. Rinse and repeat but i dont think my desk can handle it anymore I've been hitting it a lot

[@a_catfish5180]

If you’re not sure what to have it at just put it at 600, it’s personal preference but humans are flawed and sometimes you need some input!

[@DD-sm8ci]

Best one can be tesher

[@Derkiboi]

so just a Zero setting, yup got it

[@Jatzki]

A great video as always! Nevertheless, I'd like to add a couple things that I think are somewhat important you likely didn't have time for. Firstly, vertical targeting gets messed up if you're not flying perfectly upright. That's why I don't use it personally. Secondly, gun convergence isn't actually "accurate". Let me give an example: You set your convergence to 600m. Then you shoot a target that lingers at a constant 600m in front of you. Your bullets are actually going to meet a bit before the target, if the target isn't slower than you. This is because the bullets lose speed as they go, so although they meet 600m in front of where they were fired, they don't meet 600m in front of you nose, relatively. Learned these from Defyn lol

[@soldat88hun]

I do not think .50s were a good idea for vertical, the 30mm on the 262 have ridiculous arcs since they are slow as fuck

[@TimsVariety]

I used the Mig-15 because of the different sized guns.

[@antonyerick5596]

New update next week: plane guns have implemented AI and autotarget enemies so this guide becomes completely useless

[@TimsVariety]

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