Close Menu
GamesHorizonGamesHorizon
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • PC
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series S
    • Nintendo
    • PS4
    • Xbox One
  • Anime
  • Game Hubs

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get the latest gaming news, guides and reviews from GamesHorizon to your INBOX!

WHAT'S HOT
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Feature Image

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: All New Additions to the Game

June 30, 2026
Path of Exile 2 Immured Fury on Map Location

Path of Exile 2: How to Reach & Defeat the Immured Fury

June 29, 2026
Deltarune Chapter 5 Climbing Challenge Feature Image Trophy Winning

Deltarune Chapter 5: How to complete the Climbing Minigame under 17 Seconds

June 27, 2026
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Starfield
  • REPLACED
  • Alabaster Dawn
  • Outbound
  • The Adventures of Elliot
GamesHorizonGamesHorizon
  • News
    Aceles or Mircobe in Starfield

    Starfield’s performance on PS5 leads to players demanding refunds

    April 13, 2026
    A Rockband poster with someone playing a guitar in front of others playing instruments

    Rock Band 4 Is Getting Delisted This Month

    October 1, 2025
    Xbox Series X and Series S placed together on a table.

    Microsoft’s Website Crashes as Gamers Boycott Xbox Pay Everywhere Over 50% Price Hike

    October 1, 2025
    Ubisoft’s New ‘Vantage Studios’ Gives Its Franchises to the Guy Whose Last Gig Was an Anime Avatar AI/NFT Startup - - News | | GamesHorizon

    Ubisoft’s New ‘Vantage Studios’ Gives Its Franchises to the Guy Whose Last Gig Was an Anime Avatar AI/NFT Startup

    October 1, 2025
    Fortnite Peacemaker doing a nazi symbol

    Fortnite Removed an Emote for Racist Origins

    September 29, 2025
  • Guides
    Path of Exile 2 Immured Fury on Map Location

    Path of Exile 2: How to Reach & Defeat the Immured Fury

    June 29, 2026
    Deltarune Chapter 5 Climbing Challenge Feature Image Trophy Winning

    Deltarune Chapter 5: How to complete the Climbing Minigame under 17 Seconds

    June 27, 2026
    Seven Deadly Sins Origin Dark Abyss Flare Feature Image

    The Seven Deadly Sins Origin – How to capture the Dark Abyss Flare (Nightmare Fury)

    June 26, 2026
    Seven Deadly Sins Origin icy Frosty Bear View on Menu

    How to Capture Icy Frost Bear in The Seven Deadly Sins Origin

    June 26, 2026
    Black Ops 7 Zombies Kowakujō Headphone Feature Image

    BO7 Zombies Kowakujō All 3 Headphone Locations

    June 26, 2026
  • Reviews
  • Features
    Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Feature Image

    Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: All New Additions to the Game

    June 30, 2026
    Starfield Feature Image

    Everything Added to Starfield since Launch

    April 7, 2026
    An overview of the scenery in Dying Light The Beast

    Where Does Dying Light The Beast Take Place?

    September 15, 2025
    First-person combat showcased in Borderlands 4, highlighting its vibrant weapon designs and firefights.

    Borderlands 4 Needs to Have These Features From Borderlands 3

    September 10, 2025
    A screenshot from the games Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, and Hollow Knight

    Best Games Like Hollow Knight Silksong

    September 9, 2025
  • Platforms
    • PC
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series S
    • Nintendo
    • PS4
    • Xbox One
  • Anime
    Smiling Statue In Solo Leveling, Explained and Answered

    Solo Leveling Statue Smile Explained: The Cruel Creator, System Blueprints, and Season 3 Secrets

    May 26, 2026
    All About Baruka In Solo Leveling

    All About Baruka In Solo Leveling

    March 21, 2024
    9 Strongest Mashle Characters, Ranked

    9 Strongest Mashle Characters, Ranked

    March 21, 2024
    Mashle Season 2 Episode 11 Release Date Details

    Mashle Season 2 Episode 11 Release Date, Time, And Where To Watch

    March 20, 2024
    Solo Leveling Episode 11 Expectations

    Solo Leveling Episode 11: Release Date, Time, And Where To Watch

    March 20, 2024
  • Game Hubs
GamesHorizonGamesHorizon
Home»Guides
two airplanes in the sky, promotional artwork for War Thunder
(Image via Gaijin Entertainment)

What Is Vertical Targeting In War Thunder?

Amar DeogaonkarBy Amar DeogaonkarUpdated:April 9, 20262 Mins Read Guides January 9, 2024
SHARE
Facebook Twitter Reddit WhatsApp Telegram Tumblr

Wondering how vertical targeting in War Thunder works? Based on the plane you chose, its class, weight, and gun power, you will have to tweak several settings before you can successfully engage in some epic dogfights. Vertical targeting is one such essential plane gun-firing mechanism.

How War Thunder’s Vertical Targeting Mechanism Works

Vertical Targeting makes your slugs fly higher and reach the set distance without falling before hitting the crosshair mark. This results in higher accuracy. Visually, when the option is toggled on, you will see your bullets shooting a little upward than what you would normally see with the option off.

But how does it work? Vertical Targeting adjusts the upward cant (angle) of your aircraft’s guns to counter the gravity drop-offs. This allows you to fire slugs in a way that they intersect with your aircraft’s lateral plane at the distance you have set. It means that your guns will be adjusted in elevation (as opposed to the horizontal plane if you have Convergence on) to intersect the visible crosshair at the set range.

Here’s a visual demonstration of this feature:

Image describing effect of vertical targeting in War Thunder
(Image by Badballie via War Thunder Forum)

Should I Use Vertical Targeting in War Thunder?

The answer to this question completely depends upon your playstyle, chosen plane, and your preferred form of combat.

Vertical Targeting is usually the best option for long-distance bomber plane fights, particularly with the planes that have their guns on the wings. It will adjust the vertical alignment of the gun and you will have a higher chance of hitting your long-distance targeting accurately. You won’t have to fear your slugs falling short even though they match up perfectly with your crosshair.

Also Read: How To Fix War Thunder Joining A Squad Is Not Available

However, many players prefer keeping this option off. Turning off vertical targeting in War Thunder can maximize the ‘realistic’ experience of an aerial fight, as you will have to be mindful of the weight of your payload as well as the trajectory and velocity of every plane. Do this only if you want an extremely realistic experience and are willing to be challenged!

War Thunder
Share. Facebook Twitter Reddit WhatsApp
Avatar photo
Amar Deogaonkar
  • X (Twitter)
  • LinkedIn

Amar is a Video Game Journalist at GamesHorizon, covering the latest game launches and crucial industry scoops. He has been writing for more than a decade and gaming ever since the original Contra games were cool. A sucker for slasher RPGs with minimal skill-tree elements and hours-long cutscenes.

LATEST POSTS

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Feature Image

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: All New Additions to the Game

Path of Exile 2 Immured Fury on Map Location

Path of Exile 2: How to Reach & Defeat the Immured Fury

Deltarune Chapter 5 Climbing Challenge Feature Image Trophy Winning

Deltarune Chapter 5: How to complete the Climbing Minigame under 17 Seconds

Seven Deadly Sins Origin Dark Abyss Flare Feature Image

The Seven Deadly Sins Origin – How to capture the Dark Abyss Flare (Nightmare Fury)

Seven Deadly Sins Origin icy Frosty Bear View on Menu

How to Capture Icy Frost Bear in The Seven Deadly Sins Origin

Black Ops 7 Zombies Kowakujō Headphone Feature Image

BO7 Zombies Kowakujō All 3 Headphone Locations

RuneScape Dragon WIlds Obsidian Cape Menu Feature Image

RuneScape Dragon Wilds – How to get the Obsidian Cape

RuneScape Dragon Wilds Magic Carpet Screen Feature Image

RuneScape Dragon Wilds: How to Unlock Carpet Mount

RuneScape Dragon Wilds Feature Image

RuneScape Dragon Wilds: How to start & complete Contact Quest

RuneScape Dragon Wilds Infinity Robe Set Feature Image

RuneScape Dragon Wilds: How To Craft the Infinity Robe Set

FOLLOW US
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get the latest gaming news, guides and reviews from GamesHorizon to your INBOX!

MOST READ
15 Best Game Trilogies Of All Time, Ranked - - News | | GamesHorizon
15 Best Game Trilogies Of All Time, Ranked
RPG genre
The Best RPGs Of All Time – Updated For 2025
30 Best PS5 Games To Play In 2025 - - News | | GamesHorizon
30 Best PS5 Games To Play In 2025
40 Best PS4 Games You Shouldn't Miss (Ranked) - - News | | GamesHorizon
40 Best PS4 Games You Shouldn’t Miss (Ranked)
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2023 GamesHorizon.
  • About Us
  • Editorial Standards
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

GamesHorizon
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.