War Thunder’s Ninth Wave update adds reworked water, new vehicles, and map changes

War Thunder’s new Ninth Wave update is out now, and one of its bigger changes is a rework of water visuals and naval physics. Gaijin says the update improves things like water depth, surface reflections, sea foam behavior, and how objects such as torpedoes interact with the sea, which should be most noticeable in naval battles.

It’s not just a graphics pass. The patch also adds more vehicles, including Rank IX aircraft, the Japanese AH-64 helicopter, and the USS Helm destroyer as a premium vehicle. According to the official announcement, the update also touches the White Rock Fortress and Ardennes maps alongside a broader batch of mission and balance changes.

For regular players, the practical takeaway is pretty simple: naval combat should feel a bit different, and there’s a fresh set of machines to grind or buy depending on the vehicle. The map and mission tweaks are part of the same package, though the source doesn’t go into much detail on those changes outside of confirming they’re included.

If you want the full breakdown, including the long list of vehicle balance adjustments, Gaijin has posted the complete patch notes.