Exterior Customization

World of Tanks allows you to customize both the whole exterior of your vehicle and its individual parts. Click the Exterior button above the vehicle panel in your Garage to go to the Exterior screen.

Customization elements

Various styles or customization element combinations can be applied on the vehicle for all map types: summer, winter, and desert.

As a rule, customization elements can be purchased for gold, and some 2D styles are rental and available for credits. Also, you can get special customization elements as a reward in various game events or buy them in the Premium Shop.

Your vehicle's exterior can be altered with the following elements:

3D Styles

Special decoration for all map types with 3D elements. Provides a bonus to vehicle concealment. Each 3D style is designed for a specific vehicle and can be combined only with progressive elements.

2D Styles

Decoration for all map types that covers the vehicle with a unique image or a combination of camouflage and other customization elements. Provides a bonus to vehicle concealment. Styles of this type can be either nation-specified or applicable to any vehicle.
You can combine 2D styles with 3D attachments and progressive elements, while some styles also allow adjustments, like changing the camouflage pattern or emblems for each map type.

3D Attachments

Decoration for all map types that does not influence battle performance, but adds uniqueness to the vehicle's appearance. They can be mounted on vehicles together with any other customization elements except 3D styles. You can mount up to five 3D attachments on a vehicle.

At the moment, not all vehicles in the game support 3D attachments, but the list is being continuously updated. To see all the vehicles that support this type of customization, click the button in the 3D attachments tab.

Paints

A decorative element that can be applied to five vehicle parts—the hull, turret, suspension, gun, and gun mantlet. It takes one paint bucket to paint one part. Therefore, you need a maximum of five buckets to paint the whole vehicle for a map type.

Camouflage

This exterior customization is functional and can enhance your vehicle’s concealment. There is a range of camouflage patterns for each map type that can be applied to the hull, turret, and gun. In some cases you can change the camouflage pattern scaling and color scheme.

To get a concealment bonus, you have to apply camouflage to the hull. If you camouflage only the turret and the gun, your vehicle's visibility is not affected.

Decals

Large images that spread over several vehicle parts. You can scale and flip the image horizontally. The number of available slots for decals on the vehicle depends on their aspect ratio. The number of decals applied simultaneously on a vehicle is limited to three.

Emblems

Vehicles can be decorated with emblems instead of standard national flags and signs. Depending on the vehicle model, you can apply one or two emblems to it.

Inscriptions

A decorative element represented by a short text or number. Textual inscriptions are non-editable and can be either specific to a certain vehicle nation or applicable to any vehicle in the game. As an option, you can decorate your vehicle with a tactical number—an editable digit combination with a range of fonts available. Depending on the vehicle model, you can apply one or two inscriptions to its turret or hull.

Effects

With effects, you can give your vehicle a battle-hardened look or make it shine like it's fresh out of the assembly shop. 

Progressive Elements

Progressive elements are customization elements for a vehicle that are earned by fulfilling certain battle conditions in it, such as earning mastery badges.

Each progressive element has levels that can be reached after fulfilling conditions of increasing difficulty. The element's appearance changes with each level. Upon receiving a progressive element, you get one instance of it for free. To use this element for different map types or multiple slots, you will need to purchase additional instances of this element.

You can apply a progressive element of any achieved level to your vehicles. Once acquired, progressive elements can be used with most styles for this vehicle.

To learn about progressive elements and the levels you have unlocked, go to the Progressive elements tab on the left part of the screen.

How to Apply or Remove Customizations

To apply a customization element to your vehicle:

1. In your Garage, select a vehicle to customize and click Exterior.
2. In the customization panel at the bottom of the screen, select the tab for the element you want to apply. For and 2D- and 3D styles, simply click their image to apply them to all map types.

3. Elements such as paints or emblems are applied for each map type separately. On the left part of the screen, select a map type tab, then click the element you want to apply. One or several slots for the selected customization element are displayed. Click the slot to apply the element to the corresponding vehicle part.

   To speed up the element selection, use the filter on the left part of the customization panel.

   The vehicle parts with the selected customization applied are marked with a special icon . Click it to access the radial menu with additional actions—here you can modify the camouflage, apply the element for all map types, or remove the element from the slot.

4. To buy the applied customization, click Go to Purchase in the upper-right corner of the customization panel. On the screen with the elements for purchase, сlick Purchase and Exit.

To remove all customization elements and restore the basic exterior for the selected map type, click (Summary) to the left of the Go to Purchase button. Click Remove All in the window displayed.

The element that you already purchased and removed from the vehicle is preserved in the Depot and can be reapplied to the same vehicle or on any other for which this element is available. You can also sell elements: right-click the element and select Sell.

Historical Accuracy

All customization elements in the game can be:

Historical. Styles and customization elements that existed and were used (or could have been used) at some point in real life.

Non-historical. Styles and customization elements that didn't exist, but could theoretically be used in certain real-life situations.

Fictional. Styles and customization elements that most likely could not be used in real life.

How does this affect the game?

By default, all vehicles are displayed only with a historical or basic exterior. The display of all designs and customization elements can be turned on in the game settings.

To configure the display of exteriors:

1. In your Garage, press Esc and select Settings.
2. In the General tab, scroll to Display of customization elements in battle and select the required option.
3. Click Apply.