War Thunder KV-8 Guide: How to Unlock and Use the Flamethrower Tank

The KV-8 is one of the more unusual vehicles to land in War Thunder recently, and for good reason. A Soviet heavy tank that swaps its standard 76 mm gun for a flamethrower and a 45 mm cannon, it plays nothing like the rest of the KV lineup. If you want it, you need to grind the Legend of Victory event before May 18th (11:00 GMT). Here's everything you need to know to earn it and actually use it effectively.

KV-8 in the War Thunder hangar

What is the KV-8 and why should you care?

The KV-8 is a Rank II Premium Heavy Tank for the USSR tree. Historically, development of the flamethrower variant of the KV-1 began in 1941. The original plan was a hull-mounted flamethrower, but a Chelyabinsk project produced a twin turret mount instead, housing the ATO-41 automatic flamethrower, a 45 mm 20-K cannon, and a DT machine gun in a single mount. The first prototype completed trials near Moscow in late December 1941 and early January 1942, with serial production starting in April 1942. Over 100 KV-8s were built by September of that year before the Kirov Plant switched to the lighter KV-8S variant.

The 45 mm cannon barrel is covered by an external casing designed to look like a 76 mm gun, which historically served to deceive enemy observers about the tank's actual armament. In game terms, that 45 mm is noticeably weaker than what you'd expect from a KV-1, but the trade-off is the flamethrower.

How to unlock the KV-8 in the Legend of Victory event

The event runs from May 6th (11:00 GMT) until May 18th (11:00 GMT). You earn mission points in Ground Battles at Rank III or above across Arcade, Realistic, and Simulator modes. Event vehicles at Rank I and II also qualify if they display the event name on their stat card.

Each stage requires 30,000 mission points, and stages rotate every two days at 11:00 GMT on May 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, and 16th. The multiplier for earning points varies by game mode and the maximum Rank of the vehicle you use, so check the in-game task description for your specific setup.

Reward breakdown by stage

The random trophies can contain 50,000 to 100,000 Silver Lions, Silver Lion and Research Point boosters, random Wagers and Orders, 1 to 3 Universal Backups, a random camouflage, or 1 day of Premium Account.

Event stage progress tracker

What if you can't finish a stage in time?

Unfinished stages can be purchased with Golden Eagles up until May 22nd from the Achievements window. The price drops significantly as you approach completion: at 85% progress the cost is halved, and at 95% progress it drops to one-fifth of the base price. For reference, 26,000 mission points earned means the remaining stage costs 299 GE, while 29,000 points earned drops that to just 119 GE.

Can you sell the KV-8 coupon on the Market?

Yes, but it requires an extra step. Completing 6 stages gives you a non-tradable coupon. To sell it, you need the "Upgrade for coupon" item, which you earn separately by accumulating 500,000 mission points during the event window. Once you have it, select "Coupon KV-8 (USSR)" in your inventory and click "Modify" to convert it to a tradable coupon. The tradable version can be listed on the Market 6 days after creation.

How to play the KV-8 effectively

At Rank II, the KV-8's armor is one of its strongest assets. Most vehicles at that Battle Rating will struggle to punch through its protection, which is exactly what you need when the flamethrower demands you get close. The Churchill Crocodile operates on a similar principle in the British tree, and the KV-8 plays much the same way: use the armor to close distance, then use the flamethrower against soft targets.

The 45 mm 20-K cannon carries APHE and sub-caliber rounds, which give it some punch against lighter vehicles, but you should not expect to trade shots with tank destroyers or anything running a larger-caliber gun. Those are the threats that can actually cut through the KV-8's armor, so positioning and awareness of your flanks matter more here than in a standard KV-1.

KV-8 turret with flamethrower mount

KV-8 strengths and weaknesses at a glance

What else comes with the event?

Beyond the tank itself, the event includes two historical decals tied to real vehicles. Tank #445 "Suvorov" was an actual KV-8 that served with the 508th Separate Flamethrower Tank Battalion. The "FOG-2" decoration represents a Soviet anti-tank flamethrower used during the war. These are cosmetic rewards, but they add genuine historical context to the vehicle.

For players tracking all current War Thunder events and vehicles, the full War Thunder guides collection covers additional strategies across ground, air, and naval modes.

Suvorov decal placement screen

May Sale and additional discounts running alongside the event

Gaijin ran a store sale from May 7th through May 14th that included 50% off the "Wings of Victory" and "Tracks of Victory" bundles, both featuring WWII-era vehicles. Several individual packs also had 50% discounts during that window. A handful of packs including the Hawk 209, Su-22M4 WTD 61, MiG-21 Bison, F-20A Tigershark, AV-8B Night Attack, and J-7D were retired from all platforms after the promotion ended, so those are no longer available.

The WTCS Pro League Major II is also running concurrently, featuring a 4v4 top-tier aircraft format with Open Qualifiers on May 9th-10th and May 16th-17th. Twitch Drops during the streams include boosters and Premium Account time for linked accounts. This is a separate competition from the KV-8 event but worth watching if you play shooter games competitively.

The KV-8 is a niche vehicle that rewards aggressive, close-range play. If that style appeals to you, the grind is straightforward enough to complete before May 18th with consistent daily play. For more event guides and vehicle breakdowns, check out the full War Thunder game page.