Arma Reforger Strategy Guide — Cosmo Strategy Guides

01 · The Combat Loop

Cold War sandbox. Realistic ballistics. Mission-driven play.

Cold War 1980s setting Era-authentic weapons, vehicles, and equipment. M16s, AKMs, M60 helicopters, BMP-1s, T-72s. The aesthetic is the original Arma: Cold War Assault (2001) brought to UE-class fidelity.
US Army vs Soviet Army Two main factions for symmetric multiplayer. AI-controlled FIA (Forces of Independent Allegiance) operate as a third faction on some maps and modes.
Realistic ballistics and damage Bullet drop, wind, suppression, leg injuries, bleed-out. The damage model rewards positioning and shot placement over reflex.
Match lengths: 30 minutes to multiple days Conflict matches can run for hours; some persistent servers hold sessions across days. Match pacing is slower than mainstream FPS by design.
Three islands plus campaign Everon (16km), Arland (16km, added in 2024 Ground Support), Kolguyev (added in 2025 with the Operation Omega campaign). Three large, detailed open-world maps.
Built on Enfusion engine Bohemia’s proprietary engine. Better netcode and graphics than Arma 3; supports more concurrent moving entities at higher fidelity.
Bridge to Arma 4 (2027) Bohemia uses Reforger as the gameplay and engine proving ground for Arma 4. Most Reforger systems will carry forward; updates continue through 2027.

02 · Game Modes

Three primary multiplayer modes plus single-player content.

Conflict PvPvE strategic capture-and-hold

Conflict Everon
Conflict Arland
Modded variants like Conflict Escalation and Conflict 2.0 PVE

Bring: Patience for long matches, willingness to coordinate via voice, and squad-level discipline.
Take: Strategic warfare with base-building, supply lines, capture points, and AI-controlled FIA resistance.

Conflict is the core multiplayer experience. Most population is here; matches scale from quick captures to multi-hour campaigns.

Combat Ops Cooperative dynamic missions for 1–6 players

Combat Ops Everon
Combat Ops Arland
Single-player variants

Bring: Coordination with a small team and willingness to play without respawns or hand-holding.
Take: Dynamic objective generation, scattered targets, and an exfiltration plan. Each session is procedurally different.

Combat Ops is the favorite of milsim purists. Small squads, real consequences, real coordination required.

Game Master Real-time mission curation

Game Master Everon
Game Master Arland
Game Master Kolguyev

Bring: One curator who designs missions in real time; players who follow the curator’s scenario.
Take: Custom-built experiences ranging from training to large-scale operations. Community-run milsim units use Game Master extensively.

Game Master is the Arma 3 Zeus successor. Highest creative ceiling; requires a dedicated curator to be worth playing.

03 · Maps & Setting

Three islands; three flavors of Cold War combat.

Everon (50 sq km) The flagship map. Czechoslovak-inspired island with forests, idyllic towns, austere mountains. The setting of the original Arma: Cold War Assault. Balanced for combined arms.
Arland (16 sq km) Added in the 2024 Ground Support update. Smaller, faster-paced. Coastal terrain with denser objective spacing.
Kolguyev Added in 2025. The island first introduced in Arma: Cold War Assault. Setting for the new single-player campaign Operation Omega; desolate ruins of former mining operations and secret military installations.
Real-world cartography Maps feel real because they are designed with real-world cartographic principles. Read terrain like an actual military map; use elevation and concealment.
Day-night cycle Dynamic time of day. Night operations require flashlights or night-vision (faction-dependent). Plan operations around the cycle.
Weather effects Rain, fog, and low cloud affect visibility and aerial operations. Helicopters become high-risk during weather; ground operations slow.
Server-side weather variation Some community servers run extreme weather scenarios. Use the lobby information to understand what you are joining.

04 · Factions & Kits

US Army, Soviet Army, FIA. Each with distinct loadouts.

US Army M16A2, M21 DMR, M60 LMG, M203 grenade launcher. M113 APCs, HMMWV transports, M2A1 Bradleys. Helicopters: UH-1H Iroquois. The conventional NATO faction.
Soviet Army AKM, AK-74, SVD Dragunov DMR, PKM LMG. BTR-70 APCs, UAZ-469 transports, BMP-1s. Helicopters: Mi-8. The conventional Warsaw Pact faction.
FIA (AI-controlled, faction-aligned) Insurgent forces. Lighter equipment; technicals; lower vehicle availability. Patrol territory in Conflict mode and resist both major factions.
Squad roles Rifleman, Grenadier, Automatic Rifleman, Marksman, Medic, Engineer, Anti-Tank, Radio Operator, Pilot, Crew. Each role unlocks via rank or loadout selection.
Rank progression XP and ranks unlock kit options. Higher ranks access better loadouts; some servers reset ranks per match to prevent rank-grinding.
Custom loadouts Pick a class; choose specific weapons and equipment. Limited by faction inventory and rank.
Modded factions Workshop adds dozens of factions: modern US Marines, German Bundeswehr, French Foreign Legion, custom scenarios. Server-dependent.

05 · Gameplay Fundamentals

Realistic combat rewards slow, deliberate play.

Move slowly, fire deliberately Walk most of the time; sprint only in emergencies. Sprinting depletes stamina, increases sway, and reveals position via audio.
Use cover; the iron sight is your friend Pre-aim corners with the iron sight or scope. Reforger rewards positioning over twitch reflexes; the player who aimed first wins.
Range estimation No rangefinders in vanilla. Use the mil-dot reticle, scope markings, known landmarks, and squad communications to estimate range. Bullet drop matters at 300m+.
Map and compass navigation No GPS. Use the in-game map and compass; landmarks and bearings. The "where am I" question becomes a real challenge in dense forests.
Wound and bleed mechanics Getting hit can break legs, cause bleeding, or knock you unconscious. Bandage immediately; surgery kit for serious wounds.
Stamina and weight Carrying more gear costs stamina. Trim the loadout to what you actually need; extra ammunition is heavy.
Voice and proximity Voice chat carries at realistic distances. Whisper near enemies; shout when commanding. Voice IS the comms system; learn to use it.

06 · Vehicles

Combined arms with infantry, light armor, heavy armor, and helicopters.

Transport trucks M923 (US), Ural-4320 (Soviet). Move squads efficiently across open terrain. Vulnerable to small arms; do not transport through hot zones.
Light vehicles HMMWV (US), UAZ-469 (Soviet). Fast scouting and squad insertion. Light armor; mounted weapons on some variants.
Armored personnel carriers M113 (US), BTR-70 (Soviet). Move infantry under armor; mounted machine guns. The mainstay of infantry support.
Infantry fighting vehicles M2A1 Bradley (US), BMP-1 (Soviet). Cannon-armed; can carry infantry. Significant firepower; valuable target.
Main battle tanks (limited) M60A1 (US), T-72 (Soviet). Apex ground assets. Crew required; multiple players coordinate driver and gunner roles.
Helicopters UH-1H Iroquois (US), Mi-8 (Soviet). Transport, casualty evacuation, and (with attack variants) gunship support. Pilots are limited; respect their loadout choices.
Vehicle requisitioning Conflict mode requires supplies to spawn vehicles. Plan ahead; do not exhaust supplies on a single vehicle.

07 · FOB Building & Logistics

Conflict mode runs on logistics. No supplies, no operations.

Main Operating Base (MOB) Each faction starts with a MOB. Spawn point, vehicle requisition, supply storage. The MOB cannot be captured (in most modes).
Forward bases via radio signal Friendly bases require radio coverage from the MOB or relay towers. Building outside coverage means no respawn capability.
Construction supplies Build materials are stored at command tents and supply depots. Logistics trucks distribute supplies to forward locations.
Support structures Field armory (resupply), field hospital (healing), fuel depot (vehicle refuel), antenna (extends radio range), guard towers (AI defenders). Each costs supplies.
Mobile Command Units Vehicles that act as forward spawn points. Drive into position, deploy, and the squad can respawn there. Mobile FOBs are decisive.
Communications towers Capturing and holding communication stations extends radio range. The radio map shapes everything else in Conflict mode.
Living quarters reduce supply cost Building living quarters reduces deployment supply cost by 50 percent. Worth the investment on a long-running FOB.

08 · Medical & Casualty Care

Realistic medical is half the milsim experience.

Bandages stop bleeding Apply bandages to bleeding wounds. Multiple bandages may be needed for severe bleeds. Untreated bleeding causes unconsciousness within minutes.
meds for pain Severe wounds cause pain effects (sway, blurred vision). Meds alleviates pain temporarily; overuse causes addiction effects on some servers.
Saline IVs for blood loss After significant bleeding, saline IV restores blood volume. Apply in safe positions; the recovery takes time.
Combat medic kit Field medic kits are heavier but allow advanced procedures. Splints for leg injuries, surgery for major wounds, defibrillation in some mods.
Unconsciousness is not death Players may go unconscious before dying. A medic can revive them; bandage, then wait for recovery.
Field hospitals fully heal Field hospitals at FOBs restore players to full health. Useful for recovering before re-engaging.
Medical kits are heavy A full medic loadout weighs significantly. Pure medics carry less ammunition; the role demands prioritizing medical over combat.

09 · Workshop & Modding

Reforger’s long-term play is the modding ecosystem.

In-game Workshop Browse and install community mods directly through the game UI. Maps, weapons, factions, gameplay overhauls, and total conversions.
Map mods Custom terrains expand beyond Everon and Arland. Some are recreations of real-world locations; others are entirely original.
Faction mods Modern factions, historical factions, fictional factions. Many community servers run specific faction mod sets.
Conflict variants Conflict: Escalation, Conflict 2.0 PVE, and dozens of other Conflict overhauls add features (squad XP, suppression, mobile HQs). Pick the variant that fits your playstyle.
Mission mods Recreated missions from Arma history, original mission packs, and large-scale campaigns. Most active milsim communities run mission mods.
Total conversions Some mods rebuild Reforger entirely: WWII conversions, modern day, alternate history. The Workshop tail is longer than vanilla content.
Vetting mods Some mods are unstable or poorly balanced. Use well-rated Workshop entries; check community Discord servers before committing to a modded server.

10 · Audio & Settings

Tuning matters. Realism rewards careful settings.

Headphones, not speakers Directional audio is essential. Footstep direction, distant gunfire, vehicle audio cues; all rely on stereo separation. A headset improves survival significantly.
Master volume around 50–60 percent Reforger peaks loud during firefights and vehicle engagements. Master volume preserves headroom for distant audio cues.
Field of view 90 Standard for milsim. Wider feels arcade-like; narrower restricts peripheral vision. 90 is the public-server consensus.
Mouse sensitivity low Lower than most FPS games. Reforger rewards deliberate aim; high sensitivity makes precise long-range shots impossible.
Voice activation off; PTT on Push-to-talk for squad voice. Voice activation makes proximity-realistic comms unreliable; PTT controls when you transmit.
Disable post-processing Off most post-processing effects for clarity. Bohemia’s engine has rich post-processing; competitive players turn most of it off.
Verify after every patch Bohemia ships updates regularly. Five minutes of menu review prevents one bad session on changed defaults.

11 · Pro Tips

Milsim rewards patience. Compound habits across sessions.

Find a milsim community Public servers are matchmaking lotteries. Joining a milsim unit (clan, regiment, community) transforms the experience; scheduled operations beat drop-in queues.
Learn one map first Everon is the recommended starting map. Memorize the major towns, roads, and elevation features before moving to Arland or modded maps.
Start as Rifleman Rifleman is the simplest role and the most useful. Learn the basics before requesting specialist kits like Pilot or Engineer.
Do not pilot until you can fly Practice helicopters in single-player or empty servers before piloting in multiplayer. A bad pilot wastes a high-value asset and kills the squad.
Read the lobby description Servers vary wildly. Some are vanilla; some are heavy mods; some are roleplay; some are PvE-only. Read before committing.
Voice with intent Brief, factual radio comms. "Enemy infantry, town center, ten count, holding the church" is a complete callout. Long ramble costs lives.
Take the L on bad rounds Conflict matches sometimes start unwinnable. Accept the loss; rejoin fresh. The win rate evens out across many sessions.