Good morning, Commander! Welcome to Broken Arrow!

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In this guide, you’ll learn to master modern warfare tactics within the most anticipated real-time strategy (RTS) game of 2025.

What is Broken Arrow?

Broken Arrow is a large-scale, tactical real-time strategy (RTS) game that plunges you into a realistic US vs. Russia conflict set in the modern-day Baltic. As commander of either the US or Russian forces, you'll have at your disposal a vast arsenal of modern military units and advanced weapon systems. These can feel overwhelming, especially for newcomers to large-scale military games. That's why we've put together this comprehensive Broken Arrow beginner's guide: to help you delve into the game, explain and simplify its complex mechanics, and get you prepared for your first successful combat mission!

With over 300 realistic military units and cutting-edge modern technology, aspiring commanders must become familiar with the basics of modern military operations and the concept of combined arms. Broken Arrow eases you into learning this concept across a massive single-player campaign. Played from the perspective of both US and Russian forces, you'll fight for the fate of the Baltic States in this 19-mission campaign. It will have you explore several critical concepts of modern warfare before you jump into the exciting multiplayer action of Broken Arrow. If you prefer honing your skills against the AI, you can do so in skirmish battles or by using the game’s powerful editor to create and customize the kind of challenge you're looking for.

As a real-time strategy and tactics game, Broken Arrow plays very similarly to other titles in the genre, where you act as the leading element behind your forces, making strategic decisions in real-time. However, Broken Arrow distinguishes itself by requiring you, the Commander, to also decide your army's composition using the game's Specialty system, determine what equipment your forces should use for the challenges they might face, and master how to leverage all of the game’s unique systems to win.

Basic Mechanics Overview

Broken Arrow boasts a host of unique mechanics designed to authentically simulate the complex challenges faced by battlefield commanders. Let's go over a couple of them before you get to know your men.

Requisition Points

There’s a limit to the combat assets available to every Commander. In Broken Arrow, this limited availability is represented by requisition points, which are obtained passively. Commanders must use these points wisely, deciding which units to call upon at any specific moment.

Is it better to requisition several squads of infantry in basic unarmed trucks, which are relatively inexpensive but have no usefulness in a fight, and are defenseless against enemy airstrikes? Or is it more effective to field fewer squads, but transport them swiftly by Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs)? Should you spend a significant number of requisition points to field one advanced fighter to counter enemy air incursions, or is it better to bring cheaper anti-air support units? As the one in charge, these moment-to-moment decisions will constantly weigh on your mind.

"Leave No Man Behind"

"Leave no man behind" isn’t just a motto; it has a real impact on how requisition points work. As an incentive to avoid letting your existing troops fight to the death, you can call them off the fight and have them return to base. Doing this will garner you some much-needed requisition points, allowing you to call other units into battle. Remember to keep an eye on your men and don’t let them die!

Line of Sight and Target Acquisition

You can only fight what you can see, which is why it’s crucial to understand two other basic mechanics: Field of View (what your unit can see) and Target Acquisition. In Broken Arrow, a unit's field of view is the deciding factor on whether it can spot, acquire, and engage an enemy. To assist Commanders, a Field of View tool, accessible in real-time by pressing the left ALT key, will instantly show you what your selected units can see. Utilize this tool to make informed decisions about the most advantageous positions for your units.

Spotting isn’t the only thing that matters; units also take a couple of seconds (depending on the unit) to acquire their target and engage the enemy. Therefore, ensure their field of view not only allows for spotting but also provides sufficient time for target acquisition and engagement.

Unique Unit Abilities

Every unit in Broken Arrow is designed to be unique and valuable, equipped with specific abilities you'll need to learn and skillfully employ to maximize your potential on the battlefield.

For instance, infantry units can deploy smoke grenades and utilize a sprint ability for rapid repositioning and breaking enemy lines of sight.
Fixed-wing aircraft are armed with defensive flares and precision laser-targeting bombs.
Your artillery units aren't limited to a single attack, capable of unleashing several different types of bombardments, from pinpoint strikes to devastating creeping barrages.
Meanwhile, helicopters can dynamically adjust their altitude, expertly using terrain to mask their movement from enemy detection.

These are just some of the many unique abilities available across the diverse range of units in Broken Arrow, which we will explain with practical tips as we look over each unit type.

Let’s get to know what’s at your disposal before you jump into the fray and get your men killed, shall we?

Learning the Basics - Unit Types, Battlefield Roles, and Customization

Broken Arrow features a large number of real-world units, from small infantry squads to top-of-the-line stealth fighter jets. These are organized by their battlefield role, making them easier to sort through when you're assembling your own battlegroups.

I hope you’re taking notes now, Commander, because this part might make the difference between winning or losing on the field of battle!

Unit Types

Recon (REC)

To strike decisively and with confidence, you must not only know where your enemies are but also understand their capabilities. This is where Recon units come in. These specialized units excel at gathering intelligence on the battlefield, acting as your eyes and ears while remaining stealthy and concealed. Recon units include infantry and mechanized scouts, snipers, and even drones. As Commander, it’s your job to pick locations on the map where these units can lay low and observe the most important areas. Not only that, but they can also be used as spotters for artillery and as laser designators for airstrikes.

Quick Tip: Broken Arrow features a robust stealth and field-of-view system. Place your recon units overlooking critical crossing positions, like bridges, open fields, and hills. Use their laser designation abilities to mark important targets for airstrikes and artillery. While they might be able to hold their own in a fight, it’s always better to keep them hidden.

Infantry (INF)

Even amidst the roar of tanks and the scream of jets, nothing truly gets done without boots on the ground in Broken Arrow. In this modern military strategy game, infantry plays a surprisingly pivotal role in shaping the flow of battle. They're a relatively inexpensive unit type, yet incredibly adaptable in both their equipment and tactical use.

While most infantry squads come as versatile all-purpose units armed with rifles, grenades, and basic anti-tank weapons, Broken Arrow also allows you to deploy specialized infantry formations. These can give you dedicated anti-tank, anti-personnel, or anti-air power when you need a concentrated punch.

Despite their vulnerability in the open, infantry units excel when garrisoned in buildings, where they can dominate chokepoints, or when positioned for a well-executed ambush. Understanding these strengths and weaknesses is key to integrating them into your broader strategy.

Quick Tip: In Broken Arrow, infantry plays an even larger role compared to other similar real-time strategy and tactics games due to its focus on larger and more urbanized maps with a significant number of buildings. Even destroyed buildings still offer protection and can be garrisoned. Infantry squads come equipped with smoke grenades and can sprint.

Vehicles (VEH)

This category in Broken Arrow encompasses a formidable array of combat-oriented ground vehicles. From swift, lightly armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) designed for troop transport and close-quarters support, all the way to heavy Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) serving as the spearhead of your armored assaults.

While these military vehicles are undeniably powerful and a significant force on the battlefield, they are not without vulnerabilities. They are particularly susceptible to well-planned infantry ambushes, especially when operating in isolation or navigating dense urban environments without adequate support. Furthermore, large concentrations of vehicles become prime targets for devastating airstrikes if lacking dedicated anti-air support.

Quick Tip: Vehicles are powerful but require the support of recon and infantry units to be used as effectively as possible. They operate best in open environments with larger fields of fire, allowing them to maintain distance from their targets and let their long-range guns do all the work. These guns need ammo, so keep them supplied.

Support (SUP)

Speaking of which, in Broken Arrow, victory isn't just about direct combat; it's about robust logistics. Your Support units are the unsung heroes, a critical category encompassing everything from supply vehicles that shuttle vital resources to the front lines, to devastating long-range artillery and crucial air defense systems.

Ideally, these units should operate safely behind your main forces, protected from direct enemy engagement. Given their general lack of significant defensive weaponry, support units are extremely vulnerable if spotted by enemy forces. However, their impact on the field is immense: anti-air safeguards your fighting troops from aerial threats, artillery delivers destructive power from afar, and perhaps most critically, supplies keep your entire army in fighting condition. Without them, your units can't rearm, resupply, or repair their damaged vehicles. Prioritizing their protection is paramount for sustained combat operations.

Quick Tip: Ammo is limited, so make sure to use support units to move supplies quickly around the map to locations where your troops most need them. If possible, establish a hidden base of operations behind your frontline where your units can quickly move to resupply when needed without being away from the fight for extended periods. Your enemy also needs supplies, so look out for their supply lines and disrupt them when possible.

Helicopters (HEL)

The distinctive sound of rotor blades signifies either impending terror or immense relief for your forces. Helicopters are exceptionally versatile units, essential for rapid troop and vehicle transport across the battlefield. Their speed enables swift repositioning of critical units to reinforce your front lines or exploit any opportunity.

Beyond transport, these aerial assets are formidably lethal against virtually any ground unit. Equipped with powerful machine guns and precision anti-tank missiles, they are devastating when properly employed. However, despite their impressive fighting prowess, these nimble machines are inherently fragile. They are highly vulnerable to nearly all forms of surface-to-air weapons and dedicated anti-air defenses. Mastering when and how to deploy them is a key aspect of success.

Quick Tip: Gunship helicopters work best when used to strike decisively upon an unsuspecting target. Keep them low to the ground until it’s time to strike. As soon as they fire their shots, bring them back down before they can be shot at. They are expensive machines, so keep them safe.

Aircraft (AIR)

This category is home to all fixed-wing aircraft, forming the backbone of your air power. Here you’ll find powerful close-air support (CAS) aircraft, the most advanced fighter jets in the world, and even massive strategic bombers. With Broken Arrow’s ability to let every Commander equip their units as they need to, you’ll have the flexibility to meticulously select and mount specific weapon systems on each aircraft of your battlegroup to better respond to any situation.

Quick Tip: Planes come equipped with flares. Use them if you think the enemy is going to fire missiles at your planes, to escape a problematic situation. If your plane is out of flares, you can send them back to base to rearm.

As explained above, units don’t only come to you "as is"; instead, you can customize them to any role you, as Commander, might see fit. If you find yourself low on anti-tank solutions, several battles in a row, you might want to change some of the weapon payloads in your planes. If your tanks keep getting destroyed, maybe you need to equip them with APS (Active Protection Systems), or at least give them some TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit) armor. There’s even the possibility of optimizing the loadout of your infantry squads to fit either CQC (Close Quarters Combat) or long-range firefights.

With the fundamentals of each unit type now firmly in your grasp, you're poised to unleash their true potential on the battlefield. Know their isolated strengths and weaknesses, because in Broken Arrow, every modern military unit and weapon system is designed to complement the others. This deep understanding is your ultimate weapon, the essential key to unlocking overwhelming tactical victories in the face of intense and ever-changing modern warfare.

What Are “Specialities” And How Do They Work?

The troops are ready, awaiting your command to decide their fate on the battlefield. But before you start hand-picking individual units, you'll first need to grasp the power of Battlegroup Specializations in Broken Arrow.

What truly sets Broken Arrow apart in the real-time tactics (RTT) genre is the freedom to select two specializations, blending their unique strengths to create either a versatile force that complements various roles or a focused, devastating powerhouse. There are 10 distinct specializations available—five for the US and five for Russia—each designed with its own specific battlefield role and a dedicated cadre of elite military units to choose from.

Each unit has an assigned point value, and each battlegroup operates with a points budget. Depending on the specializations you pick, that budget will be distributed among different unit categories, allocating a certain number of points to spend on Recon, Infantry, Vehicles, and the rest. For example: if you choose two specializations with a higher focus on infantry, your budget for infantry will naturally be higher than for other categories.

We'll dive deeper into these specializations in a dedicated article, but here's a quick overview for both US and Russian factions to get you started:

Russian Specializations

Mechanized Infantry: The best Russian "all-rounder," the MI offers a versatile middle ground blending armor, infantry, and air power.
Guard Tank Brigade: Provides overwhelming numbers and firepower in the form of T-80s and T-90s, but lacks native helicopter and aircraft support.
Motorized Infantry: Their BTRs, helicopters, and jeeps grant this specialization the ability to move fast, flank the enemy, or plug any gap in your frontlines.
Coastal Troops: Indispensable for naval operations, these Russian marines have access to long-range artillery and strategic bombers.
VDV Brigade (Russian Airborne Forces): Stealth and recon are the name of the game with the VDV, featuring elite troops and special forces supported by deadly and advanced airpower.

USA Specializations

USMC (United States Marine Corps): The best pick for beginners, offering the most rounded-out roster with infantry, tanks, artillery, and airpower. The USMC lacks long-range anti-aircraft and has no long-range artillery support.
Armored Brigade: Its playstyle is centered on powerful armored units and overwhelming firepower. Its backbone consists of M1 Abrams, M109 Paladins, and Patriot missile launchers.
Airborne Infantry: Fast and nimble light infantry, with access to a vast array of strike aircraft, and perfect for ambushes. Lacks heavy armor.
Stryker Cavalry Regiment: The most modular of specializations, the Stryker platform can be customized to tackle almost every challenge, from an anti-tank role to a fast-moving striking force.
Special Operations Forces: Recon specialists, these elite units have access to top-tier aircraft and drone technology, including the F-35A.

What's important here is that you experiment with how these specializations and their units interact. Find a comfortable play style that suits you and is fun for you to play. The combinations are endless, and there’s a lot to discover.

Commander, I’ll be expecting you for your next lesson!

Now that you've grasped the basics of Broken Arrow – understanding how this innovative real-time strategy modern military title works, what units you have at your disposal, and how army battlegroups are assembled – our upcoming lesson will dive deep into the strategies you'll need to master and the crucial pitfalls you must avoid to achieve undeniable tactical superiority on the battlefield.

Let us know in the comments what specializations you're most interested in, and why!

You're dismissed, for now!