Getting Started – Arma 3
Buying Arma 3
Arma 3 is a Steam platform exclusive game and can be bought on the Arma 3 Steam page.
Editions
Arma 3 has some Editions and bundles to purchase. Bundles are always cheaper than purchasing products separately.
- Arma 3 (Steam page) is the base game. It comes with Arma 3 Zeus and Arma 3 Malden.
- Arma 3 Deluxe Edition (Steam page) contains art (soundtrack, digital artworks, maps, tactical guide) and the Arma 3 Karts DLC
- Arma 3 Ground Edition (Steam page) contains all Deluxe content but the digital artworks, along Arma 3 Apex and Arma 3 Contact DLCs
- Arma 3 Ultimate Edition (Steam page) has the base game and every DLCs and expansions by Bohemia Interactive.
| Content | Arma 3 | Deluxe Ed. | Ground Ed. | Ultimate Ed. | DLC Essentials |
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| Arma 3 | 
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| Soundtrack |
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| Digital Artworks |
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| Maps |
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| Tactical Guide |
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| Karts |
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| Helicopters |
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| Marksmen |
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| Apex |
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| Laws of War |
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| Jets |
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| Tac-Ops |
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| Tanks |
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| Contact |
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Buying DLCs
You may wonder if you need to buy DLCs. You do not need anything to enjoy playing Arma 3 (but the base game), but depending on which experience you are after the common recommendations change:
- For a Singleplayer experience, the base campaign, Arma 3 Laws of War and in an other style Arma 3 Contact singleplayer campaigns are considered among the best singleplayer moments. If you can afford it too, see also the Arma 3 Tac-Ops Mission Pack for a combat experience from multiple points of view.
- For a Multiplayer experience, it is recommended to at least own Arma 3 Apex to be able to play with its assets and have access to the Tanoa terrain. The cooperation campaign is good to play through too.
- Every asset such as weapons and vehicles provided by Bohemia Interactive are free to test in Arsenal (TUTORIALS > VIRTUAL ARSENAL). If you wonder if the DLC is worth your money, it is possible to try it for free.
Starting With the Game
You bought the game, downloaded it, installed it, configured it via the launcher, started it: now what?
If you are not familiar with the Arma series, a usual recommendation is to access the main menu and select Tutorial, you can find choices such as:
- Read the Game Manual
- Read the Default Keyboard Layout Cheatsheet (printable and foldable)
- Head on the Game Options and change key bindings, languages and difficulty
- See Arma 3: Performance Optimisation for more information on the settings
- Read the in-game Field Manual (TUTORIAL > FIELD MANUAL)
- Watch Community Guide videos (Steam page / YouTube)
- Read and watch Dslyecxi's Tactical Guides (direct link to TTP3)
then…
Playing in Single Player
In-Game Training
- Play the VR Training missions to understand the principles
- Play the Showcases to apply these principles in real action
- Play the Bootcamp campaign
- Practice weapons and vehicles in the Virtual Arsenal
- Discover the available Terrains in Eden Editor
Fighting
- Play the Single Player campaign "The East Wind" to learn to work in a team
- Play the other Single Player content, according to your DLC list:
- Arma 3 Tac-Ops Mission Pack
- Arma 3 Laws of War's campaign
- Arma 3 Contact's campaign
Playing in Multiplayer
- If you own Arma 3 Apex, play its Multiplayer campaign "Apex Protocol" with experienced friends
- Hours of practice will help you:
- Find the kind of game you like, among the various Multiplayer game types
- Getting different experiences no training can bring (situational awareness, reflexes, specific cases)
- If possible, try to play on multiple servers with friends or an Arma 3 Unit!
Joining a Modded Server
A non-official server may require mods to play. The game itself cannot download the mods and will only tell you what is missing.
Joining a server from the Launcher can download the required mods before launching the game; see more information at Arma 3: Launcher - Servers.
Steam Workshop 101
Arma 3 does support Steam Workshop. You can find mods (a.k.a addons) that add some assets, features and experiences that don't exist in vanilla (addon-free) Arma 3, or user-made scenarios providing another game experience.
To add and install Workshop items, follow these steps:
Download and Play a Scenario
- Open the Arma 3 Steam Workshop and select the Scenario tag.
- Find a scenario you like.
- Click subscribe on
to subscribe to a scenario. It will automatically download when the game is started. - Open the game and navigate to SINGLEPLAYER > SCENARIOS. If the mission has a Multiplayer/Co-Op tag on the workshop, you have to go to MULTIPLAYER > QUICK PLAY > HOST SERVER to see it.
- The subscribed mission will be downloaded and found under the Steam Subscribed Content.
Download and Activate a Mod
- Open the Arma 3 Steam Workshop and select the Mod tag.
- Find a mod you like.
- Click subscribe on to subscribe to a mod.
- Start Arma 3 from your Steam Library, that will open Arma 3: Launcher.
- Subscribed mods will be downloaded automatically.
- Click the MODS tab.
- Downloaded mods are automatically loaded. If you need to unload a mod, click the checkbox.
- Press PLAY to launch Arma 3 with selected mods.
Finding Players, Communities and Help
Official communication channels
- Arma 3 Official Forums
- Arma 3 Official Discord
- #looking_for_game channel if you are looking for players
- #looking_for_squad channel if you are looking for squads
- #communities_arma channel if you are looking for communities
- #singleplayer channel for… Single Player content advices and discussion
- #scripting channel for help in scripting, as well as Arma 3 Scripting Commands
- #community_wiki channel where discussions about articles on this wiki happen
- And for all your other questions, #ask_questions_here is the channel to be!
Common Game Modes Servers
- Exile Discord
- Epoch Discord
- Antistasi Discord
- Arma RPG Life Discord
- King Of The Hill / Wasteland Discord