Ultimate Arma Reforger Guide for Beginners

Arma Reforger is the latest addition to the Arma series by Bohemia Interactive, serving as both a bridge to Arma 4 and a standalone sandbox military simulator. It combines realistic gameplay mechanics with stunning visuals powered by the Enfusion engine. What sets Arma Reforger apart is its accessibility—it's now available on both PC and Xbox, drawing in a broader audience of milsim enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike.

Unlike previous Arma titles that leaned heavily toward complex systems and extensive modding, Reforger offers a more streamlined experience while retaining the tactical depth the franchise is known for. This Arma Reforger Guide aims to give newcomers a solid foundation, ensuring they can jump into vanilla servers, understand the gameplay mechanics, and enjoy the immersive battlefield environment. Whether you're a military sim veteran or a first-time player, this guide will serve as a comprehensive Arma Reforger tutorial for getting started the right way.

First Steps: the Reforger Tutorial

The Arma Reforger Main Menu

When you first launch Arma Reforger, one of the best decisions you can make is to go through the built-in tutorial. It’s concise but rich in practical lessons, teaching you everything from basic movement to weapon handling. Unlike many other games that leave players to figure out things on their own, Arma Reforger’s tutorial is well-crafted and incredibly helpful, especially for beginners.

You’ll learn to manage your stance, engage targets with precision, and navigate the inventory system—crucial skills for survival. The game’s UI and controls can be overwhelming at first, but the tutorial helps break things down. It also introduces you to some of the extensive keybindings, which are particularly important on PC. Taking time to absorb the basics here will pay off once you join a multiplayer match.

By the end of the tutorial, you’ll already feel a bit more confident stepping into your first game. Consider this the first major step in your Arma Reforger Guide to getting up and running smoothly. Remember: the goal isn’t to master everything instantly, but to absorb the fundamentals so you’re not completely lost in the chaos of your first battle.

Choosing the Right Game Mode

The Arma Reforger server browser with good settings to join a vanilla conflict server selected. Read the rest of this Arma Reforger Guide for more.

Arma Reforger features several game modes, but the primary and most beginner-friendly one is “Conflict.” This is the mode that mirrors the large-scale, objective-based battles the series is known for. In Conflict, two factions vie for control over various objectives scattered across the map. It combines infantry combat, base management, logistics, and vehicular warfare into a cohesive, dynamic experience.

For new players, Conflict offers the most rewarding way to learn the ropes because it encompasses nearly all of the game’s core mechanics. You’ll spawn at a headquarters, help build outposts, engage in firefights, and support your team through logistics or direct combat. Unlike some community-created mods that may have unique mechanics or altered rulesets, Conflict on a vanilla server is balanced and consistent across the board.

Other modes—like Game Master and modded scenarios—are great for variety but can be confusing if you haven’t yet mastered the basics. Stick with Conflict when starting out. This mode will provide a more controlled environment where the Arma Reforger tutorial knowledge can be applied directly in combat and teamwork scenarios.

Preparing for Battle: Loadouts and Customization

No Arma Reforger Tutorial would be complete without showing how to get more ammunition and weapons.

One of the unique features in Arma Reforger is its emphasis on loadout management. Instead of predefined classes, players create their own loadouts using supplies available at their team’s base. You’ll access the Armory to choose your weapons, gadgets, and accessories, and then customize them according to your tactical preferences and resource availability.

Every item in your loadout consumes a certain amount of supplies, and those supplies are finite. Your team shares a pool that replenishes slowly over time or through logistics efforts. This means being frugal and tactical is crucial. A basic loadout might only cost 10 supplies, while a more advanced one with a scope, suppressor, backpack, and rocket launcher could cost 50–60. The more supplies your gear uses, the fewer your teammates have access to, so be strategic.

Once you’ve built a loadout that works for you, save it using the interaction menu at the Armory. This feature is a lifesaver—literally and figuratively—because it allows for quick respawns without having to manually select each item again. As you progress, you’ll learn which items are essential and which ones can be skipped depending on the mission and your squad’s composition. Loadout efficiency is a recurring theme in this Arma Reforger Guide, especially in competitive vanilla servers.

Mastering Spawn Points and Base Building Basics

When you first enter a match you can choose where to spawn. In your bases it’s up to your team to construct critical infrastructure like the Armory, Vehicle Depot, and Forward Operating Bases. Although base building isn’t required knowledge for beginners, understanding how it works and where to access resources is key to staying useful on the battlefield.

You won’t be expected to build these structures alone, but knowing how to interact with them is essential. For example, if the Armory hasn’t been built yet, you won’t be able to equip a custom loadout. If your base lacks a Vehicle Depot, getting into a transport truck or resupplying logistics becomes a challenge. Supplies, again, come into play here—each structure costs a certain amount to build, and coordinating with your squad or base engineers ensures everything runs smoothly.

Communication is crucial. Use voice chat or text to inform teammates if a critical building is missing or needs to be repaired. It’s easy to feel lost in the first few matches, but observing and asking questions will help you quickly understand the flow of base development. This stage of the Arma Reforger tutorial is where your role as a team player becomes more apparent.

Supplies and Logistics – The Lifeblood of Your Team

Logistics is an important topic in any Arma Reforger Guide. It is vital for your team to win.

In Arma Reforger, nothing functions without supplies. Supplies are the unseen force that powers your team’s infrastructure—from loadouts and vehicles to base structures and spawn points. Without proper supply management, even the best squad will struggle to sustain itself in a prolonged match.

To initiate a supply run, you'll typically need to spawn a transport truck from the Vehicle Depot, load it with supplies from your HQ or a supply cache, and deliver them to other bases or forward objectives. These deliveries are crucial to ensure teammates can spawn with their desired loadouts or build structures like an Armory or Vehicle Depot. If the base doesn’t have enough supplies to support a player’s loadout, they won’t be able to spawn there, which can quickly turn the tide of a battle.

This section of our Arma Reforger Guide highlights the importance of logistics. It’s not the most glamorous role, but players who handle it effectively can carry their team to victory. When supplies are low, always check the map for nearby caches or determine if your team has a running convoy. Consider taking up this role occasionally—it’s an essential part of mastering the game, as emphasized in every detailed Arma Reforger tutorial.

Arma Reforger Guide to Vehicles and Deployment

Vehicles play a vital role in Reforger. From transporting troops to delivering supplies and engaging in combat, mastering their use is a must. Players can spawn vehicles at their base’s Vehicle Depot, provided there are enough supplies and they have the required rank. Common vehicles include Humvees, transport trucks, and utility vehicles.

Interaction points on vehicles might not always be obvious, but by holding the ALT key (or the appropriate console button), you can reveal all the interactive parts—like the trunk, handbrake, and lights. Always remember to engage the handbrake before exiting, or your vehicle might roll away and reveal your position.

Bulletproofing is another factor to consider. While Humvees have bulletproof front windshields, their side windows are vulnerable. It’s often better to approach these vehicles from the side with anti-vehicle weapons like RPGs. Whether you're driving or manning a mounted gun, vehicle operations in Arma Reforger require attention to detail and situational awareness—two core components this Arma Reforger Guide continually reinforces.

Exploring the Map: Navigation and Communication

Knowing how to use your map is vital in this milsim shooter.

Reforger’s maps are vast and intricately detailed, making navigation a critical skill. The in-game map uses a coordinate grid system of eastings and northings, allowing players to pinpoint exact locations. Learning to read and call out grid references will set you apart as a reliable squadmate.

Your compass complements the map, showing your orientation and helping you align your position. Always turn to face north before mapping a route; this ensures your directions align with your squad. Use landmarks, road signs, and terrain features to find your way if the map isn’t accessible.

Communication is key. Use text chat, proximity voice chat, or radio voice chat to coordinate with your team. Remember that proximity chat can be overheard by enemy players, so be mindful of what you say and where you say it. The Arma Reforger tutorial emphasizes teamwork, and mastering in-game communication will greatly enhance your overall gameplay experience.

Capturing Objectives – The Core Gameplay Loop

Conflict mode revolves around capturing and holding objectives. These are marked in magenta on the map and are strategically vital. The more objectives your team holds, the closer you are to winning the match. However, capturing isn’t as straightforward as simply running to a point and holding it.

Your team must have radio signal coverage over an objective before it can be captured. This coverage stems from your HQ or other radio sources like deployed radio units and activated radio towers. The signal coverage is visually represented by red lines connecting your HQ to objectives. Without signal presence, your team cannot secure or respawn at that location.

This gameplay loop emphasizes strategy and coordination. Rushing objectives without radio coverage is a waste of resources. Instead, deploy radios methodically and maintain signal integrity. This section of our Arma Reforger Guide underlines how radio signal planning is just as important as combat tactics—a key concept for anyone serious about improving through any Arma Reforger tutorial.

How to Join a Vanilla Server Step-by-Step

Joining a vanilla server is one of the most common pain points for new players, but the process is fairly simple once you know what to do. From the main menu, navigate to the server browser. You’ll see a list of available servers, both modded and unmodded.

To find a vanilla server, use the filter options. Select “Official Servers” or uncheck any mods or custom rulesets in the filter section. Vanilla servers are typically hosted by Bohemia Interactive or clearly labeled. Once filtered, look for a server with good ping and a decent number of players—ideally 20 or more for balanced gameplay.

Click the server name and select “Join.” If you get a message about missing mods, double-check your filters to ensure you're only seeing vanilla listings. And that’s it—you're in. The first few minutes on a new server might feel overwhelming, but this Arma Reforger Guide has already equipped you with the essentials to survive and thrive. Remember, every Arma Reforger tutorial emphasizes patience and observation—two skills that will serve you well in your first few matches.

Arma Reforger Tutorial for Squad Play and Roles

Make sure you join a squad that is operating in the same area as you.

Teamwork is at the core of Arma Reforger’s gameplay, and the squad system plays a pivotal role in fostering this collaboration. When you join a game, you’ll either be assigned to a squad or be prompted to join one manually. Each squad can accommodate multiple players and has a designated leader who can issue orders and set waypoints.

Being part of a squad enhances communication, coordination, and your chances of success. The squad leader often sets the objective strategy and guides the team across the battlefield. Follow their lead and use radio chat to stay in sync. Even if you're new, don't hesitate to ask questions—most experienced players are happy to help you learn the ropes.

Combat Tactics and Gunplay Mechanics

Arma Reforger’s combat is grounded in realism. Success in engagements comes from patience, positioning, and preparation—not running and gunning. Most firefights are won by the team that spotted the enemy first and communicated effectively. Use cover wisely and keep your movements calculated.

Suppressors are game-changers. Firing an unsuppressed weapon alerts nearby enemies to your position, while suppressed fire gives you a chance to engage stealthily. Additionally, mounting your weapon on a surface like a sandbag, ledge, or vehicle can drastically improve your accuracy and reduce sway. Simply get into position and use the designated key to mount your firearm.

Another tip: avoid firing from standing position if possible. Going prone or crouching not only stabilizes your aim but also makes you a smaller target. Tactical combat is the essence of this Arma Reforger Guide, and taking your time to aim, observe, and coordinate will make you a formidable player. Every Arma Reforger tutorial builds on the philosophy that combat is strategic, not frantic.

Healing and Medical System Explained

Play the Arma Reforger Tutorial for more information on the medical system.

Arma Reforger features a robust and surprisingly deep medical system. When you're hit, you may sustain wounds to specific body parts—arms, legs, chest, or head. These injuries can result in bleeding, impaired movement, or unconsciousness. You’ll need to treat them quickly or risk dying from blood loss.

There are four main medical items you should keep in your inventory: bandages, tourniquets, morphine, and saline bags. Bandages stop bleeding but take time to apply. Tourniquets work faster and are best used on limbs. Morphine helps manage pain and temporarily removes debuffs, while saline restores blood volume and speeds up recovery.

When wounded, apply tourniquets first to stop the bleeding quickly, then follow up with bandages. After you're stabilized, remove the tourniquets and administer saline if your screen turns black and white (a sign of low blood volume). This system might seem overwhelming, but you’ll master it with practice. This Arma Reforger Guide insists that survival often depends on proper medical management—something most new players overlook in early matches.

Progression System and Ranks

Leveling up in Arma Reforger gives you access to new vehicles and equipment.

As you contribute to your team, you'll earn ranks. These ranks are session-based, meaning they reset after each match, but they dictate what vehicles and equipment you can access during the game. You earn rank by capturing objectives, healing teammates, providing logistics support, and scoring kills.

Higher ranks unlock advanced gear, such as heavy vehicles, helicopters, and superior weaponry. However, new players shouldn’t worry too much about ranking up right away. Focus on learning the map, supporting your squad, and staying alive. The rank will come naturally as you participate in the team effort.

Ranks are displayed in the player list, and some servers use them to delegate leadership roles or prioritize vehicle access. As this Arma Reforger Guide explains, understanding how progression works can help you plan your in-match goals. It’s also a motivator—seeing your rank climb is a tangible reward for teamwork and consistency, which every Arma Reforger tutorial rewards in one way or another.

Tips for Night Combat and Stealth Play

Nighttime missions add a whole new layer of strategy to Arma Reforger. Visibility is reduced, making flares and light sources critical. One effective tactic is to equip a grenade launcher and load it with flares to illuminate enemy positions. Be mindful of where you shoot them—firing a flare directly above your team can expose your location to the enemy.

Avoid using flashlights unless absolutely necessary. They broadcast your position like a beacon, especially when enemies are watching from a distance. Instead, rely on night vision (if available) or use flare-assisted lighting to navigate. Keep your movements slow and avoid open terrain to stay undetected.

For stealth-focused players, suppressed weapons, dark uniforms, and silence are your best allies. Stick to the shadows, move in cover, and communicate using hand signals or minimal voice chat. This portion of the Arma Reforger Guide reinforces a core truth: controlling the battlefield at night requires preparation, patience, and precision. Every serious Arma Reforger tutorial should include night combat readiness—it’s one of the most immersive aspects of the game.

That’s all for this Arma Reforger Guide and Tutorial for beginners. Good luck out there in your matches and always remember, this is a team game. Enjoy!