Broken Arrow is a game of strategic depth, but sometimes the most powerful tools are hidden in plain sight! This guide will uncover essential binds, offer tactical advice, and reveal fun interactions with game mechanics you might not even know exist. Get ready to elevate your gameplay and dominate the battlefield!
Unseen Power: Master Broken Arrow Hidden Controls (Game Guide)
Essential Binds You Need to Know (Broken Arrow Controls)
Many crucial controls in Broken Arrow are tucked away, even in the game’s own settings. But don’t worry, we’ve highlighted the most important ones so you can commit them to memory and react faster than ever.
- F7 – Hide/Unhide UI: Need to take a clear screenshot or just want an unobstructed view of the action? Hit F7 to hide your user interface. Press it again to bring it back.
- F8 – Top-Down Map View: Get a bird’s-eye perspective of the entire map with a single press of F8. Press it again to return to your normal view. This is invaluable for strategic oversight and planning large-scale movements.
- Hold HOME – Topography Map: Ever wonder about the terrain’s elevation? Holding the HOME key will display a detailed topography map, helping you understand line of sight, cover, and potential ambush points.
Advanced Deployment Strategies (Broken Arrow Tactical Guide)
Beyond basic unit deployment, Broken Arrow offers sophisticated ways to get your troops where they need to be, precisely and efficiently.
- U (Double Tap) – Unload at Completion: Instead of immediately unloading at your cursor, double-tapping ‘U’ will make your unit unload only after it completes its current order. This is incredibly useful for helicopters, allowing them to drop off units once they reach a safe, designated spot (though you’ll need quick fingers!).
- U + Hold Click, Drag & Release (on Buildings) – Targeted Building Unload: This is a game-changer for unit placement! Press ‘U’, then click and hold, drag your mouse to a specific building, and release. Your units will unload and automatically move into that building.
- U + Click (on Building) – Direct Building Unload: Even simpler for quick setups! Press ‘U’ and directly click on a building. Your units will unload straight into it, minimizing micromanagement and getting your forces into position faster.
Precision Strikes & Tactical Manoeuvres (Pro Tactics)
Unleash the full destructive power of your units and execute complex tactics with these often-overlooked binds.
- N (or Rebind to Left Control) – Laser Designation: For units equipped with lasers, pressing ‘N’ (or your preferred rebind, like Left Control) will activate the laser. You can then “paint” targets, and air-launched ATGMs (like AGM-65 and KH-31) will automatically fire without a separate strike order. This is crucial for precise, quick attacks!
- Control + 0-9 – Create Unit Groups: Organize your army efficiently! Select any units you want to group together, then press ‘Control’ and a number from 0-9. Now, whenever you press that number, you’ll instantly select that entire group, allowing for rapid deployment and coordinated attacks.
- Z – Activate Special Abilities:
- Infantry: Activates “Sprint” for rapid movement.
- Planes: Engages “Afterburner” for a burst of speed.
- Vehicles: Activates their radar, enhancing their awareness.
- P – Precision Strike (Single Bomb): Ready to drop a guided bomb? Each press of ‘P’ preps one guided bomb. Press ‘P’ twice then click twice to drop two bombs, and so on.
- P + Hold Shift + Click – Multiple Precision Strikes: For quick, devastating volleys, press ‘P’, hold ‘Shift’, and click as many times as you need. Your unit will drop that many precision-guided bombs (or as many as it has remaining).
- V – Change Altitude (Planes/Helicopters): Toggle between high and low altitudes for your air units. This is essential for evading anti-air fire or setting up specific attack angles.
- G – Force Fire: Force any selected unit to fire all weapons within range of your clicked target, even if it’s not the optimal engagement. Use this to quickly suppress enemies or clear out structures.
- O – Quick Paradrop Order: Swiftly issue paradrop orders. Be cautious, as the plane is very sensitive; ensure it’s aligned with your intended heading to avoid wide, unnecessary turns.
- E – Cancel All Orders: Made a mistake or need to quickly redeploy? Press ‘E’ to cancel all current orders for your selected units.
- Q – Attack Move: Your unit will move forward, stopping to attack the first enemy unit that enters its range or line of sight. Perfect for advancing while maintaining defensive posture.
- H – Return Fire (and Artillery Trick!): Units will automatically return fire when attacked. But here’s a secret for artillery users:
- Pre-aim Artillery: Draw an artillery order, then press ‘H’. Your artillery will aim, and when you press ‘H’ again, it will execute the order.
- Pause Mid-Salvo: You can even pause an artillery barrage mid-salvo with ‘H’ and then instantly resume it. This is a brilliant trick to bait enemy vehicles back into a push, making them think the salvo is over!
- K – Strafing Run: For planes, this bind allows them to perform strafing runs, firing ATGMs, rockets, and other munitions (excluding bombs, smart bombs, or cruise missiles).
- L – Bombing Run: Initiate bombing runs with your planes. This lets them drop both high and low drag bombs (high drag can be dropped from low or high altitude, while low drag is for high altitude only).
What are your favorite hidden binds or tactical tricks? Share them in the comments below!
F7 hides the UI, F8 toggles top-down view, HOME shows topography – and don’t miss U + click for targeted unloads!
Press P (optionally with Shift) to queue multiple guided bombs, and use N to laser designate targets for missile locks.
Yes—use H to pre‑aim, pause, or resume barrages to bait enemy units. It’s a pro-level move!
Last Updated on July 10, 2025
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