As a fast-paced, military-focused RTS experience, Broken Arrow sends players right into the action as soon as the game kicks off. Each player comes into the game with a certain number of troops packed within a deck, and that's why it's important to build the deck while considering all the different situations of a battle.
Warno: 10 Best Divisions, Ranked
Aerial superiority, ground domination, or defensive structure? There is a division for each one in Warno.
Russia and the United States are two major sides of the battle in the game, and Russian forces are usually considered powerful on the ground, especially when it comes to tanks and mortars. However, you can't win a war with a few units. A good deck needs to support the player in every aspect of the battle, giving them the right tools to intercept enemy attacks and turn the tide of war.
Best Russian Deck In Broken Arrow
It's no secret that Russian units shine much better than the United States units on the ground, and that's why focusing on ground units like Tanks or Artillery is always a wise move with the Russian forces.
This deck might look too thin in the air with only Mig-29 and Su-25 as air units, but with a superior present on the ground, there is no need for a massive load of aerial units.
Recon
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3x Diversanty + 3x BTR-82AT
- Squad Loadout: Ambushers
- Weapon Pack: BTR-82AT
- Armor Pack: Up-Armored
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4x Korsar
- Weapon Pack: 2x Ataka ATGM
- Sensors: Upgraded Sensors
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2x Spetsnaz GRU + 2x BTR-82AT
- Squad Loadout: Verba + RPG-28
- Weapon Pack: BTR-82AT
- Armor Pack: Default
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2x BRM-3K-57
- Weapon Pack: 57mm Gun + Ataka ATGM
- Armor Pack: Reactive Armor
Drones are by far the best recon units available in Broken Arrow for both Russian and US forces. Korsar is not the strongest drone from the Russian side, but it's still effective. Its range might not be as big as that of Orion, but Korsar is a cheap and economic option for revealing enemy troops, especially when holding an area.
When it comes to pushing forward, Recon units like BRM-3K-57 or Spetsnaz GRU could be more beneficial. Diversanty is also a good unit for holding an area, as their Ambush loadout can be almost lethal against opposing vehicles.
These units are almost the best things that the two specializations of Motorized Infantry and Tank Brigade have to offer. They will do the job for you - not perfectly, of course, but they will tackle everything expected from Recon units.
Infantry
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2x PTRK Kornet + 2x BTR-82AT
- Squad Loadout: Kornet-M
- Weapon Pack: BTR-82AT
- Armor Pack: Default
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2x AGS-40 Balkan + 2x B-10 Kurganets
- Weapon Pack: BTR-82AT
- Protection System: None
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2x Gvardii Motostrelki + 2x T-15 Barbaris
- Weapon Pack: Bumerang-BM
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2x Ingenery Shturmoviki + 2x T-15 Barbaris
- Squad Loadout: Thermobaric Rockets
- Weapon Pack: Bumerang-BM
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6x Motopekhota + 3x BTR-82A
- Weapon Pack: BTR-82A
- Armor Pack: Default
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2x PZRK Igla-N + 2x K-16 Bumerang
- Squad Loadout: Igla-S
- Weapon Pack: Kord Heavy Machinegun
- Armor Pack: Default
Infantry is one of the most important units when it comes to sneaking into the enemy's position. It is the only category in Broken Arrow that is required in every situation and for every playstyle.
AGS-40 Balkan and PZRK Igla-N are both great units for holding an area, with the former focusing on ground vehicles and the latter keeping skies clear. It's always recommended to have at least one unit of these two forces somewhere along the area that you are holding.
PTRK Kornet is also a unit that comes with the significant capability of taking down enemy tanks and vehicles, but this one is well-suited for pushing forward when you use BTR-82AT as the transporter vehicle, which already comes with anti-tank missiles.
The rest of the infantry units also shine in pushing scenarios, but some, like Ingenery Shturmoviki, can help with holding urban areas or hide in the bushes to cover Recon units.
Vehicle
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2x T-14 Armata
- Weapon Pack: Sprinter
- Armor Pack: Up-Armored
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3x 9P162 Kornet-T
- Weapon Pack: Kornet-T
- Armor Pack: Up-Armored
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1x T-80U
- Modernization: T80UA
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1x T-90
- Modernization: T90A
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1x T-90M
- Weapon Pack: PKT Machinegun
- Armor Pack: Arena APS+ERA
This is where this Russian deck shines. T-14 Armata tanks are the most valuable units of this deck, and they can really turn the tides of war if you put them to good use and keep them secure. These are the best tanks in the entire Russian forces, and they come with a sturdy Active Protection System as well as heavy armor and powerful cannons.
The next best thing in this category is T-90. Thanks to its Modernization, T90A is a tank that can survive multiple battles. Better than the firepower, it's the defensive statistics of this tank that make it standout, especially the 30% ECM that makes it a difficult-to-hit target for the opponent's missiles.
T-90M is a stronger variant of T-90A that doesn't have the ECM. Instead, it comes with an Active Protection System. It's also better armored than T-90A and covers a slightly longer range with its cannon.
Standing next to T-14 and T-90M might make T-80 look like a weak tank, but it's already one of the most solid vehicles in the game. Its speed and firepower are slightly better than that of T-90A, while using the UA modernization gives it the same amount of ECM, which makes a beast on the battlefield.
The last slot in this category is taken by 9P162 anti-tank vehicles. It's not the best anti-tank in the game, but with the Kornet-T missiles, these vehicles can significantly help with holding an area or pushing with a group of tanks. They will help tanks survive longer and will also work well with Infantry or Recon units.
Broken Arrow: Best US Units
Broken Arrow players have a range of US units to choose from, but these are arguably the best of the bunch.
Support
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2x S-300PM2 Favorit
- Weapon Pack: 48N6P-01 Missiles
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2x 9K515 Tornado-S
- Ammunition: Guided, HE Warheads
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2x 9K51 Grad
- Ammunition: Incendiary Rockets
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2x Osa-AKM
- Weapon Pack: Static
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3x 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV
- Weapon Pack: Extended Range
- 3x MT-SM
The biggest strength of a Russian deck is always its artillery units. No matter what deck you are playing against, you can always bury your enemies under heavy artillery strikes, as there is nothing to stop them from raining over the enemies.
In this specific deck, 9K515 Tornado and 9K51 Grad play a crucial role. The former is amazing for destroying enemy vehicles, air-defense systems, and artillery. The firepower from Tornado-S is just unmatched, and it can truly obliterate everything that it targets, especially when using Guided missiles.
On the other hand, 9K51 Grad does the same against infantry units. Players can switch the ammunition to Incendiary and watch the enemy troops burn to death before they can leave their hideout. This is a great tool for clearing any possible ambush inside the forests or urban areas.
For targeting distant targets, 2S35 Koalitsiya is the best option. Of course, it doesn't pack a punch similar to 9K515 Tornado, but it can deal with enemy howitzers. Equipping the Extended Range will increase Koalitsiya's effective range even more while adding up to its overall accuracy.
Helicopter
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2x Mi-8MTV-2 Pchela
- Inner Pylons: 40x S-8 Rockets
- Outer Pylons: Empty
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2x Mi-28N Ohotni
- Inner Pylons: 10x S-13 Rockets
- Outer Pylons: 8x Ataka, 4x Igla-S
- Sensors: Radar
This deck is quite thin in aerial warfare, but that doesn't mean it cannot operate well in this specific area. For the helicopter slots, two options are suggested: Mi-8MTV-2 Pchela and Mi-28N Ohotni. The former is supposed to be used as a transporter for infantry units as well as supplies to the frontline in critical situations.
Only use this carrier when you are 100% sure there is no opposing air-defense system nearby, and make sure to return it to the base as soon as the troops are deployed. These two choppers will come in handy when you need to maintain the tanks in the frontline. So, make sure to keep them safe at all costs.
The second option is only for pushing, and specifically covering your tanks from the air. Packed with S-13 Rockets, Ataka, and Igla-S missiles, these choppers are quite expensive but also quite capable when it comes to destroying enemy vehicles. They can provide significant support for tanks, though you really need to be careful when there is enemy infantry with anti-air missiles.
Aircraft
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1x Su-25T
- Inner Pylons: 10x S-13 Rockets
- Middle Pylons: 16x Vikhr, 2x S-25
- Outer Pylons: 2x R-77
- Wingtips: 4x R-60
- Sensors: Kopyo-25 Radar
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1x MiG-29SMT
- Inner Pylons: 2x ODAB-500 Thermobaric
- Middle Pylons: 2x FAB-500
- Outer Pylons: 2x R-77
The available aircraft options for either the Motorized Infantry or Tank Brigade are not stellar. These decks only have access to some outdated 4th-gen aircrafts from the Russian military. That being said, you can at least challenge your enemies with what you have even if you don't gain full air superiority.
For this deck, you are recommended to pick one MiG-29SMT and one Su-25T. Both of these aircraft are quite good for launching strikes on ground targets, but they are quite lacking in air-to-air combat, especially against modern fighters. It's still suggested to equip mid-range and short-range air-to-air missiles on at least one of the fighters, but it's also fine to focus on bombs or anti-tank missiles in both aircrafts.
Despite poor capabilities in air superiority, Su-25T is a solid option for targeting vehicles. The rockets on this aircraft bring amazing firepower, and so do the Vikht anti-tank missiles, which are designed to destroy enemies pushing units on the ground. MiG-29SMT, on the other hand, comes with some big bombs that can deal a whole lot of damage despite the low armor penetration.
Using anti-radiation missiles is not necessary for either of the weapons, as you can destroy the air-defense systems with your artillery rather than sacrificing aircrafts.
- Released
- June 19, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Steel Balalaika
- Publisher(s)
- Slitherine Ltd.
- Engine
- Unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Real-Time Strategy, War & Military
