The basics
- 01
Build your base
Your dozer builds power plants, barracks and factories. Keep power positive or everything slows down.
- 02
Gather supplies
Supply trucks carry money from supply fields to your depot. Engineers capture oil derricks for steady income.
- 03
Raise an army
Train infantry, tanks, anti-air and helicopters. Mixed forces beat any single unit type.
- 04
Win the war
Destroy every enemy structure and dozer. Use general powers and your superweapon to break defenses.
Controls
Desktop
| Left click | Select / give an order |
| Drag | Box-select units |
| Double-click | Select all of that type |
| Right click | Order (move, attack, harvest) |
| Right-drag | Pan the camera |
| Wheel | Zoom |
| Q+E | Rotate the camera |
| A | Attack-move |
| S | Stop |
| H | Jump to base |
| Space | Jump to last alert |
| Ctrl+1-9 | Assign a group |
| 1-9 | Select a group |
| Shift+Click | Train 5 units at once |
Mobile
| Tap | Select / give an order |
| Double-tap | Select all of that type |
| Drag | Pan the camera |
| Pinch | Zoom |
| Twist | Rotate the camera |
| Long-press ground | Attack-move |
| Box button | Drag to select a group |
| Long-press unit button | Cancel production |
Build order for beginners
- 01
Start with a Power Plant, then a Supply Depot right next to a supply field — it comes with a free truck.
- 02
Build Barracks and train two or three infantry to protect your base and an Engineer to capture nearby oil derricks.
- 03
Add a second Supply Truck, then a War Factory for tanks and anti-air.
- 04
Build a Tech Center to unlock general powers, then your nation's superweapon.
- 05
Attack with a mixed force: tanks in front, anti-air and rocket infantry behind, artillery out of range.
Strategy tips
- 01
Build a Supply Depot close to a supply field — it comes with a free Supply Truck.
- 02
Engineers capture Oil Derricks for a steady stream of income.
- 03
Israel's Iron Dome shoots down rockets, missiles and artillery shells; the Merkava's Trophy protects itself.
- 04
Russia's TOS-1A has short range but a devastating thermobaric blast — keep your units spread out.
- 05
China's infantry is 20% cheaper — overwhelm the enemy with numbers.
- 06
Veteran units fire harder; heroic units heal themselves.
- 07
Keep your power positive or production and defenses slow down.
- 08
Long-press the ground on mobile to attack-move your selection.
- 09
Vehicles crush enemy infantry they drive over.
Ranks & progression
Every finished game earns you experience points (XP), and XP raises your military rank — from Private all the way to General. Ranks and XP are saved to your free account and shown next to your name in lobbies and on the leaderboard.
The ranks
- Private0 XP
- Corporal400 XP
- Sergeant1,200 XP
- Staff Sergeant2,500 XP
- Lieutenant4,500 XP
- Captain7,500 XP
- Major12,000 XP
- Lieutenant Colonel18,000 XP
- Colonel27,000 XP
- Brigadier General40,000 XP
- General60,000 XP
How you earn XP
| Every finished game | +40 |
| Time in battle | +8 per 2 min, up to +120 |
| Enemy units and buildings destroyed | +3 each, up to +200 |
| Structures and units built | +1 each, up to +80 |
| Supplies harvested | +1 per $400, up to +100 |
| Victory | +120 |
Multiplier by opponent
| AI — Easy | ×0.5 |
| AI — Normal | ×1 |
| AI — Hard | ×1.4 |
| AI — Brutal | ×1.9 |
| Online game | ×1.6 |
Rating (ELO)
Your rank shows experience; your rating shows skill. Everyone starts at 1200. Only online games with real players on both sides change it: beat a stronger opponent and you gain a lot, lose to a weaker one and you drop. Your first 10 rated games move the rating faster so you find your level quickly. The leaderboard is sorted by rating.
- Games against the AI must last at least one minute to count.
- Guests can play everything, but only an account keeps XP, rank and rating.
- The fastest way up: win online games and hard AI battles, and fight for a while — long, active games pay best.
Nations
Frequently asked questions
Is Fires of War free?
Yes. Fires of War is completely free to play in your browser, with no download and no installation.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. The game supports touch controls on phones and tablets: tap to select, drag to pan, pinch to zoom and long-press to attack-move.
Can I play online with friends?
Yes. Create a room in the multiplayer lobby and share the room code or link. You can also fill empty slots with AI opponents.
Which nations can I play?
The United States, Russia, China and Israel. Each one has its own units, real-world weapons and a unique superweapon.
How do I rank up?
Every finished game gives XP for time in battle, kills, building, harvesting and winning. Harder opponents and online games multiply it. Collect enough XP to climb 11 ranks, from Private to General.
Do I need an account?
No. You can play as a guest. A free account saves your rank, ELO rating and match history and puts you on the leaderboard.