Ask most people that have been playing Arma for some time and they will tell you that Arma is a great game, but by adding mods you can make the game extraordinary. There are literally thousands of mods out there, with some that will suit your gameplay style and some that won’t. Take your time and search through the available mods when trying to enhance your game or fulfill a need, and feel free to experiment; Bohemia Interactive has made it fairly easy to install and remove mods at will.
The easiest way to add new mods is with Steam Workshop;
Simply point your browser to Arma 3; Locate the mod/mods you would like to use;
And click “Subscribe”;
Next time you open the Arma 3 launcher go to the “MODS” section on the left;
In the “Available mods” section place a checkmark next to the mods you would like to use;
Click “Play”;
The mods listed here are at the top of the pack because they work with and enhance everything else, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. I doubt you can recommend 6 better mods than the ones listed here.
CBA_A3
CBA is a system rather than a mod. CBA is a tool that other modders use to make their mods better. Without CBA many of the great mods we have today, would not be as good as they are. For anyone deciding to try mods or expanding the mods you have, CBA is a must, and in almost every case should be the first mod you load. Subscribe to the current version of CBA at: Steam Workshop::CBA_A3
JSRS
Makes Arma sound as good as it looks
If you only use one mod, make it this one. Everyone knows JSRS is the best sound mod available for Arma. JSRS edits the sound for pretty much everything in Arma 3; With a few thousand new sound effects JSRS SOUND MOD provides a powerful and new sound experience, from all vanilla ArmA3 to the APEX DLC contents. You’ll be surprised at how JSRS revolutionizes Arma and how you play it. When bullets whip over your head with JSRS installed, you can’t help but hit the dirt. Firefights are incredibly intense — each rifle crack and machine-gun rattle will echo in your bones as you frantically return fire and search for cover. Arma is all about immersing you in what it’s like to be just another pair of boots with a gun, and JSRS does an amazing job at showcasing how insignificant you are when ordinance starts heading your way. You’ll be shocked at how much a part your ears play when it comes to total immersion. After your first firefight with JSRS, you’ll never be able to stomach vanilla Arma 3 sounds again. Download JSRS from Steam at: Steam Workshop::JSRS SOUNDMOD
Blastcore
Complete Visual Effects package
Blastcore is a simple choice. It makes things that go boom look 1000 times better. Arma 3 is notorious for its lackluster explosions, the fact that they try so hard for realism with everything else, BI fell real short. Thankfully Blastcore fixes the problems. Everything from tracers, grenades, smoke grenades, and even the big GBUs get an overhaul with Blastcore. Do yourself a favor and take off your night-vision goggles the first time you call in an airstrike with Blastcore installed. Blastcore isn’t perfect though. The explosions are tinted with too much yellow for most people’s tastes, and there may be a touch too much dirt spray when your rounds hit the ground, but that’s about as big of a nitpick as you’ll find. - Unfortunately Blastcore has not been updated in many years and the original author of Blastcore: Phoenix and Blastcore: Phoenix 2, Opticalsnare has not been heard from since 2014.
A community developer ruPal/Paladin has decided to update Blastcore and make it compatible with the current Arma versions. The current version, Blastcore Edited (standalone version) can be found on Steam at: Steam Workshop::Blastcore Edited (standalone version)
RHS USAF:
Winner of the Make Arma not War Total Modification
United States armed forces brought to Arma 3 in full glory! Dozens of vehicles of every variety, units and weapons, all modeled and textured to the finest details and packed with features. Even though RHS:USAF is not just a weapons, uniforms and accessory mod, on our servers that is what you are limited to, but there are plenty of reasons to use this mod. It is very hard to pick my favorite RHS weapon/scope combination so I will list two. My first is the M249 PIP (Any variant) with the TA31RCO-RMR. The M249 uses a 5.56 caliber round in up to a 200 round belt. The TA31RCO-RMR is clear, highly detailed and has good markings and a secondary red dot. My second favorite is the M4A1 PIP (M320) and the AN/PAS-13G(V)1 for night missions. The AN/PAS has built in thermal and 2X digital zoom made for the M4/M16/AR15’s. With the M320 do not forget to bring the M397 HET grenades. The M397 are airburst variants and do much more damage than the standard 40mm HE that explode on ground contact. RHS:USAF is only one of many mods made by Red Hammer Studios, all of which are worth looking into. RHS:USAF can be found on Steam Workshop at: Steam Workshop::RHSUSAF
CUP Weapons
A comprehensive weapons mod
Community Upgrade Project includes hundreds of weapons, This is “the” weapons pack. It contains all the weapons, assault rifles, machine guns, shotguns, grenade launchers, pistols, sniper rifles, and whatever else goes “boom” from Arma 2 and the expansion and DLC’s. All weapons are stripped of their attachments were possible, and these have been turned into attachable scopes, lasers, flashlights, and bipods interchangeable with the vanilla content. Maybe you prefer some of the current Arma 3 weapons, that will not stop you from taking advantage of CUP and the accessories that it offers. Take a look at the Schmidt and Bender 3-12X60 PM II, I love this scope. For one the details are perfect, the high resolution graphics are second to none. But looks alone do not make a scope worth using. The zoom, clarity, and accuracy make this my go to sniper scope. CUP Weapon as avaliable from the Arma 3 workshop: Steam Workshop::RHSUSAF
Shacktac
A team interface mod
ShackTac offers , a Fireteam HUD, Group Indicators, Name Tags, enhanced map markers and other UI-related mods that have been condensed into a concept known as the “ShackTac User Interface”, or STUI. The Fireteam HUD provides situational awareness on where your fireteam members are and what their orientation is. This is intended to represent both peripheral vision, as well as the extended awareness one has in reality. You only see your fireteam members relative to you – no terrain, no other players/units. STUI Gives you an always-visible way of seeing who your team members are. Group Indicators take the existing vanilla group icon concept and make it into something more usable but it does not provide perfect visibility it attempts to recreate real life. ShackTac Name Tags replace the existing Arma nametags in order to make them more usable and interesting. ShackTac offers additional features as well but all in all ShackTac takes Arma squad based tactics to the next level. Subscribe to ShackTac on Steam at: Steam Workshop::ShackTac User Interface (DISCONTINUED)
With just these few mods you can change how you play Arma, and make playing more fun. I know some of you will have lists of mods pages long. I have never understood the reason for that, with these 6 mods you totally change the game, and you won’t have multi minute game load times. I am sure some of you will disagree with this list. Feel free to enter your comments below. Maybe you can convince me to use one of the mods you suggest.
VileAce