On a computer
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| W A S D | move |
| Mouse | look and aim |
| Left button | fire |
| Right button | aim or scope |
| B | buy menu |
| E | plant or defuse the bomb (hold) |
| R | reload |
| 1 / 2 / 3 | primary, pistol, grenade (press 3 again for the next type) |
| G | quick grenade |
| Space / C | jump / crouch |
| Tab | scoreboard |
On a phone
Turn the phone sideways. Your left thumb drives a movement stick, dragging on the right looks around and the big button fires (keep holding it to steer). At the start of a round the Buy button opens the menu; hold the Use button to plant or defuse the bomb.
Weapons and prices
| Weapon | Body | Head | Rounds/min | Magazine | Price | Kill reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistol | 26 | 104 | 400 | 15 | free | 300 |
| Heavy pistol | 46 | 138 | 164 | 7 | 700 | 300 |
| Compact SMG | 26 | 104 | 720 | 30 | 1050 | 600 |
| SMG | 24 | 96 | 900 | 30 | 1250 | 600 |
| Shotgun | 8 × 16 | 8 × 24 | 67 | 6 | 1050 | 900 |
| Carbine | 29 | 116 | 720 | 30 | 2050 | 300 |
| Assault rifle | 34 | 136 | 600 | 30 | 2700 | 300 |
| Marksman rifle | 45 | 112 | 200 | 15 | 1900 | 300 |
| Light machine gun | 27 | 67 | 600 | 100 | 2300 | 300 |
| Sniper rifle | 110 | 220 | 43 | 5 | 4750 | 100 |
Damage drops with distance, faster for SMGs and the shotgun. The assault rifle kills with one headshot even through a helmet, and the sniper rifle with one body hit. After you go down, the next round starts with a free pistol.
Recoil you can learn
Standing still, your first shot goes exactly where you aim; on the run, shots scatter. Each gun has its own spray pattern: the assault rifle climbs, then swings right and left; the carbine climbs less and the other way; the compact SMG drifts up and right; the machine gun climbs fast and is much steadier crouched. The pattern is always the same, so you learn it by pulling the mouse, or the fire button on a phone, the other way.
Armour and grenades
| Item | Price | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Vest | 650 | cuts body damage, depending on the weapon's armour penetration |
| Vest and helmet | 1000 | protects the head too; the helmet alone is 350 when the vest is full |
| Defuse kit | 400 | defenders only: 3 seconds instead of 5 |
| Frag grenade | 300 | up to 115 damage in a 7 m radius |
| Smoke grenade | 300 | blocks vision, not bullets, for 16 seconds |
| Flashbang | 200 | blinds anyone looking at it for up to 4.6 seconds; carry up to 2 |
One operator carries up to 4 grenades in all. Survive a round and you keep your weapons and gear for the next one.
FAQ
What should I buy in the first round?
With 800 you usually take a vest (650) or the heavy pistol (700), sometimes with a flashbang. Saving for a rifle takes two or three rounds.
Why does a shot sometimes miss?
You fired on the move, or a long burst followed the spray pattern off target. Stop, fire short bursts or pull against the pattern.
Can I switch sides?
Yes, with Switch team on the scoreboard, if the other side has room for a person.
Zarba onlineDefuse rounds in brief
Maps: Market and Portbomb sites and lanes