First Battle in Arcadian Atlas
Screenshot via Twin Otter Studios

Is There Friendly Fire in Arcadian Atlas? Answered

Fire your friends.

Arcadian Atlas, a tactical RPG developed by Twin Otter Studios, places players in the midst of intense battles and strategic warfare. As the commanders of diverse fighting teams, it’s crucial for players to understand the mechanics of this game’s combat system if they want to achieve victory on the battlefield.

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One of the many concerns that frequently arise among players is whether or not their teams are in danger of friendly fire. Whether you’re a seasoned tactician or are a newcomer to the realm of Arcadia, understanding the deadly impact of friendly fire is key to ensuring the safety of your party members. Read on to find out if there’s friendly fire in Arcadian Atlas!

Is There Friendly Fire in Arcadian Atlas?

For those who are unaware, friendly fire in video games refers to the ability of a player’s attacks to harm or negatively affect their own teammates or allies within the game. In other words, it occurs when players inadvertently cause damage or negative effects to their own team members instead of solely targeting enemy characters or opponents.

Unfortunately for all those not in favor of friendly fire mechanics, it’s been confirmed that there is indeed friendly fire in Arcadian Atlas.

Friendly fire is a somewhat universally disliked feature in video games, which is why it’s so frustrating that a single-player RPG like Arcadian Atlas possesses it. Friendly fire can sometimes be a funny thing to mess around with in multiplayer games when you’re trying to prank your friends, but because Arcadian Atlas is strictly a single-player game, it’s just an annoyance that really serves no real purpose.

Failed Battle in Arcadian Atlas
Screenshot via Twin Otter Studios

The only function that this feature seems to serve is an added element of challenge to Arcadian Atlas’s gameplay. In order to survive, players must exercise extreme caution and precision to avoid harming their allies, while coordinating their actions effectively against their enemies. It adversely impacts team dynamics, requires thoughtful planning, and tests players’ coordination on the battlefield.

Although there’s nothing wrong with adding challenging elements to gameplay, I think many gamers would agree that Arcadian Atlas’s combat mechanics are hard enough as they are. This game’s clunky combat system is hard enough to operate as it is without players having to worry about accidentally taking down one of their teammates every time they attack.

At the very least, the developers could have made it so that the feature could be turned off or back on again at will, so that not everyone is forced to suffer at the hands of friendly fire. Regardless, however, until the developers decide to do something about it, friendly fire will remain in Arcadian Atlas.

Strategies to Avoid Friendly Fire in Arcadian Atlas

You may not be able to turn it off, but you can still try your best to avoid it at all costs. Avoiding the perils of friendly fire in Arcadian Atlas requires a combination of careful planning, strategic positioning, and effective coordination on the battlefield.

Try to follow these essential strategies to minimize the risk of unintentionally harming your own allies and ensure a successful campaign:

  • Strategic Formations – Organize your party into well-balanced formations that reduce the chances of overlapping attack ranges. Keep ranged units, such as archers, behind melee fighters, and position vulnerable characters (like apothecaries) away from the front lines.
  • Utilize Terrain – Take advantage of any unique terrain features on the battlefield to create barriers between your stronger allies, like your warmancers. Use obstacles, walls, or elevation differences to shield your party from potential friendly fire incidents.
  • Always Double-Check – Always take your time to carefully plan each move. Double-check your intended actions before executing them to avoid unintended consequences (we all know how hit-or-miss attacks can be when playing with a keyboard and mouse).

By incorporating these strategies into your gameplay, you’ll hopefully be more prepared to navigate the challenges of friendly fire in Arcadian Atlas, ensuring that your party functions as cohesively as possible on the battlefield. Good luck, and happy strategizing!

Related: Review: Arcadian Atlas is a Map-tastically Mediocre Adventure


If you’re into story-driven RPGs like Arcadian Atlas, then you’d love playing the Fire Emblem series or any of the Genshin Impact games. All three of these franchises focus heavily on tactical gameplay, strategic decision-making, world-building, and narrative exploration.

Be sure to keep up with Gamer Journalist’s guides for the Fire Emblem series and the Genshin Impact games for more information!

Author
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Allysen Pierce
Allysen Pierce is a freelance writer with a passion for gaming who has been a part of the Gamer Journalist team since May 2022. Her main passions are horror games and dating sims (especially combinations of the two), but she has been known to play literally anything that is put in front of her. Her current favorite games include Skyrim, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, Cult of the Lamb, Slaughter Horse, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. When she's not playing games (or writing about them), she can be found reading, baking, watching horror movies, or playing with her cat.