>How to Play<

Learn the basics of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 gameplay, including unit control, resource management, power, tech structures, fog of war, unit tiers, and special abilities.

Here are the basic instructions on playing Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, with the "Classic C&C" mouse setup enabled.

Scroll around the map by shifting the mouse around the screen. Left-click on Units to select them. When selecting a Unit, left-click on a location to make it move there. Left-click on an enemy to attack it. Right-click to deselect the Unit. Drag the mouse across the screen while clicking to select a bunch of units.

The Camera can be adjusted by using the various keys on the Number Pad. To return to the default Camera position, press 5 on the Pad (make sure Num Lock is enabled!).

Money is needed to purchase Units and construct buildings. To collect Money, place a Refinery next to special buildings known as Ore Nodes or Ore Mines. The Ore Collector will automatically collect funds. A Depleted Ore Node will still provide funds, just less.

Power is needed to maintain Defences and Superweapons. If the Power level is lower than the demand for power, all Defences and Superweapons will deactivate, and the process of building Structures and making Units is twice as long as it should be.

There are many Tech Structures on the map. Make use of these by sending an Engineer into the Structure.

The areas on the map that are not occupied by a friendly unit are covered in shroud known as "The Fog of War". This shows Buildings and terrain, but hides units.

Units are divided into three tiers. The first tier consists of the basic Infantry, Armour, Aircraft, and Navals. The second tier consists of Tanks, combat vessels, special Infantry and Infiltrators, and more Aircraft. The third tier allows the production of bigger Tanks, Artillery, and the best Units of that faction! Each faction has a different way of getting the prerequisites for higher-tier units.

Units can Guard, Attack-Move, or use other special abilities. Guarding makes them guard the area from enemies, including hostile Structures. Attack-Move makes the unit move to the area, as well as attacking other targets on the way.

Each side has a Super Weapon, and each has a certain recharge timer. Once it reaches zero, it can be used.

All Units have some sort of Special Ability (Hotkey is F). Use them!

Support Powers can also be used to harass the enemy, or upgrade friendly troops. Each Power requires a point to be used. To gain these points, stay alive, or go into battle! There are three trees of Support Powers. Unlocking one allows the next one in the tree to be purchased. Support Powers can be purchased by clicking on the golden sphere at the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Next to the golden sphere is the Threat Meter. The higher the Threat Meter is, the faster Units gain experience, and the faster Support Power points are obtained.

Many civilian Structures can be Garrisoned by most Infantry. The Infantry can shoot out of the Structure, but certain Units can flush them out with their Special Ability.

Buildings can be Repaired for a price, and can also be Sold for extra cash.

Infiltrators (Spies and Shinobi) can enter enemy Buildings for substantial benefits. Entering a Power Plant will sabotage enemy Power. Entering a Production Structure will prevent any production of the unit type the Structure produces. Entering a Refinery will steal funds. Entering a Technology Structure will prevent the production of any Tier 3 Units. Entering an Outpost will disable the enemy's radar. Entering a Construction Yard provides a full view of all of the enemy's Structures. An infiltrated building will have an exclamation sign over it.

All Jet Aircraft (with the exception of Imperial Aircraft) need to refuel at Airbase/Airfields. They can use their Special Ability to immediately withdraw to the hangars. Century Bombers need to return manually through clicking on the Airbase/Airfield as a move command.

Only certain units can attack submerged Navals if they aren't attacking.

Armour, Aircraft, and Navals can be repaired by Repair Drones. These robots are usually found at production structures, or at Crusher Cranes for the Soviets.

All Combat Units can receive "experience" by killing other enemy Units. Veterans and Elites will deal more damage and will have more health, and Heroic Units can also heal gradually when not in combat.

There will be various [important] announcements during gameplay. Press the Space Bar to immediately head to the area where the announcement is referring to (such as "Enemy Units Detected").

Units at lower levels cannot see what's going on at higher levels (such as over cliffs). Aircraft can see all.

Feel free to use the M key for voice commands when playing online!