Combat Arms is Nexon's free-to-play multiplayer first-person shooter, released in North America in July 2008 and on Steam in 2012. It was a lobby shooter in the mold of Counter-Strike and Call of Duty, built around quick matches, a steady climb through military ranks and an enormous arsenal - by March 2013 it counted 40 maps and 449 weapons, along with attachments and gear to customize them.

Its official history has had several chapters. Nexon merged the North American and European servers into one Global server in 2015 and ended its own operation of the game on November 22, 2017, when VALOFE took over. VALOFE later brought Combat Arms: Reloaded, a revamped version, and Combat Arms: The Classic, a relaunch of the older game, to Steam. Private servers sit alongside them for players who want one particular era of the game, a different economy or a smaller community of regulars.

Ranks, GP and the Black Market

Everything you do in a match feeds two things. Experience moves you up through military ranks, and objectives, kills and level-ups earn Gear Points, the currency for weapons, attachments and accessories. Real money went to the Black Market, which sold mostly cosmetic items without rank requirements, some of them exclusive. A defining quirk was that most purchases expired after a set time, though some items could be bought permanently.

The core modes are classic shooter fare: Elimination for team fights, One Man Army for free-for-all, and Capture the Flag. Later versions added infection-style play, with Quarantine Regen listed for Reloaded, and seasonal extras came and went - a Snowball Fight mode ran in winter 2009 before being removed. With dozens of maps in rotation, every player had favorites.

What to Look For in a Combat Arms Private Server

Which Year of Combat Arms

Combat Arms changed constantly, and a private server usually picks a moment in its history. That decides which maps, weapons and modes you get. If you are chasing the version you played years ago, check the map list and weapon list before anything else.

Weapon Economy and Expiring Items

Expiring weapons were a big part of the official economy. Private servers often change that, with permanent weapons, cheaper GP prices or different shop rules. Find out how you get the guns you want and whether anything sold for money gives a real advantage over GP gear.

Anti-Cheat and Admins

Free-to-play shooters attract cheaters, and a few of them can ruin a lobby game. Look for an active anti-cheat, visible bans and admins who answer reports. A server that takes cheating seriously will usually say so plainly.

Hit Registration and Ping

Shooters are unforgiving about lag. Check where the server is hosted relative to you, and play a few rounds to see whether hits land where you aim. A great feature list does not matter if every firefight feels a step behind.

Population and Busy Hours

A lobby game needs players online at the same time. Look at when the server is busiest and which modes actually fill up. If only one mode is populated, make sure it is one you enjoy.

Nostalgia or New Content

Some servers freeze the game at a favorite moment and leave it there, which is exactly what returning players want. Others add custom maps, weapons and events on top. Custom content keeps a small community interested for longer, but only if the new guns are balanced against the old ones - ask how the team tests what it adds.

Before You Lock and Load

Pick the era you want, then check the weapon economy and the anti-cheat. Play a handful of Elimination rounds in your first session to judge ping and population, and join a clan or regular group once you find a server that feels right. Vote for the server you play on; rankings here start again every month, so the list below follows where players are now.