ArmorSim 3D mode provides a three-dimensional terminal ballistics sandbox where players test real-world penetrators against custom armor arrays using physical equations rather than scripted hit-point animations. Positioned in the game's interface directly below the 2D modes following the 4.0.0 update, the 3D environment allows you to construct multi-layered targets, pick modern service ammunition, and orbit around the resulting deformation in slow motion. Impact outcomes are determined by mathematical terminal-ballistics models that calculate rod erosion, plugging, spalling, and residual velocity.
The Three Solvers Powering 3D Simulation
ArmorSim executes its 3D ballistics calculations through three distinct solver tiers. Each tier balances computational depth against calculation speed, allowing players to choose between rapid trial-and-error testing and high-fidelity continuum mechanics.
| Solver Mode | Primary Ballistics Models | Typical Solve Time | Key Output Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Alekseevskii–Tate erosion integration, Recht–Ipson residual velocity, Rosenberg ricochet, Grady fragmentation | Fraction of a second | Quick penetration pass/fail, residual velocity, fragmentation spread |
| Advanced | Analytic core with layered array accounting and reactive armor integration | Near-instant to brief calculation | Per-layer energy accounting, ballistic limit, plate wear fraction, remaining rod speed |
| ULTRA | Axisymmetric Lagrangian mesh, Johnson–Cook plasticity, Mie-Grüneisen equation of state, adiabatic shear banding, element erosion | Several minutes per shot | Physical crater geometry, Von Mises stress (GPa), plastic strain, particle speed |
Normal Mode
Normal mode functions as the fast analytical solver. It calculates penetration mechanics almost instantaneously using established terminal-ballistics equations. This mode is designed for rapid iteration, allowing you to alter an impact angle or plate thickness by a few millimeters and fire again without waiting for complex mesh generation.
Advanced Mode
Advanced mode uses the same underlying analytical core as Normal mode but exposes full diagnostic data for every barrier in the projectile's path. When a long-rod penetrator strikes a spaced array or explosive reactive armor (ERA), Advanced mode tracks the energy expenditure across each sequential plate. You can inspect exact wear fractions, residual velocities, and ballistic limits to determine precisely where a round ran out of kinetic energy.
ULTRA Mode
ULTRA mode—often referred to in community testing as the Super Simulation continuum solver—replaces analytical formulas with an axisymmetric Lagrangian continuum mesh. Rather than pulling from pre-baked deformation assets, the physical crater, ragged rim, and ejected plugs emerge purely from the physics calculations. Due to its computational intensity, the developers have noted that the analytical core remains the final authority on penetration status, ensuring the visual crater and analytical outcome never contradict one another.
Building and Inspecting Targets in 3D
The 3D sandbox centers around a free-build scene editor that lets players design armor modules from scratch or test pre-configured defensive layouts.
- Plate Geometry and Positioning: You can add, scale, drag, and rotate plates across X and Y axes, configuring custom thickness and air gaps to evaluate spaced-armor concepts.
- Material Selection: The database includes 14 armor materials alongside 4 penetrator core types. Available defensive configurations feature rolled homogeneous armor (RHA), ceramic tiles with backing, composite layers, and reactive armor cassettes (ERA and NERA).
- Service Projectiles: The simulator includes authentic kinetic energy penetrators and chemical energy warheads from American, German, and Soviet/Russian arsenals. Available rounds include the American M774, M833, and M829 series (up to M829A3); German DM13 through DM53; and Soviet/Russian 3BM22, 3BM32, 3BM42, 3BM46, and 3BM60. Shaped charges include catalog items such as the 115mm 3BK9, RPG-7 (PG-7V and PG-7VR), TOW-2A, and Javelin (FGM-148).
- Visual Analysis Tools: Following impact, players can orbit the camera freely in slow motion. In continuum runs, specialized visualization overlays display speed views (m/s), Von Mises stress distribution in gigapascals (GPa), and plastic strain across the target material.
Hardware Demands and Current Early Access Limits
Because ArmorSim solves physics rather than playing back animations, performance in 3D mode depends heavily on target complexity and the selected solver.
System Specifications
- Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit required)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 minimum
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 or AMD Radeon RX 560 (2 GB VRAM, DirectX 11)
- Storage Space: 4 GB available space
While Normal and Advanced modes run smoothly on baseline hardware, the developer notes that ULTRA mode is heavily CPU-bound. Additional physical CPU cores reduce calculation times rather than improving display framerates.
Current Limitations and Stability
As an Early Access project launched in September 2026, several operational constraints apply to the 3D mode:
- Axisymmetric Constraints: The ULTRA continuum solver is currently restricted to head-on, normal-incidence impacts. Projectiles and target centers must be aligned for the continuum mesh to solve properly.
- Replay Storage Usage: High-detail continuum simulation files can consume between 20 GB and 26 GB of disk space each, requiring players to periodically clean out saved runs.
- Simulation Stability: Community reviews report occasional crashes during massive 3D calculations involving complex ERA arrays or heavy spalling fragments, making manual scene saving necessary before firing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is 3D mode located in the ArmorSim menu?
Following the ArmorSim 4.0.0 update, game modes are categorized on the main screen. The 2D modes (2D Playground and 2D Advanced) are grouped at the top, while the 3D simulation options are located directly below them.
Does ArmorSim 3D mode use vehicle hit points?
No. ArmorSim contains no hit point bars or artificial damage pools. Penetration and damage are calculated strictly through material properties (such as density and yield strength) and published terminal-ballistics models.
Can you import custom models into 3D mode?
The developer has introduced 3D custom model support in post-launch updates, and the scene editor allows free manipulation of plates, thicknesses, and angles. Custom image files (PNG/JPG) are also supported in the related 2D proving ground mode.
Why does ULTRA mode take so long to calculate a shot?
ULTRA mode runs an axisymmetric continuum simulation using a Lagrangian mesh that calculates material erosion, plastic flow, and shock wave propagation over multiple frames. This process requires significant CPU processing time compared to the instant equations used in Normal and Advanced modes.
