- GroundInFlames Steam: drone outposts deliver automatic anti-infantry and anti-vehicle coverage
- Starting loadout: two FPV crews plus 500 big ammo
- Auto-targeting: the outpost fires frag at infantry and HEAT at vehicles
- Ammo math: every drone launch costs 100 big ammo
- Timing: deploy after the point is secure; matches past 60 minutes need food planning
GroundInFlames Steam: Drone Outpost Fundamentals
If you picked up GroundInFlames on Steam and want area denial without micromanaging every strike, the drone outpost is the tool for the job. It bundles an FPV drone crew, a relay mast, and a supply line into one structure that watches a zone and launches the correct drone for each target on its own.
You can find the game listed on Steam (checked 2026-11-12).
Video Highlights:
- A full drone outpost goes live with a short input sequence
- Two FPV crews and 500 big ammo form the core loadout
- The relay mast must sit inside supply crate range
- A Ctrl+G perimeter makes drones fire automatically
- Frag answers infantry, HEAT answers vehicles
Three jobs define the outpost:
- Watching: it holds a defined perimeter and spots enemies inside it
- Matching: it pairs the warhead to the target with no manual input
- Feeding: it converts big ammo and food into continuous launches
The structure footprint fits best on a capture point, which is why northern points are a common pick. Secure the point, then build — an outpost dropped on open ground it cannot fit is ammo wasted.
Drone Outpost Setup Step-by-Step
The full build takes seconds once you know the sequence. Follow this order every time you deploy:
Load the Outpost
Pick up the outpost, fill it with two FPV crews, then stock 500 big ammo. That covers five drone launches before your first resupply run.
Deploy and Release the Truck
Move it to a northern point that fits the footprint. Once your infantry and tanks arrive, press F, then N, then B to send the truck back to base. Send the two idle crew members home as well — this returns manpower to 1.
Build the Relay Mast
Press L or open the build menu, select relay mast, and right-click to place it. Keep it inside supply crate range or the outpost starves.
Set the Engagement Perimeter
Press Ctrl+G (or select the option directly), then right-click the area where you fight most. Spotted enemies inside it trigger automatic launches.
Keep It Fed
Top up big ammo before the stock empties, and remember the crews eat. Set a resupply rhythm instead of reacting to dry barrels.
Leaving the truck and the two spare crews at the front ties up manpower you need elsewhere. The F → N → B sequence exists for a reason — run it as soon as the escort arrives.
Controls at a glance:
| Input | Action | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| F | Start the arrival sequence | Escort troops reach the point |
| N | Advance the sequence | Immediately after F |
| B | Send the truck back to base | Finishing the unload |
| L | Build menu shortcut | Placing the relay mast |
| Ctrl + G | Perimeter assignment | After the mast is up |
| Right click | Confirm placement or area | Building and marking the zone |
Drone Types, Targets and Ammo Costs
The outpost decides the warhead for you. When an enemy enters the perimeter, it reads the target type and launches the matching drone, so armor never soaks a frag round meant for infantry.
| Drone Type | Auto-Target | Best Against | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frag | Infantry | Squads and soft targets in the open | Clears foot units from the zone |
| HEAT | Vehicles | Tanks and armored pushes | Breaks vehicle advances |
The economy behind those launches is simple but strict:
| Resource | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| FPV crews | 2 per outpost | Operates the drone launches |
| Big ammo stock | 500 at setup | Raw material for drone production |
| Cost per drone | 100 big ammo | Five launches per full stock |
| Food | Ongoing drain | Crews must eat in long matches |
| Manpower | Returns to 1 | Idle crews go back to base |
You never choose frag or HEAT yourself. Your inputs are perimeter placement and supply flow — the outpost handles target matching automatically.
Placement, Relay Range and Late-Game Supply
Where you drop the outpost decides whether it prints kills or burns ammo. Three placement styles cover most maps:
Point Holder
- Sits on a northern capture point
- Footprint fits the point
- Contests while it defends
Frontline Watcher
- Perimeter covers the main fighting area
- Fast response to spotted enemies
- Best in attrition fights
Supply Anchor
- Relay mast inside supply crate range
- Steady ammo and food flow
- Fewer resupply convoys needed
Placement factors, summarized:
| Factor | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Capture points with structure space | Open ground with no footprint fit |
| Relay mast | Inside supply crate range | Outside crate coverage |
| Timing | Deploy once the point is secure | Committing in the opening minutes |
| Perimeter | Your main fighting area | Empty flanks nobody contests |
Long matches change the math. Crews eat, drones drain 100 big ammo per launch, and an outpost committed in the first minutes tends to run dry before the fight that actually matters.
If you expect the match to run past 60 minutes, build food into your resupply loop from the start. Late-game outposts die from empty stomachs as often as empty magazines.
Setup Checklist and FAQ
Run this list before every deployment — it takes seconds and prevents the two most common outpost failures: dry ammo and dead relay range.
Pre-Launch Checklist:
- Two FPV crews loaded into the outpost
- 500 big ammo stocked
- Truck sent back with F, N, B
- Idle crews returned, manpower back to 1
- Relay mast inside supply crate range
- Perimeter set over the main fighting area
Treat this checklist as a loop, not a one-time setup. Every time the front moves, walk it again — reload, re-range, re-zone.
Q: How much ammo does each drone launch cost in GroundInFlames?
Every drone produced by the outpost costs **100 big ammo**. A full 500 stock covers five launches, so start a resupply run once you see the third or fourth strike rather than waiting for the barrel to hit zero.
Q: Do I choose between frag and HEAT drones manually?
No. The outpost matches the warhead to the target automatically: frag drones launch against infantry and HEAT drones against vehicles. Your inputs are placement, perimeter, and supply.
Q: Why did my drones stop launching?
The usual causes are an empty big-ammo stock or a relay mast outside supply crate range. Bring a large ammo load to restart production, and confirm the mast sits within the crate's coverage before troubleshooting anything else.
Q: Is it safe to build the outpost in the opening minutes?
It works, but early setups tend to hit supply problems later in the match. Most players deploy once the point is secured and the frontline stabilizes, then keep the food and ammo loop running for games past 60 minutes.