Driving the Tank
W / ↑
AccelerateHold to keep building speed. Release and the tank coasts.
S / ↓
DecelerateSlows the tank toward a stop. There is no reverse gear.
A / ←
Turn anticlockwise
D / →
Turn clockwise
Shooting and Mine Laying
SPACE
ShootShells fly straight from the gun barrel and hit the first obstacle in their path — or stop at the targeting range you've set.
+ / −
Increase / decrease rangeMoves the targeting cursor further from or closer to the tank. Useful for setting off enemy mines.
TAB
Drop a "Quick" mineLays a mine on the ground under your tank. Faster than sending the man, but nearby enemies will see it and dodge.
G
Gunsight auto-hideToggle whether the gunsight disappears once you're at maximum range. Setting is saved between sessions.
Farming and Building
To build, first select the mode you require by pressing a number key, and then click on the map. A man will leave the tank, run to the square, build the required object, and return to the tank. Bolo veterans know him as the LGM — Little Green Man.
/
1
Select Farm TreesThe man chops a tree. Wood pays for roads, walls, pillboxes, and boats.
/
2
Select Build Roads or BridgesLays road over grass, swamp, or rubble — or bridges water. Tanks travel faster on roads.
/
3
Select Build buildings (or boats)Lays a building wall on land. Click on a river tile and the man builds a boat instead.
/
4
Select Place or repair pillboxPlaces a carried pill on the tile clicked. Click a damaged pill instead and the man will repair it.
/
5
Select Lay mineThe man buries a mine on the target tile. Invisible to everyone but your allies.
CLICK
Send Little Green ManClick on the map to send the LGM to the highlighted square with the selected mode.
Remote Views
V
Pillbox View — cycle to next pillEach press cycles to the next pillbox owned by you or your alliance, then back to your tank.
SHIFT + V
Snap view back to your tank
Chat & Alliances
ENTER
Open chat to all players
Y / T
Open chat to allies only
TAB
While typing: toggle scope between [All] and [Allies]
ESC
Close the chat box without sending
/ally NAME
Request an allianceBecomes mutual once they /ally you back. Their pills, mines, and bases turn friendly.
/unally NAME
Break an alliance
Help
? / H
Show / hide the in-game key reference
ESC
Close the help panel or the chat box
Tips for New Recruits
- Capture refuelling bases early — drive onto a friendly base and you'll be repaired and rearmed automatically.
- Pillboxes are the real defensive weapon. A pillbox planted next to a base will shred attackers while you reload.
- Mines are silent and persistent. Your allies see yours; everyone else trips them. Choke points reward patience.
- A wall in front of a pillbox blocks shells without blocking your pillbox's line of fire.
- Forest hides your tank from pillboxes and enemies — they won't see you until you're nearly on top of them.
// BOLO2K · 2026
"BOLO" IS THE HINDI WORD FOR COMMUNICATION. THE GAME IS FUNDAMENTALLY BASED ON COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PLAYERS WORKING TOGETHER AS TEAMS.
Built with ♥ for Bolo. A non-commercial fan tribute. Not affiliated with Stuart Cheshire.