---
name: "playMove"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["Animations"]
arma3_since: "0.50"
locality: {"argument": "local", "effect": "global", "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/playMove
revid: 373663
updated: 2025-06-01T19:28:50Z
---

# playMove

*Command · Animations · Arma 3 v0.50 · introduced in Operation Flashpoint v1.00*

Locality: arguments **local** · effect **global**

## Description

When used on a person, smooth transition to given move will be done.

The difference between [playMove](../commands/playMove.md) and [playMoveNow](../commands/playMoveNow.md) is that [playMove](../commands/playMove.md) adds another move to the move queue, while [playMoveNow](../commands/playMoveNow.md) replaces the whole move queue with new move (see [#Example 2](../commands/playMove.md#example-2)).

> [!NOTE]
> see Category:Moves for respective games animations.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> A transition is only possible if the current and provided animation nodes are connected to each other in config (via connectTo/From and interpolateTo/From). The connection can be indirect (using intermediate animations)

## Syntax

```sqf
unitName playMove moveName
```

**Parameters:**

- `unitName`: [Object](../topics/Object.md)
- `moveName`: [String](../topics/String.md)

**Returns:** [Nothing](../topics/Nothing.md)

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
soldierOne playMove "Stand";
```

### Example 2

```sqf
player switchMove "AmovPercMstpSrasWrflDnon";
0 spawn 
{
    sleep 0.5;
    player playMove "AmovPpneMstpSrasWrflDnon";        // player goes prone
    player playMove "amovPknlMstpSrasWrflDnon";        // player gets up on one knee
};
```

### Example 3

```sqf
player switchMove "AmovPercMstpSrasWrflDnon";
0 spawn
{
    sleep 0.5;
    player playMove "AmovPpneMstpSrasWrflDnon";        // player never goes prone
    player playMoveNow "AmovPknlMstpSrasWrflDnon";    // player goes down on one knee straight away
};
```

## See also

[playMoveNow](../commands/playMoveNow.md) · [switchMove](../commands/switchMove.md) · [playAction](../commands/playAction.md) · [playActionNow](../commands/playActionNow.md)

## Community notes

**Macguba** — 2006-04-16

For an immediate transition use [switchMove](../commands/switchMove.md). This command must be executed after mission start. If you place it into init.sqs / init.sqf or in the Init field of some unit, it will not work. Just add a little delay (~0.001) and then place the command.

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — playMove](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/playMove) (revision 373663).</sub>