How to use Non-Looped Particle FX in FiveM

Non-Looped Particle Effects are effects that are played once and are over — suitable for explosion, impact, bullet impact, or flash of any kind.

Native Functions for Non-Looped

-- Play at world coordinates (x, y, z)
StartParticleFxNonLoopedAtCoord(
  effectName, -- string: effect name
  x, y, z, -- float: coordinates
  rotX, rotY, rotZ, -- float: rotation
  scale, -- float: scale (1.0 = normal)
  xAxis, yAxis, zAxis -- bool: flip axis
)

-- Play on Entity (Character/Car/Object)
StartParticleFxNonLoopedOnEntity(
  effectName,
  entity, -- entity handle
  offsetX, offsetY, offsetZ, -- offset from entity
  rotX, rotY, rotZ,
  scale,
  xAxis, yAxis, zAxis
)

-- Played on the Entity's Bone.
StartParticleFxNonLoopedOnEntityBone(
  effectName,
  entity,
  offsetX, offsetY, offsetZ,
  rotX, rotY, rotZ,
  boneIndex, -- int: bone index
  scale,
  xAxis, yAxis, zAxis
)

Example: Explosion Effect

local function PlayExplosionEffect(coords)
  -- Request dictionary
  RequestNamedPtfxAsset("scr_rcbarry2")
  while not HasNamedPtfxAssetLoaded("scr_rcbarry2") do
    Citizen.Wait(0)
  end

  -- play effect
  UseParticleFxAssetNextCall("scr_rcbarry2")
  StartParticleFxNonLoopedAtCoord(
    "scr_exp_clown_explode",
    coords.x, coords.y, coords.z,
    0.0, 0.0, 0.0,
    2.0, -- scale is 2 times larger.
    false, false, false
  )

  -- Release asset after use
  RemoveNamedPtfxAsset("scr_rcbarry2")
end

Example: Bullet hits the ground.

local function BulletImpactEffect(coords)
  RequestNamedPtfxAsset("core")
  while not HasNamedPtfxAssetLoaded("core") do
    Citizen.Wait(0)
  end

  UseParticleFxAssetNextCall("core")
  StartParticleFxNonLoopedAtCoord(
    "ent_sht_dirt", -- Dust splashes
    coords.x, coords.y, coords.z,
    0.0, 0.0, 0.0,
    0.5,
    false, false, false
  )
end

Popular Effect for Non-Looped

Best Practice: Cleanup after use

-- Asset should be removed after non-looped effect.
-- to free VRAM
RemoveNamedPtfxAsset("core")

Note: The "core" dictionary is used very often — it may be kept in memory forever, but specialized dictionaries (such as scr_*) should be removed after use.

Summary

Non-Looped Effects are easy to use, no lifecycle management required — just play and you're done. Suitable for all types of impact/explosion.