Season 1 · Early Access
WARDOGS Guides — Weapons, Maps, Towers & Money
WARDOGS drops 100 players into three rival factions on a 256 km² battlefield, fighting over a randomized Control Zone in matches where your cash — and your loadout — survive your death. These guides cover everything the game doesn't explain.
From the Battlefield
Start Here
Beginner Guide
Your first match, your first $10,000 loadout, and the five decisions that keep new players alive.
Weapon Tier List
Every ranked gun by time-to-kill — and why the price tag can matter more than the stats.
Money Guide
Reliable income routes for every role, from medic revives to pilot supply loops.
Towers Explained
The four-digit codes that move the Hot Zone — the objective on top of the objective.
What is WARDOGS?
WARDOGS is a tactical all-out warfare FPS developed by BULKHEAD and published by Team17, released into Steam Early Access on September 10, 2026 ($39.99, PC only for now — consoles are announced for 2028). The developers openly credit Arma 3's King of the Hill mode as the design's foundation.
Each match splits up to 100 players across three factions — LONESTAR (Western paramilitary), VALKYRA (Soviet restorationists) and MANTICORE (the Kingdom of Persia's shadow army). They fight over a 2×2 km Control Zone that lands somewhere new on the 256 km² map every match. First faction to 100 points wins.
What makes it different from every other large-scale shooter is the persistent cash economy: you start with $10,000, everything you buy is what you deploy with, and death costs you that kit. Your wallet carries across lives and matches — so every purchase is an investment, and support play (revives, transport, logistics) pays like combat does.
Core Mechanics in 60 Seconds
- Control Zone — the randomized 2×2 km square where the match is scored. Being alive inside it is how your team earns points.
- Hot Zone — a shifting sub-zone inside it. You count double toward zone score and earn double cash while standing in it.
- Towers — capturable structures with control panels. Each tower your team holds contributes a digit to a four-digit code that pulls the Hot Zone toward ground you already hold. Full breakdown in the towers guide.
- No respawn timer — when you die you respawn in the safe zone, and travel time is the punishment. This is why vehicles and pilots matter.
- FOBs and drills — player-built forward bases and resource structures that keep the economy and spawn pressure running.
All Guides
Weapon List
All 33 weapons with prices, ammunition, unlocks and XP tracks.
Best Weapons
Which guns are actually worth your cash, by role and budget.
Maps
Bakurani, Ozeti and Zestafona — terrain, approaches and ambush ground.
Vehicles
20 vehicles with prices and unlock levels, from the $500 Bobcat to tanks and helicopters.
Helicopter Guide
Controls, landing technique and how to run a profitable transport loop.
Play With Friends
Grouping, voice channels, roles and rally plans for squads.
Best Settings
Official PC targets, Potato/Overkill modes and competitive settings priorities.
Release Dates
Early Access timeline, console plans and what's confirmed for 2028.
Quick Answers
- Is WARDOGS free to play?
- No — it's a $39.99 Steam Early Access title. There's no free-to-play version.
- Is WARDOGS on PS5 or Xbox?
- Not yet. Consoles are officially announced for 2028; specific platforms haven't been named. See the release dates page.
- Do you lose your gear when you die?
- Yes — the loadout you deployed with is lost, but your cash persists. Budget so your first death doesn't bankrupt the second life.
- What's the best gun?
- By raw time-to-kill the FAL leads, but it costs $6,500 and unlocks at Assault level 35. The free A-91 family is fine for your first matches — details in the tier list.
Sources: official Steam listing (BULKHEAD/Team17), BULKHEAD devlogs and Season 1 patch notes. Data current as of Season 1 Early Access, build 0.11.