WARDOGS beginner guide
Everything below comes from the shipped item catalog, so the prices and unlock levels are the ones you will see at the vendor.
Buy a weapon you can afford to lose
7 weapons need no role unlock at all, so they are available in your first match. Three of them cost nothing.
| Weapon | Type | Calibre | Price | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-91 | Assault Rifle | 5.56x45mm | Free | 3.17 kg |
| Bushmaster M17S | Assault Rifle | 5.56x45mm | Free | 3.17 kg |
| KH-2002 | Assault Rifle | 5.56x45mm | Free | 3.17 kg |
| MP43 | Shotgun | 12g | $400 | 3.2 kg |
| T-21 | Assault Rifle | 5.56x45mm | $600 | 3.27 kg |
| AMP-9 | Submachine Gun | 9x19mm | $900 | 1.4 kg |
| Scout Rifle TD | Sniper Rifle | 5.56x45mm | $1,100 | 2.95 kg |
The free rifles are the honest starting point. Spend the money you save on ammunition and armour instead, because those are what actually keep you alive long enough to bank a payday.
Armour is the cheapest survivability you can buy
Body armour reduces incoming damage to the torso and has its own durability pool. The entry tier is $400 and cuts torso damage by 30%.
| Armour | Damage reduction | Durability | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Armor | 30% | 200 | 3 torso zones |
| Level 2 Armor | 40% | 220 | 3 torso zones |
| Level 3 Armor | 55% | 250 | 3 torso zones |
| Level 4 Armor | 65% | 300 | 5 torso zones |
Helmets work the same way for the head, which matters more than it sounds: a rifle round to the head does 2.35× damage before armour.
| Helmet | Damage reduction | Durability |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Helmet | 30% | 80 |
| Level 2 Helmet | 40% | 100 |
| Level 3 Helmet | 55% | 180 |
| Level 4 Helmet | 65% | 200 |
Where your shots land matters more than your gun
WARDOGS multiplies damage by hit location. For an assault rifle, the multipliers are 2.35× to the head, 1.1× to the upper torso, 0.54× to a thigh and 0.27× to a hand. Two centre-mass hits beat five limb hits every time, and that gap gets wider once your target is wearing armour.
Build the kit before you spend
Use the loadout builder to price a kit before you commit to it. It totals vendor cost and carry weight and flags anything your role level has not unlocked, which is faster than discovering it at the vendor. When you find something you like, community loadouts shows what other players are running.
Frequently asked
What is the best starter weapon in WARDOGS?
Three assault rifles cost nothing and need no unlock: the A-91, the Bushmaster M17S and the KH-2002, all in 5.56x45mm. Take a free rifle and spend the saved cash on armour and ammunition.
How much does armour cost in WARDOGS?
Level 1 body armour is 400 dollars for 30 percent torso damage reduction. Level 1 helmets are 200 dollars. Level 4 armour is 4,000 dollars for 65 percent reduction but weighs 18 kg.
Does hit location matter in WARDOGS?
Yes. An assault rifle round does 2.35 times damage to the head and 1.1 times to the upper torso, but only 0.27 times to a hand or foot.