wardogs weapons: Alpha Loadout Guide & Price Rankings - Combat

wardogs weapons: Alpha Loadout Guide & Price Rankings

Compare WARDOGS alpha weapons by price, ammunition, fire mode, weight, XP track, and parts before building your next loadout.

2026-08-22
wardogs Wiki Team
Quick Guide
  • wardogs weapons use a purchase-based economy, so every loadout must match your current cash.
  • Alpha prices are list prices, with a 50% new-recruit discount below level 9.
  • Ammunition costs separately, making caliber choice as important as the weapon’s purchase price.
  • The alpha catalogue lists 33 weapons, while 37 weapons were confirmed for the 2026 Early Access launch.
  • Best first buy: favor affordable rifles, SMGs, or sidearms until your balance can support riskier kits.

WARDOGS Weapons: How the Alpha Catalogue Works

WARDOGS weapons are built around an extraction-style purchase loop rather than a fixed class loadout. You receive a one-time account balance of $10,000, carry money between matches, and lose the value of equipment that does not survive. That makes weapon selection a resource decision as much as a combat decision.

The available alpha catalogue contained 33 listed weapons in the recorded build. These figures are stamped to Alpha 1 on August 7, 2026, so they should be treated as a historical reference for the test build. Bulkhead later confirmed 37 weapons for the 2026 Early Access launch, meaning the alpha list is not the final shipping roster.

Video Highlights:

  • Every weapon available during the WARDOGS closed alpha showcase
  • Firing-range demonstrations with and without available attachments
  • Vertical recoil tests for comparing weapon behavior

The weapon catalogue records several practical fields: purchase price, ammunition type, fire mode, weight, XP track, and accepted part families. The parts field describes compatible families rather than the number of attachment slots. For example, a rifle may accept barrel, magazine, rail, and foregrip parts without placing all of those components on the weapon simultaneously.

Catalogue FieldWhat It MeansLoadout Impact
PriceAlpha list price before the recruit discountDetermines how much cash is risked per life
AmmunitionCartridge or arrow typeControls resupply cost and caliber planning
Fire modesSemi, burst, full auto, bolt-action, or other operationDefines ideal engagement range
WeightRecorded weapon weight where availableHelps compare mobility and handling expectations
EarnsAssault, Medic, or Recon XP trackConnects weapon use to progression
PartsCompatible part familiesShows customization potential, not slot count
Read the Price Correctly

The catalogue publishes list prices because the recruit discount is temporary. Below level 9, the shop applies a 50% discount, so a listed $600 T-21 costs $300 during that period. Plan around the discounted price early, but remember the full list price for later loadouts.

Recorded WARDOGS Weapon Prices and Roles

The strongest early decision is not simply choosing the highest-priced gun. A weapon must justify its cost across the entire kit, including ammunition and the likelihood that you can recover the equipment after a failed life.

The alpha records show a broad spread from the free Bushmaster M17S to expensive marksman and sniper options. The entries below are the weapons with specific values available in the catalogue reference.

WeaponPriceAmmunitionFire ModeWeightXP Track
BUSHMASTER M17S$05.56x45mmSemi / Burst3.17 kgAssault XP
T-21$6005.56x45mmSemi / Full Auto3.27 kgAssault XP
AMP-9$9009x19mmSemi / Full Auto1.4 kgMedic XP
PP-19 VITYAZ$1,2009x19mmSemi / Full Auto2.9 kgMedic XP
SKS$2,4007.62x39mmSemi automatic3.85 kgRecon XP
SVD$4,8007.62x54mmSemi automatic5.3 kgRecon XP
SCOUT RIFLE TD$1,1005.56x45mmBreak-action2.95 kgRecon XP
MOSIN NAGANT$4,5007.62x54mmBolt-action4.1 kgRecon XP
COMPOUND BOW$800Standard ArrowsPull & Release1.3 kgRecon XP
JUDGE$250.45 ColtDouble-actionNot recordedAssault XP
M1911$300.45 ACPSemi automaticNot recordedAssault XP

The T-21 is the most accessible conventional rifle in the recorded list, while the Bushmaster M17S functions as a zero-price entry point. The AMP-9 and Compound Bow offer lower-cost alternatives for players who prefer lightweight equipment or a different engagement pattern.

At the upper end, the SVD and Mosin Nagant demand more careful planning. Their prices consume a large share of the initial account balance, and both use 7.62x54mm ammunition. A high-value rifle can be useful for long-range overwatch, but it becomes a poor purchase when the rest of the kit cannot be funded.

Low-Risk Rifle

Bushmaster M17S provides the recorded $0 entry point and uses common 5.56x45mm ammunition.

Flexible Rifle

T-21 combines a $600 list price with semi-auto and full-auto modes.

Close-Range Option

AMP-9 costs $900, weighs 1.4 kg, and uses 9x19mm ammunition.

Long-Range Investment

SVD costs $4,800 and belongs to the Recon XP track, making it a major cash commitment.

Do Not Treat Price as Power

A more expensive weapon is not automatically the best purchase. Compare its role, ammunition cost, recovery risk, and expected engagement distance before spending a large portion of your balance.

Ammunition, Discounts, and Cash Management

WARDOGS separates weapon purchases from ammunition purchases. The catalogue reference records ammunition boxes ranging from $10 at the cheap end to $250 at the top, depending on caliber. That means the effective price of a loadout is higher than the number printed beside the weapon.

The practical calculation is:

Total risk = weapon price + ammunition cost + purchased equipment

This matters when comparing weapons that appear close in price. A $900 weapon using an inexpensive caliber may be easier to sustain than a cheaper weapon tied to costly ammunition. The available alpha data does not provide a complete price list for every caliber, so use the recorded cartridge types as planning categories rather than assuming they share the same resupply cost.

Budget TierRecorded ExamplesPrimary UseRecommended Approach
$0–$600Bushmaster M17S, Judge, M1911, T-21Recovery runs and low-balance livesPreserve cash and rebuild through teamplay
$800–$1,200Compound Bow, AMP-9, SCOUT RIFLE TDFlexible budget kitsChoose by range and ammunition availability
$2,400–$4,500SKS, Mosin NagantDedicated Recon playBuy only when long-range value fits the plan
$4,800+SVD and higher-cost future optionsHigh-risk specialist kitsProtect the weapon and avoid unnecessary fights

Income is not limited to eliminations. Reviving squadmates, transporting teammates, spotting, and holding objectives can contribute to earnings. This creates a useful alternative for players who do not lead the kill scoreboard: support actions can still improve the next purchase.

Use the new-recruit discount to test a role, but do not let the reduced price hide the future cost. A T-21 listed at $600 costs $300 below level 9, yet later purchases should be evaluated against the full list price.

SituationSafer Purchase PatternWhy It Works
Starting balanceBushmaster M17S or sidearmLimits the cost of an unsuccessful life
Moderate balanceT-21, AMP-9, or Compound BowAdds role flexibility without a major cash loss
Strong balanceSKS or specialized Recon weaponSupports deliberate long-range play
Low ammunition supplyUse a weapon sharing an available caliberReduces the chance of an expensive resupply
Team facing vehiclesReserve money for anti-vehicle optionsLaunchers counter high-value purchases such as tanks or helicopters
Build Around the Whole Kit

Before buying, check three numbers: the weapon price, the ammunition price, and the balance left afterward. A sustainable loadout often outperforms a stronger kit that leaves no recovery money.

Step-by-Step WARDOGS Weapons Loadout Plan

Use this process whenever you are deciding between a safe weapon and an expensive specialist option. It works especially well during the alpha-style economy described by the catalogue.

1

Check Your Available Cash

Start with the balance you can spend now, not the original $10,000 account grant. Money carries between matches, and equipment losses reduce the resources available for later lives.

2

Choose the Engagement Range

Select close-range weapons for interiors and collapsed sightlines, versatile rifles for general zone fights, or Recon weapons for open-ground overwatch.

3

Confirm Ammunition

Identify the cartridge or arrow type before purchasing. Ammunition is separate from the weapon and may represent a meaningful part of the kit’s total risk.

4

Review Parts and Fire Modes

Check compatible part families and decide whether semi-auto, burst, full-auto, bolt-action, or break-action behavior matches your role.

5

Leave a Recovery Reserve

Avoid spending the entire balance on one life. Keep enough money for a lower-cost follow-up kit if the first weapon is lost.

The alpha categories can be viewed through two overlapping systems. Bulkhead’s public framing used assault rifles, SMGs, LMGs, sniper rifles, sidearms, and launchers. The alpha vendor tabs additionally separated shotguns, marksman rifles, and bows, creating a seven-tab primary-weapon structure. Sidearms functioned as an equipment slot rather than a standard primary tab, while launchers did not have their own listed tab.

Weapon CategoryBest EngagementPurchase Goal
Assault rifleMid-range zone fightsReliable general-purpose performance
SMGInteriors and trench clearingMobility and close-quarters pressure
ShotgunShort sightlinesBurst damage in confined spaces
Marksman rifleMid-to-long rangePrecision without a full sniper commitment
Sniper rifleOpen-ground overwatchLong-range control and spotting
BowQuiet ranged pressureLightweight Recon alternative
SidearmBackup or low-cash lifeMaintain a fighting option after losses
Range Comes Before Reputation

WARDOGS uses bullet drop and travel time, so a weapon’s effective distance matters. Test how a firearm behaves at the range before judging it only by its price or category.

Alpha Catalogue Checklist and Reference Notes

The catalogue is useful for planning, but it has clear boundaries. It represents a closed-alpha build recorded on August 7, 2026, not a guaranteed list of every weapon available at launch. Only one faction was playable in the recorded test, so faction-gated vendor stock remained a possibility.

Use this checklist before publishing a loadout recommendation or entering a high-risk run.

Loadout Review:

  • Confirm the weapon price against your current balance
  • Check ammunition type and expected resupply cost
  • Match fire mode and range to the planned objective
  • Review compatible part families without treating them as attachment slots
  • Keep a lower-cost recovery option available after a loss
Confirmed Reference PointAlpha DetailPlanning Meaning
Recorded roster33 weapons shownUse this as the dated alpha catalogue
Later launch count37 weapons confirmed for 2026 Early AccessExpect the final roster to differ
Account funding$10,000 once per accountDo not assume a fresh balance every match
Recruit discount50% below level 9Early purchases cost less than list price
Free entryBushmaster M17S listed at $0Provides a low-risk recovery option
Parts coverage27 of 33 entries name part familiesCompatibility varies by weapon

For the full alpha list and the recorded weapon fields, consult the descriptive reference WARDOGS Weapons List: All 33 Weapons, Stats and Prices. Treat its figures as build-specific rather than permanent live-service values.

The most reliable general strategy is to maintain two or three purchase patterns:

  • Recovery kit: Bushmaster M17S or a sidearm when cash is limited.
  • Standard kit: T-21, AMP-9, or another mid-price option suited to the objective.
  • Specialist kit: SKS, Mosin Nagant, SVD, or another high-value weapon reserved for a clear tactical reason.
Keep a Backup Pattern

A good WARDOGS weapons plan includes a fallback purchase. Knowing what you will use after a loss prevents a single failed life from forcing an improvised and expensive decision.

WARDOGS Weapons FAQ

Q: How many WARDOGS weapons are listed in the alpha catalogue?

The recorded Alpha 1 catalogue shows 33 weapons. Bulkhead later confirmed 37 weapons for the 2026 Early Access launch, so the alpha list should not be treated as the final roster.

Q: What is the cheapest recorded WARDOGS weapon?

The Bushmaster M17S is listed at $0 in the alpha reference. The Judge is listed at $250, the M1911 at $300, and the T-21 at $600.

Q: Does the weapon price include ammunition?

No. Weapon purchases and ammunition purchases are separate. Ammunition boxes in the recorded reference range from $10 to $250 depending on caliber.

Q: Are the parts listed for each weapon the number of attachment slots?

No. The parts field identifies compatible families such as barrels, magazines, stocks, or foregrips. It does not indicate that every listed family can be equipped at the same time.

Alpha Data Reminder

Prices, vendor tabs, faction access, attachment costs, and income values may change between the closed alpha and later builds. Recheck the current in-game shop before committing valuable cash.