WARDOGS Budget Tool
A pre-match ledger for a persistent wallet — because the vendor will not stop you from going broke.
WARDOGS will let you click a main battle tank with a starting wallet that cannot survive the death. This page is the spreadsheet you should run before the vendor. Prices are Closed Alpha / Closed Beta community recordings. If the live client disagrees, the client wins. Pair this with loadouts and the tier lists.
The only formula that matters
Safe kit = (account cash − emergency reserve) / lives you can accept losing this match
Keep an emergency reserve of at least $2,000–$3,000 so a wipe returns you to a T-21 and a pistol, not to a fist. If you cannot describe the next two lives after a death, you are not buying a kit. You are buying a montage.
Band A — Poverty / recovery (target $1,500–$3,000)
| Item | Playtest ballpark | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| T-21 or starter rifle | $0–$600 | Full auto, 5.56 |
| Pistol (GGX 17 class) | ~$200 | Always |
| Loose 5.56 FMJ | $15–$40 a box | Prefer boxes over extra loaded mags |
| Medical / bandages | cheap | Revives pay |
| Ride | $0 | Someone else’s Bobcat |
Use when: you just lost a vehicle, you are new, or you are learning the current map zone. Skip: optics over $500, ghillie, personal wheels.
Band B — Standard infantry (target $4,000–$7,000)
| Item | Playtest ballpark | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Galil A | ~$2,200 | S-tier value |
| or M4 S | ~$2,800 | If unlocked and replaceable |
| Sight | $500–$850 | One optic you have zeroed |
| Armour | mid | Not ghillie for Hot Zone brawls |
| Medical + defib | mid | Bribes exist; bring the tool |
| Smoke / grenades | low | Ticks in streets |
| Launcher or IED | as needed | If vehicles own the square |
| Ammo | calibre-dependent | AP/HP only if you understand the tax |
Use when: this is your default how to win life. Skip: a second primary “just in case.”
Band C — Support / logistics (target $3,000–$8,000 plus a vehicle)
| Item | Playtest ballpark | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap rifle or SMG | $600–$1,500 | You are not the DMR |
| Hammer / FOB tools | unlock path | Mortars, drones, SAMs later |
| Bobcat | ~$500 | Default taxi |
| or Humvee | $3,000–$4,500 | If you will fight on the road |
| or UH-1Y / MH-6 | $6,250–$8,000 | Only if you can fly |
| Parachutes | cheap | Mandatory for air taxis |
Transport pays. Budget the vehicle as a money printer, then still keep Band A in reserve because printers explode. Details on vehicles.
Band D — Luxury (only with a fat wallet)
| Item | Playtest ballpark | Warning |
|---|---|---|
| FAL | ~$6,500 | Two deaths hurt |
| AMR 50 | ~$8,800 + $250 boxes | A vehicle that pretends to be a rifle |
| L2A6 | ~$14,000 | Needs a crew |
| Havoc | ~$18,000 | Needs anti-air awareness |
| Ghillie + long gun | armour slot gone | Stalker lives only |
If Band D costs more than half the account, it is not a loadout. It is a bet. See how to make money for how to refill after you lose the bet.
Worked examples
$10,000 fresh account, first match. Buy Band A (~$2,000). Put $8,000 in reserve. Hitch a ride. Do not “invest” in an M4 unlock fantasy this hour.
$18,000 after a good night. One Band B infantry life (~$5,500) and still two Band A rebuilds. Optional Bobcat. No tank.
$40,000 and a stack on VOIP. One crewed Humvee or a transport heli plus Band B infantry for the dismount. Assign a Gepard if enemy air is up. Still keep $6,000 in reserve.
$8,000 after a Havoc clip. You are in Band A whether you like it or not. Ego is not a calibre.
Checklist before you click purchase
- Can I buy this twice tonight?
- Does this kit help a 30-second census, or only a kill feed?
- Who is driving?
- Who has medical?
- Who is typing tower digits?
- What is the current zone type on maps — interiors, valley, or foundry?
If you cannot answer those, close the vendor and read getting started.
Related pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common WARDOGS questions.
Are these WARDOGS prices official?
They are community-recorded from Closed Alpha and Closed Beta catalogues. Always check the in-game vendor. Early Access can retune any row.
What should I buy with $10,000?
Band A, then play occupancy. A tank at $14,000 does not fit. Walk through getting started if that feels slow.
Should I save for an M4 unlock or buy lives?
Buy lives. Unlocks do not tick. A Galil in the zone beats an M4 you cannot afford after one death. See loadouts.
Where do I plan vehicles?
Band C and D on this page, plus the vehicles guide and vehicle tier list.