WARDOGS: What Changes in Season 3 and How to Prepare

Here's how to prepare for the Season 3 changes in WARDOGS.

WARDOGS Season 3 launches today with a new urban map and a new mode called Limited Mode. BULKHEAD also moves to three-month seasons, adds catch-up XP, and banned about 185,000 accounts. This guide covers each change and how to prepare.

WARDOGS Season 3 Release Date and New Map

The new map is Sabatulo, the first city map in the game, with tight streets and high-rises. Landmarks include a central hospital and a power station. Take the high points if you want a view of the city, or fight room to room.

Season 3 focuses on stability and consistency in WARDOGS. Larger changes, including a new progression system for the metagame (the progression layer outside matches), are planned for 2027.

How Longer Seasons, Catch-Up XP, and Multi-Track Unlocks Work

Seasons now last roughly three months, and the XP needed per level has gone up. That slows progression to the pace of Season 1 and gives you more time to use what you unlock before the next wipe (a reset of progress).

BULKHEAD admits Season 2 moved too fast. Some players said it did not feel like a wipe, and the journey toward gear was lost.

Low-level players get an XP catch-up bonus and an extended vendor discount that grow week by week, per role. They help you reach midgame items and key counters to endgame gear before the season ends. Players who excel still unlock items faster than you.

Multi-track unlocks let shared items appear on more than one role track. Gear such as armor and parachutes now unlocks from every role track. Ammo types are spread across the tracks based on where their weapons unlock.

Each role also gets certain items earlier than the others, such as armor for Assault and backpacks for Support. Dipping into several roles to speedrun levels is no longer the fastest way to unlock shared items. This is a temporary fix until the intel-based progression system arrives next year.

In the Season 3 preview, the .308 ammo unlocks at Wardog level 140 or Pilot level 40, so a player who only flies the minigun Littlebird can take the Pilot route. The patch notes move ammo later on the Wardog track, so check exact levels in game.

How Limited Mode Works in WARDOGS

Limited Mode is an alternative way to play WARDOGS with fewer endgame power items (gear that gives a big advantage). Vendor items are limited to what is usually available early to mid season, so fights stay fairer.

Examples include no hollow-point or armor-piercing ammo and no Level 3 or Level 4 armor. Attack vehicles and anti-tank mines are out too. So are buildables such as the MG Nest and the Drill Rig.

These are examples, so check the vendor in game for the full list. The server browser now lets you filter for Limited Mode servers.

Progression and cash earned in Limited Mode carry over to other modes. It suits players who want even fights and players joining late in a season. It may stay in future seasons if players like it.

A small share of players who min/max (optimize) progression will probably unlock better items and vehicles in the first weekend. Share early-game counters and work as a team to beat them, or stick to new player and Limited Mode servers.

WARDOGS Parachute and Balance Changes

The Basic Parachute is now an emergency chute that costs $1,250, up from $500. It takes longer to open and cannot be pulled within about 20 meters of the ground. The Sport Parachute costs $2,250, up from $700, and is built for base jumps.

Helicopter passengers now see their height above the minimap, so you can check it against a parachute's effective height. The Basic Parachute works above about 100 meters, and the Sport Parachute above about 60. Parachuting into an enemy forward operating base (FOB) now earns a reward.

Supply crates, including armored crates, must now be dropped from about 35 meters or lower, and pallets from about 40 meters or lower. Crates can no longer be deployed inside safe zones.

The Infrared Range Finder is removed until it gets a redesign. Assault rifle torso damage goes back to Season 1 values, up 13% on the upper torso and 3% on the middle and lower torso. Every DMR (designated marksman rifle) now kills an unarmored player in two body shots.

Vehicle-mounted miniguns deal more damage to infantry, landing between Season 1 and Season 2 levels. The TCX-SPR has less recoil, and the Compound Bow's arrows are 50% faster. The Molotov Cocktail now sets targets ablaze and forces them to drop their held item.

WARDOGS Anti-Cheat Ban Wave

BULKHEAD says it analyzed 187 million hours of WARDOGS gameplay with machine learning and turned on more anti-cheat layers earlier than planned. Around 185,000 accounts are banned as a result.

Globally, 4.89% of players used external modification software, and 5.7% of EU copies were flagged. Software that adds aim or recoil aids, or changes fire rate, is bannable.

The studio also removed the cash and XP of accounts on boosting servers tied to real-money trading and gold farming, banned them, and revoked their hosting rights.

Using NVIDIA Inspector or other third-party tools to remove smoke or grass, or to change textures, is now bannable. If the game detects those settings, it blocks you from playing until you change them. Spoofing your hardware to unlock the low-spec potato shadow setting is bannable too.

A player trust score is planned for 2027, and more cheaters will still appear, so expect further ban waves. The ping limit (the highest connection delay allowed) on official servers is now 250 in every region.

BULKHEAD asks players to leave honest Steam reviews, positive or negative, because it expects review bombing (a flood of negative reviews) from banned accounts.

What to Do Next

Decide which role you want to play in WARDOGS, since multi-track unlocks add items to that role's track. Check exact unlock levels in game, because ammo moved later on the Wardog track. Try Limited Mode for fairer fights, especially if you join late. The game's price rises $5 on January 28, and current owners pay nothing extra.

Season 3 launches today with Sabatulo, Limited Mode, three-month seasons, and a 185,000-account ban wave.

FAQ

Q. When does WARDOGS Season 3 start?

A. It launches today, November 12, following the developer update posted on November 6.

Q. What is Limited Mode?

A. It is a separate playlist that limits vendor items to what is usually available early to mid season. Progression and cash carry over to other modes.

Q. How many accounts were banned?

A. About 185,000, after reviewing 187 million hours of gameplay.

Q. How do multi-track unlocks work in WARDOGS?

A. Items that suit several roles appear on each of those role tracks, so you can unlock them through the role you play.

Also, check out our review of WARDOGS and other guides below :

• WARDOGS Review
• WARDOGS: 3 Easy Ways to Make Money
• WARDOGS: How to Build, Launch, and Aim the Stingray Drone
• WARDOGS: Control Recoil With Mouse Pull-Down and Attachments
• WARDOGS: Level Every Class Faster in Season 2
• WARDOGS: How to Stop Losing Money on Kits
• WARDOGS: How to Unlock the Super-45 (Vector) as Medic