WARDOGS armor and ammo: protection levels, helmets and AP vs HP rounds explained

Armor and ammo often decide who survives a firefight in WARDOGS, and they make up a large part of your spending. With Season 2, BULKHEAD changed protection values and prices. This guide explains the levels, the downsides of heavy helmets and the difference between AP and HP rounds. Official values come from the Season 2 patch notes of 14 October 2026; where values only come from the community, we say so. As of 1 November 2026.

The four protection levels

Vests and helmets come in four levels. Damage reduction and prices:

• Level 1: around 30 percent according to community guides. Vest 400 dollars, helmet 200 dollars in the Fieldkit catalog.
• Level 2: around 40 percent according to community guides. Vest 1,000 dollars, helmet 500 dollars.
• Level 3: officially 50 percent, down from 55 before Season 2. Vest 2,500 dollars, helmet 2,000 dollars.
• Level 4: officially 60 percent, down from 65 before Season 2. Vest 5,000 dollars, helmet 4,500 dollars.

BULKHEAD has not published its own percentages for levels 1 and 2. Since Season 2, Level 3 gear unlocks on the WARDOG track at level 70 instead of 60.

Helmets: protection against suppression and downsides

Since Season 2, heavy helmets protect against more than damage:

• A Level 3 helmet reduces suppression by 68 percent.
• A Level 4 helmet reduces it by 80 percent.
• The Level 4 helmet, however, muffles game audio and proximity chat, restricts your field of view and fogs up while sprinting.

Suppression became considerably stronger in Season 2. Near misses from small and medium calibres are clearly felt. A good helmet helps you aim calmly under fire. If you rely on footsteps and voice chat, Level 3 is often a better fit than Level 4.

Which level should you buy?

Our assessment, not a game rule:

• New players and medics: Level 1 or 2. Cheap to replace, and you lose little when you die.
• All-rounders with reserves: since Season 2, Level 3 offers the best balance of protection, price and downsides.
• Level 4 only with large reserves: 9,500 dollars for vest and helmet, for 10 percentage points more protection than Level 3 and noticeable helmet drawbacks.

Always plan for replacements. If you plan three lives, you need to be able to pay for the gear three times. Our budget loadout guide shows how to split a budget.

Less damage from big calibres

With Season 2, base damage dropped for several calibres: .308 Winchester by 25 percent, 7.62x54mmR by 20 percent, 7.62x39mm by 19 percent and .50 Cal by 16 percent. Shotgun slugs and the Compound Bow now scale against armor by tier rather than with one flat reduction. Our Season 2 balance guide has all the details.

AP or HP rounds?

Many calibres come in variants. In game they are called Armor Piercing (AP) and Flesh Damage (HP), plus tracer versions marked (T):

• AP rounds are, as the name says, designed to penetrate armor. They pay off against well-protected enemies in Level 3 or Level 4 gear.
• HP rounds, as the name says, deal more damage to unprotected flesh. They suit lightly armored enemies better.

BULKHEAD has not published exact penetration or damage values. Many special rounds unlock late on the WARDOG track. Examples from Season 2:

• 5.45x39mm HP: level 6.
• 9x19mm HP: level 10.
• 5.56mm HP: level 13.
• 7.62x39mm AP: level 60.
• .308 Win HP: level 63.
• 5.56mm AP: level 84.
• 5.45x39mm AP: level 90.

In the Fieldkit catalog, ten rounds of 5.56mm AP cost 40 dollars, ten rounds of 7.62mm AP 150 dollars and ten rounds of .308 AP 180 dollars. Every ammo page in the catalog lists the matching weapons. Our ammo guide explains how to fill magazines properly.

FAQ

How much damage does armor block in WARDOGS?

Officially, Level 3 reduces damage by 50 percent and Level 4 by 60 percent. For levels 1 and 2, community guides give around 30 and 40 percent; there are no official values for those.

Is Level 4 armor worth it?

Only with enough reserves. Vest and helmet together cost more than twice as much as Level 3, protects 10 percentage points more, and the helmet has drawbacks for sound, vision and sprinting.

Are AP rounds worth it?

Against heavily armored enemies, yes, if you have already unlocked them. Many AP variants arrive late on the WARDOG track. Against lightly protected targets, HP rounds are the obvious choice.

What is the difference between vest and helmet?

The vest protects your body, the helmet your head and, since Season 2, also against suppression. Both are bought and replaced separately.

Further reading

The Fieldkit tier list shows which weapons are currently strong. You will also find the medic guide and roles guide in the Fieldkit journal.