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WARDOGS Recon Progression Guide: How to Level Recon Fast

A $75 pair of binoculars is all you need to start. Every way to earn Recon XP, the fastest route, and every Recon unlock in Season 2.

By n0xen, . 4 minute read.

WARDOGS Recon Progression Guide: How to Level Recon Fast

The Recon track is one of the easiest to start levelling, because you don’t need a good rifle or a high level. A pair of binoculars costing about $75 is enough to start earning Recon XP from your very first match.

Recon in one line: Spot everything, especially vehicles, and stay close enough to the fight for your spots to matter.

How Recon XP Works

Action Reward Notes
Spot an enemy player XP + cash Hold your binoculars, monocular or range finder on the target until the mark completes
Spot an enemy vehicle or helicopter More XP + cash Spot rewards scale with the value of the target in Season 2
Spotted target killed by your team Bonus XP + cash You’re rewarded even if someone else gets the kill
Sniper, marksman and bow kills XP Every Recon weapon feeds the track

Note: If a target you spotted is destroyed by the third faction instead of yours, you get a much smaller reward.

The Fastest Way to Level Recon

Step 1: Buy Binoculars Every Life

Binoculars need no level and cost almost nothing. Take them every life, whatever else you’re carrying.

Step 2: Stay Close to the Action

Spotting only pays when there are enemies to spot.

  • Set up overlooking the Control Zone or a busy route into it.
  • Don’t wander off to a quiet corner of the map.
  • Keep close enough that your teammates can act on what you spot.

Step 3: Spot Vehicles and Helicopters

In Season 2, spot rewards scale with the target’s value. Vehicles and helicopters are worth more than infantry.

  • Scan roads, F.O.B approaches and the sky.
  • Spot every vehicle you see, even if you can’t destroy it.

Step 4: Spot First, Then Shoot

  • Mark the target before you fire. If you miss, you still have the spot.
  • If a teammate finishes the target, you still get paid.

Step 5: Upgrade Your Spotting Tool

  • Monocular (Recon 2) – marks targets faster.
  • Range Finder (Recon 8) – adds distance readings, which makes zeroing easy.

Step 6: Add Recon Weapons

Kills with sniper and marksman rifles also feed the track.

  • SKS (Recon 5) is a cheap semi-auto to start with.
  • SVD (Recon 12) is the best all-rounder for most players.

Step 7: Stay Until the End

Finishing the match pays an end-of-match bonus. Don’t leave early.

Recon Unlocks (Season 2)

Recon level Unlock Unlock cost
Start Binoculars, Scout Rifle TD Free / ~$75 per life
2 Monocular –
5 SKS $25,000
8 Range Finder $25,000
10 Mosin Nagant + PU 91/30 Scope Scope $12,500
12 SVD –
16 Compound Bow $150,000
18 SV98 –
20 BMR-308 –
23 Claymore $90,000
25 M14 (10-round magazine) $100,000
26 Ghillie Headwear and Body Suit –
27 Leatherwood ART II scope $35,000
29 M14 Bipod $25,000
30 MK22 –
31 M14 20-round magazine $27,500
35 AMR 50 ~$200,000
36 M14 30-round magazine $50,000
43 6x Marksman Scope with Reflex $75,000

Unlock costs marked “–” weren’t confirmed at the time of writing. Check the vendor.

Season 2 Changes Worth Knowing

  • The BMR-308 moved much earlier (Recon 20).
  • The new M14 arrives at Recon 25.
  • The MK22 moved later (Recon 30).
  • The Range Finder unlock costs more ($25,000).
  • Spotting pays about 30% less than Season 1, but it’s now scaled to the target, so vehicles and helicopters pay best.

Recon Levelling Tips

  • Hold the spot until it completes. Looking away early cancels it.
  • Watch the sky. Helicopters are high-value spots.
  • Reposition after a few shots so you can keep spotting instead of being hunted.
  • Call out what you spot on VOIP. Your team acting on it means kills, and kills on spotted targets pay you.
  • Keep your kit cheap while you level. Binoculars and a cheap rifle earn the same spot XP as an expensive sniper.

Common Mistakes

  • Not carrying binoculars. It’s the cheapest XP in the game.
  • Sitting too far away to see anything worth spotting.
  • Shooting before spotting.
  • Ignoring vehicles because you can’t destroy them.

Remember: Spotting levels Recon faster than sniping does, and it helps your whole faction while you do it.

Values and unlocks are for Season 2 (Update 0.2.0). WARDOGS is in Early Access, so numbers can change between updates.

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