Sniper and Marksman Rifles

13:26 Wardogs has nine long rifles in Season 2: five sniper rifles (Scout Rifle TD, Mosin Nagant, SV98, MK22 and AMR 50) and four marksman rifles, or DMRs (SKS, SVD, BMR-308 and the new M14), per Dexerto's weapon database. All but the cheap Scout unlock on the Recon track, from the SKS at Recon level 5 for $25,000 to the .50 caliber AMR 50 at Recon 35 for $200,000, per Dexerto's Recon page and Bulkhead's Season 2 patch notes. Season 2 (Oct 15, 2026) cut the base damage of the big calibers, then raised sniper rifles' hit-location damage "to keep that sniper fantasy" while making DMRs "sit between assault rifles and snipers." How to play the role is on Sniper Guide. The clip is TheTacticalBrit's preview of Season 2 from before the patch notes.

Quick facts

Sources: Bulkhead's Season 2 patch notes, Dexerto's weapon database.

Every sniper and marksman rifle

Stats are per Dexerto's Wardogs database (Season 2 values, base damage per hit); prices and unlocks are Bulkhead's for Season 2 (Oct 15, 2026); the tier is Dexerto's Sep 16, 2026 list.

Sources: Dexerto's pages for the SKS, SVD, BMR-308, M14, Scout Rifle TD, Mosin Nagant, SV98, MK22 and AMR 50; Bulkhead's Season 2 patch notes.

Ballistics and damage

Dexerto lists each rifle's muzzle velocity, from the Scout Rifle TD's 975 m/s down to the SKS's 735 m/s. Dexerto lists damage as base damage per hit with a range multiplier, 1.0 out to the effective range and 0.2 at 1,200 m for most rifles; the head, torso and limb multipliers are not published.

14:30 Season 2 cut base damage by caliber for every gun that fires it: 7.62x54mmR by 20%, .308 Winchester by 25%, 7.62x39mm by 19% and .50 Cal by 16%. That covers every rifle on this page except the 5.56mm Scout. To compensate, Bulkhead raised sniper rifles' hit-location damage "to keep that sniper fantasy," while DMRs got a new recoil pass and weaker headshots and upper-body hits so they "sit between assault rifles and snipers." Helmets matter: since Season 2 a Scout Rifle headshot kills a target with no helmet in one hit, but a Level 1 helmet takes two. Armor tiers are on Armor and Gear, and scopes on Attachments.

Marksman rifles

1:06 SKS. The first Recon gun, at Recon level 5 for $25,000 and $2,400 a life: semi-auto 7.62x39mm at 420 RPM. KeenGamer says it "covers the same role far more cheaply" than the SVD. Game Rant's low-level Recon build pairs it with the DTK-1 Brake, SKS Bipod and 6x Precision Rifle Scope at Recon 7, plus a Small Hammer to fortify the nest.

SVD. Semi-auto 7.62x54mmR with a 10 round magazine and an 800 m effective range, at Recon 12 for $50,000 and $4,800. It splits the lists: Dexerto S tier, KeenGamer C. Season 2's 20% cut to its round hit it directly.

14:58 BMR-308. A .308 precision bullpup that takes FAL magazines, at $6,250 (up from $6,000). Season 2 moved its unlock from Recon level 30 to level 20, for $125,000. Dexerto and KeenGamer both ranked it S in September, before the .308 cut. The clip is from Season 1, before the .308 cut.

2:12 M14. Season 2's new marksman rifle, .308 Winchester at $7,400, unlocked with its 10 round magazine ($60) at Recon level 25 for $100,000. Its parts follow on the track: Leatherwood ART II scope at 27, bipod at 29, 20 round magazine at 31, 30 round magazine at 36, and two muzzles at 37 and 42. Dexerto lists 700 RPM with semi and full auto; Bulkhead's notes only call it a "Marksman Rifle," and whether full auto is usable has not been confirmed by Bulkhead.

Sniper rifles

1:42 Scout Rifle TD. A single-shot takedown rifle in 5.56mm, $1,200 in Season 2 (was $1,100), with no unlock listed by Dexerto. Dexerto ranks it D; since Season 2 its headshot kills a target without a helmet in one hit. The clip is SaucySurg's Season 1 verdict, before the helmet headshot change.

2:34 Mosin Nagant. Bolt action 7.62x54mmR at Recon 10 for $50,000 and $4,500. Season 2 gave it its own PU 91/30 (3.5x) scope (Recon 10, $12,500 unlock, $780) and removed its access to other optics until Bulkhead's planned customization features arrive. Game Rant's budget Marksman ran a Mosin with a 6x scope for $5,210 in Season 1, a build Season 2's scope change rules out.

SV98. Bolt action 7.62x54mmR with a 1,000 m effective range, at Recon 18 for $100,000 (it was level 19) and $5,200. Game Rant says it can one-shot unarmored and low-armor targets with a headshot or torso shot, but has very high vertical recoil and each magazine takes two backpack spaces (Season 1); its mid-level build adds the SRVV Brake, SV98 Bipod and 6-10x Scope MRAD.

MK22. Bolt action .308 with a 1,000 m range, at $6,400; Season 2 moved it from Recon level 25 to 30, for $150,000. Dexerto ranks it B.

AMR 50. The .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle and the top of the Recon track: base damage 90, a 2,000 m effective range, a 5 round magazine and 12.5 kg, per Dexerto. Season 2 raised its price from $8,800 to $14,800, the most for any infantry weapon, and cut .50 Cal damage by 16%. It unlocks at Recon 35 for $200,000.

What guides recommend

2:31 Game Rant's Recon guide climbs from the SKS at Recon 7 to the SV98 at Recon 21, and points to the church on a hill in Bakurani as a sniping spot (Maps). PC Gamer's advice for a player with nothing unlocked is binoculars rather than a rifle, because spotting pays XP, cash and assist cash. The Ghillie Suit unlocks at Recon level 26. The September tier lists (Dexerto, KeenGamer) all predate Season 2's caliber cuts and sniper headshot buff, and no approved outlet had re-ranked these rifles as of Oct 26, 2026. The clip is SaucySurg's case for leveling Recon with binoculars.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best sniper rifle in Wardogs? Dexerto's September 2026 tier list put the SV98 and AMR 50 in A tier, the best of the bolt and anti-materiel rifles, and the SVD and BMR-308 marksman rifles in S. Season 2 then cut 7.62x54mmR and .308 damage and raised sniper hit-location damage, and no approved outlet has re-ranked them since.

What is the best DMR in Wardogs? The SVD and BMR-308 were Dexerto's S-tier marksman rifles in September 2026, and KeenGamer also ranked the BMR-308 S. Season 2 made DMR headshots weaker and added the M14 at Recon 25.

How do you unlock sniper rifles in Wardogs? Sniper and marksman rifles unlock on the Recon track for cash: in Season 2 the SKS at Recon 5 ($25,000), Mosin Nagant at 10, SVD at 12, SV98 at 18, BMR-308 at 20, M14 at 25, MK22 at 30 and AMR 50 at 35 ($200,000). The Scout Rifle TD has no unlock listed.

Can the Scout Rifle one-shot in Wardogs? Since Season 2, a Scout Rifle TD headshot kills a target with no helmet in one hit, while a Level 1 helmet takes two headshots, per Bulkhead's patch notes.

Why can't I put a scope on the Mosin in Wardogs? Season 2 gave the Mosin Nagant its own PU 91/30 (3.5x) scope and removed access to other optics, which Bulkhead says were not meant to fit until planned customization features arrive.

How much is the AMR 50 in Wardogs? The AMR 50 costs $14,800 each life in Season 2 (up from $8,800) and unlocks at Recon level 35 for $200,000.

Sources

• WARDOGS - Season 02 Patch Notes, Bulkhead (Steam news), Oct 14, 2026
• All Weapons, Wardogs wiki, Dexerto, Oct 15, 2026
• Recon, Dexerto, Sep 5, 2026
• SKS, SVD, BMR-308, Scout Rifle TD, Mosin Nagant, SV98, MK22, AMR 50 and M4 stats pages, Dexerto, Sep 4, 2026
• M14 - Stats, Attachments & Ammo, Dexerto, Oct 15, 2026
• Wardogs weapon tier list: Best guns (meta), Dexerto, Sep 16, 2026
• WARDOGS Best Weapons Tier List, KeenGamer, Sep 15, 2026
• WARDOGS: Best Recon Sniper Loadout, Game Rant, Sep 12, 2026
• The Best WARDOGS Loadouts For When You're Completely Broke, Game Rant, Sep 15, 2026
• 10 beginner tips to not suck at Wardogs, PC Gamer, Sep 10, 2026
• Wardogs Season 2 Just Changed EVERYTHING (Huge Update!), TheTacticalBrit, Oct 9, 2026 (video)
• The ULTIMATE WARDOGS Weapon Tier List, Strider, Sep 18, 2026 (video)
• You've been using the WRONG attachments in WARDOGS, Evo4Fun, Oct 7, 2026 (video)
• WARDOGS | Press Conference 01 | Road to Season 02, Bulkhead, Oct 9, 2026 (video)
• How to Become a DEADLY Sniper in WARDOGS - Complete Recon Guide, SaucySurg, Sep 14, 2026 (video)