Direct answer: WARDOGS has three named factions: Valkyra, Lonestar and Manticore. All contest the same Control Zone. Season 2 introduced a Lonestar cash and XP bonus on October 15, but the developer's October 16 backend update removed it. Do not choose Lonestar or plan a budget around that withdrawn bonus. This correction was checked on October 29, 2026.
Confirmed faction comparison
| Faction | Shared role | Evidence and timing |
|---|---|---|
| Valkyra | One of three teams contesting the Control Zone | The October 15 notes describe spawn changes; they do not list a comparable faction bonus. |
| Lonestar | The same scoring objective | Cash and XP bonus introduced October 15, then removed by the October 16 backend update. |
| Manticore | The same scoring objective | The October 15 notes describe spawn changes; they do not list a comparable faction bonus. |
What changed for Lonestar
The October 15 Season 2 notes introduced an experiment addressing low win rate and player reluctance to choose Lonestar. They discussed uniform visibility and spawn positions, and added cash/XP rewards for wins and teamplay.
On October 16, developer G_Medlin confirmed that the backend update removed the Lonestar Cash & XP Bonus. The later correction overrides the introduction for that bonus. It does not establish stronger weapons, higher damage, better health or a permanent best faction. Read the developer's correction.
The October 15 notes separately describe a 20% vendor discount for any team at least 40 points behind second place, not only Lonestar. Removing the Lonestar bonus does not establish that this separate discount was removed. Check the vendor display before relying on a discount.
Choose a team with friends
- Agree on your faction before joining or buying a loadout.
- Use the squad list and intent to find your group's task once you are on the same team.
- If you play alone, consider communication, access to the objective and the current match state. Exclude the withdrawn Lonestar bonus from this decision.
- Review the team-switch restrictions before trying to move after deployment.
Team-switch restrictions in Season 2
When a team is more than 10 points ahead, the official notes specify:
- After joining a team, another team switch is blocked for 15 minutes.
- Players switching or joining an in-progress match have an obscured map until reaching the Control Zone for the first time.
- Those players cannot use the spawn vehicle until reaching the zone for the first time.
These rules are intended to limit late switching while preserving the possibility of joining friends. The announcement does not provide an exact menu sequence or a full matchmaking algorithm.
Identify a faction without guessing mechanics
Use the faction name in the current team selection and squad interfaces. The reviewed sources do not provide a complete UI screenshot set, so this page uses an explanatory diagram rather than a fabricated team-selection screen.
The optional Supporter Pack lists Valkyra A-91, Lonestar Bushmaster and Manticore KH-2002 cosmetics. Cosmetic branding alone does not establish exclusive weapon access. Keep those cosmetics separate from the cash/XP experiment that the developer subsequently removed.
Evidence boundary
Documented changes
- Three faction names and a shared scoring goal
- Lonestar cash/XP bonus introduced October 15 and removed October 16
- Bakurani spawn changes in the October 15 notes
- Team-switch restrictions in the October 15 notes
Not established here
- A later restoration of the withdrawn bonus
- A permanent faction tier list
- Faction-exclusive weapons or vehicle rosters
- Identical rules on every future patch
Source record
- Season 2 patch notes — faction experiment, discounts, spawn changes and switching.
- October 16 backend correction — developer confirmation that the Lonestar cash and XP bonus was removed.
- Developer FAQ — team names and scoring.
- Supporter Pack — cosmetic descriptions.
The original rule and source review was October 16, 2026. On October 29, 2026, we checked the backend correction and revised the bonus advice, comparison and diagram. This was a targeted correction, not a fresh test of every rule or hands-on balance testing.