Season 2 is close, and a lot of Season 1 habits are about to stop working. This guide covers what Bulkhead has officially said, what is still only reported, and what to do before and after launch. The full Season 2 patch notes had not been published when we wrote this. Treat anything marked "reported" as provisional until they appear.
What is confirmed
Season 2 is confirmed for 15 October 2026. Bulkhead's Season 02 Preview on 9 October named the new content:
- Four new weapons: the TCX Spear assault rifle, M14 designated marksman rifle, PP-19 Bizon submachine gun and Evo-3 Ultra light machine gun, with additional attachments.
- A Molotov throwable that spreads fire on impact.
- Four vehicles: the Wolf-110, the Wolf-110 Assault with an M2 Browning, the T-72 tank and the Flakpanzer Gepard anti-air vehicle.
- Three new buildables: an MG Nest, a Large Shelter and a Wooden Step.
- A rainy weather preset that affects visibility, engagement ranges and sound.
- An experimental vendor that lets players wager in-game money on their own performance.
The preview does not say which classes or levels will unlock the new items. So there is nothing to plan around there yet.
The wipe: what to expect
Bulkhead's in-game Gold Exchange panel says that at the end of a major update cycle your level progression and cash will be reset. Any remaining cash is automatically exchanged for Gold Bars. Gold Bars and the cosmetics bought with them are kept.
Sources disagree on how firmly this is tied to 15 October. Bulkhead has confirmed the Season 2 date but not the day the reset happens, and has promised to announce it ahead of time. We don't know the cash-to-Gold-Bar conversion rate, so we won't guess one.
What to do in practice:
- Don't panic-spend on gear you won't use. Leftover cash becomes Gold Bars rather than disappearing, so expensive loadouts bought only to "use it up" are poor value.
- Do keep playing normally until Bulkhead announces the reset. There is no reason to stop earning.
- Watch the Steam news page for the patch notes and the reset time.
Your first matches after the wipe
Everything starts again, so the early hours are about staying funded. Our loadout builder at /loadout uses Season 1 shop prices and unlocks. Season 2 may change them, so check the in-game vendor before trusting any total.
A cheap, reliable kit from the Season 1 shop looks like this:
| Slot | Pick | Price (Season 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | T-21 | $600 |
| Backpack | Scout Backpack | $350 |
| Vest | Small Tac Vest | $100 |
| Helmet | Level 1 Helmet | $200 |
| Healing | Bandage (carry several) | $200 each |
| Spotting | Binoculars | $75 |
If you want to pay nothing for a weapon, the Bushmaster M17S costs $0, but it can't take attachments. The T-21 is a sensible first purchase. Carrying loose ammo rather than only spare magazines takes far less backpack space for the same rounds.
The Emergency Resuscitator costs $0 and gives you one fast revive item per life. There is no reason to leave it behind.
Why cheap kits matter even more now
The new weapons and vehicles will be everywhere on day one, and many players will overspend chasing them. Expect a lot of expensive kits lost in the first hour. A kit you can replace without a second thought lets you keep playing the objective while others run out of money.
Changes reported for Season 2
Bulkhead has talked about balance in interviews and podcasts, but these changes were not in the official preview. We are treating them as reported, not confirmed.
- Parachutes. The team plans to raise the minimum deployment height from roughly 2.5 metres to 25 metres. Parachutes may also cost more. If you rely on jumping out of a helicopter the moment it reaches the zone, expect that to stop working. Pilots may need to land properly.
- Level 4 helmet and armour. One report says Level 4 armour and helmets will mitigate 60% of damage, down from 65%. The same report says the Super Heavy helmet will have trade-offs: muffled sound, a narrower field of view and a visor that fogs during sprints. The shop's Level 4 Helmet and Level 4 Armor are both locked behind Wardog Level 100, so most of you won't be affected early in the season.
- High-calibre damage. One outlet reports reductions for .308 Winchester, 7.62x54mmR, 7.62x39mm and .50 calibre ammunition, mainly affecting rifles such as the FAL, BMR-308 and PKM. Sniper rifles are said to receive a hit-location damage boost as compensation. We could not confirm the exact figures from an official source, so re-test your favourite weapon before committing money to it.
- Suppression. Suppression is being reworked so nearby gunfire has more effect.
Already live: IR Rangefinders and the CIWS
Two changes arrived in the 2 October hotfix, so they apply now. IR Rangefinders were disabled in the vendor until Season 02, where they will require batteries. The CIWS now destroys the Havoc in around 6 seconds instead of 12.
Note that the standard Range Finder ($400) in the shop is a different item. It is the normal spotting tool with an accurate distance indicator.
Playing in the rain
Rain will change how fights feel. It reduces visibility, shortens practical engagement distances and changes the soundscape, and server-wide thunder may temporarily mask footsteps. Some practical thoughts:
- Snipers and marksmen will find long sightlines less reliable. Plan for medium-range fights and keep a fallback weapon.
- Everyone should treat sound as less trustworthy. Check corners rather than waiting for footsteps.
- Squads gain from thunder cover, so use it to reposition together.
Common mistakes in the first week
- Buying the newest weapon without testing it. Final stats weren't published at the time of writing. Use the firing range first. The range gives full access to every weapon and attachment with no risk.
- Relying on Season 1 prices and unlocks. Check the vendor before you plan a build.
- Treating the Wager Vendor as free money. It lets you bet cash on completing match objectives with limited deaths. It is described as experimental. Get a feel for your earnings before risking them.
- Playing alone. The first days are chaotic and a squad makes a real difference. Our squad nights are a friendly way to learn the new content together.
We'll update the loadout builder once the official numbers are published.