The Tool Desk
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The live catch-up reward is different: whichever faction is at least 40 points behind the faction in second place can receive a 20% vendor discount. It applies to any faction, not just Lonestar. Season 2 also changed Bakurani spawn locations, reduced the visual contrast of Lonestar uniforms, and added limits on late team switching.
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Season 2 rewards at a glance
Bulkhead Interactive’s Season 2 announcement described several connected balance systems rather than one permanent “Blue reward.” Some were faction-specific experiments; others respond to the match scoreboard and can benefit any team.
| Mechanic | Original rule announced for Season 2 | Status on October 18, 2026 | Who can benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lonestar win bonus | Extra cash and XP for winning, limited to Season 2 | Removed after one day; no replacement percentage published | No faction currently has a verified equivalent |
| Lonestar teamplay multipliers | Extra cash and XP for teamplay actions, limited to Season 2 | Lonestar cash and XP incentives were withdrawn after launch | Do not assume a live Lonestar multiplier |
| Losing-team vendor discount | 20% off when a faction is at least 40 points behind second place | Separately described as active for any faction | Any faction that meets the score condition |
| Bakurani spawn changes | All faction spawn locations moved | Season 2 map-balance change | Every player on Bakurani |
| Lonestar uniform visibility | Uniforms desaturated so they stand out less | Season 2 visual change | Players encountering Lonestar |
The key distinction is between a withdrawn Lonestar payout and the scoreboard-based discount. A Blue player does not automatically earn more cash or XP simply for selecting Lonestar, while a player on any faction may qualify for the discount when the score gap is large enough.
Why the Blue cash and XP bonus disappeared
Season 2 released on October 15, 2026. The faction experiment attempted to make Lonestar more attractive because its players had been recording a lower win rate and the faction’s reputation discouraged selection. The launch package combined a Lonestar win incentive, teamplay rewards, changed Bakurani spawns, less distinctive uniforms, and a catch-up discount for the team falling badly behind.
That incentive produced the opposite of the intended balancing effect. A PC Gamer report dated October 16, 2026 said Blue was winning “by far, the most” and reported launch boosts of 5% cash and 2.5% XP. The report also said the advantage affected the ability to start or join matches, not only the amount earned after a round. Bulkhead removed the Blue cash and XP bonus after one day. CEO Joe Brammer summarized the reversal bluntly: “We were wrong. We fucked up.”
The original official announcement did not state a percentage for the Lonestar win bonus or the teamplay multipliers. The 5% cash and 2.5% XP figures are the values reported for the launch implementation, not a promise that those percentages remain available. Bulkhead has not published a complete post-rollback reward formula or a replacement Lonestar multiplier, so there is no verified number to use when planning a faction choice.
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The 20% losing-team vendor discount
The catch-up discount is the clearest currently documented event reward. A faction qualifies when it is at least 40 points behind the faction in second place. The discount is 20% at the vendor. This is a score-based condition, not a Lonestar perk: the faction in last place, whether Blue or another color, can qualify.
Because the trigger compares the trailing faction with second place, the first-place lead is not the measurement that matters. For example, if the leading faction has 100 points, second has 80, and your faction has 39, your team is 41 points behind second and meets the threshold. If your faction has 41 while second has 80, the gap is 39 and the rule is not met, even though your team is far behind the leader.
The published rule does not specify a permanent unlock, a once-per-match purchase, or a personal-use quota. Treat it as a live scoreboard condition: check whether your faction is still at least 40 points behind second when you reach the vendor and confirm that the game displays the reduced price before buying. Do not switch to Lonestar solely for this discount, because the rule is available to every faction that reaches the required deficit.
Ordinary match and teamplay rewards
Players still receive the game’s normal match and action rewards, but the available information does not establish a current Lonestar cash or XP multiplier after the rollback. The announcement’s teamplay multipliers were explicitly limited to Season 2, and the later removal of Lonestar cash and XP incentives means you should not budget around an extra payout for assists, captures, support actions, or a Lonestar win unless a later in-game notice gives a new rule.
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Steam Trading Cards and Point Shop items
The Season 2 announcement also mentioned planned WARDOGS Steam Trading Cards and Point Shop items. Those features were described as pending Valve approval, so they are not a confirmed event reward with a guaranteed release date or value. They should be treated separately from the active match-economy rules.
How to get the 20% discount
- Join a faction and enter a match. The discount is tied to faction standings, so you must be playing for a team whose score is tracked on the match scoreboard.
- Compare your faction with second place. The relevant number is the difference between your faction’s score and the faction currently in second, not the gap to first.
- Wait for a 40-point deficit or larger. Your faction qualifies at 40 points behind second and remains outside the threshold when the gap is smaller than 40.
- Open the vendor while the condition applies. Check the displayed price rather than assuming the discount is active. The published rule establishes the percentage and trigger, but not a separate personal activation button.
- Purchase at the reduced price. The discount is 20% for the qualifying losing team. If the scoreboard changes before you buy, recheck the vendor price because the rule is based on the team’s current standing.
There is no documented requirement to win a round, select Lonestar, switch teams, or complete a special challenge. The practical requirement is simply to be on the faction that is at least 40 points behind second when you use the vendor.
Choosing a faction after the Lonestar rollback
Faction selection now involves positioning and map conditions rather than a guaranteed Blue payout. Use these factors when deciding whether to remain with a team or join friends.
| Decision factor | Lonestar (Blue) | Other factions |
|---|---|---|
| Current cash and XP bonus | No verified live bonus; the launch incentive was removed | No equivalent faction bonus is established |
| Eligibility for the catch-up discount | Eligible when at least 40 points behind second | Eligible under the same condition |
| Score position | Changes throughout the match; do not infer eligibility from color | Changes throughout the match; check the scoreboard |
| Bakurani spawns | Moved as part of the all-faction map changes | Moved as part of the all-faction map changes |
| Uniform visibility | Desaturated to stand out less from other factions | No corresponding Lonestar desaturation change is documented |
| Team switching | Subject to the same lead trigger, lock, and entry restrictions | Subject to the same restrictions |
If your priority is earning the discount, select or stay with the faction whose score is trailing by the required amount. If your priority is playing with friends, use the permitted join options but expect the anti-abuse restrictions described below. Selecting Blue for a supposed 5% cash or 2.5% XP advantage is no longer supported by the current rules.
Team switching and joining friends
Bulkhead’s switching rules are designed to reduce late-match abuse without completely preventing players from joining friends. GamesRadar+ reported the following rules before launch.
A lead of more than 10 points starts the restriction
When a team is more than 10 points ahead, a player cannot freely switch teams for 15 minutes after joining one. The trigger is the score lead, so it is not a universal cooldown that applies in every match from the opening seconds. Check the current team standings before attempting a move.
Joining or switching can obscure the map temporarily
If you switch teams or join a match already in progress, the map remains obscured until you reach the control zone for the first time. This limits the information a late entrant can use immediately after appearing on the stronger side.
The spawn vehicle is unavailable before the first control-zone visit
The same first-visit rule applies to the spawn vehicle: after switching teams or entering a match in progress, you cannot use that vehicle before reaching the control zone once. Plan your initial movement on foot or with the options available to a fresh entrant, then use the vehicle after the first control-zone visit.
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What the rules mean in practice
- Do not wait until a team has built a lead of more than 10 points if you expect to change sides immediately.
- Joining friends remains possible, but a late join does not grant unrestricted map knowledge or instant access to the spawn vehicle.
- A switch is not a reliable way to chase the 20% discount. The discount depends on the faction’s score relative to second, while switching can impose a 15-minute lock and temporary entry restrictions.
Bakurani spawn and uniform changes
All Bakurani spawn locations moved
Season 2 moved every faction’s spawn locations on Bakurani. This is a map-balance adjustment, not a special Lonestar reward. Routes, opening engagements, and the time needed to reach objectives can therefore differ from previous seasons. Players returning to the map should learn the new approach paths instead of relying on old spawn memorization.
Lonestar uniforms are less visually distinct
Lonestar uniforms were desaturated so they stand out less from other factions. The change addresses faction visibility rather than payout. It can make quick identification harder at a distance, so use movement, positioning, and the full visual context rather than expecting the former color contrast to identify Blue instantly.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Anti-exploitation rules for hosts and players
The official notes warn that community server hosts seen exploiting the faction bonus can be punished. This matters because the original reward was tied to faction selection and could be manipulated by arranging teams or match conditions. Do not organize artificial wins, rotate players to manufacture a bonus, or use server settings to create a payout the normal rules do not grant.
The rollback does not make deliberate exploitation safe. Play within the published scoreboard, vendor, and switching rules, and report unusual reward behavior through the game’s supported channels rather than trying to reproduce it.
Common situations and the correct response
“I chose Blue for the XP boost, but my payout is normal.”
That is expected after the one-day rollback. The reported 5% cash and 2.5% XP launch boosts were removed because Blue overperformed. No replacement Lonestar percentage has been published.
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“My faction is losing by 35 points to second. Do I get the discount?”
No. The documented threshold is at least 40 points behind second. A 35-point deficit does not meet it; recheck the scoreboard if the gap widens.
“The leader is far ahead, but we are only 20 points behind second.”
You do not qualify on that comparison. The rule uses the gap to second place, not the gap to first.
“Can I switch after the match starts?”
You can still join friends under the stated system, but switching or joining an in-progress match can trigger the temporary map and spawn restrictions. When a team is more than 10 points ahead, the 15-minute post-join switching lock applies.
“Why can’t I use the spawn vehicle after joining?”
After a team switch or in-progress join, the spawn vehicle is unavailable until you reach the control zone for the first time. This is an intentional anti-abuse restriction, not necessarily a bug.
Quick Recap
What to remember before your next match
- Lonestar’s Season 2 cash and XP experiment lasted one day and is no longer a live benefit.
- The reported launch values were 5% cash and 2.5% XP; no replacement formula is verified.
- The active catch-up rule is a 20% vendor discount for any faction at least 40 points behind second place.
- Bakurani uses moved spawn locations for all factions, and Lonestar uniforms are desaturated.
- A lead of more than 10 points can produce a 15-minute switching lock; switches and in-progress joins also delay map visibility and spawn-vehicle access until the first control-zone visit.
- Steam Trading Cards and Point Shop items were announced as pending Valve approval, not guaranteed current rewards.
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