Run the test above for at least 60 seconds. Here is what each
number means for this game specifically.
Red lines (packet loss)
Loss in a 100-player match shows up as players jumping and hits that do not register. Any red line during a minute of testing is worth following up. Several per minute will be visible in every fight.
Jitter
At 30 Hz the server sends an update every 33 ms. Jitter above 15 ms means updates regularly land a tick late, which you see as stutter when many players move in the same area.
Ping and the ping limit
Official servers enforce a ping limit by region. If you are removed or cannot join, measure against the server closest to your region here. A high ping to a nearby server points to your provider's routing, not to distance.
What you see in game, and which number on this page explains it.
Most shooters put two teams against each other. WARDOGS puts three teams of up to 33 players around one control zone, and the fight concentrates there. The server has to tell your client about every player near you, and in WARDOGS that is most of the match, in the same few hundred metres.
The result is that the data your client receives peaks when the fight peaks. A line that copes with a quiet minute can drop packets in the zone. That is why players often describe the game as fine until the shooting starts.
Early access adds a second factor. Server capacity, regions and limits have changed with patches since launch, and the game has seen outages from load and DDoS attacks. When a match is bad, the first question is whether everyone suffered. A test here, running at the same time, answers it.
Community servers add a third variable. Admins choose the region, the ping limit and the hosting, so the same game can feel different from one server to the next. If one community server lags and an official one does not, while this chart stays clean, the cause is that server. Note the server name and try a few others before you blame your line.
If the chart above shows packet loss or high jitter, work through
these in order.
Why does WARDOGS kick me for high ping?
Official servers enforce a ping limit per region. If your ping to the server is above it, you are removed. Play in your own region and measure here whether your ping to a nearby server is normal.
What tick rate does WARDOGS use?
Bulkhead has not published one. 30 Hz is the figure reported for the official early-access servers. This test uses it and marks it as an estimate.
Is WARDOGS lag my internet or the servers?
Run this test while you play. If the chart stays clean while the match lags for everyone, it is the server. Red lines or a jumping ping here point to your connection.
Is there a WARDOGS server in my region?
There are official servers in several regions plus community servers. Bulkhead has increased capacity in Asia since launch. Choose the closest region; there is no region lock, but there are ping limits.