Watchdogs

The Watchdogs heist is a two-day contract that often serves as an introduction to multi-day operations. It involves intercepting a drug shipment and then dealing with the fallout. Communication and coordinated movement are key to success, especially on higher difficulties.

Day 1: The Drug Interception

Your primary objective on Day 1 is to intercept a drug shipment from a moving train. This day is almost always loud, so prepare for heavy resistance.

Initial Approach and Train Stop:
- The heist begins with your crew driving alongside a train. Your first task is to stop the train.
- Locate the train car with the yellow markings. This is the car containing the drugs.
- One player needs to interact with the emergency brake lever located on the side of this specific train car. This will stop the train.
- As soon as the train stops, expect immediate police response. Secure the area around the train car.
Accessing the Drugs:
- Once the train is stopped, you'll need to open the marked train car. There are two common methods:
  - Thermal Drill: The most common method. Place the thermal drill on the train car door. Defend it from police attempts to disable it. Be prepared for the drill to jam, requiring a player to restart it.
  - Saw: If a player has a saw, they can quickly cut open the train car door. This is much faster but consumes saw blades.
- Once the door is open, you'll find several drug bags inside.
Transporting the Drugs:
- Your objective is to move all the drug bags from the train car to the escape van. The escape van will be parked nearby, usually at the end of the train line.
- This is the most dangerous part of Day 1. The area around the train tracks is often open, offering limited cover.
- Strategy:
  - Assign one or two players to carry bags while others provide heavy suppression and crowd control.
  - Utilize cover effectively, such as the train cars themselves or nearby structures.
  - Be mindful of snipers, especially on higher difficulties, as they can quickly down bag carriers.
  - Consider throwing bags ahead to reduce exposure time, but ensure a teammate is ready to pick them up.
- Once all drug bags are loaded into the escape van, the day concludes.

Day 2: The Warehouse Defense

Day 2 takes place in a warehouse where the drugs are being stored. This day is also almost always loud and involves defending your position against waves of law enforcement.

Initial Setup and Defense:
- You start inside the warehouse. The drugs from Day 1 will be in a specific area, usually near a loading dock or a secure room.
- Your first task is to secure the drug bags into a truck for transport. This usually involves moving them a short distance within the warehouse.
- Once the bags are in the truck, the police assault will begin in earnest.
- Key Defensive Positions:
  - The office area on the second floor often provides good sightlines and cover, but can be easily flanked.
  - The loading dock area offers chokepoints but is exposed to grenades.
  - Utilize deployables like sentry guns, ammo bags, and doctor bags strategically. Place doctor bags in a secure, central location that is accessible but not easily overrun.
Securing the Truck:
- The truck needs to be loaded and then driven away. This process is often interrupted by police assaults.
- A player will need to interact with the truck to initiate its departure. This interaction can be lengthy and leaves You vulnerable.
- You will need to defend the truck from police attempts to disable it or prevent its departure.
- Dealing with Special Units: Expect a high volume of special units like Tasers, Cloakers, Shields, and especially Dozers. Focus fire on these threats to prevent them from overwhelming your team or disabling the truck.
The Escape:
- Once the truck is ready, a new escape zone will appear, usually a short distance from the warehouse.
- Your team needs to fight its way to this escape zone.
- Final Push: The last wave of police can be intense. Stick together, use any remaining deployables, and push towards the escape.
- Once all surviving crew members reach the escape zone, the heist is complete.

General Tips for Watchdogs

Loadout: Bring weapons with good crowd control (e.g., shotguns, LMGs) and precision (e.g., rifles for snipers/specials). Ammo bags are highly recommended for both days.
Skills: Skills that enhance survivability (e.g., Inspire, Iron Man), provide additional deployables (e.g., More Ammo, Uppers), or improve bag carrying (e.g., Transporter) are invaluable.
Communication: Call out special units, bag locations, and player status. This is crucial for coordinating defense and bag movement.
Cover: Always be aware of your surroundings and utilize cover effectively. Standing in the open is a death sentence.
Bag Management: On Day 1, don't leave bags unattended for too long. On Day 2, ensure all bags are secured in the truck before focusing solely on defense.