Ram has two new trim levels for the 2500 HD lineup: the Warlock and the Black Express. The former has a bit of history with the brand, as it turns out. The name first appeared in the 1970s as part of the Dodge D-Series lineup, and was originally launched as part of Dodge’s “Adult Toys” lineup (yes, really). The original Warlock stood out with its factory-customized styling. The modern revival (part two, as it was also used on the 1500 in 2019) pays homage to the original with off-road content, blacked-out accents, aggressive wheels, and a lift— this time sans innuendo. Meanwhile, the Black Express model, which will sit just below the Warlock, offers a sportier flare with a “performance hood,” decals, and some exclusive equipment.
The 2026 Ram Warlock Is Ready For Off-Road Use
It’s worth pointing out these two trucks share a good amount of equipment with an equivalent “trim,” as these are really packages on top of trims, but for the sake of clarity, we’ll continue to call them trims. That said, both are based on the Tradesman, and cost a few thousand extra. In the case of the Warlock, you’ll shell out an extra $2,995 on top of the starting price for a Tradesman, bringing the grand total to $57,165 including destination. So, what do you get? A lot, as it turns out, including black grille surrounds, flares and bumpers, a transfer case skid plate, Warlock decals, 20-inch wheels with 34-inch A/T tires, an anti-spin rear diff, Bilstein shocks tuned for off-road use, and more.
Inside, you’ll find a back-to-basics cloth interior with Ram’s convex trailer tow mirrors, and each Warlock is based on Ram’s Crew Cab configuration with the short bed. You’ll also find front and rear all-season floor mats and hill descent control. A few colors will be available: Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Forged Blue, Flame Red, Ceramic Gray, and Molten Red.
The Ram Black Express Is A Sporty(ish) Take On A Work Truck
Truthfully, the only sporty thing about the Black Express is its looks. It’s not intended to be a rival to Ford’s sporty Lobo trucks. However, it does net you some nice upgrades for its $53,735 MSRP. Ram will offer this 2500 in two configurations: either the Crew Cab 4×2 or with 4×4, and with the long or short bed options. You’ll also get a Sport hood, body color bumpers and grille surround, convex towing mirrors, 20-inch black wheels, black side steps, and front and rear parking assistance sensors. Inside, you’ll find a similar cloth interior with carpet floor mats and, really, not much else. There’s a reason this is the cheaper of the two trucks. Available colors include Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Forged Blue, Flame Red, Ceramic Gray, and Molten Red. Both are on sale now.
TopSpeed’s Take
Ram has slowly worked its way through its truck lineups, offering unique updates to the 2500 most recently, as well as reintroducing the V8 Hemi engine into the brand’s 1500 truck lineup. The company has a plan to unveil 25 new products over 18 months, and these three certainly count towards that total. Expect more to come.
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