Redcon1 - Total War

320mg Caffeine. Clinical Doses. No Proprietary Blends. One of the Best-Selling Pre-Workouts Ever Made.

Redcon1 Total War is a fully transparent, high-stimulant pre-workout delivering 320mg of caffeine from two sources, 6g of Citrulline Malate 2:1, 3.2g of Beta-Alanine, and a complete supporting cast of pump, endurance, and bioavailability ingredients — all with every dose declared on the label. No blends. No hidden fillers. No underdosed window dressing. Just a complete, effective pre-workout formula in a 13.82g scoop with 20+ flavor options and a price-per-serving that has made it one of the most consistently top-rated pre-workouts in the market since its launch.

Total War is built around three objectives that define what a great pre-workout actually does: sustained energy without a hard crash, maximum muscle pump and blood flow, and the muscular endurance to train longer and harder than you could without it. Every ingredient in the formula maps directly to one of those three outcomes — and every dose is set at a level supported by research.

Key Features

• 320mg total caffeine from dual sources — 250mg Caffeine Anhydrous (fast onset) + 100mg Di-Caffeine Malate (70mg caffeine yield, sustained release)
• 6g Citrulline Malate 2:1 — clinical pump and endurance dose, fully disclosed
• 3.2g Beta-Alanine — clinical endurance dose matching published research protocols
• 1g Agmatine Sulfate — additional nitric oxide modulation and pump support
• 1g Taurine — endurance, hydration, and cell volumization support
• BioPerine® 10mg — patented black pepper extract for enhanced bioavailability of all co-ingested ingredients
• Fully transparent label — every ingredient and dose fully disclosed, no proprietary blends
• 30 servings per container | 1 scoop (13.82g) per serving
• 20+ flavors — one of the widest flavor selections in the pre-workout category
• ~$1.43 per serving — highly competitive price point for a fully dosed, transparent formula

Full Ingredient Breakdown

L-Citrulline Malate 2:1 — 6g

Citrulline Malate is the gold-standard pump ingredient in modern pre-workout formulation. In the body, L-Citrulline converts to L-Arginine in the kidneys, driving nitric oxide production, vasodilation, and the blood flow that produces the muscle pump sensation during training. The 2:1 ratio means two parts L-Citrulline to one part Malic Acid — the Malate component supports the citric acid cycle and contributes directly to aerobic energy production and reduced muscular fatigue. At 6g per serving, Total War meets the dose used in published research demonstrating improvements in power output, endurance, and post-workout muscle soreness reduction. This is one of the most critical label points to check on any pre-workout — many products use 3–4g and call it "clinical dose." Total War uses 6g.

Beta-Alanine — 3.2g

Beta-Alanine is the most research-supported endurance ingredient in sports nutrition. It increases intramuscular carnosine levels, which buffers the hydrogen ion accumulation (lactic acid) responsible for the burning sensation and muscular failure during high-rep sets and sustained cardio. The result is delayed onset of muscular fatigue — more reps, more output, more training volume per session. The 3.2g dose in Total War is the exact dose used in the landmark clinical studies on Beta-Alanine efficacy and is the widely accepted threshold for producing meaningful carnosine elevation. The characteristic skin tingling (paresthesia) that follows is harmless, temporary, and a direct indicator that the ingredient is active at a real dose.

Agmatine Sulfate — 1g

Agmatine is a metabolite of L-Arginine that modulates nitric oxide synthase enzymes — the same enzymes responsible for NO production and vasodilation. Unlike direct NO precursors like Citrulline, Agmatine works as a neuromodulator: it can both stimulate and regulate NOS activity depending on the cellular environment, producing a more nuanced pump and blood flow effect that complements rather than duplicates the Citrulline Malate mechanism. At 1g, Agmatine also contributes to cognitive support via interaction with imidazoline receptors in the brain — adding a mild focus dimension alongside its pump role.

Taurine — 1g

Taurine is an amino acid that functions as an osmolyte — it draws water into muscle cells, increasing cell volume and improving cellular hydration during training. In practical terms this supports the pump, reduces exercise-induced muscle damage, and has been associated with improvements in endurance performance in published research. Taurine also has an anti-anxiety and calming effect on the central nervous system — a useful counterbalance to the stimulant load from the 320mg caffeine complex, smoothing the energy experience and reducing jitteriness at high caffeine doses.

Caffeine Anhydrous — 250mg + Di-Caffeine Malate — 100mg (70mg caffeine yield)

Total War's energy system is built around two forms of caffeine that operate on different timelines. Caffeine Anhydrous is dehydrated caffeine in its fastest-absorbing form — it hits the bloodstream rapidly, producing the sharp energy onset that pre-workout users expect within 15–30 minutes of dosing. Di-Caffeine Malate is caffeine bonded to Malic Acid, which slows its absorption and extends its half-life — producing a secondary energy wave that sustains the stimulant effect as Caffeine Anhydrous begins to clear. The combined 320mg total delivers the intensity of a high-stim formula with significantly less of the hard midpoint crash associated with single-source caffeine products. The 100mg Di-Caffeine Malate contribution at 70mg actual caffeine is also gentler on the gastrointestinal system than equivalent doses of anhydrous caffeine alone.

Juniper Berry Extract (Juniperus communis) — 150mg

Juniper Berry Extract is included in the Total War formula for its antioxidant and diuretic properties. Rich in flavonoids and monoterpenes, Juniper contributes antioxidant activity that may support recovery from exercise-induced oxidative stress. Its mild diuretic effect can reduce subcutaneous water retention during training, contributing to a harder, more defined appearance during workouts. While the direct performance evidence for Juniper in an exercise context is limited, its inclusion at 150mg reflects a broader recovery and body composition support role within the formula.

Theobromine — 50mg

Theobromine is a methylxanthine stimulant — structurally related to caffeine but with a significantly longer half-life and a milder, more diffuse stimulant effect. Where caffeine produces sharp, fast CNS stimulation, Theobromine provides a sustained, gentle background energy that extends the total stimulant duration of the formula. It also causes mild vasodilation, contributing additional blood flow support alongside the Citrulline and Agmatine pump complex. At 50mg, it adds measurable stimulant duration without meaningfully increasing the abruptness or peak intensity of the caffeine effect.

Green Tea Leaf Extract — 45mg (98% Polyphenols, 45% EGCG)

Green Tea Extract standardized to 98% polyphenols and 45% EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) contributes both caffeine (a naturally occurring minor source) and potent antioxidant catechin compounds. EGCG is one of the most studied polyphenols in sports nutrition research — associated with fat oxidation support, anti-inflammatory activity, and synergistic interaction with caffeine to extend and enhance the thermogenic and cognitive effects of the stimulant complex. The 45mg dose also contributes a small amount of natural caffeine, adding marginally to the total stimulant load while primarily serving an antioxidant and metabolic support function.

Naringin (Citrus grandis) — 25mg

Naringin is a flavonoid extracted from grapefruit that functions as a CYP3A4 enzyme inhibitor — slowing the metabolic breakdown of other compounds in the formula, particularly caffeine. In practical terms, Naringin extends the effective duration of the stimulant complex by reducing the rate at which the body clears caffeine from circulation. This is a pharmacokinetic inclusion — its primary value in Total War is as a bioavailability and duration extender for the caffeine system, not as a standalone performance ingredient.

BioPerine® Black Pepper Extract — 10mg

BioPerine® is the patented form of Piperine — the bioactive compound in black pepper responsible for inhibiting intestinal enzymes and transporters that would otherwise break down or limit the absorption of co-ingested nutrients. At 10mg, BioPerine® demonstrably increases the bioavailability of multiple ingredients in the Total War formula — most notably the Green Tea catechins, thermogenic compounds, and amino acids. It is a low-dose, high-impact addition that effectively makes every other ingredient in the scoop work harder.

Supplement Facts

Other Ingredients: Natural and Artificial Flavors, Silicon Dioxide, Sucralose, Calcium Silicate, Acesulfame Potassium.

Total Caffeine per serving: 320mg (250mg Caffeine Anhydrous + 70mg from Di-Caffeine Malate)

How to Use

Directions

• Mix 1 scoop (13.82g) with 4–6oz of cold water 20–30 minutes before training
• Shake well for 15–20 seconds until fully dissolved
• For a less intense flavor, increase water to 8–10oz — this does not affect ingredient efficacy
• Do not exceed 1 serving per day or use within 6 hours of sleep

Tolerance Assessment

At 320mg total caffeine, Total War is a high-stimulant formula. Athletes new to high-stim pre-workouts or those sensitive to caffeine should begin with a half scoop (~160mg caffeine) to assess individual tolerance before using the full serving. Do not combine with additional caffeine sources, energy drinks, or other stimulant-containing supplements on the same dosing occasion.

Beta-Alanine Tingling

The 3.2g Beta-Alanine dose will produce paresthesia — a tingling or flushing sensation on the skin, most commonly felt in the face, ears, and hands. This is a normal, harmless, and temporary response to Beta-Alanine at an effective dose. It typically subsides within 60–90 minutes and diminishes with consistent daily use as intramuscular carnosine levels saturate over time.

Cycling Recommendation

For sustained stimulant sensitivity, cycle Total War on an 8-weeks-on / 2-weeks-off schedule. During off weeks, switch to a stimulant-free pre-workout or non-caffeinated training protocol to allow adenosine receptor upregulation and restore baseline caffeine response.

Total War vs. Total War Reloaded

Redcon1 offers two versions of the Total War formula. Here is how they differ:

About Redcon1

Redcon1 is a veteran-founded sports nutrition brand built on a policy of complete label transparency — no proprietary blends, no hidden doses, no marketing-first formulation. Total War has been the brand's flagship pre-workout since launch and remains one of the best-selling pre-workouts in the United States — earning its position not through marketing spend but through a consistently effective, honestly dosed formula that delivers what the label promises, every session.

Stack Total War With

• Redcon1 Grunt EAAs — Sip 6.9g of all 9 essential amino acids intra-workout while Total War is driving energy and pump. EAAs during training + Total War pre-training = a complete energy, pump, and protein synthesis protocol in two products.
• Creatine Monohydrate — 5g creatine daily directly increases the phosphocreatine availability that powers the ATP-PC energy system — the same system driving the first 8–12 seconds of every heavy set. Total War raises your ceiling; creatine raises your floor.
• Total War Reloaded — Need more? The Reloaded formula steps up to 350mg caffeine for athletes with higher stimulant tolerance who want the next level of Total War intensity.
• Pre-Workout Collection — Full range of stimulant and non-stimulant pre-workouts at Animal Supps.