Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore survival shooter where every decision counts. With its complex mechanics and intense risk-reward gameplay, starting out can be daunting. This guide breaks down the key systems and survival strategies to help you confidently enter your first raid.
1. Choosing Your PMC: BEAR or USEC
Upon creating your character, you’ll choose between two factions:
- BEAR: Russian PMC; easier time with Russian voice lines and some starting gear benefits.
- USEC: Western PMC; has slightly better relations with Rogue AI on Lighthouse.
Note: The choice is locked until the next global wipe (typically every 6 months), but gameplay differences are minimal early on.
2. Navigating the Interface
- Overall Tab: Tracks your raid performance and progress.
- Health Tab: Monitors post-raid injuries—healing may be required.
- Skills: Reflects skill development through in-raid actions.
- Tasks: Displays active quests from traders.
- Maps: Often unused—third-party maps are recommended instead.
Pro Tip: Use the category tabs in your stash (e.g., gear, meds) for faster sorting.
3. Weight, Hydration, and Energy
- Stay under 35kg to avoid stamina penalties.
- Over 40kg incurs movement and stamina regeneration issues.
- Carry food and water, especially for longer raids—dehydration leads to HP loss and death.
4. Essential Gear Setup
Armor & Ammo
- Armor Classes 1–6: Higher is better, but also heavier and more expensive.
- Ammo matters more than gun type—check online charts for penetration values.
Secure Container
- Items inside are safe even if you die. Always carry:
- High-value loot
- Painkillers
- Keys or documents
Insurance
- Insure your gear through Prapor or Therapist. You’ll get it back if enemies don’t loot it—though AI scavengers now do, reducing reliability.
5. Smart Survival Habits
- Trust Your Gut: If a situation feels risky—like sprinting across open ground—reconsider.
- Use Cover & Lighting: Avoid silhouetting yourself against skylines or windows.
- Stay Quiet: Sometimes the best option is to listen and wait.
- Reposition Often: Don’t remain in one place during fights.
6. Combat Awareness and Map Knowledge
- Learn Spawns: Especially in hot zones like Customs or Interchange.
- Avoid Predictable Routes: Camped extracts like Emercom are high risk.
- Know Quest Paths: Players on task routes behave predictably—use this to ambush or avoid them.
7. Healing and the Medical System
- Each limb has separate HP.
- Blacked limbs require surgical kits.
- Light bleeds: use bandages.
- Heavy bleeds: use tourniquets (Hemostat or CAT).
- Fractures: require splints.
- Painkillers: Essential for mobility if legs are blacked.
- Stomach damage: Causes rapid dehydration—always carry water.
8. Traders and Progression
- Quests unlock gear, XP, and new trader levels.
- Sell items strategically:
- Therapist: meds, keys, valuables
- Mechanic: guns and parts
- Jaeger: hunting and outdoors gear
- Peacekeeper: U.S. dollars and NATO gear
Fence: Deals in salvaged items. Increase rep by successful Scav extractions.
9. Scav Runs: Risk-Free Loot
- Spawn mid-raid with random gear and neutral status to other AI Scavs.
- Ideal for new players to learn maps and make money.
- Don’t kill fellow AI Scavs—doing so lowers Fence rep.
10. Hideout: Passive Progression
Key Modules:
- Stash: Upgrade to expand storage.
- Workbench: Craft weapons, attachments, and ammo.
- Medstation: Produce medical kits.
- Bitcoin Farm: High-level money maker.
11. In-Raid Essentials
- Focus on 1–2 maps (e.g., Factory for PvP or Customs for quests).
- Use Offline Mode to explore without risk.
- Avoid elite enemies (Bosses, Raiders, Rogues) until well-geared.
12. Making Money Efficiently
- Best loot maps for early profits: Lighthouse, Streets of Tarkov.
- Flea Market unlocks at Level 15: allows selling valuable attachments, keys, and barter items.
Final Thoughts
Escape from Tarkov rewards caution, planning, and practice. Learn at your own pace, focus on survival, and embrace the grind. Each raid teaches something new—and the thrill of escaping with rare loot is unmatched.
Stay sharp, and see you in Tarkov.
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