What is Escape From Tarkov?
Escape From Tarkov is an upcoming hardcore shooter survival game with hyper-realistic gunplay and modifications.
Many of you who are interested in Escape From Tarkov may have played many different types of First-Person Shooters. But Escape From Tarkov is very different from other types of shooters. For example, unlike most shooters, Escape From Tarkov does not have a crosshair, a mini-map, or even bullet counters. Instead, the game relies on your survivability as a player how you choose your engagements and risk management.
This game is highly unfriendly to new players, but this is where we come in to help you. I firmly believe that if your aiming skills are not top-notch, but with the proper knowledge, you could still win fights and engagements. So without further ado, here is our ultimate guide to Escape From Tarkov.
PMC Raids
PMC is your main character, and your progress will only count if you are playing with your main character, whether it is your skills or Quests. If you want to progress towards end-game, you will do it through your PMC.
Scav Raids
Scav raids are crucial, as it is free money. Therefore, it would be best if you always maximized using your Scav. Reasons are that aside from having a random chance of spawning keys, keycards, or stimulants. You can always look for quest items, hideout items, or big-ticket items risk-free. But as a new player, most importantly, using your Scav gives you a risk-free opportunity to learn the different maps. Learning the maps will provide you with a huge headstart and advantage.
Access To Maps
In EFT, there are many maps that you can play in, ranging from CQB maps like Factory or Labs to outdoor long-distance fights that occur in large maps like Woods or Shoreline. But you also have in-betweens like Customs or Reserve.
It would help if you had third-party maps that show you everything you need to know. But, even for a veteran player like myself, I still keep a map open to reference it on the spot.
A third-party map I would recommend using is Map Genie.
Learning extracts
As my previous point suggests, to have a map that you can refer to and ease of use. It is critically important to learn your extracts for the different maps. No matter how much loot you have found if you cannot successfully extract those loot would do you no good. Especially since most quest items require you to be found in raid, you would want to learn how to navigate a safe route to your extract and take all your loot to your stash.
Preparing for your First PMC raid
Before going into a raid, you should have set a goal for yourself for that raid. For example, you are looking for PVP, killing scavs for a quest, looking for a specific item, or doing a quest. So you would want to have a goal in mind. So you can plan your route, and depending on your goal, you would like to adjust what you want to bring.
Depending on the map or goal, you must consider what you bring into the raid to maximize your purpose. First, something that applies to all raids is meds. You will need meds all the time sometimes. You might forget, which can mean death before the raid even starts. Also, your energy and water are essential. So make sure you have enough to last through the raid.
Your Secure Container
Your secure container, whether it is 2*2 or 3*3, you have to make sure you maximize its use every raid. The little container allows you to keep your items safe from death, so even if you die, you can keep them. But if you die, the items you found will lose the “found in raid” status.
It is always a good idea to put keys, doc case, key tools, SICC case, or consider an injector’s case inside. So they are safe and will not be lost due to dying in a raid.
I sometimes put extra ammo or meds inside, like an IFAK or AFAK. These items do not cost much but could help you if you ran out of meds and couldn’t find any. Don’t be afraid to switch these extra items out for some valuable items you found in-raid like GPUs or something you need for a quest.
Your Health
Escape From Tarkov’s health mechanics is very different from many many games. Unlike most games, EFT’s health gives you different body limps also give you different types of temporary effects like light bleed, heavy bleed, fractures, fresh wounds, tunnel vision, and many more. With so many different outcomes from a firefight, it is always a good idea to carry different meds, including but not limited to medkits, bandages, splints, and surgery kits.
Skill Progression
Escape From Tarkov offers a wide range of passive skills for your PMC. Many of these skills are very useful and could elevate your survival chance.
Insurance
Insurances are offered to you before you start searching for a raid. How it works is that you purchase insurance for that specific item. Then, if nobody loots your item, your insurance will take your items and return them to you via messenger chat.
Insurances can cost a lot of money, but it is worth it under some circumstances.
For instance, if you are a solo player, chances are if you die fighting a PMC, they will loot your body. But if you have some lower-tier items or items that are widely available. That player is probably not interested in picking your items up. And suppose you have meta gear all around. In that case, your insurance price will be high and almost guarantee that the other player will pick everything up.
On the other hand, if you are playing in squads. It is almost certainly a must to purchase insurance on all gear. Even if you die, your teammates might have the chance to help you hide your gear.
Lastly, I always commit insurance fraud in this game. Purchase insurance for your gear if you find better gear than yours. Of course, you could always drop and hide your insured gear to maximize your profits. However, hiding your gear well can guarantee that your gear will come back to you through insurance.
Traders
Traders are a massive part of this game. They provide you with daily or weekly quests, and they all sell different types of gear you would need. Another noteworthy thing is that Ragman allows you to buy different tactical clothings that you do not lose if you die. And you can unlock these through PMC level, Loyalty level, and roubles.
Quests
There are now three types of quests, your regular quest lines, daily quests, and weekly quests. If you want the fastest progression, you have to do these quests. The regular quest line gives you a good amount of experience, and certain items are locked behind the specific quest.
Daily and weekly quests are not required for your progression, but the rewards are often quite attractive. It is excellent for boosting your experience. If you are lucky enough, the quest rewards could be some hard-to-find items for your hideout, like a Military corrugated tube or military power filter.
- Daily quests are unlocked at level 5
- Weekly quests are unlocked at level 15
The daily and weekly rewards and difficulties will increase as your level up. Nonetheless still worth it for those extra experiences and items.
Escape From Tarkov is a challenging game to play, and you only learn through playing. If you die, realize what causes you to your death. Learn from your mistake, and you will become a better player and improve in no time.