Escape From Tarkov Tips and Tricks: Beginners Guide

Escape from Tarkov is a first-person online shooter where you can not only shoot but also complete missions and hone your skills. Mistakes are unforgiving and can be decisive in team battles, so it's crucial to know and understand exactly what you're doing. In this article, we’ll share some basic knowledge about the world of this extraction-shooter and provide tips that will be helpful in the early stages.

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Settings

To begin, we recommend going into the settings and adjusting all the sliders to suit your preferences. Since we don’t know your PC’s specifications, we can’t provide exact numbers, but we suggest paying attention to options such as: Graphics, Sensitivity, and Anti-Aliasing (which smooths out objects and significantly impacts performance).

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USEC or Bear

Before each match, the game will ask you which faction you want to play as: USEC or Bear. So, what's the difference? Let's break it down.

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USEC

USEC soldiers get to choose American gear, including both equipment and weapons. In-game voiceovers will also primarily be in English.

Bear

Here, the situation is a little different. If you choose a Bear soldier, you'll get a Russian character with an AK-47, vodka, a helmet, and other items. Their uniform will also be quite different from USEC soldiers, and the voiceover will be either in Russian or English with a strong accent.

PMC or SCAV

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There are two fundamentally different game modes or character types: PMC and SCAV. Let's break down what each of them entails. Let's start with PMC. By choosing this option, you begin playing as a soldier hired by a private military company. It's a great choice if you're not a beginner in extraction shooters and have some understanding of the game mechanics and how things work. Before the game starts, you'll be asked about the time and location where you'd like to begin and land. The main advantage of this mode, which everyone takes advantage of, is that you can bring items from your inventory with you into the game.

While SCAVs land on the map after the game has already started, these guys are the first to step onto it, giving them an advantage in the form of items they can find first. Please note that in case of death or when time runs out, you will lose not only all the items you acquired during the game but also those you brought with you. Therefore, it is crucial for you to find an extract point and successfully leave the location before time runs out.

Playing as a SCAV offers a slightly different experience. Their gear is random, meaning you can start with either low-level or high-level weapons and equipment. You also won’t be able to take these items with you—they will be lost along with the fighters once the raid ends. However, all other useful items you find and manage to escape with can be transferred to your inventory, which is one of the reasons why beginners are advised to start with SCAVs.

Your main goal in this mode is not to shoot other players but to focus on gathering items and extracting from the map. This means you should focus on exploration and item collection, not combat. By the way, shooting at other SCAV players is forbidden, and doing so will result in penalties.

Remember, it's not only beginners but also more experienced players who choose the second type of character, as everyone needs loot, and playing as this type of character is the most profitable way to get it.

Playing Against Bots

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Before jumping into real battles, we recommend trying out the game in offline mode, where you can fight against AI bots. While these aren’t real players, this mode will help you learn the game and make your first steps without worrying about affecting others with your skills. You’ll get familiar with the items and how to use them, as well as some of the game’s bosses.

The developers have improved the bots to the point where their difficulty can match or even surpass that of some players. The AI’s development has been enhanced to such an extent that they can now mimic human behavior and even loot useful items from dead players.

Learning the Maps

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One of the main advantages a player has over others is knowledge of the map. This allows you to choose the most advantageous positioning. Remember the key rule—battles are won long before they even begin.

Additionally, there is no minimap in the game. Instead, you’re given a map of the area, but it’s impossible to tell exactly where you are. Therefore, we advise you to thoroughly explore the map and set up some landmarks to avoid getting lost in an actual raid.

Watching Streams and Guides

As cliché as it may sound, advice from other players will never hurt. Watch live streams, learn the best practices, and incorporate them into your own playstyle. Remember, it's better to scour the internet and gather knowledge about the game than to bang your head against a wall and learn everything gradually on your own. We also recommend the official knowledge base, which contains a vast amount of information about the game. This way, you’ll save time and keep your nerves intact.

As for streamers, we recommend players like LVNDMARK, and Glorious_E, who stream daily and provide tips for beginners. Here is a video about item trading, which can be very useful:

So, focus on improving skills and strategies rather than hoarding gear. Embrace the risk-reward aspect of Tarkov and remember that every raid offers a chance to gain valuable experience, making each encounter worthwhile.

Health System and Medications

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The game features an advanced health system that differs significantly from what is found in modern titles. Yes, your character has only 440 HP, but these points are distributed across all parts of the body. If the health of a limb reaches zero, things will get tough because any damage to that limb will be applied to your entire body, effectively doubling the impact. You can only heal this using a Surgical Kit.

In addition to this, there are various forms of blood loss, energy depletion, as well as bandages and medications for different needs. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with these so you don’t get confused by the terminology.

Day-Night Cycle

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Time in Tarkov works a little differently than in other games. Hours pass 7 times faster than in real life, meaning each minute in the game is equivalent to 7 real-world minutes. Pretty fast, right? The in-game time intervals are as follows:

Although you’ll mostly play during the daytime and rooms in the game are almost always lit, there is a period when you'll need to use light sources, such as a flashlight.

Many new players in Tarkov complain that the flashlight is blinding, making it hard to shoot, let alone see anything. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about this, as the inconvenience is designed to reflect reality—just like in real life, a flashlight in your eyes can be quite uncomfortable.

We recommend setting your brightness to 100 at all times, or adjusting it during nighttime hours. If you’re new to the game, it’s best to stay put during the night rather than charging ahead, as death can easily catch up with you.

Escape from Tarkov is a challenging game that requires patience, strategy, and skill. By following the tips and tricks we mentioned in this article, players can improve their gameplay experience and increase their chances of success. It is essential to remember that the game's learning curve is steep and that it takes time to become proficient. With practice and persistence, you can master the game's mechanics and become the beast on the map.

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