Escape from Tarkov beginner guide: 6 most important tips for beginners

October 6, 2017

Escape from Tarkov is a high realistic hardcore FPS with a steep learning curve. Read the guide from Gamestar.de what you should know before you are getting started.

Thanks for translation of the article to EfT Emissary Patrick Artucov aka @hakunamavodkatv !

The developer studio, Battlestate Games brings with “Escape from Tarkov” a survival FPS fans of realistic gameplay, high detailed weapons and mods. This Early-Access title is actually in a closed Beta phase and is available in different pre-order editions. For the most important questions read our FAQ.

Compared to other games, realism is particularly expressed in the absence of HUD elements and a complex motion control. You also have no visual aid to mark a target or enemies. An overlay for health and ammunition is also missing.

The classic WASD control for movement is extended by numerous features, for example side-leaning (ALT+A/D) or sideway steps (ALT+Q/E).

To prepare you for your first contact with AI “Scav’s” and loot greedy players we have collected six essential tips for you.

Escape from Tarkov: Learning by dying - 6 tips for beginners

As an stranded mercenary in a battlefield, life is very difficult. And exactly this is your role in Escape from Tarkov - You play in raids in the same named city.

Your only task will be to find valuable loot to aid you on your Escape from Tarkov..

After this you must leave the raid at one of the exits - alive. Otherwise you can not keep your collected objects. It will be a hard and stony way. At the beginning you will often die - but you should not give up. Like the motto “learning from your mistakes” is your death a part of learning process.

1. Make yourself familiarize with the controls

Forget what you know from other shooter games. Without hud markings and visual feedback, you are strongly dependent on spatial perception and disciplined shooting in Tarkov. A practiced handling with control is indispensable.

The usual used Hotkeys like “R” for Reload and your Inventory on “TAB” are available, but there are many other functions. For example stepless ducking between standing and sitting. With this feature it is possible to show little body behind a cover. To regulate the height hold “C” and scroll down or up.

For a missing ammo overlay are Hotkey-combinations to check your mag (ALT+T) and the chamber (Shift+T) available. For a detailed listed Hotkey-list we recommend this Github-Post.

You want to play this game? Click here to join the Closed-Beta (direct link, not the Gamestar link)

2. Choose the right equipment

Before you start a raid in Escape from Tarkov you have to choose your equipment for a raid in the character menu. How much space is in your secure container depends on which edition you bought. Items in your secure container are not lost on death.

Take a pistol for your first raid and some ammo. A vest and a backpack are also helpful to transport your loot. But always remember, magazines can only be used to reload if they are in your pockets or your vest.

Tip in Tip: Go into a raid to try your luck only with your knife if your inventory is nearly empty. But don't think it's always easy. As a knife runner you are easy for other players to kill. Player tactically and avoid firefights you will most likely lose. Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight.

To ensure medical care take a medikit (for health), a splint (against bone fractures) and bandages (against blood loss) in your secure container. If you have painkillers we advise to use them against pain through hits. The choose of the right equipment for a raid is like a poker game - if you lose you lose everything (almost everything). To compensate this harsh experience we recommend to play at first against bots.

3. Play offline against bots

In the Offline-mode from Escape from Tarkov you fight only against bots and you can not lose your gear - but your loot will not leave the raid. This mode is only for training.

In the spawn area from Customs you have the possibility to test the movement and gunplay features from EFT. Use this quiet moment to learn the key combinations and shoot some bullets to get a feeling for your gun. You will also find loot containers in this area, so go out and search.

4. The right way to loot

The favorite feature of the most players is a central gameplay element in Escape from Tarkov: Looting!

It's your main task to find and collect useful loot in a raid. This is made more difficult by local "scavs" and other players.

You find military loot especially in green boxes but the looting of enemies is mostly more profitable. Especially when it comes to weapons and equipment. So experienced players carry with them whole weapon arsenal - which they also gladly use.

Possibly uninteresting objects (like chocolate and lemonade) should not be left behind. they can be valuable for traders. For the trade with loot, a category with various dealers is available in the main menu. So try to take everything you can carry. The mentioned backpack is very helpful. If you don't have a backpack or if you don't want to risk a backpack you can try to snatch one from a defeated enemy.

Your tactical creativity knows nearly no limit in Escape from Tarkov.

5. Don't underestimate your enemies

Even Scavs are mostly serious opponents in Escape from Tarkov. They will try to run around you, taking cover and shoot accurately! They are also well armed - a fight against Scavs requires high concentration - and often ends in the main menu. Don't give up you will be better each time with these adrenaline loaded situations.

Use any cover on the way from “A” to “B”. when you see an enemy approach you carefully and maybe ducked to show as little attack area as possible. Try to eliminate the opponent as quickly as possible with a head shot (Use “right click” to aim).

This is Tarkov: Gameplay shows wild shootings in the Closed-Beta

We strongly recommend to keep the environment in mind after a successful fight. By loud shots, enemies may be alerted. If you think the area is clear, approach carefully to the corpse of the enemy and lay on the ground to loot - and do this as fast as you can.

Were you wounded in battle? Use your medical equipment to treat your wounds. For this you have to open your inventory and go to “Health”. There you can see which part of your body has taken damage.

6. The escape

At the end of a raid you have to exit at an extraction point from the map. For this you first have to find this extraction point. Some exits are always open, for others you need a special key. You can find this key anywhere in the maps and on Scavs.

The search for a rescue exit is one of the most exciting gameplay aspects in Escape from Tarkov. If you need help to find an exit on Customs, we recommend this Map-Guide from our partner site Survivethis.

In the end, your attention and your skill are decisive for the success in Escape from Tarkov. You also need good map knowledge and - if you play with friends - good teamplay to survive in this Hardcore-Shooter. And last but not least - never be discouraged!

Czech translation here by @Miovann

October 6, 2017

"Tip in Tip: Go into a raid to try your luck only with your knife if your inventory is nearly empty. But don't think it's always easy. As a knife runner you are easy for other players to kill. Player tactically and avoid firefights you will most likely lose. Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight."

See ? even the dev's saying don't bring a knife into a gunfight

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Thank you for ur hard work

Edited October 6, 2017 by Saudi

October 6, 2017

1 hour ago, Saudi said:

See ? even the dev's saying don't bring a knife into a gunfight

The point is, you need to use knife before it becomes a gunfight. They did not say you should not try

1 hour ago, Blackb1rd said:

Tip in Tip: Go into a raid to try your luck only with your knife if your inventory is nearly empty.

It is exactly that - try your luck. You never know if you will accidentally hatchet a scav with fort near extraction (happened 3 days ago).

October 6, 2017

3 hours ago, Blackb1rd said:

The classic WASD control for movement is extended by numerous features, for example side-leaning (ALT+A/D) or sideway steps (ALT+Q/E).

This is confusing. I lean with q/e and strafe with a/d, but when i use the modifier key it is the opposite, then alt+q/e is a sidestep and alt+a/d is leaning.

I would suggest that you change alt+q/e to leaning and alt+a/d to sidestep or give us the option to change the keys for ourselves.

BTT: Nice guide!

October 6, 2017

vor 2 Stunden schrieb Jay:

This is confusing. I lean with q/e and strafe with a/d, but when i use the modifier key it is the opposite, then alt+q/e is a sidestep and alt+a/d is leaning.

I would suggest that you change alt+q/e to leaning and alt+a/d to sidestep or give us the option to change the keys for ourselves.

I would like that coning from Arma 3 where it is like you suggested