EFTRADAREscape from Tarkov beginner's guide
Table of contents
A short plan for your first raids, built from game data: which quests to take, which maps to learn, what to build in the hideout and what not to do.
1. Quests are the main source of XP at the start
The first quest is Debut from Prapor. After that take quests from all traders at once and finish several per raid. The first tasks of each trader:
- Prapor: Debut (from lvl 1), Background Check (from lvl 2), Shootout Picnic (from lvl 3), BP Depot (from lvl 5)
- Therapist: Sanitary Standards - Part 1 (from lvl 4), Operation Aquarius - Part 1 (from lvl 6), Operation Aquarius - Part 2 (from lvl 6)
- Skier: Easy Money - Part 1 (from lvl 3), Supplier (from lvl 5)
- Mechanic: Gunsmith - Part 1 (from lvl 2), Gunsmith - Part 2 (from lvl 5)
- Jaeger: The Delicious Sausage (from lvl 5)
Chains and conditions of each quest are in the quests section, tasks for the Kappa container are on the Kappa quests page.
2. Maps to start with
Among the tasks of the first ten levels, the maps Customs, Woods, Factory, Shoreline come up most often. Learn 2–3 extracts on each: the list with conditions is on the maps pages.
3. Hideout
These can be built without requirements from other stations: Vents, Security, Lavatory, Stash, Heating, Medstation, Workbench, Illumination. The generator is needed for stations that use fuel; the medstation and nutrition unit speed up recovery between raids. All requirements are in the hideout section.
4. Money and the Flea Market
The Flea Market unlocks at level 15. Until then, sell loot to traders: which one pays more is shown on the item page. Do not sell quest items with the “found in raid” (FIR) status until you have checked whether they are needed for quests or the hideout.
5. Gear and ammo
A cheap build with good ammo is more useful than an expensive one with bad ammo. Compare the round's penetration with the enemy's armor class: class N ≈ penetration N×10. The table is in the ammo section, armor by class is in the armor classes guide.
6. Skills level up on their own
Endurance and Strength grow from running, Attention from searching containers, weapon skills from shooting. Details are in the skills section.
How the radar helps
- Your first raids are easier when you can see extracts with their status and the players around you.
- Quest objectives are marked on the map, and the planner shows what you can finish in this raid.
The radar map opens from a link in any browser: on a phone, tablet, laptop or second monitor. You can also share it with friends from your squad.
Questions and answers
Where do I start in Escape from Tarkov?
Start with trader quests: the first is “Debut” from Prapor. Quests give XP, money and unlock goods. Build the hideout in parallel and don't take anything into a raid that you'd hate to lose.
At what level does the Flea Market unlock?
At level 15. Before that you can only buy from traders.
Which map is best for a beginner?
At early levels most quests are on the maps Customs, Woods, Factory, Shoreline. Start with Customs and Woods; Factory is for short raids.
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