Escape from Tarkov is the perfect game for those looking for a challenge. It offers some of the most punishing and brutal gameplay mechanics compared to other first-person shooters. On top of that, this game is not easy to master; it will take more than good aiming skills to be successful in your raids.
We decided to make a thorough guide to help those struggling to win in PvP or PvE fights and to successfully extract with worthy valuables. Sit tight and get ready to become a legendary PMC, with these nine tips and tricks to get better at Escape from Tarkov.
Why is Escape From Tarkov So Challenging?
While Escape From Tarkov is mainly a tactical and mil-sim first-person shooter, there are other mechanics that, if not understood, you will repeatedly fail during your raids.
- Realistic Ballistics: Escape From Tarkov shooting mechanics are not as simple as just grabbing any weapon and shooting everything that moves. In Tarkov, it is crucial to identify ammo types, calibers, armor types, and levels to know when and how to engage in a gunfight.
- Complex Health System: One of the most challenging early mechanics to master in Escape From Tarkov is healing. In Tarkov, your health won’t regenerate automatically. Moreover, you will need to take care of injuries and fractures with specific items and eat and drink water to maintain energy.
- High-Risk High Reward: Escape From Tarkov offers satisfying moments once you learn the game and overcome the steep learning curve. Winning a gunfight against a team of highly geared players and extracting their loot makes up for one of the most rewarding moments.
- No Mercy: Escape From Tarkov won’t hold your hand at any moment. The game offers little to no tutorials, and it will be up to you to learn and master its mechanics. Moreover, the game has no tutorials and a massive learning curve, and having a friend experienced in Tarkov will make your Tarkov experience a lot easier at the beginning.
Quick Guide to Improve at Escape From Tarkov’s Combat
Escape from Tarkov gunfights are no joke. Your adrenaline will be through the roof when someone opens fire at you, especially for the first time. Every gunfight in Tarkov will be different from the previous one, and many factors will play a key role in determining your chances of survival.
Solo vs. Co-op
One of the main factors in a gunfight is teamwork, as your decisions will affect you and your teammates.
Co-op Gunfights
If your team is in a gunfight, you should rely on each other. This means that you can coordinate and delegate tasks, provide cover, and supply needed items.
Solo Gunfights
In solo gunfights, you can only rely on yourself. You must be more clever in your decisions; there are no second chances and no other weapon to watch your back while you heal or counter-flank.
Up next, we will list nine tips and tricks that can be applied for both solo and co-op gameplay to get better at Escape from Tarkov quickly. These tips were updated recently for the current meta in 2023.
Top 10 Tips to Get Better at Escape From Tarkov
1. Communication Saves Lives
Being coordinated and intelligent will give you a massive advantage over disorganized teams. Communicate your location, the precise or approximate locations of enemies, and their numbers.
By giving information to your teammates, you increase their chances of survival and, consequently, your own.
2. Know when to Retreat
Retreating at the right time is a wise move, and it does not make you an inferior player but rather a skilled one. Even the most experienced player in Escape From Tarkov knows when to withdraw. No matter how well-equipped you are, not all firefights can be won.
Remember that in extraction shooter games like Escape From Tarkov, surviving is winning.
3. Scan Your Surroundings
Rushing into a building or location without any information will drastically reduce your chances of survival. You will have no knowledge of whether there are enemies, how many of them there are, and where they are located.
Before running into a building, one of our top Escape from Tarkov tips is to stand still quietly for a few seconds and try to pick up any sound and visual cues from the inside. In this way, you can better prepare for your entrance and have an advantage in a fight even before it starts.
4. Bring Supplies to Survive in Escape from Tarkov
One of our best tips for new Escape from Tarkov players is to never assume things will go as planned. There are no scenarios you can guarantee to prevent or evade in Escape From Tarkov, even if you don’t want to fight.
Always bring water, food, and medical supplies to stop light and heavy bleeding, fix fractures, and provide painkillers to help your character move properly.
5. Map Knowledge is Key
Knowing the map well will win you more gunfights than expected. You will know the best routes for looting, spots for flanking, and zones infested with enemies.
Furthermore, knowing a map will give you a great advantage against your enemies during a gunfight. You will know how to flank them and where to find the best cover in your area.
Feel free to check out our companion Escape from Tarkov Woods map guide to find the best available looting and ambush locations for your next playthrough.
6. Don’t avoid Gunfights and be Aggressive
If you are new to the game and are afraid of engaging enemies, avoiding gunfights will not make you any better at Escape From Tarkov. Being constantly aggressive will help you build confidence and get used to being shot, and it will have less of an impact on you mentally the more it happens.
Even though this tip might get you killed a lot in Escape From Tarkov, it is worth it as a long-term investment, as you will constantly be learning from your mistakes and become better with every gunfight.
7. Another Simple Escape from Tarkov Tip – Complete the Quests
Completing your quests will give you valuable rewards and level you up, giving you access to better gear and weapons from the traders. Finishing quests is also a great way to level up and access the Flea Market. In the flea market, you can buy anything if you have the currency.
Related Article: Is Escape from Tarkov Free? Which Version Should You Get?
8. Move Slowly and Smartly
If you are not engaging enemy PMCs or Scavs, move slowly and carefully through the map and plan your next route. By moving slowly, you will not be a fast-moving target that everyone on the map can hear and see.
Being unpredictable in a game like Escape from Tarkov is highly beneficial and will allow one to survive longer.
9. Simplest Escape from Tarkov Tip – Offline Mode is Useful to Help You Practice Your Skills
Please go into offline mode, as it is the best way to put all of our Escape from Tarkov tips into practice. In this way, you won’t lose any of your precious gear and will be free to experiment and improve.
Offline mode will help you to better understand the map, scav locations, and the spawn spots and routes that you can apply during online raids.
Wrap Up on Our Tips and Tricks for Escape from Tarkov
There is no doubt that Escape From Tarkov can be challenging, even for the most veteran players. But, hopefully, this guide will help you build confidence for your future raids.
We have tons of great articles and guides for Escape From Tarkov. For players that often play alone, we have a great guide on overcoming solo anxiety in Escape from Tarkov. Not only that, but we have other amazing first-person shooter games covered that you can browse on our site.
Let us know in the comments below your thoughts about this guide. Moreover, what kind of content would you like to see in the future?
Good luck and have fun, comrades!
