Escape from Tarkov Gameplay Guide – How to Play Tarkov

Escape from Tarkov consistently proves that it’s one of the most popular shooters in the gaming world. It’s a challenging, hardcore title with millions of fans around the world, and after almost a decade on the market, it’s still drawing in huge audiences and being updated with stacks of fresh content. New players are finding their way into the game all the time, and that’s why we’ve taken the time to assemble an Escape from Tarkov gameplay guide, to teach you how to play Tarkov at the most basic level.

It’s called ‘hardcore’ for a reason – and you’ll quickly learn that when you come to play Escape from Tarkov. In this semi-open-world, brutally realistic game, there’s such a steep learning curve that it’s almost vertical. There are no mission markers, no clear maps, no guidelines, and no hand-holding mechanics. It’s designed to be ridiculously challenging, and that’s why new players struggle to learn how to play Tarkov without a little help.

So, read on to learn all you need to know about Escape from Tarkov gameplay.

How To Get Started in Escape from Tarkov

This guide assumes that you have already purchased a copy of Escape from Tarkov.

When you first load up Escape from Tarkov, you’ll be prompted to create a basic character, select a faction, and input a username. It’s a simple process that’ll have you in the main menu in a matter of seconds, and some of the elements (name, for instance) can be changed later. What can’t be changed is your faction, but it doesn’t have too strong a bearing on the game. These are the factions you can choose from:

BEAR
USEC

If you pick BEAR, you’ll have a harder time on a map called Lighthouse – and that’s really about it. There’s a difference in voice lines (BEARs are Russian, USEC are American) and in the starting equipment, but it’s not that big a deal overall. Once you’ve picked your character, you’ll enter the main menu – and this is where you start learning how to play Escape from Tarkov.

Here’s a preface, in case you really don’t know what Escape from Tarkov is:

Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore extraction shooter with borderline milsim elements. At the core of the gameplay loop is a requirement to load up, load into various open maps, complete tasks, kill enemies (and other players), loot items, and then successfully leave the map again to survive. It features survival elements, healing mechanics, weight and inventory management features, and realistic weapon handling.

What’s The Difference Between a Scav and a PMC in Tarkov?

One of the first things you’ll notice in Escape from Tarkov is that you can play as two different types of character – a ‘Scav’ and a PMC. There are some huge differences between these characters:

Scavs are randomised, single-use characters that load into a map later than PMCs
Scavs cannot complete tasks, but they can find and bring back items related to tasks
‘Player Scavs’ won’t be targeted by other AI-driven Scav opponents unless they target them first
PMCs will lose all their equipment upon death
PMCs are persistent and will stick with the player for the duration of their playthrough
PMCs are designed to be the core gameplay mechanic – they complete tasks, acquire skills, level up a hideout, trade, and more

If you ‘run a Scav’, you’ll be able to learn maps and loot items without running the risk of losing your PMC’s equipment, but it’s a slippery slope and you may end up getting comfortable with the lack of risk.

How To Pick The Map To Play on Tarkov
The Escape from Tarkov gameplay loop will see you traverse several maps, each different from the last. They’re diverse and offer various challenges that include a series of ‘boss’ characters, complex environments, locked doors, and choke points. Mostly, the map that you choose to run when you’re learning how to play Tarkov will depend on the current quests that you have active. In Escape from Tarkov, completing quests is how almost all players level up and unlock new items and equipment.

For new players, a simpler map is Customs, which is a semi-urban map that’s easy to learn. There’s also Factory, which is perfect for learning ‘player-vs-player’ combat, thanks to the fact that it’s the smallest map in the game. Toward the end of 2023, the developer added ‘Ground Zero’, another small-form, easy-to-learn map that’s perfect for newcomers to play and learn the mechanics of Tarkov.

Escape from Tarkov Gameplay Basics – Running a Raid

Before you get into a raid on Escape from Tarkov, it’s important to set up your keybinds, graphics settings, and audio options. We’ve got a full guide to the best Tarkov settings, so we don’t need to break it down here. Also, before entering a raid, you should make sure you have the following in your possession (if possible):

Weapon (with extra ammunition)
Armour (Rig or Vest)
Helmet
Healing Items (Bandages, ‘Heavy Bleed’ hemostatic dressing or tourniquet, medical kit, CMS, painkillers)

That’s the bare minimum you should be trying to run in Escape from Tarkov. Even at the earliest level, these items can be bought from a trader or found in-game.

Once you’ve picked your map and selected ‘PMC’, you’ll be loaded into a raid – and here’s where the fun begins. This is where you start to learn how to play Escape from Tarkov. From the moment your boots hit the ground, you’re free to go where you want and do whatever you desire – but be aware that you’re now in a live raid with other players and AI-driven enemies. It’s a fight for survival at this point, and you’ll want to pay attention to the following:

If you get injured, get to safety and heal as soon as possible, paying attention to your chest (thorax) and head.
If you run out of ammunition, try and loot a dead Scav character or just run away immediately.
Make sure you stop, look, and listen as often as possible for the sounds and sights of other players.
Understand that you don’t need to fight every battle – you can run away and live to fight another day.
Use cover as much as possible and use the game’s mechanics, like ‘peeking’ to get an advantage over other players.

If you’re satisfied you’ve completed your raid to the best of your ability, it’s time to leave. If you’ve completed some tasks, looted some great items, and killed enough players, you’ll want to head to the nearest exit. Unfortunately, Escape from Tarkov doesn’t tell you exactly where to go to leave the map. Instead, you’ll need to use a Tarkov map online or be guided to an exit by another player. If you manage to leave successfully, you’ll be rewarded with experience points and rewards for whatever quests you’ve completed.

How to Make Money in Escape from Tarkov
So, you’ve left your successful raid and you want to turn a quick buck. In Escape from Tarkov, there are three ‘types’ of money – roubles, dollars, and Euros. They’re accepted by different traders, and every trader offers unique items. As you level up in Escape from Tarkov, you’ll unlock a broader inventory from these traders, as well as the ability to trade with other players in a marketplace called the ‘Flea Market’.

If you want to make money in Tarkov, simply navigate to the ‘Traders’ tab, find out which trader offers the most money for your goods, and hit ‘Sell’. It’s important to keep a steady stream of funds flowing in Escape from Tarkov, as you’ll need money to buy ammunition, healing items, armour, attachments, food, and much more.

How to Level Up in Escape from Tarkov

At the heart of the Escape from Tarkov gameplay loop sits the requirement to level up and become stronger over time. Remember that Escape from Tarkov ‘wipes’ every six months or so, which means that you’ll eventually have your account reset, but before that happens, the goal is to get to as high a level as possible. But how do you level up in Tarkov?

There are a few ways you can level up in Escape from Tarkov:

Complete tasks given to you by Traders (primary method)
Win fights against other players and AI enemies (secondary method)
Loot, explore maps, successfully acquire new items, and use the game’s mechanics, such as healing and eating (tertiary method)

Even if you fall short in a raid and die, you’ll be able to earn some experience points – even death won’t stop you from levelling up in Tarkov.

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