The hardcore survival shooter Escape from Tarkov is a tough place, especially for beginners. Sacriel, one of the best players, has now revealed some tips that should make it a bit easier for newcomers to get started.
Where do the tips come from? This small guide comes from Chris “Sacriel” Ball, one of the best players and one of the biggest streamers of Escape from Tarkov. He fell in love with the survival multiplayer before PUBG even became big and started his journey in the early days of DayZ (long before the standalone version), where he enjoyed hunting campers across Chernarus.
He was one of the first professional players to focus entirely on Escape from Tarkov and has since been providing many fans and players with detailed tips and tricks for this hardcore shooter.
8 Professional Tips for a Better Start in Escape from Tarkov
In a recent interview with Polygon, Sacriel shared some tips about Escape from Tarkov that new players should consider to find their way into the game better and faster. We summarize these for you below.
Want to know more about the game? Then check this out: What is Escape from Tarkov and why is everyone suddenly into it?
What is the optimal group size?
Group size at the start: Since Escape from Tarkov is a multiplayer shooter, the question arises whether to go alone or in a group. And how large should the group be?
According to Sacriel, new players should try to operate in a 2-man team – at least until they know the maps well and can effectively ambush other players.
Group size with more experience: Once you have settled in a bit, you can also venture out with 3-man or even 4-man squads. But especially at the beginning, you still have a lot to deal with by yourself, so the optimal group size is 2 men.
Which vendor should newcomers focus on at first?
You should visit the vendors in this order: To make good money, you should focus on the Therapist first and sell to her. She offers the best prices but only buys items that are not weapons – such as water, technical parts, or dog tags.
After that, you should head over to Skier and continue selling there. He basically has the second-best prices, but only buys special weapon parts as well as armor and helmets. However, he does not buy complete weapons. You get the most out of it by disassembling a weapon into parts.
Finally, you head to Prapor and sell him everything you couldn’t sell to Skier. Because you should level up Prapor to access early quests.
Also worth knowing: Each vendor can be leveled up by completing tasks for them, buying from them, and leveling up your own main character.
By the way, with this item, you’re financially set: Escape from Tarkov: If you find this item, money is no longer a problem
Which weapons should you definitely get started with?
There are no overpowered weapons: Sacriel says there are no magical weapons or overpowered weapons in Escape from Tarkov that surpass all others. For example, the differences between the roughly 500 versions of the AK in the game are relatively small.
Here’s how you should proceed at the beginning: At first, he thinks it is better to play Scav when the opportunity arises. Then you should try to extract the free Scav gear you receive in this context. This Scav gear should then be used in your next PMC run. Try out the weapons and see what works best for you and your playstyle.
Here’s how to get the right weapon: After that, you should transition to finding your preferred weapon types in a raid and then recover them in the secondary slot or from the bag there.
If you need a bit more help for your first weapons: Escape from Tarkov: 3 good and affordable weapon loadouts for your raids
What is the most important map for beginners and what should you pay attention to there?
This is the most important map: One of the main maps where there are tasks to complete is the Customs map. For new players, it is very important to get familiar with this map quickly, but it can also be dangerous.
Because there is a Scav boss that spawns at the gas station and the dorms. And this boss is often farmed by high-level teams for money.
Here’s how you should proceed: In the first half of a match, as a new player, you should therefore avoid roaming in these areas of the map as much as possible if you don’t want to bite the dust immediately.
Most quests revolve around the dorms area, so you should complete your quests in that area relatively late in the raid. Additionally, by that time, high-level squads may have already opened all doors for you, making the trip a bit easier.
By the way, you can find more important details about the Customs map here: Escape from Tarkov: Everything about the Customs map – Loot, spawns, tactics
What is the most important equipment you should never leave without?
These 2 items are must-haves: It is mainly two medical items, namely the CMS (Surgical Kit) and the Survival Kit, that have become almost indispensable on your excursions.
Here’s why they are important: If a body part previously reached 0 health, it was “dead” for the rest of a round and you had to limp to the extraction point if you didn’t want to die completely.
However, these new medical items now allow you to heal “dead” limbs, allowing you to still have a chance for a full round even after such injuries.
The CMS is smaller and takes less time to use. However, the healed limb receives less health back than through the Survival Kit, which, however, is larger and requires more space and time. But it also heals fractures and leaves the healed limb with more hitpoints.
Where should priorities lie in terms of armor and helmets at the start?
This is what you should know at the start: Body armor is a very complex topic in Escape from Tarkov. This system is very extensive, comparing various aspects such as projectile penetration and armor values, and it takes a long time to really understand it completely.
In general, it works like this: There are 6 levels of armor. The higher the level, the better it protects against incoming damage. But it’s not that simple.
Armor levels 1-3 generally offer only limited protection and will not help you against really penetrating ammunition that players like to use. However, they will protect you effectively against most AI Scavs.
Armor levels 4-6, on the other hand, protect you better against other players but also cost a fortune. Therefore, it is advisable to use such armor only when you have a weapon that you do not want to lose at all – for example, a silenced weapon with optical attachments or otherwise upgraded.
Also important: The condition of armor is also important. A Class 6 vest with a durability of 10/10 (new condition 75/75) will not protect you like a Level 6 armor. In this condition, the Level 6 vest behaves more like a Level 2 vest.
Avoid this mistake: Many new players make the mistake of buying an apparently excellent high-level vest but overlook the low durability, rendering the armor almost useless.
Why should you pay more attention to sounds and the audio atmosphere?
Here’s why sounds are important: Recognizing and understanding sounds you hear and produce often determines life and death in Escape from Tarkov.
There are many sounds to pay attention to – sounds that come from firing weapons, sounds produced when you bring a weapon to bear, or sounds made by players even when they are not moving. All of this can give away your position or the location of your opponent.
Pay attention to these details: It is also important to communicate quickly with your team about any sounds heard. Sacriel has simply made the word “Steps” a standard response. Once you hear a suspicious sound, you say “Steps” and the entire team knows to stop immediately to detect any potential enemy sounds.
Furthermore, it is important to bring your weapon to bear as early as possible when you want to ambush other players – and to do so before you get within hearing range of the enemies.
The different nature of the ground cover is also a big factor. Different surfaces create different sounds and their respective sounds can be heard from different distances. Walking slowly on metal, for example, is louder than a brisk walk through the grass. You should really only sprint when absolutely necessary.
Also very important: If your character (in-game) wears headsets, it can significantly enhance their ability to hear sounds. Some helmets like Kiver or Kolpak can, on the other hand, limit this ability. That’s why some players prefer an unprotected head to potentially overlooking an ambush.
Many get caught just before the exit. What can be done about it?
This is the big problem: Especially at the beginning, it is a common problem in Escape from Tarkov. You have a really good run but get caught by campers just before the exit. Camping usually occurs at the main extraction points.
Here’s what you can do about the problem: Players with a “Factory Exit Key” also have numerous other extraction points available, where the risk of being ambushed at the last minute is lower.
Moreover, there are extraction points on the map marked with question marks. On the Customs map, these include the RUAF point or the Smuggler’s Boat point. These are comparatively rarely camped and often have visual indicators as to whether they are currently available or not. For example, at RUAF, it’s a large floodlight; at the Smuggler’s Boat, it’s a burning campfire.
Study the possible extraction points on the map and it’s best to check the alternative points before deciding to go to the main extraction point.
Have you been playing Escape from Tarkov for a while? What important tips would you give to new players? Here are some beginner tips from us:
