The wait is finally over — Escape from Tarkov 1.0 has officially launched on November 15, 2025, and the entire game has transformed. With the Steam release inviting a massive wave of new players and a full mandatory wipe resetting every PMC to zero, the early days of Tarkov have never been more chaotic… or more exciting.
But make no mistake: while Tarkov 1.0 is the most complete version ever released — with a story campaign, new AI factions, and reworked ballistics — it’s still one of the hardest shooters ever made. Newcomers who jump in blind will get shredded instantly.
This guide gives you 10 essential beginner tips—plus a ton of extra expert insights—that I wish I knew when I started. Follow these, and you’ll survive longer, earn more loot, and avoid the mistakes that make most new players quit.
⭐ Tarkov 1.0 Quick Recap for Beginners
Before jumping into tips, here’s what’s new in 1.0 that affects beginners:
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Full Story Campaign (4 endings, co-op supported)
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Mandatory PvP wipe — all progression reset
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Steam release (huge influx of new players)
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New endgame map: Terminal
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New AI factions: RUAF & Black Division
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Reworked armor, health, and ballistics
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Leaner economy + higher trader costs
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Delayed Flea Market access
❌ Top 5 Beginner Mistakes (Avoid These!)
These are the habits that doom new players:
1. Hoarding everything you find
Sell cheap items early. Inventory space is more valuable than junk.
2. Not using Offline Mode
Learning maps without risk is OP. Use it.
3. Fighting everything you hear
Tarkov is a game of avoiding fights more than taking them.
4. Forgetting to insure your gear
Insurance often returns your armor/gun if no one extracts with it.
5. Running heavy armor early
You’ll move slower → get headshot easier → die more often.
🎯 1. Start With the New 1.0 Tutorial (“Tour”)
Your first mission is simple:
➡️ Do the tutorial.
"Tarkov veterans unanimously say skipping the tutorial is the fastest path to getting your stash wiped."
The 1.0 tutorial covers:
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Healing
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Ammo checking
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Gun malfunction fixes
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Extracting
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Armor zones
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PMC vs Scav differences
This is your safest hour in Tarkov. Use it.
🤝 2. Use Scav Raids to Learn Without Losing Anything
Scav mode is mandatory for beginners. It lets you:
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Learn maps safely
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Earn risk-free loot
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Understand AI behavior
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Build your stash without spending a rouble
Extract with anything → it becomes free gear for your PMC.
This is how every smart beginner gets rich early.
🗺️ 3. Learn ONE Map at a Time (Start With Ground Zero)
Trying to memorize every map is a huge mistake.
Start with Ground Zero, designed specifically for new players.
Use Offline Mode to learn:
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Extracts
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Landmarks
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High-value rooms
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PMC routes
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Scav hotspots
Press O → O inside a raid to see your extracts.
It’s the number-one skill new players lack.
🧠 4. Understand Loot Value — Think “Value per Slot”
Your backpack space is limited. Prioritize items worth 14k+ roubles per slot.
Great beginner loot targets:
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SSDs
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CPUs
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Microcontrollers
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Jewelry
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Early keys
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Medical tech
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Ammo boxes
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Bitcoins & GPUs (rare but god-tier)
If it’s bulky and cheap → leave it.
🩺 5. Master the Health System (This Alone Will Save You)
Tarkov’s health system is… deep.
Each body part has individual HP.
Injuries and fixes:
| Injury Type | What It Means | Fix Using… |
|---|---|---|
| Light Bleeding | Slow health loss | Bandage |
| Heavy Bleeding | Rapid health loss | Tourniquet / Hemostat |
| Fractures | Movement penalty / aim sway | Splint |
| Pain / Tremors | Bad accuracy | Painkillers |
| Blacked Limbs | Permanent limb failure until extracted | Cannot fix mid-raid |
Always carry:
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Painkillers
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1x Bandage
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1x Heavy bleed fix
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1x Splint
⚙️ 6. Use the Best 1.0 Settings (For FPS AND Visibility)
Recommended Settings for Beginners
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fullscreen | On | Best performance |
| VSync | Off | Reduced input lag |
| Shadows | Low | Huge FPS boost |
| LOD Quality | 2 | +20+ FPS on most systems |
| Post FX Z-Blur | Off | Clearer vision |
| Noise | Off | Removes grain |
| Overall Visibility | 400–1000 | Good balance |
These are the same settings used by top Tarkov streamers early in the wipe.
💰 7. Survive the Early-Wipe Economy (It’s Leaner Now)
Patch 1.0 introduced:
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Scarcer top-tier loot
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Higher trader prices
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Lower overall income
Early wipe money-making routes:
Ground Zero → Tech Rooms
Woods → Hidden Stashes
Interchange → Tech stores (Scav runs)
Hideout Crafting: Painkillers, Propane, Ammo
Quests are your main XP source early on — don’t ignore them.
🎮 8. Understand 1.0’s New Features (They Affect Beginners!)
✔ Story Campaign (Co-op Supported)
For the first time ever, Tarkov has:
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Branching narrative
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Cinematics
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4 endings
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A “best ending” expected to be achieved by <2% of players
Story rewards = permanent progression boosts.
✔ New AI Factions
RUAF
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Friendly to BEAR
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Hostile to USEC
Black Division
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Hostile to everyone
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Endgame-level AI with elite gear
This makes faction choice meaningful for the first time.
✔ Terminal Map
The final story zone and a brutal PvPvE playground.
🔥 Best Maps for Beginners (Ranked)
1. Ground Zero
Perfect for new players.
2. Woods
Huge, open, low PvP density.
3. Customs
Quest-heavy but learnable.
4. Shoreline
Good loot, moderate danger.
5. Streets of Tarkov
Avoid until experienced.
🎒 Best Early-Wipe Weapons & Ammo (Beginner Friendly)
Best Beginner Guns
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SKS (cheap, hard-hitting)
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MP-153 shotgun
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AKS-74U
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VPO-136
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PP-91 Kedr
Best Beginner Ammo
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7.62x39 PS (good penetration)
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5.45x39 BT
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9x19 AP 6.3
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7mm Buckshot (shotguns early wipe are king)
🛡️ 9. Play Patiently — Tarkov Rewards Smart, Slow Players
You cannot play Tarkov like Call of Duty.
The winning formula:
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Move slow
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Listen constantly
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Don’t chase fights
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Have an escape route
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Extract early, extract often
Your goal is always survival, not kills.
🔫 10. Build Simple Loadouts and Learn Ammo First
Use your Scav runs to gear your PMC.
Beginner Loadout (Safe + Cheap)
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AKS-74U
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PACA vest
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SSH helmet
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Painkillers
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Bandage
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Backpack from Scav runs
Rule of Thumb:
Ammo > Gun > Armor
Learn your ammo types — it matters more than the weapon itself.
🧭 Your First 24 Hours in Tarkov 1.0 (Beginner Roadmap)
Hour 1: Complete tutorial
Hours 2–4: Run Ground Zero Scav runs
Hour 5: Unlock traders
Hours 6–8: Practice offline extracts
Hours 9–12: Start PMC budget raids
Hours 13–24: Focus quests → secure early XP
Follow this plan, and you’ll be ahead of 80% of new players.
🧩 FAQ (SEO Boost)
Is Tarkov 1.0 beginner friendly?
More than ever — but still brutally difficult.
What should I do first in Tarkov 1.0?
Complete the new tutorial.
Is Scav better than PMC for beginners?
Yes — Scav is risk-free progression.
Best beginner map?
Ground Zero.
Is the campaign worth doing early?
Yes — it offers huge rewards and XP boosts.
🎉 Final Word
Escape from Tarkov 1.0 is the most ambitious, polished, and complete version of the game ever released — and also one of the most punishing. But with these tips, you’re not just learning Tarkov… you’re learning how to survive it.
Welcome to Tarkov, operator.
Good luck. You’re going to need it.
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