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Tarkov has plenty of ways to make us suffer, but every now and then the game finds a new trick to keep things interesting. Like when one of your legs is gone, you’re just hoping your painkillers hold out long enough to reach extraction — and suddenly your health starts dropping at twice the normal rate, or worse. What is going on??? Yeah, I know... it's a gigantinc PMC limping somewhere 🙄 A Reddit post titled “Was there a nail stuck under my boot? Look how fucking fast my health is draining while running”  recently caught my attention . In the video, the OP shows his health plummeting at an absurd rate just by running with his right leg blacked out  — not even both. As usual, some users jumped in with the obvious “that’s normal, you take damage when sprinting on blacked legs.” What they missed is that the damage was way higher than normal . To prove it, the OP later posted a second clip showing that under normal circumstances, running with a blacked leg drains HP much more slowly. The hidden culprit: Tarkov’s double damage bug What we’re seeing here is likely another manifestation of the infamous double damage bug . Already known in firefights, this bug occurs when the server, due to desync with the client , registers the same event twice. In combat, that means a single bullet can sometimes be counted as two hits. While running on blacked legs, it means each damage “tick” can be applied twice (or more) — draining your health at lightning speed. How it normally works vs. bugged We know that when a leg is blacked out, every step while sprinting (which is possible using painkillers) deals tick damage that gets redistributed across all remaining body parts . Normally, this is dangerous but manageable if you pay attention to your health indicator and stop in time. When the bug kicks in, though, the damage value of those ticks multiplies — and what should be a survivable limp turns into a death sentence . Fractures: the same story As you may know, leg fractures  can cause the same continuous damage while sprinting, the only difference is that the legs not being blacked-out will receive damage too. And yes,  the double damage bug can appear here too , causing the game client to apply more damage than it should. How to avoid dying to this bug Whether one of your leg is gone or just broken, keep your eyes open to see if you got the bug and are getting much more damage than normal. And if it is the case, stop and treat your leg wounds before you sprint again — or Tarkov will punish you in the most unfair way possible. Heal up, use a CMS surgical kit  to restore the destroyed limb, and apply a splint  if there’s also a fracture. If you’re rich enough to carry a Surv12 surgical kit , it will handle both at once — restoring the blacked-out limb and fixing any fracture in it. Just make sure to check the other leg as well: if that one’s fractured, the damage ticks will keep draining your health until it’s treated too. If you don’t have any items to treat the wound, your only option is to avoid running  and slowly limp toward the extract — saving your sprint for when it’s absolutely necessary. Watch the bug in action If you want to see the bug for yourself, check out the original Reddit post with the first video here: Was there a nail stuck under my boot? Look how fucking fast my health is draining while running And here’s the follow-up video the OP posted, showing the normal damage drain  without the bug: Comparison video – normal damage while running on a blacked leg

With today’s release of Patch 0.16.9.0 , a new questline from Mechanic has been added, called “Friend from Norvinsk.” Since it isn’t yet listed on the EFT Wiki, I thought it would be useful to put together this article with everything we know so far and keep it updated as new details emerge. At this point, it’s unclear whether this is simply a standalone questline or—more likely—part of the recently announced event. We’ll find out soon enough. ( UPDATE :  It has now been confirmed that this was an event questline created to ultimately reveal the release date of Escape from Tarkov 1.0 .) NOTICE: This article is still being reviewed and updated as more info are available either from me doing the questline or from other sources such as the EFT Wiki, the EFT Wiki Discord or other content creators or streamers doing the questline. The questline is split into multiple parts: 12 quests from Mechanic  and 1 quest from Fence , which initially appeared to be the start of a separate chain but, for now, has no continuation. Mechanic: Friend from Norvinsk - Part 1 Friend from Norvinsk - Part 2 Friend from Norvinsk - Part 3 Friend from Norvinsk - Part 4 Friend from Norvinsk - Part 5 Breathing Room Game Review - Part 1 Progression Difficulties - Part 1 Progression Difficulties - Part 2 Game Review - Part 2 Last Spurt - Pioneer Game Review - Part 3 Fence: External Interest UPDATE:   While writing and updating this article, the EFT Wiki team has also updated their pages with the latest collected information. I’ve added links to the different parts of this quest chain, so you can get more details, maps and screenshots there too. Questline info The questline appears to revolve around a hacker known by Mechanic, along with information he may have uncovered during his time working as a hacker for the military. Friend from Norvinsk - Part 1 (Mechanic) Part 1 takes place in Reserve. You need to scout three locations and then extract successfully . Note that you don't need to do all the objectives in the same raid with a successful extraction. You just need to find the three locations and perform a successful extraction, but you can die (or extract if you need to) at any time while trying to complete the quest and continue from there . Let's see the four steps needed to complete the quest. Scout the command bunker offices on Reserve - these offices are the same offices you need to scout for "The Bunker - Part 1" . In this other quest, they are called "The control room". Follow the link to see all the details on the Wiki. EDIT: It's not the same offices you need to scout for "The Bunker - Part 1". It's another office in an adjacent room. See the map below. Command Bunker Offices - Map by Jindouz (thanks for the great maps, Jin!) Scout the medical building commander's office on Reserve - these offices are located in the ground floor of the White Bishop building, in the south-west corner of the building. See the map below for the exact position. Medical building commander's office location Scout the educational building offices on Reserve - these offices are located in White Queen building on the first floor, on the north side, looking the medical building (White Bishop). See the map below for the exact position. Eductional building offices location Survive and extract from the location - self-explanatory. You need to extract from Reserve successfully to complete the quest. It's important to know, thought, that if you die (or extract if you need to), progress won't be reset . You don't need to scout all the locations and extract without dying in the same raid to complete the mission. You can die in between finding the three locations, or even after finding them. But until you manage to successfully extract from Reserve, you won't be able to turn in the quest. WARNING! - This part is fairly is easy but the objectives areas are heavily camped! I think I did a good job explaining what to do and included clear maps to help you find the spots. Still, you can also check the EFT Wiki page for Friend from Norvinsk – Part 1  by clicking this link . Friend from Norvinsk - Part 2 (Mechanic) The second part is located in Shoreline and asks you to complete 2 objectives: Locate ad obtain anything that could help with the investigation at the Health Resort on Shoreline Hand over the found info The quest description is very "criptitc" and doesn't give any substansial clue to follow. Luckily the friends at the Escape from Tarkov Wiki and their community are working hard to give use the solution to the riddle and on their Discord I found the details needed to complete this second part. What is clear from the quest description and objectives is that what we need to do is to go to Shoreline, at the Health Resort and get an item at a precise location . The precise location is an office located in the East Wing of the Resort, ground floor . Inside the office you need to look for a couch in the southern side of it (away from the window) and point your weapon towards it and the pillow that lies on the eastern side of the couch until you get the clue dot and the option to pick up something that lies onder it. It's a golden phone . UPDATE: The golden phone can be found in different locations . You can see them all on the EFT Wiki page for Friend from Norvinsk - Part 2 . Check it out. Look at the map below to see the exact location of the office and of the couch inside it. Part 2 objective location WARNING!  - as for part one this location too will be heavily camped! I think I did a good job explaining what to do and included a clear map to help you find the spots. Still, you can also check the EFT Wiki page for Friend from Norvinsk – Part 2  by clicking this link . Friend from Norvinsk - Part 3 (Mechanic) Part 3 description is a bit less confusing than the one for Part 2. Even though it doesn't give clear instruction and doesn't tell us where to go exactly (it says "any location" in the upper right corner of the quest page), by following what the description says and the objectives required to complete the quest, we can find some more indications. "Hey, so I'm going through his phone now. It's not a walk in the park — he specializes in encryption, he knows what he's doing. But I might have a clue. I found mention of a diary in his notes. Seems like my friend had a hunch something was gonna happen. A Moleskine diary, he always carried it with him. We need to find it. If you don't find it at the resort, that means the Scavs have probably snatched it already. I suggest you walk along the shore and "ask" the locals. Maybe someone will have it. You know how it is in Tarkov." It also lists the following objectives: Eliminate 15 Scavs Obtain any information on the diary from the Scavs (Optional) Locate and obtain Mechanic friend's diary Hand over the found item Eliminate 15 Scavs - This can be done in any location Obtain any information on the diary from the Scavs (Optional) - While looting dead Scavs, you may come across a kind of “treasure map” that shows where to find the diary. The map points to a church that appears to be located in a lake — clearly a reference to the flooded church in the Scav Village in Woods. This step is optional, but you’ll likely find the map while completing the objective to kill 15 Scavs, as long as you loot them. (Which I strongly recommend anyway, since Scav loot has been significantly buffed lately.) Locate and obtain Mechanic friend's diary - The diary can be found around the flooded church in the Scav Village in Woods. It has a number of different spawns wich are both inside and outside the church. While I was updating this article, The EFT Wiki for this quest has been updated and you can now find the screeshots of the different locations on the quest page  (click the link to go there and check the possible spawns). Location of the flooded church WARNING!  - as for part one and two, this location too will be heavily camped! Hand over the found item - You need to successfully extract after picking up the diary and hand it to Mechanic. Friend from Norvinsk - Part 4 (Mechanic) To complete this part, all you need to do is deliver a set of computer parts to Mechanic to help speed up the deciphering process: Hand over 2 found in raid PC CPU Hand over 4 found in raid RAM stick Hand over 3 found in raid Printed circuit board or Microcontroller board You can find most of these parts (except the Microcontroller board) on any map, but Interchange  is the best choice since it has plenty of PCs to loot. Streets of Tarkov  is another solid option, though it may be riskier and it's larger, so it can take more time to navigate. Still, if you prefer Streets over Interchange, it’s a valid alternative. Microcontroller boards , however, are much harder to come by. They only spawn in The Labs  or The Labyrinth , making them much more difficult items to obtain. Fortunately, you can turn in the much easier-to-find PCBs  instead. That said, if you often run Labs or Labyrinth raids, you might already have a surplus of Microcontroller boards. As mentioned for the other parts, the EFT Wiki is now updated for this quest too, so you can check their informative page too if you want . Fun Fact:  The quest picture actually shows Nikita , seen from behind, while sitting at a desk and looking at a computer. Friend from Norvinsk - Alternative Solution (Mechanic) If after 24 hours you haven't completed Friend from Norvinsk Part 4, you will get this quest automatically. Mechanic offers you to pay 1M Roubles as an alternative instead of finding the PC components for Part 3. You can choose to pay this amount of Roubles or simply complete Part 4. If you complete Part 4, Friend from Norvinsk - Alternative Solution will fail (with no consequences) and you will get Friend from Norvinsk - Part 5. If you complete Friend from Norvinsk - Alternative Solution, Friend from Norvinsk - Part 4 will fail (with no consequences) and you will get Friend from Norvinsk - Part 5. Here is the EFT Wiki page for Friend from Norvinsk - Alternative Solution . Friend from Norvinsk - Part 5 (Mechanic) (30 min wait) Objectives: Figure out the cipher and hand over the found item (Optional) Locate the place mentioned in the cipher (Optional) Stash the copy of the diary in the specified location Things to know about this quest: There’s a 30-minute wait after completing Friend from Norvinsk - Part 4 or Friend from Norvinsk - Alternative Solution before this next stage becomes available. Starting with this quest, things get a bit weird and complicated . It took quite an effort from The EFT Wiki community to figure out what was needed to be done to complete this and the next parts. The dialogue from Part 5 says: "With your help, I figured out the decryption way quicker — both in the phone and the diary. Just one last issue. I managed to extract a strange phrase: "Diary. wvyglv. oiphxifq: sbb onfz qulve. rgx: ssemddvyl" . This is clearly a Vigenère cipher. It needs a key, but my friend didn't leave it anywhere in his notes. We'll have to figure it out ourselves. Here are some copies of the diary. I'll keep the original for now. If you lose it, you can have another one from me. Just don't overdo my generosity." The strange phrase "Diary. wvyglv. oiphxifq: sbb onfz qulve. rgx: ssemddvyl" is decrypted by using the key "Unheard". With it you can get the following decrypted message: Diary. Circle. Location: you know where. Add: flammable. The encrypted phrase has been decyphered by content creator and stramer Onepeg by realizing that the rewards from the previous questline parts gave us the materials needed to build the Cultist Circle in our hideouts. This led him to think about the fact that the Cultist Circle was introduced and is included with the Unheard Edition of Escape from Tarkov. So he tried the word "Unheard" as the key to decypher the Vigenère cipher... and it worked! Well done Onepeg and thanks! An easier way to get to this was by reading the description of the item Programmer's Diary , which states: The first page has a table of contents: • U pdate • N otes • H ighlights • E ncrypt • A genda • R uminates • D rafts As you can see, taking each word initial, the word "Unheard" is formed. The reference to the Cultist Circle, along with the deciphered phrase, explains (more or less, not sure how they figured out the sacrifice receipt, I guess they noticed the word "flammable" and tried different fuels, etc.) what you need to do next. You need to have the Cultist Circle built in your Hideout to further progress with this quest line. As part of the Initial Equipment when you accept Part 5 you get the Programmer’s Diary (Copy) . After accepting Part 5 you can also buy additional copies of it from Mechanic LL1. You’ll need to sacrifice three items at the Cultist Circle : the Programmer’s Diary (Copy) , an Expeditionary fuel tank (flammable), and a Zibbo lighter . In exchange, after 1 minute , you’ll receive a Disk with unknown data . (This sacrifice becomes available only after accepting this quest.) You need to hand over to Mechanic the Disk with unknown data . EFT Wiki page for this quest Breathing Room (Mechanic) Mechanic doesn’t have time to analyze the Disk, as he’s swamped with weapon orders. To help him, you’ll need to build an IWI UZI with the specified stats . Once the build is complete and you turn in the weapon to Mechanic, the quest will be finished. You can find the exact request from Mechanic, along with the required parts to modify the IWI UZI, on the corresponding EFT Wiki page for this quest . Game Review - Part 1 (Mechanic) Mechanic returns the Disk to you, now renamed Disk Drive 1 , and asks you to check its contents. You need to do this by using Rest Space level 3  in your Hideout. If you haven’t built it yet, you’ll first need to gather the required items to construct it. Once Rest Space Level 3 is ready, access it in your Hideout and insert Disk Drive 1  into the provided slot. By doing this you'll find start playing a game on the Rest Space TV. It's some kind of text-based RPG called "Targard Tales". Here’s how Tbdead, a user on the EFT Wiki Discord, described the steps needed to complete the quest : “To complete the quest you need to visit the battlefield at the start and get the ring from the dead soldier. After that, talk to the woman in the village first; she will tell you about the elder. But before visiting the elder, speak to the man beside her and buy a sausage. Then go to the elder and distract his dog with the sausage. The elder will ask you for a favor — the ring. Give it to him , and once you start talking to the soldier at the gate, the quest will end.” After this, go back to Mechanic to complete the quest. It appears that you will hear the usual "quest completed" tone , when you get to the right point in the text-baed RPG game. In the meantime, OnePeg has also released a video explaining this part of the questline. Check the link to jump directly to the section where he covers the Targard Tales part: Friend From Norvinsk Step By Step Guide - Escape From Tarkov New Questline UPDATE: Now the EFT Wiki page for Game Review - Part 1 is available Progression Difficulties - Part 1 (Mechanic) Mechanic asks you to give the Disk Drive 1 back to him. Do it and complete the quest. Progression Difficulties - Part 2  (2 hours wait) This part unlocks 2 hours after completion of Progression Difficulties - Part 1. You need to craft and hand over a Decrypted intelligence folder to Mechanic. When you accept the ques t, the craft for Decrypted intelligence folder at Intelligence Center level 1 gets unlocked. To complete the craft, you’ll need to collect several  Thumb drive with military data  and decrypt them at your Intelligence Center Level 1 . These thumb drives can be found by looting almost any type of container across all EFT maps. The decryption can fail so the exact number of drives you will need is unknown. But since the letters to decrypt are 11, the minimum number of drives you need is 11. So you may need 11+ drives to complete the decryption. Once the decryption is completed you will obtain the Decrypted intelligence folder and you can hand it over to Mechanic. Now the EFT Wiki page for Progression Difficulties - Part 2 is available Game Review - Part 2 (Mechanic) Mechanic gives you back the Disk Drive 1 and asks you to further explore the game disk's content. You need to use the disk at the Rest Space level 3 again and play the text-based RPG "Targard Tales" on the TV more. Now the game plays differently because by decrypting the intelligence folder you now know the password: "Tetriandoch" (you don't need to remember it). Here is a video by content creator Fr0styo which explains what to do from the beginning of the game to get to the quest completition. Please leave a like and a comment to the video on YouTube and subscribe to Fr0styo channel to thank him. After exiting the game you can complete the quest at Mechanic. Now the EFT Wiki page for Game Review - Part 2 is available . Last Spurt - Pioneer (Mechanic) You need to find a second disk on Reserve, called Disk with release version . It appears that the disk can spawn in 4 different locations on Reserve. You can check the possible spawn locations in the Last Spurt - Pioneer quest page on the EFT WIki along with maps and screenshots. Once you find the second disk, you will need to turn in both the Disk drive 1 and the Disk with release version you just found on Reserve. Now the EFT Wiki page for Lat Spurt quest is available . Game Review - Part 3 (Mechanic) This is the last part of this questline. Mechanic gives you the Disk with release version you've just found in Reserve and you have to place it in the Rest Space level 3 and play the text-based RPG on the TV again. Once you do that you can complete the mission at Mechanic and you get the Targrad Tales  achievement. Now the EFT Wiki page for Game Review - Part quest is available . External Interest (Fence) Obtainable after accepting Friend from Norvinsk - Part 5 . This looks like a bonus quest, with no other quest linked to it or unlocked by completing this one. You just need to buy a Programmer's diary (Copy) from Mechanic and hand it over to Fence. Now the EFT Wiki page for External Interest quest is avaialble . My 2 Cents This was a long and complex questline that brought a large part of the EFT community together across different Discord channels, collaborating to solve each stage. Special thanks to the EFT Wiki team  for updating the quest information as soon as it became available, and a big shoutout to everyone who contributed  — whether by helping solve the quests, searching for objectives, posting screenshots, comments, or tips on the EFT Wiki Discord channel and across other platforms. Events like this highlight just how much potential EFT has for the future . Questlines of this type are relatively simple to implement yet can provide a huge amount of fresh content, greatly extending the game’s longevity. EFT itself is already a strong foundation, but at the moment it also often feels like a collection of missed opportunities . Hopefully, BSG will be able to fully realize the potential of what they’ve built. Escape from Tarkov 1.0 Release Date Announcement A fter the questline was completed and the first players got the Targrad Tales  achievement, BSG released a new video acted by Nikita himself, in which, along with various scenes and details, it is shown the date 15.11.2025 . Initially the EFT Community unanimously decretated that this is the date for the final release of Escape from Tarkov and the end of the Closed Beta phase. Later on, n ot only the Community but also Nikita himself declared it's the final release of Escape from Tarkov 1.0 date on his Twitter account . NOTICE: This article is still being reviewed and updated as more info are available either from me doing the questline or from other sources such as the EFT Wiki, the EFT Wiki Discord or other content creators or streamers doing the questline. Sources and Resources for info and details about the questline and how to complete it: EFT Wiki - Friend from Norvinsk - Part 1 page . Start here and check all the parts of the questline using the link you can find on this page that gets you to the next part. Glorious_E YouTube VOD of his stream from yesterday , where he attempted to complete the questline as soon as servers went up. He didn’t get through all the parts, but it’s a solid reference to see what to do up to Friend from Norvinsk – Part 5 (link should start the video at the moment he finally manages to login and start playing. If not the right moment is at 6:31:02). Onepeg's video: Friend From Norvinsk Step By Step Guide - Escape From Tarkov New Questline . This one is much shorter than Glorious_E’s VOD, less entertaining but more detailed and explanatory. It also goes further into the questline, reaching the “Game Review – Part 1”  quest.

After completing Chemical Part 3 from Skier, players unlock three simultaneous quests: Chemical Part 4 (Skier), Out of Curiosity (Therapist), and Big Customer (Prapor). All three require the exact same task: locate and mark a chemical transport vehicle on the Customs map with an MS2000 Marker. Mark the vehicle, survive the thirty seconds of “please don’t shoot me while I’m crouched in this dark corner,” and extract alive—boom, objective complete. All three quests are ready to be completed. But here’s the catch: you can only choose one trader. Picking one automatically fails the other two. So, who do you sell your soul to? Let’s break it down. The 3 Quests Once you accept the Chemical Part 4 quest from Skier, you obtain two other quests. Out of Curiosity  from Therapist Big Customer  from Prapor All three quests are identical in objectives. The only thing that changes is who you ultimately turn it in to. The job: find a vehicle carrying a box of chemicals marked with strange symbols, on the map Customs . The location: inside Warehouse 4, near the Smugglers’ Bunker (the old ZB-1012) extraction point. Look for a van with a big metal pole sticking out of its engine—kind of hard to miss. Slap the MS2000 Marker on the back, pray nobody domes you during the 30-second timer, and you’re done. See the three quests, and all the details, at these links that lead to the EFT Wiki: Chemical Part 4 Out of Curiosity Big Customer Elements of the Choice Sure, you could make this decision based on sympathy  for one of the traders, or who seems like the “good guy” if you’re role-playing a moral compass. But let’s be honest: Escape from Tarkov is a brutal survival game set in a merciless hellhole. Nobody here is “good”. You’re not an angel: you’re a mercenary. So the smart choice? Cold, hard pragmatism. Rewards and penalties. Now, about those penalties. Choosing one trader will nuke your reputation with the other two : a flat –0.25 each. That’s not pocket change. In theory, you would need to grind it back with several quests, but in reality, Nikita tossed us a bone: each “betrayed” trader has a specific reparatory quest  you can do to mend the relationship. Some are laughably easy. Others are absolute torture. Let’s check the damage. Rewards & Consequences Choosing Therapist ( Out of Curiosity ): 7,700 XP +0.04 Therapist reputation 170,000 roubles Injector Case Reputation loss: -0.25 with Skier and Prapor Choosing Skier ( Chemical Part 4 ): 6,500 XP +0.04 Skier reputation 35,000 roubles Grenade Case Reputation loss: -0.25 with Therapist and Prapor Choosing Prapor ( Big Customer ): 8,100 XP +0.03 Prapor reputation 200,000 roubles 6B2 body armor (Flora) + 2x Ammunition Cases Reputation loss: -0.25 with Skier and Therapist The “Apology” Quests Skier:   Loyalty Buyout  → Hand him 1,000,000 roubles. Ouch, but doable. Therapist:   Trust Regain  → Deliver four specific keys found in raid . Absolute nightmare. Prapor:   No Offence  → Give him 10 M67 hand grenade (not required to be FiR). Easy: not difficult to find in raid, or buy them straight from Peacekeeper (barter) or the Flea Market. The Choice → Out of Curiosity Most players, when they put down the role playing compass and pick up the calculator, end up siding with Therapist. Why? That beautiful little Injector Case . It fits inside your Secure Container, takes just one slot, and holds nine injectors . It’s basically tactical performance-enhancing drug storage on demand . Bring whatever you need (healing stuff, painkillers, stamina boosts, increased strength, bleed stoppers) and if you’ve got empty slots, stash any injectors you loot mid-raid, especially the rare expensive ones. This thing pays for itself in both survival and profit. By comparison: The Grenade Case saves stash space. Big deal, but you can just buy it cheap later. The Ammo Cases are nice for stash Tetris, sure, but again, no real impact on gameplay. Injector Case = life-changer. The others = glorified IKEA boxes. Penalty and Reparation And here’s the kicker: the “make-it-up-to-them” quests massively favor siding with Therapist. To fix Prapor:  Hand him 10 M67s. Easy peasy: loot or buy. Not FiR required. To fix Skier:  Pay 1 million roubles. Painful if you’re broke or stuck in a Hardcore wipe, but realistically grindable. To fix Therapist (if you betray her):  Deliver four specific keys found in raid.  Translation: RNG torture. Or, if Flea Market is open, pay inflated prices because every other poor bastard needs them too. And if Flea is closed like it is now for the Hardcore Wipe? Have fun running 200 raids. In short: choosing Therapist gives you the easiest reputation recovery path . Choosing anyone else saddles you with the Therapist key-quest nightmare. Other Possible Choices Of course, there are edge cases where betraying Therapist might make sense. Lore/roleplay reasons: you hate Therapist, you hate doctors, you simp for sketchy Skier, or Prapor reminds you of your dad and you could never disappoint him. You already own Injector Cases (plural, you loot-goblin). You already have the four Therapist keys ready to go. You desperately need stash space for ammo or grenades and can’t get the cases otherwise. But honestly? These are fringe cases. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, they’re bad excuses . Let’s be real: unless you’re cosplaying a moral compass or doing some weird loyalty run, Out of Curiosity  with Therapist is the clear winner . You get the Injector Case, you avoid the therapist’s insane key grind, and fixing your rep with the others is relatively painless. So yeah, Therapist is the “least bad” option. Welcome to Tarkov, where even the best choices feel like a scam. ____ There’s always something new to discover in Escape from Tarkov ! Stay up to date with the latest News , Tips & Tricks , and In-Depth Guides , by checking out our links or starting from our Homepage . New to the game or just looking for more insights? Don’t miss our EFT: Tutorial  section!

Explore THE TARKOV CENTRAL for the latest Escape from Tarkov news and updates, info, tips, and deep dives on Escape from Tarkov. Learn how to play with our tutorial and guide. Live Updates Wed 20.08.25 - Patch 0.16.9.0 dropped. Last patch before 1.0 release of EFT? Tue 08.07.25 - HARDCORE WIPE TIME! You thought EFT was tough? Think again... Thu 22.08.25 - EFT RELEASE DATE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED >>> 15.11.2025 live updates scroll to left button live updates scroll to right button THE TARKOV CENTRAL Your go-to source for the latest news, guides, analysis and resources for Escape from Tarkov Help! I am new to Tarkov. Follow the EFT Tutorial News Tips & Tricks & Bugs Deep-Dives Game Features Resources Arena Community TTC Blog EFT Tutorial Search The Tarkov Central Welcome to The Tarkov Central, your go-to source for the latest news and insightful analysis on Escape From Tarkov. Whether you're looking for breaking headlines, tips, in-depth features, or thought-provoking opinions, we have you covered. Popular Tags BSG (18) 18 posts Tips and Tricks (14) 14 posts Bugs (14) 14 posts News (13) 13 posts Patch Notes (13) 13 posts Learning EFT (8) 8 posts Nikita (7) 7 posts Arena (7) 7 posts Moneymaking (6) 6 posts Streamers (6) 6 posts Breaking News (6) 6 posts FAQ (6) 6 posts Quests Help (5) 5 posts Quests (5) 5 posts Performance (5) 5 posts Maps (5) 5 posts Flea Market (4) 4 posts Gear (4) 4 posts Event (4) 4 posts Interview (4) 4 posts Cheaters (3) 3 posts Cheating (3) 3 posts Warning! (3) 3 posts Cheats (3) 3 posts Patch 0.15 (3) 3 posts FPS (2) 2 posts Cheating Problem (2) 2 posts Halloween (2) 2 posts Community (2) 2 posts Help (2) 2 posts Hideout (2) 2 posts Secret Changes (2) 2 posts Pestily (2) 2 posts Deep-Dive (2) 2 posts DLSS (2) 2 posts Boss (1) 1 post Free Weekend (1) 1 post Future of EFT (1) 1 post g0at (1) 1 post Game Features (1) 1 post Ballistics (1) 1 post Boss Spawn Chances (1) 1 post Gear Fear (1) 1 post Graphic Settings (1) 1 post Bosses (1) 1 post Follow Us Featured Articles 1 2 3 4 5 T.I.L. (Today I Learned) FAQ Should I buy and play Escape from Tarkov? Is it a good time to start playing Escape from Tarkov? Are my PC specs good enough for Escape from Tarkov? I don't have much time to play. Can I still have fun in EFT? How bad is the cheating situation in Tarkov? I've read it's unplayable! What Edition of Escape from Tarkov Should I Buy? Should I play PvP or PvE? I've started playing EFT, but I don't understand what I'm supposed to do! I've started playing, but I always die and can't manage to extract! I’ve started playing, but I LOST EVERYTHING! Help! I like your content! How can I support The Tarkov Central? EFT Tutorial New to Escape from Tarkov and unsure where to start? Check The Tarkov Central tutorial to guide your first steps in the Norvinsk region. It won’t be easy, but our tips will make everything clearer and less frustrating. Latest Articles 1 2 3 4 5 News + Read More Tips & Tricks & Bugs + Read More EFT Resources + Read More Game Features + Read More Deep-Dives + Read More EFT: Arena + Read More EFT Community + Read More TTC Blog + Read More

Discover what is Escape from Tarkov with our detailed EFT Tutorial and Guide. Learn tips, strategies, and insights to master the game. EFT Tutorial and Guide THE TARKOV CENTRAL News Tips & Tricks & Bugs Deep-Dives Game Features Resources Arena Community TTC Blog EFT Tutorial Intro EFT Tutorial A beginner guide to EFT Just a Few More Words Before We Begin! Choices What is Escape from Tarkov? Choose Your Own Path SCAV or PMC? PvP or PvE? Solo or Team? USEC or BEAR? Where Am I? Your First Objective: Extraction Spawn Points and Extraction Points Just follow the waypoint! Where Am I? Learn maps one at a time Which Map Should I Start With? Exploration Map Knowledge The First Step: Practice Mode Ready, set, go Exploration Trying Out Missions Loadout, Damage, Health The Right Gear Health & Injuries Food & Drinks Damage, Armor and Ammo Weapon Choice Basic Loadout Bring The Right Kit Weapons and Aim The Second Step: Knowing Your Weapons an Aiming and Weapon Control Experiments in Factory ADS and Point Fire Weight, Movement and Stances Weight Movement Stances Combat: AI The Third Step: Real Targets Tagged and Cursed Stay safe Caution, Patience, and a Cool Head Are V Never Give Up Listen Carefully If You Think You Heard Something, You Di Cautious, But Never Passive Peaker Advantage If You Decide to Stay Still, Don't Move! Fighting the AI Don’t Re-Peek! Granada! Don’t be afraid to run Loot Looting Types of Loot and Where to Find It Too much loot! Simultanous Actions Interrupting Actions Combat: PvP The Fourth Step: Time to Get Serious So Many Deaths Your First Raid Timing and Map Flow Your First Loot Your First Kills Primary Objective: Survive Wrapping it up Now It’s Your Turn Appendix How to Improve Further Find You Pace and Playstile Time Management Moneymaking When You Die, You Lose Everything Know Your Enemies What is Escape from Tarkov? Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore and realistic online first-person mil-sim extraction shooter with action RPG and MMO features, developed by the Russian studio Battlestate Games (BSG) . Set in the fictional Norvinsk region on the border between Russia and Europe, the game immerses players in an area devastated by conflict between two private military companies (PMCs): United Security (USEC) and the Battle Encounter Assault Regiment (BEAR). The Lore The lore behind EFT is not fully disclosed , as the game, still in beta, does not yet allow players to access quests related to the main storyline. What we know so far is that the Norvinsk region has been isolated by a military blockade to prevent the conflict between the factions from spreading to other regions, or possibly to the entire world. The conflict involves two key groups: USEC , hired by the mysterious company Terra Group , which is conducting dubious experiments and research possibly linked to biological and nuclear warfare, and BEAR , a paramilitary organization hired by the Russian government to investigate and halt Terra Group's activities. Adding to the chaos, an EMP explosion , referred to as "The Blue Fire " by the locals and worshipped by a mysterious faction known as the Cultists, devastated the region. While the exact origins of the explosion remain unclear, many suspect it to be the result of secretive and advanced experimental technologies tied to Terra Group's shadowy operations. The EMP rendered most electrical and electronic devices inoperable, plunging the region into further isolation and disorder. This dire situation has caused part of the local population to turn into scavengers, known as Scavs , who roam the area in search of food, resources, and weapons, often resorting to violence to survive. Alongside the Scavs are the USEC and BEAR PMCs (private military contractors) who have become trapped in Norvinsk. With no external support and abandoned by their respective organizations, they are no longer following their original orders and are now focused solely on surviving . Consequently, in addition to scavenging for resources and equipment abandoned throughout the Norvinsk region, they have also started to accept quests and tasks from local dealers . These dealers seem to have access to vital resources and equipment necessary for survival, though their methods of obtaining these supplies remain mysterious. For (much) more info about the lore of Tarkov you can check EUL Gaming YouTube channel . The Gameplay Players participate in "raids," where they navigate expansive maps to scavenge for valuable loot, engage in combat with other players and AI-controlled enemies, complete quests , and strive to reach extraction points to escape to their hideout or transit to other zones. EFT emphasizes realism through detailed weapon customization, complex health management systems, and realistic ballistics. A distinctive feature is the high-stakes nature of gameplay : if a player dies during a raid, they lose all the equipment and items they brought in or collected, unless they have insured their gear and it remains unclaimed by others. EFT also features an RPG-like skill system , allowing for character progression. Unlike many games, there are no skill points to assign. The skills progress organically by performing actions related to them (e.g., you increase your Strength skill by running while overweight). Beyond raids, players can enhance their "Hideout", an underground shelter that provides various in-game benefits and crafting opportunities. The game also offers a dynamic economy , allowing players to trade with NPC merchants and other players through a Flea Market. Quests from traders provide objectives that, when completed, increase trader loyalty and unlock new items and crafting recipes. Escape from Tarkov is renowned for its steep learning curve and intense, immersive gameplay, appealing to players seeking a challenging and realistic shooter experience. The challenge that EFT poses for players is intentional, and it’s what makes the game frustrating on one hand, but extremely satisfying and capable of delivering emotions that other games simply can't offer to those who, after studying its features and mechanics and improving their combat and survival skills, manage to succeed in their raids . Beta Testing EFT is still in beta (and has been for the past eight years). This has sparked controversy , especially considering the price of the more expensive editions. While this is certainly an unusual situation, it’s also important to take into account Battlestate Games’ history and the development of EFT. The game is extremely engaging, and there is no competitor in the gaming industry that has managed to replicate the sensations and emotions that EFT offers players. Moreover, it is a game that people either love or hate, and those who love it often end up playing for thousands of hours —something that very few, if any, games, even more expensive ones, can offer. However, EFT still has bugs and limitations . Additionally, its content, though vast, is still incomplete , as the main storyline and its related quests are still missing. While the game does feature a huge number of quests, they are technically all side quests. Furthermore, the final map—intended to allow players to truly Escape from Tarkov once the full storyline is implemented—is also still absent. Release Date After a long period of uncertainty regarding the release date—and following hints from BSG head Nikita Buyanov’s social media posts suggesting a Q2 2025 launch—in the April 2025 Tarkov TV episode, Nikita confirmed that Escape from Tarkov will be released this year. The official release date will be announced before the end of Q2 2025, meaning by the end of June. UPDATE: On August 22nd, Nikita Buyanov and Battlestate Games officially announced that Escape from Tarkov 1.0 — the full release of the game — will launch on November 15th, 2025! Mark your calendars, chads. Next: Choose Your Own Path comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment.

Learn about food and drinks in Tarkov with our comprehensive Escape from Tarkov Tutorial and Guide. Discover essential tips and strategies today! EFT Tutorial and Guide THE TARKOV CENTRAL News Tips & Tricks & Bugs Deep-Dives Game Features Resources Arena Community TTC Blog EFT Tutorial Intro EFT Tutorial A beginner guide to EFT Just a Few More Words Before We Begin! Choices What is Escape from Tarkov? Choose Your Own Path SCAV or PMC? PvP or PvE? Solo or Team? USEC or BEAR? Where Am I? Your First Objective: Extraction Spawn Points and Extraction Points Just follow the waypoint! Where Am I? Learn maps one at a time Which Map Should I Start With? Exploration Map Knowledge The First Step: Practice Mode Ready, set, go Exploration Trying Out Missions Loadout, Damage, Health The Right Gear Health & Injuries Food & Drinks Damage, Armor and Ammo Weapon Choice Basic Loadout Bring The Right Kit Weapons and Aim The Second Step: Knowing Your Weapons an Aiming and Weapon Control Experiments in Factory ADS and Point Fire Weight, Movement and Stances Weight Movement Stances Combat: AI The Third Step: Real Targets Tagged and Cursed Stay safe Caution, Patience, and a Cool Head Are V Never Give Up Listen Carefully If You Think You Heard Something, You Di Cautious, But Never Passive Peaker Advantage If You Decide to Stay Still, Don't Move! Fighting the AI Don’t Re-Peek! Granada! Don’t be afraid to run Loot Looting Types of Loot and Where to Find It Too much loot! Simultanous Actions Interrupting Actions Combat: PvP The Fourth Step: Time to Get Serious So Many Deaths Your First Raid Timing and Map Flow Your First Loot Your First Kills Primary Objective: Survive Wrapping it up Now It’s Your Turn Appendix How to Improve Further Find You Pace and Playstile Time Management Moneymaking When You Die, You Lose Everything Know Your Enemies Food & Drinks When it comes to food and water, I’ve noticed that many players don’t bring them into raids, considering it a waste. This is likely because they’re somewhat experienced in the game, know where to find these items on the maps, and have a fast-paced playstyle that leads them to extract early, so they don’t easily run out of energy or hydration. However, running out of energy and hydration during a raid is a serious problem and can lead to death because you start taking constant damage from dehydration and fatigue, plus other side effects . Personally, I follow the school of thought that considers always bringing food and water into raids a smart decision for the following reasons: There are already enough dangers and things trying to kill me during raids. I prefer not to have to worry about finding something to eat or drink because I’m about to die of hunger or thirst. It’s not a big deal to carry them. If I need space, I can either consume what I brought and free up that space or, if I don’t have time, discard the food and water. Having your stomach blacked out (destroyed) is quite easy, especially if you’re not wearing good armor that covers it. As stated in the EFT Wiki Health system page , when this happens, it causes significant dehydration and energy loss. Even if you heal it quickly with a surgical kit, you might still find yourself in a difficult situation, especially in the second half of a raid when your hydration and energy levels may already be low. Lastly, some argue that there’s no need to bring food and drinks into raids when you’ve maxed out the Metabolism skill (Elite level), as you won’t take damage when reaching zero hydration and energy. However, even at the Elite level of Metabolism, stamina regeneration is still severely affected by low energy and hydration levels. This isn’t a consequence-free condition. Being unable to run for long because your stamina depletes quickly results in poor mobility during combat. Additionally, if the raid timer is running out, you might not make it to the extraction point in time. Next: Damage, Armor and Ammo comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment.