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Tarkov Wipe Guide: Best Early Game Strategies


Every Escape from Tarkov wipe presents a fresh opportunity for players to reset and climb back up the ranks. With everyone's progress reset, the early game becomes a critical period where strategy and efficiency determine long-term success. This guide is tailored to help you dominate the early stages of a tarkov wipe by focusing on smart looting, essential quests, gear management, and survival techniques.

Prioritize Your First PMC Raids

At the beginning of a wipe, your first PMC raids are vital. Don’t worry about getting kills—instead, focus on surviving and extracting with useful loot. Scav runs are still important, but early PMC raids help unlock initial quests like “Debut” for Prapor. Stick to maps like Customs and Woods, where you can get tasks done without facing too many high-level players. Avoid hot zones like Dorms unless you're confident in your skills or need task progress.

Stick to Low-Risk Loot Routes

Loot smart, not hard. Early in a wipe, everyone’s gear is limited, so hitting high-traffic areas is unnecessarily risky. Instead, learn low-traffic loot routes. For example, on Customs, loot stashes along the river or behind the construction area. On Woods, the outskirts stash routes offer decent loot with minimal PvP. These routes give you enough loot to fund your next run without the pressure of constant combat.

Use Your Scav Runs Efficiently

Your Scav is your most reliable money-making tool in the early game. Scav runs allow you to accumulate gear, meds, and loot without risking your main PMC loadout. Focus on extracting with every Scav and stash whatever you find. If you spawn with a backpack, fill it with barter items like bolts, screws, and tapes—these sell well or are needed for early hideout upgrades. Treat every Scav run like a free supply drop.

Complete Early Quests First

Quests are the backbone of progression in Tarkov. Not only do they offer XP and trader rep, but they unlock gear, meds, and valuable barter items. Focus on completing early quests from Prapor, Therapist, and Skier. For example, "Debut," "Shortage," and "Supply Plans" are crucial early tasks that help unlock more efficient gear purchases. Always enter raids with a quest objective—looting is secondary during task-focused runs.

Always Build a Budget Loadout

In the early wipe, losing gear stings more. That’s why budget loadouts are king. Use weapons like the MP-133 shotgun, SKS, or Mosin. These are cheap, effective, and get the job done. For armor, use PACA or scav armor. Avoid splurging on high-end kits unless you have a specific purpose. You’ll die less often by playing smart with budget kits and reserving better gear for high-reward runs.

Learn Basic Ammo and Armor Mechanics

Understanding ammo and armor early in the wipe gives you a huge edge. Not all bullets are equal—use ammo like PS for 7.62x39 or M855 for 5.56 early on. Don’t bring a good gun with bad ammo. Likewise, recognize armor classes. Class 3 is your minimum in PvP situations, while Class 4 becomes essential by mid-wipe. You don’t need to memorize every stat—just know what punches through what, and prioritize penetration over raw damage.

Upgrade Your Hideout Strategically

Your hideout can snowball your progression. Start by upgrading the Medstation, Workbench, and Stash. The Medstation gives you early access to crafting meds like Salewas for quests. The Workbench allows you to craft ammo, which becomes extremely valuable when trader stocks are limited. A larger stash means you can hoard gear and avoid selling it prematurely. Don’t rush all upgrades—prioritize those that give long-term benefits.

Sell to Traders for Early Progress

Many players instinctively sell everything on the Flea Market, but in early wipe, the Flea is locked until level 15. That makes traders your only sales option. Sell duplicate guns and non-essential gear to traders that you’re trying to level up. For example, Prapor buys most weapons, while Therapist is the best for meds and barter goods. Leveling traders quickly gives access to better gear and essential tasks.

Learn When to Fight and When to Flee

Avoid unnecessary PvP. The early wipe is about survival and efficiency. Fighting can be rewarding, but dying resets your progress. If you're not geared for a fight or are carrying valuable quest items, disengage and extract. Sound awareness is crucial—use it to avoid or flank enemies instead of rushing headfirst. Winning in tarkov wipe is more about smart choices than raw aim. If you're unsure about a fight, it's often better to walk away.

Use Insurance to Your Advantage

Insurance is extremely helpful in the early wipe. Gear isn’t abundant, and being able to recover insured items can save a lot of rubles. Always insure weapons and armor unless you're using throwaway gear. Many players won’t loot low-value or common gear, meaning your items have a good chance of being returned. It’s a small cost that can save you a lot in the long run.

Stack Passive XP Gains

You can gain XP outside of firefights. Healing your PMC after raids, using the hideout, looting, and even exploring new areas all give passive XP. Use meds after raids instead of the “heal all” option to get more XP. Reloading magazines manually also gives skill XP. These little boosts add up and help you reach the Flea Market level faster without needing to constantly grind PvP or high-risk raids.

Organize Your Stash Early

Inventory management becomes overwhelming if ignored. In early wipe, your stash space is limited. Organize gear by type—keep weapons in one row, meds in another, barter items in containers. Sell or discard duplicate items unless you plan to use them soon. Use cases, ammo boxes, and med containers to consolidate items efficiently. The more organized your stash, the faster you can gear up for the next raid.

Practice on Offline Mode

Offline mode is your training ground. If you’re unfamiliar with maps or weapons, use offline raids to learn safely. Enable AI, practice against Scavs, and rehearse loot routes. This helps you become more confident in live raids. Especially early in the wipe, learning spawns, extract locations, and hot zones gives you a strong tactical advantage when others are still finding their footing.

Play With a Plan

Always enter a raid with a purpose. Whether it's completing a quest, looting a specific area, or practicing a route, having a goal improves focus and decision-making. Wandering aimlessly increases the chances of random encounters and poor choices. Planning helps manage risk, resources, and time more effectively. Ask yourself: “What do I want from this raid?” and base your decisions on that objective.

Conclusion: Play Smart, Not Just Hard

The early game in Escape from Tarkov sets the tone for your entire wipe. By prioritizing survival, efficient looting, and focused task progression, you can build a solid foundation while others flounder in high-risk firefights. Use budget kits, learn smart routes, and always have a plan. Play smart, and the rewards will stack up faster than you think.



author

Chris Bates



STEWARTVILLE

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