Avoid the Wipe Blues – Make sure you are logged in and have the correct password/email setup before wipe happens. BSG's system for email verification is notorious for going AWOL the day of wipe. You don't want to have to wait DAYS at least to play!
A few other tips:
The first 24-48 hrs of wipe is usually a massive shitshow. Unless they changed how quests work, Customs is going to be unplayable with queue times because of the quests that go there early.
Use your Scav off cooldown in the early game unless you are a serious EFT veteran. If you aren't sure if you are, you aren't. If you aren't coming out of most raids killing 2-3 people and yoinking their kits on the regular, you ain't no Veteran. Use the scavs to generate an income in gear and things you need for your hideout to ease your early wipe transition.
EXAMINE EVERYTHING FROM TRADERS AND FENCE. This will usually be enough to get you LVL 2, which will allow you to IMMEDIATELY do Mechanic's quest Introduction, which unlocks Jaegar.
DO YOUR TASKS. YEAH tasks suck I know, and hopefully this upcoming wipe will have changes to them, however don't hold your breath. Quests are the #1 fastest way to level up and unlock trader levels, which allows you to get better equipment at a more reasonable price.
KNOW YOUR WEAPONS. This is subject to change every wipe, but without reservation certain weapons are ALWAYS good because they are available early while having good punch. These include:
- SKS 7.62, semi auto AK with moderate recoil & cheap; powerful 7.62 PS round is capable of one tapping most enemies.
- MP-153 (semi auto 12g shotty), buckshot slaps esp. early wipe. If people start to wear armor, focus legs.
- MP5/PP-19 (Low recoil decent caliber 9×18/9 easy to attach sight to fully automatic smg)
- Mosin – This one will depend on how much it costs. It is usually cheap and a high powered round, will kill most anything with a headshot, but is bolt action. In PvP, if you miss, typically you die.
- EKO Vepr AKM uses EKO rounds – which are cheap, sold by Jaegar LL1, easily pens class III, and has high flesh damage. Don't sleep on the EKO! Shit is FIRE early wipe.
- Pretty much all .336 rounds have below average muzzle velocity, and EKO/AP have accuracy penalties though so don't use it at long ranges if you can avoid it.
TAKE EVERYTHING, BUT TRANSITION TO GOOD CONDITION WEAPONS ASAP. Veteran players will know this, but low condition guns in Tarkov have increasing penalties to accuracy & jam rate – if your gun is constantly jamming, its condition is fucked. Try to never use a gun below 80% condition if at all possible. Obviously a scav gun is better than no gun, but you should quickly try and transition to avoiding scav guns if possible.
FIND A GOOD DUO – Duos are probably the strongest way to play Tarkov. Larger groups have issues with communication, but Duos allow you to build up synergy quickly while being able to handle larger groups or disengage if needed. Tarkov is more fun with friends! Being a lone wolf is fine too, but larger groups (4-5) quickly become more about hanging out then actually surviving. Expect that your survival rate with 3-4 friends to dramatically decrease and the overall loot share to be thinner.
