1. Aggression is king

There is no time when you are more vulnerable, than when you are not moving. You don't need to sprint everywhere, but movement will save you when a fight kicks off. Creeping around may get you the jump sometimes, but anytime you're creeping slowly and get spotted first, you're dead.

2. Clear, then loot

When the killing is done, let the murder scene breath, just watch for a while. Then, check the entire area once, twice, three times. Only after this should you loot.

3. Where there's one, there's two

Don't pop off at the first sight of an enemy. Assume there's two, assume there's three, assume there's five. Maneuver to gain tactical advantage. When the enemy is hopelessly positioned, open fire with the force of a thousand Suns.

4. Arrive with a full sprint bar

Whether its a battle, or the extract, you want to arrive with a full sprint bar. Sprint is speed, sprint is security, sprint is being able to ADS, sprint is being able to throw a grenade. Never get into the red, never arrive with a dead sprint bar.

5. Don't fear the night

If you're a slow player and you just can't shake those slow genes, play at night. Moving slow in the shadows can reap rewards. The player pop is lower, and scavs with flashlights are easier to spot. Some night action may be just what the doctor ordered.

6. Scavs can be worth more alive

Sure, its hard to resist the juicy scav vest and Toz, but scavs can be your early warning system. Like the days of the US Army: if the birds are singing in that treeline, there's no fighters in that treeline. Scavs are the closest thing to a minefield in 11.7. They tell you where PMCs aren't and proof of absence is knowledge. Use them to secure what's behind you and kill them when you're ready to push past.

7. If you hear, but don't see, run

When that scav yells out, and you see nothing but the grey tones of Tarkov, mash that shift button into the floor and get to cover. Nothing will kill you quicker than a scav you can't see. Get safe, get his location, then kill that cheeki boi.

8. Ammo is the real treasure

Ammo is the most expensive thing in Tarkov. It will run you dry if you let it. It will cost more than the loot from the scav you killed with it. BUT. All is lost without Igolnik, AP SX, M995, and M61. The recoil system can hurt you, sure. Scav aimbot can hurt you, sure. But, tanky chad PMCs absorbing 30 rounds of 7.62 PS while one-tapping you with M995, that's the real killer. Never leave a vepr-scav's mags without unloading them, they carry M61. You want to take the treads off that tank? Invest in ammo.

9. Ears, then Eyes

Always be listening. If you hear that unnatural murmur that can only be described as the sound of a mouse farting through a stethoscope, take cover and start searching for that creeper in the bushes. Eyes will put sights on targets, but ears will orient your body towards potential threats.

10. Quests are levels

There is no more plentiful source of XP than quest rewards. You can gain 30+ levels worth of XP by playing errand boy for the magnanimous AI shitslingers that BSG calls traders. When you can, stack. If you have active quests on Shoreline, try to knock them out in a single raid. At a very least, with the addition of the flea market, the gunsmith quests are virtually free XP.

11. Always wear some armor.

Even paca is enough, although its better to play tier 4+. That paca might not seem like a big deal, but stopping the aimbot toz scav one shot your chest, ruining your whole run for 25k roubles is really worth.

12. Never re-peek the exact same angle twice, especially against AI if you're undergeared.

Players may not expect it or might miss the shot. Locked on Aimbot AI probably wont.