Progressing well after a wipe can feel like quite the hassle if you don’t know what you’re doing!
Every player has to go through the same wipe after 5 or 6 months. This means everything you worked so hard to get will be gone. This also means you will be in equal grounds with every other player in the game. It’s only then that you have to prioritize different kinds of progressions if you don’t want to be left behind by the people that do know what they’re doing. This article seeks to inform you of what you should do in every stage of the wipe so that you can make the most out of the game before the next wipe!
Something that you can’t ever have enough in this game is currency, and it’s also a very useful thing to acquire, specially early into the wipe if you want the best gear early on. You can get EFT rubles in Skycoach really easily and safely, so make sure to make a pit stop there!
Week 1: Survival, quests, and fundamentals
The first week is as fun as it is chaotic! Everyone is scrambling to complete early quests, gear up, and learn what’s changed in the patch. Your main focus here should be quest progression and leveling up traders.
Goals:
- Complete Prapor’s early quests (Debut, Searching Mission, etc.)
- Unlock Jaeger via the “Introduction” quest from Mechanic
- Hit Level 10 to unlock the Flea Market
- Level up Traders to unlock better gear/ammo
- Get your hideout running (generator, med station, workbench)
Tips:
- Prioritize PMC runs on maps like Customs and Woods, as early quests revolve around them.
- Don’t hoard gear — use it. Everyone has low-level armor and weapons, so winning fights is more about decision-making.
- Save barter items like Screws, Wires, Bolts, Duct Tape, and Salewas — you’ll need them.
Week 2: Expanding your arsenal and flea market mastery
Now that the Flea Market is unlocked, the meta begins to shift. Player gear starts diversifying, and some players are already rocking early meta builds. Your second-week focus should be on sustainable income, weapon familiarity, and bartering efficiency.
Goals:
- Complete therapist’s Salewa quest, Mechanic’s tasks, and Skier’s first few missions.
- Establish a Scav-to-Flea routine — use Scav runs for risk-free loot, sell high-value items on the Flea.
- Start collecting keys (Factory, Dorms, Shoreline) for future quests and loot.
- Unlock Hideout upgrades like the Workbench, Security, and Medstation Level 2.
Tips:
- Use ammo guides to understand early wipe penetration values. Ammo > gun.
- Find a couple of reliable budget loadouts and stick to them.
- Play Scav on Interchange and Reserve to safely grab barter loot.
Week 3: Mid-tier gear and building a loadout identity
By the third week, a separation starts forming between casual players and high-frequency grinders. You’ll start seeing more players running high-tier weapons and armor. If you’ve been questing steadily, you should now have access to mid-tier gear through traders.
Goals:
- Push Prapor to Level 2 or 3 for access to better ammo like 7.62×39 BP.
- Unlock Skier 2 for early meta guns and attachments.
- Complete “Delivery from the Past” and “Operation Aquarius” for critical XP and progress.
- Upgrade generator, vents, and nutrition unit to prepare for Bitcoin Farm.
Tips:
- Identify your playstyle: Are you an ambusher, a loot runner, or an aggressive PvPer? Build your loadouts accordingly.
- Don’t overspend on gear. You’re still not fighting endgame PMCs consistently.
- Sell anything you don’t use on the Flea — capitalize on players rushing quest items.
Week 4: Bitcoin farm prep and mid-wipe consolidation
This is the time to start thinking long-term. You’ll want to stabilize your economy, optimize your stash, and prepare your Hideout for passive income via the Bitcoin Farm. Quests are more spread out now, and raids get deadlier as top players hit higher levels.
Goals:
- Gather all items needed to build Intelligence Center Level 1 and Bitcoin Farm Level 1
- Complete quests like “Friend from the West”, which begin unlocking Peacekeeper gear
- Start hoarding GPUs, Power Cords, and Fans
- Level up Strength and Endurance naturally during raids
Tips:
- Don’t rush every raid. Surviving consistently matters more than kill count.
- Use offline raids to learn maps like Reserve or Streets if you haven’t explored them yet.
- Reorganize your stash weekly to avoid hoarding junk and maximize efficiency.
Week 5 to 6: PvP confidence and passive income
If everything is going smoothly by this point you should be ready to take on most players, and you should start thinking about higher-level challenges like Labs, Rogues on Lighthouse, and high-tier loot zones.
Goals:
- Complete Shoreline quests to unlock Health Resort access and XP
- Push Peacekeeper and Ragman to unlock better armor, NVGs, and ammo
- Start Bitcoin production for long-term Ruble generation
- Experiment with high-risk/high-reward raids like Labs or rogue farming
Tips:
- Play more confidently. Use the gear you’ve earned. No point hoarding in a wipe-based game.
- At this point, insurance returns matter — be smart about hiding your loot.
- If you’re losing too much gear, revert to solid mid-budget kits and focus on survivability.
Week 7+: Endgame goals and full-map mastery
By now, players who stuck around are either deep in their endgame goals or PvPing for fun. This is the perfect time to chase Kappa Container, collector quests, or specialize in boss hunting, PvP, or farming rare loot.
Goals:
- Work on completing tasks like The Punisher, Grenadier, and Insomnia
- Max out Traders to Level 4
- Upgrade Hideout completely to optimize Bitcoin, Booze Generator, Meds, and Crafting
- Set a personal wipe-end goal: Kappa, PvP leaderboard, full hideout, etc.
Tips:
- Know when to fight and when to extract. Late-wipe players can be brutal.
- Build money-making routes: for example, use Interchange tech runs or Reserve marked room key routes.
- Rotate maps to avoid burnout and stay versatile.
In conclusion
One of the biggest mistakes players make in Escape from Tarkov is trying to do everything at once. Spacing out your focus by week helps avoid burnout and keeps your progression efficient. Each week of a wipe offers new opportunities depending on your pace, commitment, and style. You don’t need to rush to Kappa, but knowing what to focus on week by week ensures you’re always making smart, strategic gains.
Even if you’re a more casual player, sticking to this kind of wipe timeline can help you maximize enjoyment, progress meaningfully, and avoid falling behind in the gear/quest race. Tarkov is a game of planning, adaptation, and resilience. Learn when to push and when to recover — and you’ll survive the wipe with confidence. Knowing exactly how to play each week is the best way to become one of the best players in your server!
