Quests in Escape from Tarkov can feel overwhelming, especially with nearly 200 available. Whether you’re chasing Kappa, aiming for Lightkeeper, or just want better trader access, knowing how to approach quests can save a ton of time and reduce frustration. In this guide, I’ll go over the best ways I’ve found to knock out quests faster without burning out.
Prioritize the Early Game Traders
When you start a wipe, your first focus should be on traders like Prapor, Therapist, and Skier. Their early quests are straightforward, and completing them unlocks better gear and ammo quickly. Quests like “Debut” or “Shortage” are great to combine into one run. Don’t get distracted trying to do everything at once—stick to one or two objectives per raid and you’ll make faster progress.
Combine Tarkov Quests Whenever Possible
One of the best ways to save time is by stacking quests. If you have to kill Scavs on Customs and also pick up an item there, bring the right keys, route through the loot spots, and get both done in one go. I usually check my quests before every raid and highlight what I can reasonably double up. If you plan your path and avoid PvP hotspots early on, your odds of getting out and completing your objective go way up.
Use Your Scav Runs
Your Scav isn’t just for making money, it’s a perfect way to learn spawn locations and stash items for future quests. I’ve used my Scav runs to grab quest items I didn’t want to risk my PMC for. This is especially helpful when quests require rare barter items or items found in raid. If you know you need a Flash Drive, run your Scav on Interchange and check the computers without risking your main kit.
Know When to Move On
Some quests just aren’t worth grinding immediately. If you’ve spent three raids trying to get kills with a specific gun and it’s clearly not working out, shelve it for later. I’ve found that forcing hard quests early is a fast track to burnout. Focus on the quests that help you build trader rep and unlock more items first, gear progression makes everything easier.
Use Tarkov Quest Tools
There are a ton of great tools online that track quests, show maps, and help you plan. I personally use Tarkov Tracker to keep tabs on what I’ve completed and what’s next. If you’re not using something like that, you’re making life harder than it needs to be.
Final Thoughts
Quests are where Tarkov really opens up, but they can also become a massive grind. Breaking them down into manageable chunks, stacking objectives, and being efficient with your time in raid makes all the difference. If you’re like me and enjoy having direction during a raid, focusing on quests keeps the game fresh and gives you real progress to chase.
If you’re struggling with learning what quests to focus on, or have any other questions as a beginner to Escape from Tarkov, check out the video below. There is a lot of information to help learn the ropes of Tarkov.
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