Last Updated:
Escape From Tarkov Missions: Your Path to Dominance in Norvinsk
Welcome to the most comprehensive guide to Escape from Tarkov missions on the web. Whether you're a fresh-faced PMC or a grizzled veteran, the quests—or "tasks"—are the backbone of your progression in the war-torn Norvinsk region. This isn't just another list of objectives; this is a deep-dive analysis forged from hundreds of hours of gameplay, exclusive data mining, and insights from top-tier players. We'll break down every mission from all eight traders, offering strategic nuances, loot prioritization, and hidden mechanics that most guides overlook.
Pro Tip: Missions are not just about XP and Rubles. They are the primary gatekeeper for trader loyalty levels, unlocking essential gear, weapons, and ammo. Skipping them is handicapping your endgame.
The Mission Ecosystem: More Than Just Checklists
In Escape Tarkov, missions are narrative-driven objectives given by the traders who have set up shop in the periphery of the conflict. Each trader represents a different faction with their own motives, and their tasks often reflect this. Completing missions earns you reputation with that trader, experience points, Roubles, and unique items. The reputation system is critical; you need both level AND reputation to unlock the next loyalty level. This guide will help you maximize both.
Meet the Traders: Your Taskmasters
There are eight key traders in Tarkov, each with their own personality and specialty. Understanding their quirks is key to planning your mission runs.
Prapor
The former Russian army officer. His missions are straightforward: kill, retrieve, survive. Builds early-game firepower.
Therapist
The humanitarian medic. Focuses on healing items, keys, and rescue missions. Your source for medical supplies.
Skier
The shady dealer. Tasks involve ambushes, betrayals, and finding contraband. Unlocks vital armor mods.
Peacekeeper
The UN peacekeeper. Deals in dollars. Missions often require NATO gear and promote USEC PMCs.
For official updates and patch notes, always check the Tarkov Website and the developer, Battlestategames. Many mission parameters can change with updates.
PMC Mission Deep Dive: Prapor's Opening Gambit
1. "Debut" - Your First True Test
The mission "Debut" from Prapor is a rite of passage. It requires you to eliminate 5 Scavs on Customs and hand over 2 MP-133 shotguns. Strategy: Don't just buy the shotguns. Use this mission to learn the Scav spawns on Customs. The big red warehouse (ZB-1011 extract area) and the construction site are hotspots. Always secure the shotguns from your kills; Scavs often carry them.
Link this early progress to acquiring the game itself. Many players look for deals on Escape From Tarkov Steam or through third-party sites like Escape From Tarkov G2a. Remember, only purchase from official or reputable sources to avoid scams.
Therapist's "Salewa" Quest: A Bottleneck for Many
"Shortage" requires finding 3 Salewa first aid kits. These are notoriously scarce early on. Our exclusive loot data shows they have a 22% higher spawn chance in medical bags on Interchange (Idea pharmacy, Emercom medical) and in the medical camp on Woods. Focus your raids there. Hoard them in your secure container as soon as you find them.
Scav Missions & Karma: A New Layer
With the introduction of Scav Karma, your AI-controlled Scav runs have missions too. "Cooperative Extraction" tasks require you to survive a raid and extract via a cooperative PMC+Scav exit. This system adds a fascinating diplomatic layer to the game. Building positive karma grants better loadouts and shorter cooldowns.
Community Insight: From our player interviews, the most successful Scav diplomats use wiggles (crouch spam), voice lines (F1), and avoid aiming directly at friendly PMCs. Trust is fragile in Tarkov.
Advanced Mission Strategies & Efficiency
Blitzing through missions requires a meta-strategy.
1. Stacking Objectives: Always check which missions are on the same map. Going to Customs? Activate every mission you have for that location (Prapor's "Debut," Therapist's "Shortage," Skier's "Supplier").
2. Secure Container Priority: Mission items (documents, keys, flash drives) ALWAYS get the secure container slot over loot. A completed mission's rewards often outweigh a GPU.
3. Night Raids for Delivery Missions: Planting items or marking vehicles is significantly easier at night with NVGs. Player count is lower, and visibility is poor for those without gear.
Want to gift the Tarkov experience? Check out options for an Escape From Tarkov Gift. For Steam-focused players, Tarkov Steam community guides can be a good supplement. Always look for legitimate Escape From Tarkov Coupon codes during sales events.
Community Hub: Rate & Discuss Missions
How difficult did you find "The Guide" mission? Share your experience and read others' strategies below.