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Tarkov's PvE Mode Finally Gets Prestige, and a Store
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06 October 2026 09:47
Long expected update is here.
Patch 1.2.0.0 is live.
Three main parts are, a referral programme with a generous payout, six Prestige levels for PvE, and a rework of how PMC bots behave and where they show up. The Expansion Hub also started selling roubles for real money in PvE Zone, which works fine in a mode with nobody to outgear.
Here are the patch notes.
Contents
EXFIL Brothers Program
Added the EXFIL Brothers Program to the game. As part of the program, experienced players (Operators) can receive bonuses for playing together with friends who have just started their journey in Tarkov (Candidates).
Operators and Candidates receive a 5% XP bonus for playing raids together, as well as other rewards tied to the Candidate's progress or game edition.
Candidate rewards are designed to make it easier for new players to get into the game. Operator rewards are intended to help during the later stages of progression and allow Operators to stand out with unique customization.
The program can be completed and rewards can be earned in any Escape from Tarkov mode, but it has no connection to Escape from Tarkov: Arena.
Rules
To participate in the program, an Operator must share their unique referral link from the "My Candidates" table with a friend. This table is located on the "Management" tab of the "EXFIL Brothers" page on the escapefromtarkov.com website.
To start the program, a Candidate who is logged in to escapefromtarkov.com must follow their friend's link and confirm that they want to establish the connection.
A player can become an Operator if their account was registered more than 7 days ago and they are level 30 in any Escape from Tarkov game mode.
A player can become a Candidate if their account was registered less than 7 days ago.
To view the details and all available rewards, visit the "EXFIL Brothers" page on the official Escape from Tarkov website.
Candidate rewards
- 5 support kits
- 9 500 000 roubles
- 10 000 dollars
- Junk Box
- Ammunition case
- Magazine case
- Key case
- Unique Document case
- Unique Medicine case
- Unique Weapon case
- Unique Item case
- Armband (Candidate)
Operator rewards
- Up to 1200 TarCoins per Candidate
- "Shoulder to Lean On" achievement
- Up to 6 Bitcoins per Candidate
- Boot Camp Hideout set
- PMC Operator Upper
- Unique Document case
- Unique Medicine case
- Unique Weapon case
- Unique Item case
- Armband (Operator)
- Men in Tarkov poster
- Pulp Mission poster
- EXFIL Bros poster
The container spread is the real value on both sides. Anyone who has spent an evening fighting Tarkov's inventory grid knows what a free Weapon case is worth.
Changes to faction relations between bots in PvE
We've reworked bot interaction logic to make the world feel more dynamic and unpredictable:
- Significantly increased the chance of USEC and BEAR PMC bots teaming up and remaining non-hostile to each other
- Added a small chance for PMC bots to remain neutral toward a PMC player until the player approaches or attacks them
- Reduced the chance of PMC bots being neutral toward Scav bots
- PMC bots will more often initiate combat with Scavs and Bosses
- PMC bots won't attack Player Scavs first unless the player Scav approaches or attacks them
Changes to PMC bot behavior on locations
We've changed the behavior system and number of PMC bots on locations. These changes affect their movement and activity.
Points of interest and movement
PMC bots will now move more actively toward points of interest and task areas. They can be encountered in areas they didn't previously visit, and their movement is now less linear and more varied.
PMC bot numbers and distribution
There will now always be PMC bots present at the start of a raid on a location. Their numbers are more consistent, with less variation. PMC bot spawns are also distributed more evenly across locations.
Added PMC bot spawns to The Labyrinth, where they will participate in combat on the location.
Depending on the location, PMC bots of appropriate levels will appear in raids. For example, The Lab will have more high-level PMC bots.
PMC bot gear, difficulty, and weapons
A PMC bot's gear, weapons, and combat difficulty now depend on its level and faction.
Low-level bots pose less of a threat to players and use gear usually available to players at lower trader Loyalty Levels.
High-level bots are more dangerous, use better weapons, and are equipped with high-level gear.
Prestige system in PvE Zone
Prestige is a mechanic for high-level players that unlocks a set of new unique rewards and allows them to start their exploration of Tarkov again while retaining part of their progression.
To Prestige, players must meet a number of different requirements, which become more demanding with each subsequent Prestige level. These requirements may include:
- High character level
- Completion of certain in-game tasks
- Construction of certain Hideout zones
- Completion of the main storyline
- Having certain items and a certain amount of money in the stash
- Leveling character skills
The first Prestige level in PvE Zone has reduced requirements compared to PvP. All players who haven't reset their progression since the release of Escape from Tarkov can now do so through Prestige. In this case, they will not only receive its rewards, but also unlock the release content, storyline, Icebreaker chapter, and all future events.
Each Prestige level resets the player's profile progression only in PvE Zone.
When Prestiging, players can retain some gear, a certain percentage of character skills, and weapon mastery, up to 50%.
Patch 1.2.0.0 features six PvE Prestige levels.
Many rewards earned through Prestige in PvE Zone will remain with the player permanently, but only for their PvE Zone character.
There are also rewards that can only be earned through Prestige in PvE Zone but will be available in all modes:
TarCoins
- Unique dogtags
- Unique Shooting Range Targets
- Unique Hideout Posters
- Unique melee weapons
- Unique Tarko figurines
- Unique Secure container Gamma
A Gamma container obtainable only through PvE Prestige, usable everywhere, is the item that will move the most people toward resetting.
QoL
Improved server-side player position synchronization to reduce the number of rubber-banding situations. Further network synchronization improvements are planned for upcoming updates
Added the ability to switch trading modes with "Ctrl+LMB": while on the trading screen, players can use the hotkey on an item from a trader or in their stash to automatically switch between the purchase and sale screens. If an item has been placed on the sales table and the player switches to the purchase screen, the item will remain on the sales table until they fully exit the trading menu
Added the ability to pin players in the friends list
Added a visual indicator for the "Run-Through" extraction status. The extraction timer will now be displayed in white if the player will receive this status when the timer expires
Improved the interaction with drum magazines: loading ammunition through the context menu, unloading ammunition from the drum, displaying loaded ammunition, and loading an ammo pack
Added the ability to inspect your own PMC dogtag on the character screen
Improved the profile customization. Players can now choose which ending to display on their profile. Endings can be displayed on any player profile, including PvP, PvE Zone, and PvP Seasons profiles
Customs
Balancing changes
- Adjusted the PMC and Scav extracts: added new exits
- Added new loot spots in locked dorms rooms, the USEC warehouse, and other areas of the location
- Locked containers are now guaranteed to contain loot
- Added two new keys: ZB-1013 Key and Guard Post Key
Fixes
Fixed the flare extraction area: the sniper will no longer open fire when moving along the wall The safes in the company director's office that were previously inaccessible can now be opened Fixed the Boiler Room Basement (Co-op) extract: it is now available regardless of which part of the location the player spawned in Fixed various doors that were previously locked by the Factory emergency exit key Fixed various geometry issues on the location
Interchange
Balancing changes
- Added new loot spots at the Emercom camp, Objects #11SR, #14, and #21WS, OLI service areas, Kiba Arms store, and other areas of the location
- Locked containers are now guaranteed to contain loot
- Added new loot containers to the location, including PMC bodies
- Changed the loot template for the cash registers in OLI, Goshan, and IDEA
- Keys are no longer required to open cash registers in the standalone ULTRA stores. Keys are still required for the cash registers in Goshan, IDEA, and OLI
Fixes
Fixed the truck cabins previously locked by the Factory emergency exit key Fixed various geometry issues on the location
Shoreline
Reworked environmental audio on the location.
Expansion Hub
Added the ability to purchase in-game roubles in PvE Zone Added USEC Tony and BEAR Den PMC voiceover packs
Fixes
Fixed an issue that prevented transitions between locations after a series of transitions in certain cases
Fixed an issue that caused red visual artifacts to appear in optic lenses in certain cases
Fixed an issue with incorrect lighting in the Hideout in certain cases
Fixed various visual, culling, and collider issues across all locations
Fixed an issue where loading into PvE Zone would not progress past the "Loading configuration files" stage
Fixed an issue that prevented players from leaving the starting area on Terminal in certain cases
Fixed an issue with incorrect differences in gunshot volume between single and automatic fire
Fixed incorrect bot interactions with smoke from smoke grenades
Fixed an issue that caused bots to get stuck on collisions in local raids in PvE Zone
Fixed incorrect bot vision through transparent objects in The Lab
Fixed an issue that allowed players to load ammunition into the same magazine while multiple players were simultaneously inspecting a container
Fixed incorrect Black Division positioning on Ground Zero in certain cases
Fixed incorrect display of the money transfer screen when transitioning to Icebreaker in certain cases
Fixed incorrect landmine behavior in local raids in PvE Zone in certain cases
Fixed incorrect display of player nicknames on the group formation screen
Fixed an issue that caused death sounds to replay incorrectly on the raid-end screen in certain cases
Fixed an issue that caused players to become invulnerable after interacting with the BTR in local raids in PvE Zone in certain cases
Fixed an issue that allowed players to plant a PMC dogtag that wasn't in their inventory when completing tasks
Fixed an issue that caused task-related items to be lost when moving them during raid loading in certain cases
Fixed an issue where shadow and volumetric lighting settings weren't saved after restarting the game client
Fixed incorrect display of the transition list on Lighthouse in certain cases
Fixed an issue that prevented players from transitioning in online raids in PvE Zone in certain cases
Fixed incorrect display of the AGS-17 sight
Fixed various minor issues when interacting with the UI outside of raids
Fixed Tagilla spawning near the player at the beginning of a raid on Factory
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