How To Play Tarkov Offline & Practice Mode Tips

Last Updated on October 28, 2024 by Samuel Franklin

The Tarkov offline practice mode provides a training ground for new EFT players to test weapons, fight Scavs, gain map knowledge, adjust your settings and learn other core game mechanics. In this mode players cannot lose equipment but you also do not keep loot you find or gain experience.

It is primarily a solo mode although Edge of Darkness and co-op upgrade expansion owners can play with friends offline (this is separate to the PvE mode). In this guide I’ll provide instructions for how to play Tarkov offline, tips to maximise training mode and answer common questions.

Table of Contents:
– How To Play Offline Mode
– Offline Options Explained
– Offline Tips and Exercises

How To Play Offline Mode

1. Click “Escape From Tarkov” on the main menu.
   
2. Select your PMC character and click Next.
   
3. Select the map and time, all maps are available for offline mode although players will still need a Labs keycard to enter Labs (will not be consumed) and click Next.
   
4. Click the “Enable OFFLINE mode for this raid” which will unlock several customisable options and click Next.
   
5. Click ready on the confirmation screen and you’ll load into an offline raid.
   
6. Edge of Darkness (EoD) account holders will have options for a co-operative practice mode which is hosted on the actual Tarkov servers. Progress is still not retained in this mode and it is sometimes disabled due to the server load.

Offline Options Explained

Offline mode has many customisable options to tailor the raid to your particular objective which are explained below:

• Random weather conditions: Changes the weather on the map to random which impacts visibility and rain. If not selected your offline mode will mimic the current weather of the server.
• Random time: Randomly change the time of the raid. Given the option to select two different raid times this is rarely useful for offline mode.
• Enable PvE: The most important setting in offline mode which activates AI bots (Scavs) in your raid.
• AI Difficulty: Customise the AI difficulty. As online will give you the same experience as an online raid (approximately equivalent to medium with a blend of Scav difficulties) with hard and impossible offering a higher than average challenge. In addition to powerful AI the impossible setting improves Scav equipment by giving them grenades consistently.
• AI Amount: Changes the amount of Scavs that spawn with as online again being approximately medium. Note that Horde mode spawns a significant number of Scavs and on larger maps you will need a significant CPU to run this option as offline mode uses your own computer hardware rather than game servers.
• Enable Bosses: Activates the map specific boss and their minions, this is a 100% spawn chance option in offline mode.
• Scav War: AI Scavs will shoot each other which can give your raid an element of realism as you’ll hear distant gun shots.
• Tagged and Cursed: Activates the tagged and cursed mechanic which means Scavs will actively hunt the player aggressively and know their general location. This is the same mechanic used in online raids when players enter with no items.

Offline mode with friends has been available since patch 12.12.30 (June 2022) and is limited to Edge of Darkness edition and players that have purchased the co-op upgrade. Both of these have been removed from sale with the introduction of the PvE mode which is a purchasable expansion. When playing the co-operative practice mode the following extra options are available to help players play with friends, test mechanics or create Tarkov content:

• Players spawn: Allows modifications to players spawning to either spawn together or separately which can create a co-operative or PvP focus.
• Disable water and energy consumption: Removes the need for players to consume water or food to allow for longer raids.
• Free Camera: Gives a free camera option to help players create Tarkov content.
• Opened Doors: Doors start opened instead of closed.
• Weather Conditions: Allows players to set specific weather conditions for Tarkov content creation.
• Time of day: Set specific times of day.
• Time flow: Changes the flow of time speed from daytime to night time.
• Health: Change health values of players
• Disable overload/leg stamina/arm stamina: Removes weight overload and other stamina systems.
• Silent bots: Makes all Scavs silent.
• Boss pick: Allows players to choose specific bosses.
• Friendly Scavs: Turns Scavs to friendly.

Escape From Tarkov Offline Practice Tips

New players can use offline mode to improve their Tarkov gameplay and something I’ve personally used regularly on my path to obtaining the Kappa Secure Container.

Map and extract knowledge: The best use of offline mode in Tarkov is learning the map locations and how to extract. I recommend new players start here and don’t activate PvE Scavs at first so you can focus on learning a map with the help of a map tool on your phone or second screen. To make running around larger maps easier you can purchase SJ6 stimulants if you have unlocked the flea market as well.

AI combat practice: Once you understand the maps players can enable PvE to start fighting against Scavs and becoming familiar with their spawn locations and how to fight in each of these areas. This is also a way to test specific guns and ammunition combinations with a large supply of medical items to maximise raid time.

Boss challenge: Once players are confident with the map and fighting regular Scavs you can challenge yourself to fight the various map bosses who are more difficult and have unique mechanics attached. Alternatively, you can fight the Rogues on Lighthouse or the Raiders on Reserve which also offer a different challenge to your standard Scav.

Horde Factory: For the ultimate challenge players can turn on horde AI amount and pair it with Factory to see how long you can survive the onslaught from Scavs as you try to survive the full raid timer. For more difficulty players can increase the AI difficulty, activate tagged and cursed or simply enter with basic armour and other gear.

Written by

Samuel Franklin

Samuel Franklin is the founder and lead editor of the Games Finder team and enjoys video games across all genres and platforms.

Sam (Seelyon) is a seasoned Escape From Tarkov player with over 1,000 raids across multiple Tarkov patches while accumulating thousands of player kills and maintaining a 50% survival rate who favours a calculated playstyle. During these wipes he has earned the coveted Kappa secure container, proving his determination in the unforgiving world of Tarkov. His passion for the punishing game goes beyond personal accomplishment and he is driven by a desire to guide new players on their own Escape From Tarkov journey one raid at a time.

Through countless firefights, strategic flanks and exhilarating boss encounters, he has accumulated a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics and nuances that allows him to offer valuable insights and strategies to those seeking to navigate the complexities of Tarkov.