Tarkov Arena Beginner’s Guide! Interface & Basics Explained

 

Tarkov Arena Beginner’s Guide 

ETF : Tarkov Launch Screen After Installation

From the Main Screen to Starting a Match

So, you’ve just installed Tarkov? Welcome aboard! Before diving into your first fight, let’s take a quick look at what Tarkov Arena is and walk you through the basics every new player should know.

Step 1: After Creating Your Character — Check Your Loadout and Settings

Go to My Presets to view your characters by class.

Each class already has a default character equipped with its own loadout, so you can start right away without manual setup.

The Standard section includes three pre-equipped characters per class.
After matchmaking in Arena Battle, you can choose your preferred class or even create a custom character with your own gear and weapons.

Custom characters let you choose your own weapons and armor, but early on your level is low, so your available gear is limited.
As you level up and score kills with specific weapons, more parts and attachments become unlocked.

Each class (Assault, Enforcer, Scout, Marksman) offers different weapons, armor, and plates to choose from.

Assault  A rifle-based class using weapons like the AK-74, M4, and HK416.
Equipped with Level 3~4 armor, it offers balanced performance across all ranges.

Enforcer  Focused on strong defense and heavy firepower.
Uses LMGs or shotguns and can equip Level 4–5 armor with full-face helmets for maximum protection.

Scout  Fast and agile, ideal for ambushes and close-range fights. Uses SMGs like the MP7, MPX, and MP5.

Marksman  Specializes in mid to long range fights using powerful DMRs that can also cover close engagements.

* Start with Standard characters to learn the basics.
Then, once you find your favorite class and weapon, use a custom character to buy and upgrade that weapon as you unlock new parts.

The Armory tab under My Presets lets you view weapon attachments unlocked by level and see which ammo types each rifle can use.

Cannot select character — score limit exceeded. Watch for the red warning text.

When creating a custom character, keep in mind that every piece of gear, weapon, and ammo has its own score value.

The total equipment score must stay within the allowed limit...  if it exceeds 11,500 points, you won’t be able to select that character in an actual match.

Make sure your custom loadout only includes items available to your class. Mixing gear between classes will make the character unusable in matches.

Click View next to Customization in the upper-left corner to change your character’s outfit.

You can modify both your armor and weapons in the Modding menu, where you can add, remove, or replace individual parts.

Each piece of equipment, weapon, and weapon part can be obtained or purchased as your character level and weapon level increase.

Some special items and attachments, however, can only be purchased using BP (Battle Points) or GP (GP Coins) instead of Rubles.
You can earn BP and GP rewards by completing daily quests or by playing the main Escape from Tarkov mode (not Arena).

After finishing your loadout, go to the Shooting Range at the top menu to try out your purchased weapons.

Click Arena Battle to see three modes 

Unranked, Ranked, and Custom. As of October 2025, the Custom mode is rarely used and has almost no players online.

Choosing Unranked opens four gameplay modes to choose from.

Last Hero - This is a free-for-all mode with six players per match. It’s the easiest and fastest way to jump into a game.

Check Point - In this mode, 10 players are divided into two teams and fight over three capture zones  A, B, and C  within a time limit. 

Each captured point generates 1 point per second, and if a team controls all three zones simultaneously, their score increases even faster. The first team to reach 1,500 points wins the match.

Team Fight(TF) - In this mode, 10 players are divided into two teams and compete in an elimination match. The team that wins 5 rounds first is declared the winner.

Blast Gang(BG) - This mode is similar to the Elimination match, but with an added bomb-planting objective. A team can win a round either by eliminating all enemies, successfully planting the bag and defending it for a set time, or by defusing the enemy’s planted bag. The first team to win 5-7 rounds wins the match.

In Ranked mode, you can earn Ranked Points, which are used to record your ranking and progress. This mode currently supports only two match types — Team Fight and Blast Gang.

Blast Gang – Bomb-plant and defuse mode, first to 7 wins.

Press F to plant the bag. A grenade and a bag spawn on the front table each round — whoever picks up the bag first must plant it at the target.

Check Point – Capture A, B, and C to win!

When you capture areas A, B, and C on the map, each zone you control generates 1 point per second.

If your team manages to hold all three zones simultaneously, your score will increase much faster — creating a clear gap between teams.
This leads to intense back-and-forth battles for control until one side reaches victory.
Reclaiming an area captured by the enemy takes about 7 seconds.

When you capture a zone, the enemy can see its color changing on their HUD (around the 1 o’clock area), so your position is exposed. defending becomes much harder.

A Few Combat Tips for Tarkov Beginners

1.Don’t attack while running.

Tarkov’s inertia and movement delay make shooting right after sprinting difficult.
Don’t rush when you know the enemy’s location — move slowly and keep your aim ready in their direction.

2.Secure likely enemy routes early to gain the upper hand.

Take position at key chokepoints early — the one who shoots first wins in Tarkov.

3.Always choose a region with a stable ping.

Go to Settings → top-right region selection.

Pick a server under 100 ping — anything above 200–250 may cause disconnections and unfair losses.