Events

Events in Escape from Tarkov are limited time activities that give players new challenges, adjust gameplay & mechanics, and introduce new items that are being tested by the developers for a limited time. Some events are "Lore-oriented events" that give a insight or back-story to the Tarkov/Norvinsk region, other events are Seasonal Holiday events that are done just for fun.

This is not a complete list, and there are many events missing.

Scav Takeover Event 2023 (20 May 2023)
 Fence announced in an announcement video that all known roads, paths and passages, as well as the city have been blocked off by his people (Scavs), and that almost the entire territory of the Norvinsk region is under their control. Only particularly violent regions are allowed to be entered freely, but only until the number of victims reaches a critical point. To enter the blocked off regions, they demand pay, but not with money, but goods.

Gameplay Changes
Only one location can be entered freely without needing a specific item to enter. Players under level 16 are not affected by this. After a certain amouint of combined PMC and Scav kills ("number of victims"), the location that is free changes to another one. The current counter can be found on the website.



Bandages Event 2023 (7 April 2023)
 Gameplay Changes
 * Quest Important Patient is available to all players for the duration of the event.

Free Labs Event 2022 (26 December 2022)
 Gameplay Changes
 * Entry to The Lab doesn't require a TerraGroup Labs access keycard for the duration of the event.

Grenade Launcher Scavs Event 2022 (25 December 2022)
 Gameplay Changes
 * Scavs can now spawn with FN40GL Mk2 40mm grenade launcher & Milkor M32A1 MSGL 40mm grenade launcher.

Christmas Event 2022 (25 December 2022)
 Gameplay Changes
 * The Christmas Tree is back in the Hideout.
 * Santa Claus can be found on maps again, handing out Loot and carrying his Santa's Bag.
 * Bosses and their followers are wearing Santa Hats.

Green Flare Event 2022 (25 December 2022)
 Gameplay Changes
 * The 26x75mm flare cartridge (Green) is back, which turns all nearby Scavs and Bosses neutral.

Centralized Loot Event 2022 (24 December 2022)
 Gameplay Changes
 * Loot has been centralized to one location per map as follows:
 * 1) Customs - Skeleton
 * 2) Factory - Underground
 * 3) Interchange - Kiba Escalator
 * 4) Reserve - Near Helicopter
 * 5) Shoreline - Administration Building
 * 6) Lighthouse - Water Treatment Plant (Helicopter Area)
 * 7) Woods - USEC/Medical Camp
 * 8) The Lab - Conference Room (Cats)

Fleamarket Event 2022 (23 December 2022)
 Gameplay Changes Ingame Mail
 * The fee to list an item on the Flea Market was significantly reduced.

"It's time for real trade, brother. There's a carload of goods and a passenger carload of entrepreneurs. The scavs be scavving, the cash be comin. Limited offer for members of our humble underground flea market! Only today! No transcation fees. Get into cash before the market goes to hell!"

Shotgun Shells Event 2022 (22 December 2022)
</li> Item Changes
 * 20/70 "Flechetta Plus" has been added as a Level 1 Workbench Craft.
 * 20/70 Elephant killer slug has been added as a Level 1 Workbench Craft.
 * 20/70 "explosive" slug has been added as a Level 2 Workbench Craft.

Stim Event 2022 (21 December 2022)
</li> Item Changes Ingame Mail
 * "Obdolbos" cocktail injector positive buffs have been all increased to +20.
 * SJ1 TGLabs combat stimulant injector, SJ6 TGLabs combat stimulant injector, Propital regenerative stimulant injector, Zagustin hemostatic drug injector, Adrenaline injector, 3-(b-TG) stimulant injector, AHF1-M stimulant injector, L1 (Norepinephrine) injector, M.U.L.E. stimulant injector, Meldonin injector and P22 (Product 22) stimulant injector have had their negative debuffs removed.

"Young man, greetings! I'm not sure if you know this, but your colleagues helped me establish contact with a specialist who used to live in the "Lazurny Bereg" health resort. Well, our joint work has borne fruit, which I would like to share with you. Pay attention to the renewed assortment of medicines. You will not regret it."

Melee Event 2022 (20 December 2022)
</li> Gameplay Changes Item Changes
 * Quest Martial arts course has been added for the duration of the event which rewards players with Max Trader level, Red Rebel ice pick and a Miller Bros. Blades M-2 Tactical Sword.
 * Melee weapon damage has been buffed (50%-80%).

Dogtag Sales Event 2022 (19 December 2022)
</li> Item Changes
 * Dogtag sales price has been increased to ₽2,646 per level.

Beer Upgrades Event 2022 (18 December 2022)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * Upgrades to the Hideout now use Bottle of Pevko Light beer.

Boosted Skill Leveling Event 2022 (17 December 2022)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * Character skills are leveled at an incredibly quick rate.

Scav On Labs Event 2022 (4 December 2022)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * Glukhar can be encountered on The Lab with 6 Guards, and has a 100% spawn chance.
 * Temporarily removed Glukhar from Reserve.
 * Entering The Lab with a Scav is now possible.

Double Damage Event 2022 (26-30 November 2022)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * A Debuff of +100% damage taken except head is given. (-1% for each Immunity level with Max Immunity removing the debuff entirely)
 * A Buff to Strength, Endurance, Perception and Max Stamina is given. (+20 Levels)
 * A Buff to Stamina Recovery and Health Regeneration is given. (+2 Levels)
 * A Buff to Weight limit is given. (+40% Extra)

Sanitar Event 2022 (11 November 2022)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * Sanitar can be encountered on Customs with 4-5 Guards, and has a 100% spawn chance.
 * Temporary Quest Letters can be started from Mechanic.

Halloween 2022 (27 October 2022)
</li> Gameplay Changes Item Changes
 * Tagilla can be encountered on all locations, has an increased health pool of 1900 and is armed with a Scythe, wears a Spooky skull mask and has an increased spawn chance.
 * Cultists can be encountered on all locations besides The Lab and have an increased spawn chance.
 * A random negative Status effect is given to your PMC at the start of the raid.
 * Traders pictures have been "spookified". 👻
 * Unknown toxin is removed upon death for free.
 * Weapons will jam more frequently.
 * The Escape from Tarkov website halloween "Dooomed" counter will trigger some events when it his 666,666 and lasts for 30 minutes before resetting.
 * Tagilla's hammer has been replaced by a Scythe.
 * A few items Food & Drink no longer replenish Hydration or Energy.
 * A Pumpkin with sweets now spawns on the maps with loot inside.

Airdrop Traffic (Day 1)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * Significantly increased the chance and count of airdrops that spawn on outdoor maps.

Obdolbos Roulette (Day 2)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * Huge Buff to the "Obdolbos" cocktail injector but gave it a 5% chance of killing your character.

Meeting of the Bosses (Day 3)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * All Bosses are spawning on Customs.

Barter Only (Day 4)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * Removed all cash-offers from the Traders (except for Fence) - you can only barter with them now.
 * New Barters for Dogtags were added to the traders.

Free Labs (Day 5)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * Entry to The Lab doesn't require a TerraGroup Labs access keycard for the duration of the event.

Unlocked Traders & Discounts (Day 6)
</li> Gameplay Changes
 * Unlocked all Traders and heavily discounted their items.

Deadly Toxin (Day 7)
<li style="display: inline-block;"></li> Gameplay Changes
 * Players are given infinite Stamina.
 * All extracts except one are locked.
 * The Unknown toxin debuff is given to your PMC at the start of the raid, which gives you 8 minutes to live unless you find an antidote on Bosses or airdrops.