Patch 1.2.0.0 for Escape from Tarkov is out and it turns several big dials at once: a referral program for veterans and newcomers, Prestige for the PvE Zone and PMC bots that behave very differently.

PvE players get the biggest update in a long time here, because raids against bots are meant to be a lot less predictable now.

EXFIL Brothers: veterans bring newcomers in

The EXFIL Brothers Program rewards experienced players for helping friends get started. Veterans are Operators, newcomers are Candidates. Raid together and you both get a 5 percent XP bonus, plus rewards tied to the newcomer's progress.

  • Becoming an Operator: account older than 7 days, a level 30 character in any mode and at least 40 hours played.
  • Becoming a Candidate: account younger than 7 days or under 40 hours played.
  • Candidate rewards: among others 5 support kits, 9.5 million roubles, 10,000 dollars and several cases.
  • Operator rewards: up to 1,200 TarCoins and up to 6 Bitcoins per Candidate, a Hideout set, posters and an armband.

You link up via a referral link on the official website. The program works in every Escape from Tarkov mode, but not in EFT: Arena.

PMC bots in PvE: alliances and real routes

Battlestate reworked PMC bot logic in the PvE Zone. The goal is a world that feels more alive and less predictable.

  • USEC and BEAR bots team up a lot more often and stay friendly to each other.
  • There is a small chance PMC bots stay neutral towards you until you get close or attack.
  • PMC bots pick fights with Scavs and Bosses more often and no longer attack your player Scav first.
  • They move more actively towards points of interest and task areas and show up in places they never visited before.
  • There are always PMC bots on the map at raid start, The Labyrinth included.
  • Gear and difficulty now scale with the bot's level. The Lab has many more high-level bots.

Prestige arrives in the PvE Zone

The PvE Zone gets its own Prestige system with six levels. Each level resets your PvE progression, but you keep some gear and carry over up to 50 percent of your skills and weapon mastery.

The first level has lower requirements in PvE than in PvP. Interesting for long-time players: if you have not reset since Escape from Tarkov's release, Prestige unlocks the release content, the storyline, the Icebreaker chapter and all future events. Some rewards, like TarCoins, dogtags, melee weapons and a special Gamma container, even carry over to all modes.

Less rubber-banding and quality of life

  • Better server-side position syncing should reduce rubber-banding, with more network work announced.
  • Ctrl and left-click on the trading screen jumps straight between buying and selling.
  • You can pin friends in your friends list.
  • The extraction timer turns white when you would receive the Run-Through status on expiry.
  • Drum magazines are easier to load and unload.
  • You can choose which ending is shown on your profile.

More loot on Customs and Interchange

Customs gets new PMC and Scav extracts, new loot spots in the locked dorm rooms and the USEC warehouse, and two new keys: the ZB-1013 Key and the Guard Post Key. Locked containers are now guaranteed to have loot. Interchange also gets new loot spots, including the Emercom camp and the Kiba Arms store.

FAQ

What does the EXFIL Brothers Program do in Tarkov?

Veterans and newcomers get a 5 percent XP bonus for playing together, plus rewards like roubles, cases, TarCoins and Bitcoins.

How many Prestige levels does the PvE Zone have?

Six with Patch 1.2.0.0. Each one only resets your PvE progression.

Does EXFIL Brothers work in Arena?

No. It covers every Escape from Tarkov mode, but not EFT: Arena.