Escape from Tarkov Beginners Encouraged to Try 'Ground Zero'

(Photo : Battlestate Games)

New Escape from Tarkov players can get a good feel of the game if they try "Ground Zero" out. This location is just one of the many new pieces of content introduced in the recently released Patch 0.14.

Head to Ground Zero

Escape from Tarkov is a very competitive tactical first-person shooter. Those who are completely new to the game may have a hard time fighting against more experienced players. Fortunately, Battlestate Games has added a new location that players can go to called Ground Zero.

Ground Zero was made with the intention of providing beginners with an avenue to learn the ropes without having to worry about other players. Newbies can take on the starter quests here that tell them about the basic mechanics.

Those who are interested in going to Ground Zero can find this place in the city center of Tarkov. However, it is important to note that this area is only intended for level 1 to 20 PMCs. PMC is one of the factions players can choose before starting the game.

Beginners who would like to spend more time in Ground Zero can choose the "Scavs" faction instead.

Jump Over Obstacles

Another major addition to the game is the ability for players to jump over obstacles through vaulting. There are two types of vaulting in Escape from Tarkov. Players can climb on certain obstacles, like crates, to give them a more favorable position when shooting at their targets. Besides that, players can completely jump over obstructions, especially if they want to take a shortcut.

Keep in mind that vaulting can produce noise that is loud enough for enemies to hear. The sound can be mitigated when vaulting is performed while walking rather than sprinting.

Players can also choose whether they want the vaulting action to be automatic or via a hotkey in the settings. When set to "Auto," players will just have to be close enough to an obstacle to initiate vaulting. Conversely, when the option is set to "Hotkey," vaulting only happens when the hotkey for "Jump" is pressed (default: Space Bar). The latter option is for those who want more control over the action.

New Boss in Town

When players go to the area surrounding the Klimov Shopping Mall, they may come across a new boss named "Kollontay." He was a former officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who is notorious for resorting to physical violence, particularly when dealing with someone he doesn't like.

Players will have to be ready when they encounter Kollontay because he is surrounded by his loyal gang members. It would be wise for players to not engage in melee combat because Kollontay might whack them with his trusty rubber baton if they come too close.

Highlights

SHORELINE REWORK

Visually reworked most of the landscape, keeping the main points of interest intact;
Added a new area - a small cattle farm which is home to smugglers and Scavs;
Reworked location borders: concrete fence replaced by minefields and snipers in most areas. The location is also slightly expanded in some areas;
Reworked some points of interest, including the addition of new quests and activities in several previously empty zones;

NEW WEAPONS

KBP 9A-91 9x39 compact assault rifle;
KBP VSK-94 9x39 rifle;
SIG MCX SPEAR 6.8x51 (.277 FURY) assault rifle ;
Degtyarev RPD 7.62x39 machine gun;
Degtyarev RPDN 7.62x39 machine gun;

NEW HITBOX SYSTEM

The head is divided into separate simple hit zones, which coincide with the protection zones of helmets and masks;
Three hit zones have been added to the head area: front neck - Throat, back neck - Neck, and a Face collider;
Thorax and stomach hit zones are divided into front, back, and sides;
The pelvic hit zone is divided into front - Groin, and back - Buttocks. Hits to these zones cause damage to the Stomach zone;
Forearm hit zones have been reduced in diameter;