For over a decade, Escape from Tarkov has undergone immense changes in previous wipes, but it has never been this crazy. As someone who has played Escape from Tarkov for half a decade, “crazy” is an understatement.
The changes introduced in patch 0.16.8 are substantial, and it appears these changes are primarily intended to test features ahead of their anticipated launch in Q2 2025. They have said that the upcoming wipe will be the shortest wipe ever, so things are going to get spicy.
Escape from Tarkov’s 0.16.8 Hardcore Wipe Details
In the images above, you’ll see Escape from Tarkov gradually announcing the details of the hardcore wipe. There are over 13 major changes to the wipe, and we’ll go through them in detail here.
Flea Market Disabled
In patch 0.16.7, they already tested some changes where you cannot upgrade your hideout with items from the flea market, since you need FIR or “Found in Raid” items to upgrade. The flea market was already quite limited last wipe, but since it’ll be fully disabled, there are three significant changes:buying quest keys, buying barter items, and purchasing cheap loadouts.
The change will most likely widen the gap between casual players and those who play 10 hours a day. However, the other changes do make it a bit more interesting.
Hideout restrictions
Upgrading your hideout won’t require FIR items, but the item requirements will increase. Hideouts will also have limited ammo crafts, which shouldmake the hideout less viable. In fact,players might skip upgrading their hideouts completelybecause of an increased item requirement, there’s less loot in the map, and the wipe is going to be short.
Restricted Locations
The wipe will have restricted location accessibility, meaning players can only access certain maps at specific times unless they go to the other locationsusing transits. However, they have confirmed thatthey’ll continuously change restrictions throughout the wipe, which should make things more interesting, as everyone could be queuing into extremely active maps.
100% Boss Spawn Rates
With all the “nerfs” to almost everything revolving around getting items, the most significant change to counteract that is that bosses will have 100% spawn rates on every map. This means thattheir powerful gear will most likely be the most sought-after loot on the map, making everyone fight for it.
That will heavily hemorrhage everyone’s stash if they keep failing, but you cannot argue with the amount of action happening all the time.
Limited traders, reduced item selling price, and increased purchase price
Trader’s stock will now have a reduced range of items available, such as meds, weapons, ammo, and armor, making it way more challenging to get gear. Selling items to them is also reduced, which doesn’t make sense since the flea market is disabled. Item prices are also increased, and it is almost as ifthe game just wants you to play with nothing and get everything from a raid.
Reduced spawn of rare loot and secure container restrictions
To make things even harder, players will have reduced chances of finding rare loot, andsecure containers will restrict ammo and currency, including some meds. I doubt players would ever use good bullets in this wipe, but that could be a good thing, where everyone is broke and smacking each other with bats.
How Should You Approach Escape from Tarkov’s 0.16.8 Hardcore Wipe?
Most players would take a wait-and-see approach to how the wipe will do. Since the changes are too challenging, it is almost impossible to get rich in the game, and if it is possible, there’s probably no point in having so much money.
So,the FOMO of taking that first step forward in the flea market is gone. For instance, spending the next 30 hours to play the game in two days to sell items like Light Bulbs for 50,000 Roubles each is gone.
Traders are also not so enticing to level up because of the restrictions, making everyone forego doing quests completely.
It looks like thebest approach to the wipe is just to go out there and play to fight rather than progress, which makes things a bit more exciting and debilitating at the same time.
My biggest guess is that there will be a “hot” map, andeveryone will camp or rat near the bosses to get some easy kills. Players would try not to go for the bosses since they could be too hard to beat with such limited loadouts.
Players with more knowledge of the game could potentiallyfind some good strategies using a good bullet to farm the bosses. Anyone who spawns near the boss should have a minute or two to take care of the boss, loot them, and get the hell out.
The 0.16.8 wipe is certainly shifting to a more action-packed PvP-based game since it is a short wipe, and wasting time to progress doesn’t make sense because the launch is just around the corner now.
Enzo Zalamea
Enzo is a staff writer at Prima Games. He began writing news, guides, and listicles related to games back in 2019. In 2024, he started writing at Prima Games covering the best new games and updates regardless of the genre. you may find him playing the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Path of Exile, Teamfight Tactics, and popular competitive shooters like Valorant, Apex Legends, and CS2. Enzo received his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management in De La Salle University and multiple SEO certifications from the University of California, Davis.
