With the 0.13.0.0 update, Escape from Tarkov introduced a wave of new mechanics. Today, players will learn about a strange emergency wall that has appeared in every shelter, why it matters, and how it can be removed.
Why the emergency wall exists in the shelter and how debuffs appear
Following a stat reset that occurred just before the start of 2023, players noticed odd activity in their hideouts the emergency wall. When aiming at objects, the wall in its current state not only lacks bonuses but also imposes debuffs on the fighter.
Default debuffs include:
- Fuel consumption increases by 10 percent;
- Energy recovery slows to 6 EP per hour (56 EP per hour total);
- Health restoration drops by 46 HP per hour (411 HP per hour total);
- Additional raid experience decreases by 6 percent;
- Progression of the Physical skill group slows by 6 percent.
To temporarily reduce these effects, players can wipe the floor with fleece. This lowers the negative impact by exactly half, though the debuff remains. A new action appears labeled Break Down the Wall. Selecting it reveals the required resources for a sledgehammer strike called Fierce Blow.
How to destroy the emergency wall
The cracked shelter wall leaks, and as noted, a fleece cloth must be wiped over the floor several times first. The fleece is in every fighter’s inventory from the start, and it can also be found during raids.
To break the wall, a sledgehammer is needed. It must be discovered by the player, as it cannot yet be bought at the flea market. This bug is expected to be fixed in a future patch.
Where to find a sledgehammer
During exploration, players have found the sledgehammer in large wooden boxes of tech supplies on various maps. Similar containers appear across all locations. Some players report finding it on the ground in hangars or former repair shops. The following maps have shown sledgehammer spawns:
- Customs (sledgehammer found twice);
- Forest (sledgehammer found here);
- Reserve;
- Disconnection;
- Lighthouse.
The sledgehammer itself weighs 5.5 kilograms and occupies 10 inventory cells (5 by 2). Those aiming to obtain it should plan for a roomy backpack so it can be carried.
Why destroy the wall and how a gym is built
After sweeping the floor, locating a sledgehammer, and destroying a good portion of the wall, players must use additional tools to finish the job. The process requires several items and about three hours of real time:
- Tool box (one);
- Metal shears (one).
These items are common in tech crates and caches. Metal shears, for example, frequently appear on shelves in large hangars, so careful searching is advised. Tool sets can be traded with merchants, but finding them yourself is usually easier. If it seems the tool count is insufficient for a full gym, that impression is accurate the wall project continues beyond this step.
The next phase is the complete destruction of the emergency wall, revealing a door to a hidden room in the shelter. To dismantle this obstacle, a fairly long list of resources is required:
- Corrugated hose (two);
- Mounting tape (one);
- Tool box (one);
- Elite pliers (one);
- Metal parts (five);
- Mounting foam Xenomorph (one);
- Wires (two);
- Light bulbs (two).
All of these items can be found in raids or purchased at the flea market. It is worth noting that access to the global market opens with Level 15 character upgrades. Venturing into raids is highly recommended for a richer experience, and players should expect a real-time wait of about 12 hours for a complete wall analysis before continuing with the gym build.
Construction of a gym
With the wall removed, the focus shifts to assembling a full gym for the fighter. The specifics of the resource list and build time are not as critical as the earlier steps, but the following items are needed:
- Tool box (one);
- Electric drill (one);
- Metal shears (one);
- Nuts (three);
- Bolts (three);
- WD-40 100ml (one);
- Electrical tape (one).
After gathering the necessary resources, construction can begin and will take about four hours of real time.
Why a gym matters and what can be trained
Once the gym is complete, the question remains why invest in it. The gym enables training of certain fighter attributes outside of combat, notably Power and Endurance. This feature marked a notable addition since the last major update. Players must time their actions to the green mark during the training cycle for a bonus to progress, and it is important to maintain proper nutrition and hydration as energy and hydration diminish quickly during sessions.
Overtraining should be avoided, since excessive training can trigger debuffs such as Mild Muscle Pain, which reduces skill gains by 50 percent, or Severe Muscle Pain, which can cut gains entirely. The game developers regularly refine and expand such features, and the gym concept adds a fresh layer to Tarkov’s gameplay—sparking anticipation for more innovative content in future updates.
Other guides cover additional topics, including how to escape from Tarkov using exit cards. (VG Times)