Escape from Tarkov introduces a fresh seasonal event in its co-op shooter lineup, delivering rewarding loot and a set of exclusive items that will intrigue players who chase limited-edition gear. The event also adds three concealed achievements, appealing to fans who chase hidden challenges in this demanding PvP environment. This guide outlines the quest chain in detail, explains where encrypted flash drives can be found, how to decrypt them, and where to install a gyrotachometer and Wi-Fi cameras.
Note: New event missions appear in the game daily. This guide will be updated promptly as new content is released.
Mysterious in Tarkov
This objective is accessible to all players from the start. Visit the Salespeople section and select Tasks to track progress. It may appear even if the trader does not display available tasks.
The skier assigns the task of collecting encrypted flash drives distributed around the area. They typically appear in these locations:
- Map indexes;
- Safes;
- Jackets (rarely).
While searching, it’s possible to confuse a standard secure flash drive with an encrypted one. The item you need will be marked with a yellow icon, just like in the accompanying screenshot.
Tip: collect every available flash drive, since they are required for upcoming quests in the chain.
When you locate a suitable item, stash it in your bag and then retrieve it to hand to the skier in exchange for a reward.
Break through the defense
This task requires no interaction on your part beyond delivering the memory card to the mechanic and waiting for the next quest to appear. To proceed, complete the following mechanic activities:
- Difficulties in decoding. Part 1.
- Difficulties in decoding. Part 2.
- Difficulties in decoding. Part 3.
Soon the flash drive can be decrypted in the hideout. This requires access to at least the first Intelligence Center and a minimum of 15 minutes of real time. The flash drive can then be handed to the Skier or the Peacekeeper to complete the quest.
Remark: Depending on the chosen path, the next task will change. It is generally easier to hand the flash drive to the skier, as his subsequent objective tends to be simpler.
Difficulties in decoding. Part 1
The technician will attempt to decipher the data but will encounter obstacles. To assist the merchant, the following items must be located:
- SSD drives (3);
- Central processors (5);
- RAM memory (5).
These components are typically found when inspecting system units. Most are located in the Endoument area, but other players will be hunting them as well. The team keeps electronics on hand to trade quickly if needed.
Difficulties in decoding. Part 2
After finishing the prior task, the mechanic provides players with a military gyrotachometer and a yellow flare. The objective is to go to the Reserve location, place the tachometer in a metal box on the radar, and ignite the yellow signal cartridge. It sounds straightforward, yet it’s common to run into other players also trying to complete this quest.
If a Red Rebel Ice Axe is in possession, bringing a roll of Paracord is wise. If the spawn goes well, it can be used to exit via the Cliff Descent behind the radar.
It’s advisable to stash the military gyrotachometer in the bag, and the yellow flare is affordable at dealers. Climb to the radar station’s roof and locate a metal box. Installing the device takes about 25 seconds.
Then return to the roof and shoot a flare into the air. A notification will appear in the bottom-right corner indicating the task’s completion.
Difficulties in decoding. Part 3
There are no significant obstacles here: travel to Customs and clear the area of ten Scavs. The exact approach is up to the player. After completing this task, collect the reward and continue the quest.
Second try
At the start, the guide advised collecting encrypted flash drives found during raids as they prove useful for this task. A minimum of 10 such items is required to obtain decrypted documents.
Where to find flash drives? As noted earlier, search safes, filing cabinets, and coats. For instance, the dormitories at Customs yield multiple drives. In a single raid, it’s possible to extract 2-3 flash drives.
Another device, Decryption, will also appear in the Intelligence Center. Each new attempt lasts exactly 10 minutes of real time.
Photo hunt
The quest becomes available if the drive is given to the skier rather than the Peacekeeper. It requires the player to visit the Epicenter location and install four WiFi cameras inside the TerraGroup building. The cameras can be placed in these spots:
Enter through the main entrance and ascend the left stairs. A wooden shield hides a suitable mounting point for a camera.
Proceed down the hallway toward the parking area. Two doors sit nearby, with a corpse between them. Place a camera so both the parking lot and the doors are visible, ideally in a flowerbed opposite the entrance.
Return to the main entrance and take the farthest stairs to a dead end where a corpse appears, often with a key to office No. 4 on the second floor.
Head to the second floor, enter office No. 3 (unlocked). In the room’s center-left, locate a double closet where the camera should be mounted.
Use the acquired key to open office No. 4, then turn left toward the window. The camera should be placed in the corner between the table and the window.
Remark: The final bookmark location may vary for some players. Focus on the task description.
There is no need to survive the location, so even if a player dies, the task can still be handed to the skier for completion.
Forgotten acquaintance
This time the mechanic’s mission becomes available after completing the Skier or Peacekeeper path at Epicenter. The trader asks to locate the fugitives’ hideout that managed to escape TerraGroup personnel. The hideout lies among cottages in the Mayak area.
On this map there are three large houses on the right side of the area. The target is the middle home with a large garage and several rooms on the second floor. Ascend the stairs and interact with the leftmost door (Knock Down). At this moment the quest is completed. The objective can also be identified by the quest image in the description, which shows a room viewed from a window.
Search for information
The Mechanic is approached again with news, and a new assignment is issued. Now the player must use all available means to enter the previously found room and locate the hard drive for decryption. The description notes that former USEC PMC fighters nearby might hold the key, but after several raids none were found.
The simplest route to the room and the item is to jump from the cliff onto the building’s roof, then run along the canopy and smash the window.
The decrypted hard drive sits between the bed and the cabinet. It may also appear on bookshelves, windowsills, or beneath a blanket on the opposite side of the bed.
Steeplechase / Obstacle destruction
The quest becomes available depending on the chosen path with the skier or Peacekeeper. Players are tasked with destroying one million special Scavs that spawn at the Shore location. The counter tracks the combined kills of all participants.
In several raids, the Peacekeeper path groups were found in the smugglers’ area at the map’s top-left, though it’s likely they’ll appear elsewhere as well.
The enemies resemble standard Scavs but wear body armor and sometimes a blue UNTAR helmet; they are well armed with weapons like HK G36, AUG, and others.
Updates to the guide will follow in due course.
Other guides
Note: This content has been adapted for clarity and consistency across regions in North America, prioritizing actionable steps and clear navigation through the event’s quest chain.