Escape from Tarkov introduces a seasonal Maslenitsa event welcoming players of every level. This guide explains where to find the stuffed Madder, how to light fires, and how to complete Prapor’s limited tasks tied to the event.
A few weeks into the season, the snow returned to Tarkov’s maps with the Maslenitsa event. The following is a consolidated view of what is known about this Maslenitsa themed activity.
How to participate in the event
To join, players should visit Prapor first and activate several mandatory quests that unlock event content.
Demons
- Description: The winter mood returns with a twist. Rumors speak of cultists who worship Marena and claim winter is back thanks to their presence. There are whispers that they found something in Nurse’s caches, got carried away, and their stories drift into superstition. Players are urged to explore, observe, and report on what unfolds.
- Exercise: Locate a Madder scarecrow in a random location or eliminate Madder’s henchman.
The objective is for players to locate the henchmen spread across maps, eliminate one, and approach a bonfire to complete the task.
Spring never changes
- Description: The braziers must be lit gradually. The mood around Madder’s movement feels unsettling, and the event serves as a reminder to keep the region stable. Players are urged to push forward and stay vigilant.
- Exercise: Light a fire at any location (0/1,000,000).
Note that a global counter tracks all fires lit by the community. The aim is to reach one million lit bonfires, after which the event will likely end.
Grandma’s stories
- Description: The tales mix eerie notes with nostalgia. War memories blend with old folklore as a grandmother’s legends echo through the halls. The atmosphere boils down to a fear reframed through stories of spirits and the unknown.
- Exercise: Defeat Madder’s henchmen (0/50).
Where to find stuffed Madder and fires on the maps
Madder’s likeness appears on several map cards:
- Exchange
- Customs
- Forest
- Shore
- Streets of Tarkov
- Epicenter
Locations for Madder’s minions depend on player experience. The guide notes where fires have been found and invites players to share new discoveries in comments.
Customs
Fires are most often spotted at Customs in five locations:
- On the platform in front of the boiler room
- Between the sarcophagus and the old gas station
- Next to the library
- Next to the hostel
- At the customs terminal
Shore
Several spots feature event bots near bonfires:
- In a village near the swamps
- On the sanatorium grounds
- At the smugglers’ base
- Near a hydroelectric power station
Denouement
With a large shopping center dominating the map, enemies appear in many street locations:
- Exits at the Ministry of Emergency Situations checkpoint
- Along the highway near the shopping center entrance
- In the parking lot outside the shopping center
- On the road between the railway exit and the power plant
Streets of Tarkov
Bonfires have been confirmed in two spots here, with more possible in time:
- Near and behind the Pinewood Hotel
- Not far from the Beluga restaurant
Forest
During raids, an ally was encountered near a temporary camp set by the Ministry of Emergency Situations. If other players find additional spots, they are encouraged to share in the comments.
Epicenter
Epicenter is a newer map suitable for beginners, and access may be limited after reaching level 20. Fires were found in front of the TerraGroup building and near the Prospekt Mira exit.
How to light a fire
Lighting a fire is simple. Any caliber tracer ammunition works. A few shots ignite a bonfire for about 15 seconds. More shots extend the burn time.
Be aware that firing a fire attracts nearby minions, whether the player is a PMС or a Scav.
All about Marena’s henchmen
New bots appear near bonfires and do not attack unless provoked by lighting a fire or aggression. When a player approaches such a bot, a new effect called Cold of Mary appears. Body temperature may drop and some players report changes in weapon fire mode from automatic to single shot.
The henchmen carry solid weapons but often misfire due to malfunctions and freeze after repeated shots. They typically wield lower-grade gear, but bags may hold grenades and valuable loot, including upgrade parts for weapons.
Weapons observed among these minions include a mix of modern and classic arms such as AS VAL, VSS Vintorez, AK variants, SVDS, TT-33, SR-1MP Gyurza, Lebedev PL-15, and various grenade types. Some are paired with silenced pistols or classic iron sight rifles.
Initially there may be only a few bots guarding fires, but more will spawn after each elimination. In a single run, a player may face around twenty adversaries.
The bonfire keepers have greater health than a standard PMС. They can be defeated by players controlled by the Wild mechanic, which does not affect Copper Trader reputations as it would with regular bots or bosses.
The boss spawns during the event
During this event, standard enemies appear as in regular play. In a single raid on Customs House, players may encounter Scavs, Reshala, The Goons, and Madder’s henchmen in the same session.
Other guides
Attribution: VG Times.
Citation: VG Times.