Tarkov Map Guide: Best Maps for Each Stage
Learning maps is the biggest challenge for new Tarkov players. Every map has different extract locations, loot spots, player density, and risk level. This guide tells you which map to start on, when to move to harder maps, and what to prioritize on each one.
Not affiliated with Battlestate Games.
How Raids Work
Every Tarkov session happens in a raid — a timed match on one of the available maps. You spawn with whatever gear you bring, the timer counts down (usually 35–60 minutes depending on the map), and your goal is to extract through a designated exit point before time runs out or before someone kills you.
On the extraction screen (press O in-raid), you see a list of extracts for your current spawn side. Green extract = available. Red extract = not available (requires an item, a payment, or another player). Each map has multiple extracts scattered across it. Learning where they are and which ones are reliable for your spawn side is your first map priority.
Inside the raid, you share the map with AI Scavs and other player PMCs. Scavs patrol fixed routes and will aggro on you if they spot you. PMCs are other human players — the highest-risk encounters in the game. You also have a Scav character that spawns later in each raid with random gear — playing this character is free with no risk to your main PMC's equipment.
Map Progression: Where to Start and When to Move On
The biggest mistake new players make is trying to learn every map at once. Tarkov's maps are complex enough that spreading your attention across five maps means you never truly know any of them. Pick one or two starter maps, learn them deeply — spawns, extracts, loot routes, common fight positions — and then expand from there.
A general progression that works for most players: Customs → Woods → Interchange → Shoreline → Reserve → Streets / Lighthouse. Factory can be added at any point as a gunfight supplement, not a primary progression map. Labs is endgame content that most players won't touch until hundreds of hours in.
All Maps: Detailed Guide
Customs
BeginnerBest starter mapCustoms is the most quest-dense map in Tarkov and the best starting point for any new player. It has a manageable size, predictable layout with distinct zones (Dorms, Gas Station, Skeleton building, USEC camp), and the most quest objectives of any map. You will spend a significant portion of your early wipe here completing Prapor and Therapist quests.
Woods
BeginnerBest for learning stealthWoods is an open forested map with lower player density and more forgiving engagements than Customs. Fights happen at longer range, giving you more reaction time. It's an excellent map for practicing movement, sound awareness, and extract safety because the slower pace allows you to recover from mistakes. Jaeger unlocks require visiting Woods early, and many of his quests are set here.
Factory
Beginner (Gunfights)PvP training groundFactory is the smallest map in the game — a close-quarters industrial facility where fights happen constantly, sometimes within seconds of spawning. Every raid involves combat. It's not a money-making map. It's a practice arena. New players who exclusively farm Customs and Woods to avoid fights often struggle when they eventually have to fight in more complex situations. Factory forces you to engage, regardless of whether you're ready.
Shoreline
Mid-GameKey run destinationShoreline is a massive coastal map centered around a large resort building. Without keys, you can do the village jacket route (no keys needed) for solid early-wipe income. With keys, Shoreline Resort rooms become some of the most profitable loot spots in the game — LEDX spawns in West Wing 301, valuable medical loot in East Wing rooms. The open areas between resort and the extraction zones can be dangerous, but the map rewards players who know it well.
Interchange
Mid-GameBest Scav map, strong key runsInterchange is a large mall complex. The central tech area and KIBA Firearms store are the highest-value loot destinations. KIBA requires two keys (KIBA Front and Backdoor) and consistently produces top-tier weapon mods, meta weapons, and occasionally a grenade case. Without keys, the tech area shelves in OLI and in the central tech section produce GPUs, hard drives, and other tech loot. Interchange is also one of the best Scav run maps due to its layout and good extract access.
Reserve
AdvancedDifficult extracts, high rewardReserve is a military base with excellent loot but notoriously difficult extraction — most extracts require specific items, actions, or Scav cooperation. The underground bunker, pawn buildings, and tech areas produce some of the best loot density in the game. The challenge is getting out with it. The D-2 extract (pull a lever in the bunker, then run to surface) is the most common PMC extract but requires knowing the route and having time to execute.
Lighthouse
AdvancedHighest income, brutal RoguesLighthouse has the highest loot density in the game but is guarded by Rogues — aggressive, accurate AI on the water treatment facility island that will kill you faster than most players if you approach without preparation. The Lightkeeper trader is only accessible via the island. The Shared Bedroom Marked Key room spawns Labs keycards — some worth millions. For experienced players, Lighthouse is a goldmine. For beginners, it's a death trap.
Streets of Tarkov
AdvancedMost complex mapStreets of Tarkov is the largest and most complex map in the game — a dense urban environment with multiple interconnected buildings, rooftop sniping positions, underground sections, and the highest player count of any map. The Train Depot is a safer zone for budget loot runs. Chekannaya apartments spawn GP Coins and golden figurines. High learning curve, but experienced players can consistently extract with 1m+ worth of loot.
The Lab (TerraGroup Labs)
Endgame OnlyLabs is accessed via a keycard (entry costs one Lab keycard per run) and contains the highest-value loot in the game — colored keycards worth hundreds of thousands to millions of rubles. The map is also the most dangerous: every other player is heavily geared and knows the layout. AI Scavs inside Labs are extremely dangerous. This map is for players with hundreds of hours of experience, solid gear, and an existing financial cushion to absorb the inevitable losses.
Expected income: 2m–10m₽ per successful run. Entry cost: 200k–400k₽ per keycard. Do not enter Labs as a beginner.
How to Learn a New Map Efficiently
The fastest way to learn a map is not to try to learn everything at once. Pick two or three extracts and one loot route, commit them to memory over 5–10 raids, and then expand from there. Fighting in unfamiliar positions on an unfamiliar map is where Timmies die. Knowing exactly where you are and exactly where you're going eliminates a huge portion of early mistakes.
Offline mode (if available) lets you enter any map solo with no other players and no stakes — just you and AI Scavs. Use it to practice extract routes, find loot spawns, and walk the map at your own pace without the pressure of losing gear. This is the single best way to get map knowledge quickly without spending rubles.
Night raids are significantly quieter in terms of player activity. If you want to learn a map with less PvP pressure, run it at night — fewer players rotate the same loot spots, and fights are more avoidable. The downside is that Scavs can be harder to deal with at night due to noise and reduced visibility.