Post-Combat Procedures: Looting and Healing — Escape from Tarkov Guide

10.16. Post-Combat Procedures: Looting and Healing — Escape from Tarkov Guide

Surviving a firefight is only half the battle in Escape from Tarkov. The crucial post-combat phase involves efficiently looting fallen enemies and managing your own wounds. Mastering these procedures ensures you capitalize on your victories and maintain your readiness for the next encounter.

After neutralizing threats, your immediate priority is to assess the situation and secure your gains. This phase is often rushed, leading to mistakes like leaving valuable loot behind or neglecting critical healing. A methodical approach is essential.

Looting Fallen Enemies:

When looting a fallen PMC or Scav, consider the following:

• Assess the Threat: Before approaching, ensure the area is clear. Listen for any remaining enemy footsteps or sounds. A quick scan of the surroundings is vital.
• Prioritize Loot: Not all loot is created equal. Quickly scan their gear for high-value items:
• Weapons: Check for valuable mods or rare weapon types.
• Ammunition: High-tier ammo is always valuable.
• Medical Supplies: Especially valuable if you're low on healing items.
• Keycards and Keys: Essential for accessing locked rooms.
• Quest Items: Look for items required for your active quests.
• Valuables: Items like Tetris, Bitcoin, or valuable barter items.
• Secure What You Need: Only take what you have space for and what is truly valuable. Don't overload yourself, as this can slow you down and make you an easier target.
• Quick Looting: Learn to quickly open containers and transfer items. Drag-and-drop is generally faster than right-clicking and selecting 'Move'.
• Check Rig and Backpack: Always loot both the rig and the backpack of a fallen enemy.

Healing Yourself:

Combat often results in injuries. Prompt and correct healing is crucial for survival.

• Identify Injuries: Check your health screen (default 'H') to see what injuries you have. Fractures, heavy bleeds, light bleeds, and pain all require different treatments.
• Prioritize Bleeding: Heavy bleeding is a critical threat that will drain your health rapidly. Use a bandage (like an Esmarch bandage or Gauze) immediately. Light bleeding is less urgent but should still be addressed.
• Treat Fractures: Fractures reduce your movement speed and can be debilitating. Use a splint (like a Splint or Aluminum Splint) to heal them.
• Manage Pain: Pain reduces your aim stability and can make combat difficult. Use painkillers (like Analgin, Propital, or Adrenaline) to alleviate pain.
• Use Medical Kits Wisely: Different medical kits have different uses. An IFAK can treat multiple minor injuries, while a Salewa can treat more severe ones. A CMS kit is a versatile field dressing.
• Hotkeys for Healing: Ass your most frequently used medical items to hotkeys for quick access during combat or immediately after.

Post-Combat Strategy:

After a successful engagement, take a moment to compose yourself. Check your ammo count and reload if necessary. If you've taken significant damage, find a safe position to heal before continuing. Consider if the engagement has attracted attention from other players or Scavs. If you're in a high-traffic area, it might be wise to move to a different location after looting and healing.

Table: Common Injuries and Treatments

By efficiently looting and effectively managing your health, you can turn a successful fight into a significant advantage, setting yourself up for a successful extraction.