Part of the charm of Escape from Tarkov and other multiplayer online games is that there’s a lot of room for experimentation and shaking up the meta. You can count on the developers from Battlestate to cook up something new and alter how the game is played. The introduction of the Escape from Tarkov hideout feature in patch 0.12 marked such an instance. Since its release, the hideout has significantly impacted how players approach the game. It has added a new layer or dimension to the game, making it all the more exciting and engaging.

An Overview of the Hideout

For the uninitiated, the hideout in Escape from Tarkov is where your character settles down, organizes supplies, stores loot, and prepares for the next raid. It’s the only place in Tarkov where you can take a breather and find some peace for once. We do mean when we say “peace,” as other players cannot raid or attack your hideout. It’s a safe space for you and your stuff.

Initially, the hideout is just a lifeless, abandoned bomb shelter with no means to sustain life. Your character builds various improvements called hideout modules to make the place livable while you plot your escape from the war-torn city. These modules also give your character and gameplay bonuses as you progress. If used correctly, you can make money from the improvements you’ve invested in. But, as with anything EFT, it would cost you.

Which Upgrades Should Be Prioritized?

There’s a natural progression to upgrading the hideout. The structure isn’t that clear-cut, but you can see which modules are required to upgrade a different module altogether. These things do have a connection with each other, which makes it easier to decide what to upgrade. But, as hideout improvements are a huge money sink, you can’t quickly get all the upgrades at once. What matters is how you prioritize the modules that benefit you most and your playstyle for the roubles and materials you’re investing in.

Passive Income is Key

We find it best to buy the modules that help create passive income first. You want a steady flow of roubles pouring in so you can move on to the other upgrades and modules much faster. For this reason, Medstation is our first module. It’s on the cheaper side, and it boosts health regeneration. Plus, it allows you to craft meds that you can sell. AI-2 kits are easy enough to craft, take only 22 minutes, and can give you a nice profit.

The only caveat with the Medstation is that it needs power. As such, you need to invest in the Generator, which will be your only improvement that costs quite a lot of roubles—at least in your character’s early levels. The Generator uses fuel, for which we recommend using expedition fuel, which you can reuse for crafting later.

Money-Making Upgrades

After the Medstation, the Workbench is your next best choice. It opens up many items like wires you can craft, giving you a decent money maker in the early game. After getting a sizeable amount of roubles from the Workbench, the Lavatory is what you need next, as it allows you to craft air filters, bandages, and more. What’s excellent with the Lavatory early on is that it lets you craft Scav backpacks, which can be pretty profitable.

Upgrading According to Your Playstyle

Once you have all four running (Medstation, Generation, Workbench, and Lavatory), you can tailor your upgrades to suit your playstyle. Health regeneration is beneficial for working on Heating and Rest Space. The Water Collector improves hydration recovery rate, so that’s also good. You can also work on the Intelligence Center to reduce the Scav cooldown and boost quest rewards. We aren’t fond of the Nutrition Unit, but it can be helpful if you’re short on food. But at that point, it might be better to go for modules that improve skill groups, such as the Library or Air Filtering Unit.

From then on, it’s just a matter of upgrading the existing modules as you see fit and if you have the resources. Always study which upgrades require which modules and the benefits you’ll get, and you’ll do just fine. The Interchange is your best friend if you’re struggling with finding materials for upgrades. It has most of what you need for the materials, plus it’s a fun map to run. Play that a few times and secure what you need for your hideout.

A Door of New Possibilities

With the addition of hideout in EFT, you want to manage your modules as much as possible. It’s a powerful part of the game that can help you get your economy up and running more quickly. Take the expedition fuel, for instance, that your Generator uses. Once that’s empty, you can use it to craft mag cases for some roubles. Use the hideout to craft as many items as possible, and ensure you’re always working with something. The hideout opens many possibilities for these money-making schemes that can help streamline the game.

Should You Bother Upgrading the Hideout?

Many players ask if it makes sense to care about or give priority to Escape from Tarkov hideout. Seasoned players had already reached the endgame when the hideout was released, thus prompting many to say it’s not so important and that you can delay taking care of it much later in the game.

However, in most cases, the hideout and its improvements are worth the time and effort. It would cost you a hefty amount of roubles (not to mention grinding for some materials) to get it going, but the pros outweigh that specific con. Times have changed, and the hideout has become a helpful facet in your overall task progression and economy. It makes sense to do the hideout, especially after a wipe. Think of it as something you should do alongside your tasks if you’re a new or low-level player.