Escape from Tarkov 0.16.8 brings its first and probably last hardcore wipe to the game, making players work harder to get even a below-average loadout.
Life is so hard in Tarkov that you’ll have to make work of anything and everything to play a decent raid. However, there are still some ways you can get a great loadout, so stop resorting to broken Scav weapons and Toz’s and use these amazingly cheap loadouts in Escape from Tarkov’s hardcore wipe.
Best Cheap Loadouts in Escape from Tarkov’s Hardcore Wipe
Most of these loadouts will be catered to having level 1 traders. Since BSG has been changing things drastically every now and then, it seems like they don’t want to give higher-level access to players for the hardcore wipe yet. Here are some of the best loadouts you can run with just level 1 traders.
Armor Loadout
The armor loadout will be simple since there aren’t really any options. Sometimes, the question even goes to “is it even worth wearing or bringing armor?” and the answer is absolutely. Even with a class 2 PACA armor, it can shield you from weak ammo, which everyone has.
If you don’t wear a PACA Armor, those weak ammo are actually stronger since weak ammo tends to have more flesh damage and less armor penetration.
Try your best to always bring a PACA Soft Armor and an SSH-68 Steel Helmet, which costs around 89,000 Roubles for both.
The helmet gives amazing protection. A class 3 armor type where everyone is using ammo that can barely penetrate class 2 armor makes it a no-brainer.
Medical Items Loadout
For medical item loadouts, use the most basic med items since this item type is now restricted from the Secure Container in this hardcore wipe. You want to save as many Roubles while having every med item available for any predicament. If you get a fracture, bleeding, or heavy bleeding, you want everything covered. Bring the following med items every raid:
- Bandage (2/2)
- Esmarch
- CARs or A1-2 Medkits
- CMS (inside your special equipment slot)
You also want a Propital and a Zagustin in the Secure Container. These are hard to get, but they are extremely useful as an emergency for this type of med loadout. Zagustin could clear several heavy bleeds while Propital can get you an emergency painkiller effect while also keeping you alive to extract.
You can bring a little bit more if you want. If you have IFAKs, AFAKs, Grizzly, Hemostats, and other better medical items, it is also good to bring them every once in a while. Maybe just for the “hard” raids where you need to finish a difficult task, or you are with a stacked group.
Related: The Best Way to Make Money in Escape from Tarkov’s Hardcore Wipe
PP-91-01 with Axion Kobra EKP-8-02 Reflex Sight (52,000+ Roubles)
The PP-91-01 single-fire SMG is one of the cheapest loadouts, including the cost of a scope or sights. It uses 9x19mm ammo, and with level 1 traders, you’ll most likely use the 9x19mm Green Tracer (91 Roubles per shot). It has decent flesh damage and overall is a cheap loadout to keep you well-equipped in raids.
Compared to other weapons on the list, the PP-91-01 is best for doing quests and just dealing with players with more accuracy. Single-fire makes you use less ammo and also doesn’t burn through them, so you don’t have to bring a lot of loose bullets in your pockets.
PP-91 Kedr (40,000+ Roubles)
The PP-91 Kedr is a fast-firing, cheap SMG you can buy from Prapor level 1. You are going to work on only using 20-round magazines, which is abysmal. You can’t really have any other mods with the level 1 traders available. However, the Kedr, also known as the Shredder, boasts an extremely high fire rate, making it extremely powerful when shooting flesh. You’ll use the following ammunition:
- 9x18mm PM PPe gzh (85 Roubles per shot) – more cost-efficient
- 9x18mm PM RG028 gzh (142 Roubles per shot) – higher damage
Neither ammo can really penetrate class 2+ armor very well, so your strategy is to shoot the limbs. You’ll most likely shoot the legs, which is a popular strategy in several weapons in the game. Dumping a whole 20-round magazine on the legs will surely put anyone down, and you don’t need sights. You can add one, but it could cost you 10,000+ Roubles more, depending on the sights you want to use.
590A1 ($474)
The 590A1 shotgun from Peacekeeper is another good option. Since slugs and buckshots are already cost-efficient because you don’t unload magazines of costly ammunition, shotguns are the most preferred “cheap” loadout by most players.
It’s easy to set up, requiring only a few optional mods, such as a flashlight, sights, or tactical devices. At trader level 1, you’ll choose among these slugs and buckshots:
- 12/70 Lead Slug (1 USD per shot) – high damage
- 12/70 7mm, 5.25mm, and 6.5mm buckshot also work.
Slugs are mostly used to add range, giving you a chance to eliminate scavs from 40-80 meters. Your goal is also to hit the limbs since all of the ammo listed above doesn’t penetrate armor well.
SKS (44,000+ Roubles)
Last but not least, the good ole’ trusty SKS. No mods needed. You don’t need many weapon mods, ammo, or even magazines. The SKS is king when it comes to the early game, mostly because it uses 7.62.39, which should be one of the best ammo with level 1 traders, maybe behind the 7.62×51. However, the 7.62×51 is mostly used on a bolt-action Mosin with level 1 traders, so technically, the 7.62.39 should be the best early game weapon here.
You can buy the SKS from Prapor and buy the SP ammo from Skier. HP ammo (from Jaeger) could also work, but it has less penetration for more damage. If you are upgrading your hideout, you can also get some 7.62×39 FMJ crafted, which is a slight upgrade from the SP ammo.
The trick to using SKS is just to pick up the 7.62×39 ammo from random Scavs since they frequently spawn with it. Their loose ammo could be FMJs or T-45Ms, and if you get those, you’ll surely get to use them a lot.