Escape From Tarkov has been locked in an ever-developing beta state for years, having first emerged way back in 2016. It's arguably the leading title within its genre, standing firm as the definitive hardcore survival looter-shooter game on the market. As a PvPvE title, players in Escape From Tarkov are charged with fighting for their lives against both human and AI enemies, and sometimes, it's hard to tell which among them is tougher.
In the world of Tarkov, there are several bosses that come in all shapes and sizes. From the stealthy, backstabbing Cultists to the all-out, guns-blazing Goons, there are plenty of threats for players to face off against in every single raid they dare to enter. Each boss character has his own abilities, weapons, and behavioral traits, which can often make them a nightmare to fight, but which among them takes the prize for being the toughest boss in Tarkov?
8 Reshala
Reshala is likely the first boss players will encounter in their earliest Tarkov raids. This is because he exists solely within the confines of Customs, a map that many consider to be the 'starter' map in Tarkov. He's a cocky, crafty character that goes nowhere without his guards, who exist to make fighting him an absolute chore. However, once the guards have been eliminated, Reshala isn't all that threatening, and depending on where he spawns, he can be eliminated with ease.
There are two locations that Reshala can occupy on Customs: Dorms and New Gas. If he's in Dorms, it's a case of wandering through the door and 'point firing' his entire crew or leaning through a doorway and picking them off one-by-one. If he's at New Gas, there are several 'peeks' that can be used to get an edge on the entire five-man unit. It's a case of shooting accurately and keeping low, but ultimately, Reshala is a relatively easy kill.
7 Tagilla
Tagilla is a terrifying boss if encountered early or by surprise, but in reality, he's a teddy bear. He's one of the few bosses to spawn without guards, and he will only appear on the smallest map in the game - Factory. He'll most likely pop out from behind a crate while wielding his trademark sledgehammer, but if a player is going in well-equipped, killing him shouldn't be too difficult at all.
When a player encounters Tagilla for the first time, it'll most likely result in a burst of blind fire into his high-level armor or face mask, which typically won't do much at all. Tagilla's weakness is his legs, but it'll take a fair few shots to bring him down. As a boss, Tagilla boasts one of the highest health counts in the game - a whopping 1220 HP.
6 Cultist Priest
For many players, the Cultist Priest will never, ever be seen. This can be for one of two reasons: either the player doesn't raid at night, or they simply haven't bumped into the Cultists. They boast a remarkably low spawn chance - just 2% on some maps, and they spawn exclusively at night. However, if they do spawn, and they happen to notice the player, it can make for a horrifying experience.
Not much is known about the Cultists and their mysterious behavior, but what is known is that they're terrifying. They'll spawn in groups of three to five, with one Cultist Priest leading the charge. They're mostly all the same, opting to hide in the darkness and strike as one silent force with knives, but the Priest is a different breed. He wields a poisonous blade that will damage a player long after they've won the fight, assuming they manage to win it at all...
5 Sanitar
By numbers alone, Sanitar is the toughest boss in Tarkov, boasting 1270 HP and two heavily-armed guards. However, there are several tricks that can be used to kill him relatively easily, provided the attacking player is well-armed and generally good at the game. Sanitar spawns on Shoreline, which is an inherently dangerous, PvP-focused map, and he can appear in three different locations, completely at random.
It's important to try and kill Sanitar's guards first, but as they boast medical backgrounds, both Sanitar and his accomplices are experts at healing. If a player gives them respite, they'll run into a dark corner and patch themselves up immediately. They can also use injectors that apply buffs at any given moment, increasing the danger of the fight. Should Sanitar spawn at 'Pier' or 'Village', players can snipe him and his guards, but if he appears in 'Resort', it can make for a much tougher battle.
4 Killa
Killa is the brother of Tagilla, but he's a different breed entirely. He spawns on Interchange, which is already a fairly frightening map for new players, but the real kicker is that he can spawn almost anywhere, at any time. He's not bound to super specific locations like other bosses, and he can quite literally pop up wherever he's least expected. Not only that, but he's a crack shot, often carries a weapon with a huge magazine, and wears some of the toughest, coolest armor in the game.
Unfortunately, killing Killa is a serious task for any player, regardless of their experience in Escape From Tarkov. He's one of the toughest bosses for the sole reason that he's so dramatically unpredictable, and it's almost impossible to know where he'll appear next. If he can be caught off guard with a high-powered shot to the back of the head or the thorax, he should be taken down relatively easily, but catching him off guard is an overwhelmingly tough task.
3 Shturman
Shturman appears on Woods, one of the widest, most open maps in all of Tarkov. He's a weak boss when it comes to his HP count and armor rating, but he's remarkably powerful when it comes to his attacking ability. He'll spawn in one place, and one place only, which is a fact that makes him slightly easier to deal with - or avoid entirely. It's worthwhile spawning in an offline raid and practicing killing Shturman, or any other boss, for that matter.
Unfortunately for inexperienced players, dealing with Shturman's long-range capabilities is an utter nightmare, as he can kill a player without them ever knowing he was there. In addition, his two guards are typically heavily armored and wielding equally capable weapons that can eliminate a target at staggering ranges. If a player pushes in close, they'll be spammed with grenades, and if they try and engage at long range, they'll be counter-sniped. It's an extremely tricky situation for all involved.
2 The Goons
The Goons are the newest bosses in Escape From Tarkov, and they're equal parts awesome and horrifying. They're made up of three special forces soldiers, all of which boast a different loadout and attributes. Firstly, there's Knight, a skull-wearing terror with 1,120 HP and the unnerving ability to kill everything in one shot. Then, there's Birdeye, a crack sniper with a penchant for sitting back from the action. Finally, there's Big Pipe, a bearded, hulking individual who favors a revolving grenade launcher...
When a player encounters The Goons - who can spawn on any one of four different maps - they'll be in for one tough fight. However, there are tactics that can be put to good use, but unfortunately, they almost always require the player to 'get noticed' by the trio. Ultimately, this group ticks all the boxes - close-range abilities, long-range spotting distances, and high-tech equipment.
1 Glukhar
Glukhar is an insanely difficult boss, located on Reserve, the military-base-styled map that also features such terrors as the Raiders. He's a soldier through and through that has formed a tight bond with his followers, who will gladly sacrifice themselves to protect him. If that wasn't off-putting enough, players need to contend with the fact that Glukhar spawns in with no fewer than six guards, all of which may appear with high-level equipment.
It doesn't end there, though. As a highly-trained soldier, Glukhar is a crack shot and can appear with a weapon that will 'one-tap' any player. Furthermore, his followers can take up positions on powerful, mounted weaponry, and as a group, they can spawn in one of four locations, often without warning. They're able to acquire a target almost instantly, and they kill anything without prejudice.
Escape from Tarkov is currently available on PC.