Woods can be a difficult and frustrating map for Tarkov players of all skill levels. Even Tarkov veterans struggle to survive in the treacherous Woods. Breaking out into the raid can be tricky, especially for gamers that do not know the dynamics of the map very well. After the recent expansion, there will be even more PMCs to the north of the lake.
The vast forests that surround the hot areas of the map make traveling from one location to another a grueling endeavor. Understanding the spawn locations and having an early strategy will help people get in more favorable positions on the map. This list will include ten tips to help players survive in the Woods.
10 Early VS Late Wipe
Quests and objectives are the focus for many players at the beginning of a wipe. This means that people will flock to the Scav spawns and points of interest. Many of the Scav spawns are near the center of the lumber yard below the bay. Later in the wipe, the vast majority of players will prioritize loot and PVP. Even though Woods is thought of as the expansive sniper map, survivors will congregate in the populated spawn zones. Gamers need to learn these zones through experience and map awareness.
9 East And West Mid Spawns
PMCs that spawn on either the east or west ends of the map, but near the middle longitude will have a rough raid. The Old Station, Scav House, and ZB-014 spawns must have an effective plan to stay alive. Each of these spawns will have players above them and below them on the map. On the West, west border PMCs will push up to the Old Station and UN Roadblock spawns may move down the map. On the Eastern edge, Outskirts and East Gate teams will likely converge as well. Understanding the potential threat from multiple angles will allow people to predict PVP scenarios.
8 PVP Hot Zones
The Lumber Yard will be the most popular PVP hot zone in nearly every raid. From a few minutes after spawn until the end game, there will be PMCs fighting in the area. Gamers that spawn there will have to embrace the fight or rotate out to loot up beforehand.
The issue with Lumber early in the game is that there will be multiple threats. At least a couple of PMCs will push Lumber immediately. Survivors will also need to take out Scavs and possibly the Scav boss. With all three threats at the same time, staying alive in the location can be stressful.
7 Where To Loot
Woods is not one of the more favorable loot destinations in Tarkov. Almost all of the valuable loot will coincidentally be close to the Lumber Yard. The cabins below the Lumber Yard contain a safe and a few jackets. In the Lumber warehouses there are several military crates to loot. Additionally, there is a Violet Keycard just below the bay in the Admin building. Another reliable way to get loot is by killing the Scavs that spawn throughout the Lumber Yard.
6 The Sniper Rocks
There are five different "sniper rocks" that surround the Lumber Yard that attract a lot of people mid to late game. Two of them are below Lumber on the map to the southeast and southwest, and two other formations mirror them to the north. To the west, there is another rock that is a little closer to Lumber. Each of these locations provides incredible views of the Lumber Yard and surrounding areas. Players that want to snipe will want to find one of these tactical viewpoints. However, other PMCs know about the formations and will rotate in to check them out. Any gunfire from the rocks will draw in several other survivors.
5 Bring The Right Equipment
Posting up on one of the rocks and using a long sniper optic is tempting, but it can spell trouble in Woods. Other PMCs will push the rocks and other strategic locations frequently. Gamers need to have the option to fire at both medium and long ranges. For that reason, a variable optic is a must on the map. Versatility is key when holding down a sniping point. Pistols will melt enemies up close, but PMCs with long-range scopes will have issues at medium range.
4 Using Audio For Awareness And Positioning
The sightlines in the Woods are so long that gamers will want to take a mental note of every gunshot. For example, if PMCs are fighting across the lake, there can be a sniper threat from that position. Likewise, recognizing the audio and scanning the area can present itself as a prime PVP opportunity. Knowing where the shots are fired and anticipating routes to Lumber will lessen the probability of a flank or unexpected pop shot.
3 Minding Angles
The vast wilderness on Woods can leave gamers exposed while moving in any direction. The only way to lessen the chances of getting one-shot sniped is to check close and long-range sightlines. Staying in one location for too long is probably not the safest approach either. Obviously, it is impossible to be mindful of every line of sight and angle at once. However, consistently checking sight lines both behind and in front of the character will help.
2 The Woods Scav Boss
The Woods Scav boss named Shturman will be roaming somewhere in the Lumber Yard. Shturman has an SVD and will be firing at PMCs early in the raid. It can be hard to spot him because he will hide between buildings and behind hard cover.
The boss will always have two goons accompanying him as he moves in the Lumber Yard. The two guards have a number of different weapons, and will sometimes wield SVDs as well. They are equipped with up to level six armor and are formidable boss adds.
1 How To Defeat Shturman
Shturman will deal a ton of damage with the SVD very quickly. The best way to take him down is to catch him and his minions moving. PMCs will want to wait until he is out in the open and exposed before firing. Movement is key while fighting the boss because he will target gamers and begin firing back immediately. Players should never re-challenge him from the same peek spot. Instead, rotating to a location 20 or so meters away will increase the chances of defeating him.