Is Escape from Tarkov Pay To Win? [The Final Answer]

So you have decided that you want to buy Escape from Tarkov, and you are wondering what is the difference between the many versions of the game, or you are simply curious whether the game is pay-to-win or not. Look no further, because we are here to help you understand this complex game.

Is Escape from Tarkov Pay To Win?

In our opinion, “pay-to-win” is too strong of a term, but there is definitely an advantage to paying more money. Escape from Tarkov is a raid-to-raid game, what you bring into a raid defines how well you do, especially with how important the stats of your gear are.

While you are at a disadvantage getting the “Standard” edition of the game, the good news is that in most cases it does not matter, and most importantly it is not going to make the game any less fun.

It is important to mention that all the following things that you get are easily obtainable in-game, and the extra starting gear, more space, and money, while useful, are not necessary at all.

How Does Tarkov Compare To Other Games?

The closest thing to pay-to-win we have in other shooters are stuff like XP boosts, Apex Coins, and Rainbow Six Siege in-game credits. And while these are all micro-transactions that can theoretically give some sort of advantage, we think they are too small to make a difference.

Tarkov’s advantages are a lot more “pay-to-win” than the games mentioned above, even though “pay-to-win” is slightly harsh. You could say the advantages are more for convenience than anything, as you can just continue playing on a “Standard” account and do just as well.

Should I Spend More Money on Escape from Tarkov?

The most expensive edition of Escape from Tarkov is the “Edge of Darkness” edition and among many things you get:

• Biggest stash in the game

• Better gear

• Increased reputation with in-game traders

• Access to future DLCs

• A bigger secure container

However, the difference between “Standard” and “Edge of Darkness” editions is a whopping 75$, so in the beginning, we do not recommend spending your money on anything other than the “Standard” edition, since you can always upgrade to any edition later.

How Important Is The Extra Space?

One of the most hotly debated topics is the overall extra space that you get with buying a more expensive version of Escape from Tarkov. Not only do you get a bigger stash, but you also get a bigger secure container as well.

While a maximum stash upgrade is possible, It will require roughly more than 33,000,000 roubles as of now. That is a lot of money you could spend on something else, and it definitely makes a difference. If you do happen to have some extra money, you can check out where you can sell your roubles here.

You used to not be able to upgrade your stash, luckily Battlestate games have given “Standard” users more options.

It is possible to stay on a smaller stash, and with a little bit of knowledge of what to keep and how to organize, you can do a good enough job where it will not be a problem.

How Big Is The Pay-To-Win Aspect?

This is a tough topic, partly because it’s almost impossible to measure and it depends on so many variables. For example, how early you are into the wipe matters a lot, since everybody starts with similar gear, and having that extra stash space and gear could potentially be the difference between life and death.

Later into the wipe, however, there is very little difference. So if you are competing to be “ahead of the curve” it 100% matters, but does it matter in a general sense, that is up to you to decide.

One counterpoint could be that, skill matters so much, the things you get with a better edition don’t matter enough to count. Even with the secure containers, you can get a bigger one by doing a quest. And part of the fun of Tarkov is the journey itself, so you don’t need to spend money to do well.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, be sure to check out our articles on the EfT biggest backpack and the worst ammo type in Escape from Tarkov.

Whether you think EfT is pay-to-win or not, it is not nearly as bad as some other games on the market as you cannot purchase items directly, and having a “Standard” edition account should never take away your enjoyment of the game. More often than not the reason you die or get a kill is a combination of many things, but not having paid more money is most certainly never the explanation.