Escape From Tarkov Airdrop Event: What Is The Pre Wipe Event For 12.12?

If you’re a seasoned player then the Escape From Tarkov airdrop event will be no surprise to you on the eve of a new wipe. As we get closer to the end of each main patch cycle in Escape From Tarkov, the developers always come up with some creative ways to accelerate the power curve, introducing pre wipe events that either give players top tier loot, or implement creative ways for them to burn through their existing stash. So, if you’re wondering what’s in store for us this time with the Escape From Tarkov airdrop event, then make sure to carry on reading down below.

• Wanting to finish some tricky quests before the wipe? Have a read of our Escape From Tarkov Corporate Secrets quest guide.

What Is An Escape From Tarkov Pre Wipe Event?

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An Escape From Tarkov pre wipe event is an incident that occurs just before a new Escape From Tarkov wipe, where the aim is broadly to give players one last chance to access the game’s best gear. 

This is enhanced even further in this wipe because of the changes to the Escape From Tarkov flea market, which prevented the sale and purchase of most of the game’s top tier ammo, guns, and armour. For players that have started a bit later into the wipe, or just haven’t levelled their traders up enough, this is an excellent opportunity to try out some of the best items, and for free too.

Previous Escape From Tarkov pre wipe events have moved scav bosses across maps and heavily increased their spawn rates, alongside shifts like removing trader limits, and reducing prices to one percent of their base cost.

• Know your quest locations for the early game with our Escape From Tarkov Customs map guide.

What Is The Escape From Tarkov Airdrop Event?

As always, Battlestate Games and Escape From Tarkov’s director Nikita Buyanov like to tweet out rather cryptic information regarding any upcoming changes - especially those surrounding a wipe. This time we have been treated to a vague picture of a radar, with 16 separate planes flying across it.

Furthermore, one of the planes is labelled as an IL-76MD-90A plane, which just so happens to be the exact plane that is used for the airdrops in Escape From Tarkov. Therefore, what we can only deduce from this is that there is going to be a lot more airdrops than we are currently used to.

At the moment under normal circumstances, you would sometimes see an airdrop in a raid, but it would usually be quite late on and there would never be more than one. Each airdrop drops a package at a random point on the map, and inside that package would be an undetermined amount of loot that has the potential for some really valuable and strong items.

This tweet appears to suggest that there could be as many as 16 airdrops in a single raid, bombarding the map with far more loot than even a squad of five could carry. Currently, airdrops are an incredibly high risk high reward venture for players, as you leave yourself very open to onlooking players when you decide to make your way towards the package.

However, if there are now 16 of these packages on the map, that not only decreases the chances of someone observing you as you sort through the treasures, but also means that there is always going to be more than one airdrop package per player, almost guaranteeing good loot for everyone - if you don’t get killed on the journey that is.

It is perhaps unlikely that a number as high as sixteen airdrops would spawn on every map, every single raid, but it wouldn’t be completely out of the ordinary on something as big as the Escape From Tarkov Woods map, however.

Despite it being less of a guarantee, it could also be a great chance to channel your inner rat and camp out each airdrop, as players are going to feel much more confident in going to them, so you’re bound to snag at least one kill -  and all the good loot that comes with it.

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When Is The Escape From Tarkov Airdrop Pre Wipe Event Coming?

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There is currently no assigned date for the Escape From Tarkov airdrop event, but we can only presume that it will be coming in the next couple of days at most. It is also likely to not be the only pre wipe event, and just one part of a larger number of momentary changes to the operations of the game. Check back again soon for more information though, as we will update this guide whenever we know any more.

So, that’s all we currently know about the Escape From Tarkov airdrop event, and all of the current pre wipe events in patch 12.12. If you’re new and wanting to prepare for the upcoming wipe, why not check out some Escape From Tarkov tips that will give you a good head start.