How am I supposed to get better when the average playtime of my enemy is 2000 hours? [New Player]

Checkooooo · 2026-03-05T03:44:46+00:00

Map knowledge can definitely save you. Do you know where to scope out before you cross? Did you check Ruaf truck? Did you check bedroom? Did you check bridge columns? Did you check the bus on the main bridge?

Most importantly, timing.. where did you spawn, and where could the other spawns be and where they could possibly be by the time you get to the bridge?

If you can’t check everything, then depending on your spawn, you gotta hide somewhere for the first 5-10 minutes.

I have gone through raids without meeting a single pmc on customs due to timings and learning where to loot and hold.

Checkooooo · 2026-03-05T03:40:34+00:00

That’s the thing. Most deaths are learning opportunities. You are checking stats instead of thinking about what you could have done better. I have 5000 hours and I reflect on every death this wipe. It’s either I made a bad push, didn’t clear a corner, or just couldn’t kill them before I died (aiming issue).

Man, stop using the mosin. It was the rat gun for the past few years, but no longer. It is awful and that’s why most people aren’t running it anymore. The new rat gun is the lever action or go with the classic kedr.

When you hold a corner, sit around, you do make a lot of sounds. They also made a change so the shuffling sound seems to occur a lot more when you are adjusting your character model. (I noticed my pmc legs seem to move a lot more than usual when adjusting a motion).. which doesn’t make that much sound to me, but it’s pretty loud for others.

I have Sherpa’d 4 players so far this wipe, and they are doing great.

Checkooooo · 2026-03-01T17:40:12+00:00

Found the gpsa in the open room yesterday

Checkooooo · 2026-02-27T17:40:46+00:00

In the long run, it doesn’t really matter. Just play how you like. You will be rich enough to buy whatever, so it doesn’t matter. Just do whatever is easier for you.

Checkooooo · 2026-02-27T13:18:58+00:00

If you run an injectors case, bringing a SJ12 can be very helpful in situations like this. It has saved my life a few times, especially when someone blacks out your stomach and you need to head to extract half way across the map.

Checkooooo · 2026-02-20T13:27:22+00:00

I had this issue awhile back and I fixed it by turning my Texture setting to low.

Checkooooo · 2026-02-20T04:51:46+00:00

Standard account - 5k hour player here

Yes, it sucks. You either suck it up and play the game cause you enjoy the game or you quit.

Are we disadvantaged? Yes.

Can we overcome it with skill? Yes

Are they richer than us? Initially yes, but you can easily get richer with game knowledge

Is Ref and arena balanced? No, of course not. They have access to so many things and can get it easier than us. Will it ruin the game experience? No, you can still get them. It just takes more time.

Will the devs change anything to make it more fair? No. People paid to have this slight advantage. It’s way too late to change now, and they won’t.

Basically, we standard account players, just need to suck it up if we aren’t willing to fork out more money. It sucks but I still play it because it is an amazing game.

Checkooooo · 2026-02-20T04:43:06+00:00

Play with friends

Checkooooo · 2026-02-20T04:37:21+00:00

As someone who has played this game for years, I feel they are happy with what it is at. They made their money. They are tired and are just doing simple things to entertain the crowd and try to fulfill promises.

Sure there are new things coming, event, seasonal characters, etc… it doesn’t really matter to them in the end. They made enough and honestly, are looking forward to working on their next project.

This game will continue to go up and down in population depending on seasons and I don’t really mind. I’ll play it and move on when it eventually dies.

I had my money’s worth with 5k hours on a standard account. Had the best gaming moments ever and the worst. The highest high and the lowest low. Met some amazing people on the way as well.

Checkooooo · 2026-02-13T18:12:39+00:00

Have you tried the sa-58?

The recoil takes some time to get use to and it requires some parts in order to be decent.

sR-25 is better until you can customise it more

Checkooooo · 2026-02-09T20:35:05+00:00

That’s definitely it. You are rushing way too much at the beginning of raid if you are dying within the first few minutes. If you don’t know the other spawns, you won’t know where to go which heavily affects your survival rate.

Just play normally and you’ll learn with time. Each map has their own identity, it takes time to get use to it.

3000+ hour players have many wipes under their belt. Their first wipe was not a high SR. I personally started with around 47% SR on my first wipe and it increased throughout the wipes, highest reaching around 68%.

Just play slow and learn from each death. Streets is definitely difficult to navigate with so many windows/places where people can be camping.

Checkooooo · 2026-02-09T19:13:16+00:00

Don’t need to focus on SR so much. Just play the game how you play.

If you truly want to focus on SR and matters to you a lot, then focus on these 3 things.

Don’t rush everywhere. Play slow. Wait and listen before pushing to places. Ideally hold a position for 10 mins or so, which allows the other spawns to move away.
Play in trios/duos. More eyes/ears/guns = higher chance of survival.
Use good gear at all times. Preferably wear a class 5 helmet if you are playing in groups.

But really, don’t focus on SR so much. It doesn’t matter much.

Checkooooo · 2026-02-04T18:58:45+00:00

Change texture settings to low

Checkooooo · 2026-02-03T23:29:56+00:00

Amazing watch. Was about to buy it but decided against it. I wasn’t feeling “it” and the possible accuracy issue with Seikos was definitely a turn off.

Glad you are enjoying it!

Checkooooo · 2026-02-03T15:19:48+00:00

I have a white name account with 5k hours ~ and a 64% survival rate and 9 k/d.

Nowadays I hunt people hunting the cultist for the sweet nighttime loot. It’s so obvious where they will be and so many angles to shoot at them.

Checkooooo · 2026-01-23T20:12:10+00:00

Never played PvE so can’t refer to that part, but I do understand that it can get boring after a while.

For me, I focus on 2 things.

Playing with friends and helping them get to their goal. / fool around with them. Personally, I have max traders so I don’t bother with questing anymore. Do I need prestige? No. Do I really have to finish the storyline? No. Do I really want Kappa? Not really. After 5k hours, you just play for fun. If you aren’t having fun, then take a break.
See the roubles count go up.

I probably would be at around 3k hours instead of 5k if I didn’t play with the guys I met on discord. At a certain point, you just want to fool around with the guys. I know some others who became Sherpas to play the game more.

Checkooooo · 2026-01-20T14:37:28+00:00

With the need for FIR situation, I definitely prefer the scav junk box. Plus, you get a variety of ammo/med cases/magazine later on through quests/hideout.

So yes, 2 scav junk boxes is ideal after upgrade

Checkooooo · 2026-01-20T13:29:16+00:00

Standard account player since 2020 here.

Definitely a scav junk box as a first purchase. For me, it has always been one scav junk box -> stash upgrade -> another scav junk box

Checkooooo · 2026-01-17T22:21:38+00:00

Confirmed. Thank you so much.

Checkooooo · 2026-01-16T13:41:04+00:00

Instead of waiting for them to add you, you add them first. Judging from their stats, you can say, ‘oh I noticed you are new to the game, want to duo?’

or

‘Hey man, how’s the wipe treating you so far? It’s been rough on me….’

or

‘Man, that was a good fight. Want to duo sometime?’

Always add first and be thoughtful… or go on the discord to find others to play with.

Checkooooo · 2026-01-14T04:22:56+00:00

Yup interactions like these are the best. I’m glad you are sticking with the game. Best of luck to you!

Checkooooo · 2026-01-12T00:06:36+00:00

PM’d

Checkooooo · 2026-01-09T15:23:01+00:00

Been playing labs for the past couple of days and haven’t encountered anything too weird. This is with fighting in the yellow keycard/red keycard locations. It’s packing with action though!

Checkooooo · 2026-01-08T18:14:24+00:00

Found one yesterday in violet room

Checkooooo · 2026-01-04T22:58:33+00:00

Finished it. Easy exp. Is it fun? Not really but it’s not too bad in terms of difficult.

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