Hey everyone, I'm back with another tale from my adventures in Escape From Tarkov, and let me tell you, this Rough Tarkov quest from Jaeger is a real doozy. 😅 As a seasoned player, I remember the first time Mechanic introduced me to this crazy trader—Jaeger starts you off with a simple grocery run for field rations and canned stew, which felt like a waste of my combat skills. But then, he drops the bombshell: why not take a leisurely stroll into a live minefield? Yeah, for 'educational purposes,' he says. Apparently, Tarkov is crawling with explosives left by his war-vet buddy Partisan, who booby-trapped the city to deal with his trauma. Talk about a wild ride! In this guide, I'll walk you through how I tackled this quest step-by-step, sharing tips to help you survive and unlock those sweet rewards. Trust me, it's a lesson in mortal danger you won't forget. 💣

Now, let's dive into the first part of the quest: locating that heavily mined area on the Woods map. Jaeger's description is vague—just like everything in Tarkov—saying it's somewhere near the USEC camp, but in reality, most map borders are minefields waiting to blow you to bits. I learned this the hard way after dying a few times! The specific spot he wants is on the western side of the USEC camp, which you might recall from Prapor's Search Mission quest. To find it, I always follow the powerlines running northeast-southwest across the map—it's the easiest navigation trick. Look for a blue dumpster by a transmission tower; that's your entrance cue. But instead of heading into the camp, you need to veer north along the hillside. And here's where things get dicey: Jaeger wasn't kidding about the mines. Slow down to a crawl, inch forward on the dirt path, and listen for that audio cue that confirms you've completed this part. Whew, just thinking about it makes my legs ache!

Oh, and a word of caution: the USEC camp is a hotspot for both PMCs and scavs, so expect heavy firefights. If the area's too hot, I've found that sneaking north along the map border and approaching from the west woods can work—but be warned, if you get pinned, you're trapped between two minefields with no escape. Not fun! During one run, I got ambushed by a squad and barely made it out alive. 😰

Next up is the second objective: finding the Claymore mine on Ground Zero. Wait, hold up—Jaeger calls it a Claymore, but it's actually a Soviet MON-50. I know, I was confused too! As a gamer who's seen this in other titles, I had to remind myself that real Claymores are command-detonated, while this MON-50 uses seismic sensors. Translation? One wrong step and you're toast. You'll find this beauty inside the Empire building, which you can enter from the north near the TerraGroup HQ or from the west via the main street. Once inside, head to the south end where you'll see broken elevators and a big 'Keep Out' sign. Ignore it—we're here to chase mines, after all!

Walk down the corridor past the Russian warning signs (they're just as dramatic), then turn right to find three doors. The first two are safe—one's even locked with the Unity Credit Bank key, hiding a filing cabinet and safe. But the open door at the end? That's where the mine is waiting. Unlike the Woods mines that might just maim you, this one kills instantly. No second chances! I always switch to minimum walking speed and tiptoe until the quest completes. Pro tip: Be extra careful when leaving; I've seen players accidentally trigger it on the way out. 💀

This part is less exposed than Woods, but Ground Zero can be chaotic. If you're feeling jumpy, I recommend waiting 5 minutes near the restaurant across the street—it's a perfect stakeout spot with a second-floor view of the building entrance. Once the initial chaos around the car extract dies down, make your move. I've used this strategy to save my hide multiple times. 👍

Now, onto the rewards—because let's face it, that's why we put ourselves through this! Completing Rough Tarkov nets you some solid loot, and I've got it all laid out in a neat table based on my latest runs in 2025. Here's what you earn:

But the real prize? Unlocking the 'Every Hunter Knows This' quest, which lets you buy tripwire kits directly from Jaeger for about 24,000 roubles. Super handy for future missions! In my opinion, this quest is a must-do early on to build your rep and gear.

To wrap up, Rough Tarkov is a thrilling but dangerous mission that teaches you to respect Tarkov's deadly environments. I've died more times than I'd like to admit, but each run makes me a better hunter. If you're new, start with a quiet raid and practice patience. Happy hunting, and may your steps be mine-free! 🙌