Tarkov How To Level Search Skill - Games Finder (2024)

Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Samuel Franklin

Mastering the search (or searching) skill allows you to loot faster in Escape From Tarkov which makes it critical to learn how to level for general gameplay and the high skill level 9 quest requirement from Ragman. With looting playing a central role in your Tarkov raids search is a notable practical skill with particularly strong elite max level skill bonuses that allow you to search two containers at once. While the elite skill is out of reach for most Tarkov players the quest requirement means it is still worth optimising with the strategies on this page that I’ve used across thousands of EFT raids.

Table of Contents:
– How To Level Search
– Search Requirements (Quests)
– Benefits Of Search Levels

Practical skills in Tarkov are subject to the same exhaustion mechanic as all skills and gain an experience bonus from the library in the hideout which helps the levelling process.

How To Level Search

Earning skill points in the search skill requires:

• Searching loot containers and corpses (experience earned at completion).

Players will earn a wealth of search experience passively just from raiding in Escape From Tarkov as they loot containers, Scavs and other players. For those players that want to focus on search skill experience I recommend you create a loot run that you are comfortable with that focuses on small containers. This includes containers like filing cabinets, duffle bags, computers and toolboxes as these are small and have a low number of items per container. As search experience is rewarded on completion of a search and not on individual items being discovered you’ll increase your gains. These containers are also generally highly concentrated in specific locations with maps like Interchange, Reserve and Streets of Tarkov being the best in my experience.

While there are also some options available to cheese this skill levelling with a friend placing items one by one in a backpack and you searching it in between this is really only needed for those wanting to reach elite level. For the regular player looking to reach the required quest level only you will be able to reach this point with only a little extra emphasis on searching containers during raids which saves your sanity and friendships from the boring cheese process.

Search Requirements (Quests)

Search in Tarkov is used for the following:

• Level 9 search is required to complete the Ragman’s quest Scavenger.

While this quest is the last in this Ragman quest tree it is a requirement for Kappa and does also unlock the Crash Axe barter that is a favourite flex melee weapon of many in the EFT community.

Benefits Of Search Levels

Search provides the following PMC benefits:

• Increases search speed (currently not working)
• Lets players search two containers at once (Elite)

While search currently has increases search speed in the skill tooltip this has been tested by the Tarkov community and shown to produce no benefit (although the attention skill does help). Unfortunately this means players need to reach elite (max) level before seeing any real benefits from the search skill when the ability to double search at the same time (e.g. pocket slot and a backpack) is unlocked. At this elite search level your looting efficiency can climb dramatically while providing fantastic quality of life to your raid experience as you can loot PMCs and Scavs in half the time.

If you want to learn more about levelling skills in Tarkov visit our other guides on endurance, strength, vitality,attention, health, metabolism, stress resistance and sniper rifles.