Escape from Tarkov's update 1.2.0.0 is live with EXFIL Brothers, a program that rewards experienced players for running raids with newcomers, alongside a PvE prestige system and a rework of PMC bot behavior, according to Polygon and MassivelyOP. Polygon reported the patch on October 6 and described it as a long-awaited set of changes to the extraction shooter's PvE mode.
How EXFIL Brothers works
Under the program, players with an existing level 30 character are designated operators, and accounts no more than seven days old are candidates. When an operator and a candidate raid together, both receive a 5% experience bonus, Polygon reported, citing the game's news release. As the candidate reaches levels 10, 20 and 30, both players receive roubles, bitcoins and cases.
Operators also earn additional rewards scaled to the edition of the game the candidate bought, including TarCoin, posters, the operator upper and the basic training hideout customization, per Polygon. MassivelyOP characterized the structure as a refer-a-friend arrangement, with candidates receiving starter gear sets, rare containers and in-game currency and higher-tier editions yielding more for the operator.
Prestige and bot changes
PvE mode gains a prestige system with six levels. Everything earned through PvE prestige is permanent and survives wipes, Polygon reported, with rewards that include TarCoin and unique versions of the NKVD Finka knife, the Akula dagger and the Gamma secure container.
PMC bot behavior was reworked in full. The release notes quoted by Polygon said bots are now distributed more logically across each map with a greater concentration in quest areas, engage each other less often and prefer to attack scavs, and carry gear and weapon loadouts that vary by level and faction. New PMC bot spawns were also added to the Labyrinth location.
MassivelyOP reported that the patch also includes quality-of-life updates and a set of fixes and balance adjustments, with full details in the patch notes.
