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The Escape From Tarkov Interchange map is rather exciting, both from a visual and loot perspective, and can be very much worth the trip if you know where you’re going. Each map in Escape From Tarkov has its own intricacies, boasting unique loot and high interest spots, but they can easily seem like a maze to the unaware. So, if you’re wanting to become an Escape From Tarkov Interchange expert, knowing the best loot spots and all the extractions, make sure to keep on reading.
Escape From Tarkov Interchange Extractions
Unlike a lot of the other maps like Escape From Tarkov Woods and Escape From Tarkov Customs, the Interchange map only has a handful of extraction points, and they are relatively easy to find.
The two main extractions for both PMCs and scavs are the Railway Exfil, and the Emercom Checkpoint. PMCs will only have one of these active, depending on which side of the map they spawn on, but scavs will always be able to use both.
The great thing about these two extractions is that realistically you’re always going to be near one, and the main central ULTRA shopping mall is an excellent tool to navigate yourself towards the exit.
As they exist on opposite corners of the map, it is extremely easy to know where you are at any given time on the outside, and use that to make sure you’re heading the right way. Furthermore, the other two corners have recognisable landmarks, making it even easier to point yourself in the correct direction.
Firstly, the Railway exfil is located in the top right corner of the map if you were to be facing away from the front of the mall. All you need to do is head to the trains right in the very corner, and the extraction notification should appear.
As expected, the Emercom Checkpoint extract is found on the opposite corner of the map, down from either the Power Station or the container storage. Exiting through the back of the OLI store is the easiest way to get there from the inside of the mall.
In terms of the other extracts, they are the following:
- Hole in the Fence (PMC)
- Power Station V-Ex (PMC)
- Saferoom Exfil (PMC)
- Scav Camp (Co-op)
All of these additional extracts have conditions which must be met before you can use them. Hole in the Fence requires you to drop your backpack to squeeze through, Power Station V-Ex requires 5000 Roubles to be exchanged, and Scav Camp is only active when there is a PMC and a scav present.
How To Use The Interchange Saferoom Exfil Extract
The Saferoom Exfil is easily the most complex means of extraction, but it can prove to be financially worth doing if you can actually pull it off. First, you’ll want to make sure the power is on at the Power Station, which you can either do yourself, or check to see if someone else has done it if the Saferoom Exfil option on the extracts info is green.
Once the power is on, you’ll want to head to the Burger Spot restaurant at the top of the stairs by KIBA and to the right. Once inside, head to the mens toilets and there should be a urinal you can interact with to reveal a secret keycard lock.
You will need the Object 11SR keycard for this, so either find it in raid or pick it up from the Escape From Tarkov flea market, but all you need to do is scan it in the keycard slot if you have it.
Once you’ve done that, head back down the stairs and then turn left to head down the hole to the parking garage. Once down there, go left and you will quickly reach a yellow van and a big letter C on the wall. To the left of that will be a door that is now open due to the use of the keycard.
Inside that door you can find a lot of loot, including some potentially high value items. The best part about this room is that hitting the lock door button by the entrance will close the door indefinitely and extract you within two seconds, meaning you can pick up your loot with a guarantee of extracting safely.
Escape From Tarkov Interchange How To Turn The Power On
If you’re wanting to get your hands on a lot of the high tier loot in the Escape From Tarkov Interchange map, you’re first going to want to know how to turn the power on. Thankfully, it is a very simple process, but it can leave you quite exposed if you’re not careful.
What you’ll want to do is head to the Power Station, in the corner between the Railway Exfil and Emercom Checkpoint. Once you’re there, head inside the main building and find the door that leads into the office/waiting room. Just before that door you should be able to see a power switch on the wall that you can interact with. Just hit your use button when the prompt comes up and the power should switch on. You’ll be able to tell its on by the green light on the switch, and also the recognisable hum of the generators.
Escape From Tarkov Interchange Best Loot Spots
Although there are a couple of good loot spots in the outside surrounding the mall, it is inside ULTRA that you will find the best, and most valuable items. Unlike other maps in Escape From Tarkov however, due to the centralised focus of Interchange you are far more likely to run into other PMCs looking to do the exact same thing, so be geared for PvP, or otherwise be prepared to get in and out as fast as possible.
Unless you’re looking to complete the Escape From Tarkov What’s on the Flash Drive quest, then the IDEA section of the mall is largely going to be useless. Inside OLI is great if you’re looking for general loot and electronics, as they have a fairly high chance of spawning on the shelves. And lastly, Goshan at the back is fantastic if you’re looking for food, as the left side of the shop is filled to the brim with ration items.
The main focus of the shopping centre however is on the ULTRA mall in the middle. This is a two story complex with multiple shops littered about. The shops you’ll want to look out for in particular are the following:
- Emercom
- Generic
- KIBA
- Mantis
- Rasmussen
- Techlight
Emercom
The Emercom store is found on the other side of Mantis, and similarly stocks high value medical supplies. It does require a key to enter though, so you’ll need to get your hands on that before heading inside. At least you know that the likelihood of it being looted before you get there is lower though.
Generic
One of the hot spots of the Interchange map, the Generic store can be found next to KIBA and the hole down to parking. Inside you’ll be able to find a couple of weapon containers, and other general loot which will make the trip very much worth it.
KIBA
The single hottest area on the entire map is KIBA, which is conveniently located right in the middle of the first floor of ULTRA. It houses some of the best loot in the entire game, including fully modded weapons, but the downside is that you will need not one, but two separate keys to get into the shop in the first place. Furthermore, the power will need to be on for these keys to work, and an alarm will also sound upon entry if you haven’t turned it off.
On top of all of this, you will likely have several players right on your back ready to pounce, and there is a strong chance that Killa - the scav boss - will be roaming near here too. Good luck is all we can say.
Mantis
Mantis is rather similar to Emercom, but luckily it does not require a key to get in. There is a possibility that super high tier medical loot like LEDX and Ophthalmoscopes can spawn, alongside general medicine which will help you survive in further raids.
Rasmussen
If you’re on the lookout for tech items however, Rasmussen is a great place to start. It is a great place to look for Gas analysers if they’re causing you trouble in the early game, but you can also fall upon a Tetriz or even a Graphics card along the way if you’re lucky.
Techlight
The final key interest store is Techlight, which essentially serves the same purpose as Rasmussen. If you don’t get what you’re after at Rasmussen - or its a bit too hot for your liking - heading upstairs in the bottom right of the mall.
Escape From Tarkov Interchange Object 21WS Keycard Use
There is one more really reliable loot spot on Interchange, and thankfully it is found on the outside of the map, so you avoid all of the danger inside. Much like the Saferoom Exfil, you will need a keycard to access it, but it can be picked up for fairly cheap on the flea market, and you will make back that value tenfold with the loot you get. Head to the storage container yard on the south west hand corner of the map, and jump up to reach the red container in the middle that has a wire hanging from it.
Make sure the power has been activated before you head over there, then use your Object 21WS keycard on the lock at the front, and that will grant you access inside the container. You will find a fair amount of loose attachments and a possible gun spawn, alongside three separate weapon boxes for you to browse through.
After you’ve looted it, it’s just a simple run to either Emercom or Railway, depending on which one you have active, by just following the road to either corner.
Escape From Tarkov Interchange Scav Route
While any scav route is viable, there are specific runs you can learn to maximise your item pickups so you get guaranteed income every time. While this specific run is not necessarily the way to make the most money on the map, as you don’t go inside the shopping section at all, it is a very reliable and safe route that has often not been looted.
First, you’ll want to head to the Power Station as the run starts there. The first thing you’ll want to hit is the hidden cache right next to the station, which is a barrel hidden in a bush next to the orange pipes. Then, head inside the station via the office and loot the jackets, PCs, and filing cabinet in there. Once you’ve done that, head inside the main section and loot the four jackets in front of you. Then all that’s left inside the Power Station is the three toolboxes to your left.
Head outside of the Power Station building now and move towards the small buildings ahead of you. There should be three on the left that you can enter, and each should have either a case or toolbox for you to loot. After you’ve searched them, keep heading forward until you just get past the blue fence. To the left, behind the bushes there is another hidden cache for you to loot.
That’s the Power Station area cleared, so now you’ll want to head into the parking lot and up the left ramp to enter the main mall. Once you’re up the ramp and through the entrance in front of you, there should be an open storage container to your right which has a sports bag inside. After that, keep heading right, and next to the crane should be a toolbox.
Walk back to the main pathway, and head down until you see a toolbox on the right and a sports bag in front of you. Additionally, make sure to keep an eye on the racking to the right, as there’s a fair amount of loose loot spawns there.
Keep heading forward until it opens up, and then immediately turn left to see a weapon box in the boot of a car. Head back inside, and move towards Goshan and there should be a weapons crate next to the right entrance.
Head back to the main path, and there’s a couple more toolboxes before it opens up again. Once it opens up though, you’ll want to have a look around the storage containers at the end, as there is a weapon crate, weapons box, and a sports bag hidden around there.
All you need to do now is head out the exit in front of you, and then go left to extract at Emercom Checkpoint with all your hard earned loot.
So, that completes our in depth guide for the Escape From Tarkov Interchange map, letting you in on all the best loot spots, scav runs, and where you’re going to want to extract. If you’re at the start of the new wipe though, why not have a read of our Escape From Tarkov new wipe tips to get you started off right.
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About The Author
Harry Boulton
Harry is a Guides Writer at GGRecon, having completed a Masters of Research degree in Film Studies. Previously a freelance writer for PCGamesN, The Loadout, and Red Bull Gaming, he loves playing a wide variety of games from the Souls series to JRPGs, Counter-Strike, and EA FC. When not playing or writing about games and hardware, you're likely to find him watching football or listening to Madonna and Kate Bush.
