Escape Tarkov's Troll-Infested Free Bundle

A New Promo Code with a Joke Reward

Battlestate Games has released a new promo code for Escape from Tarkov, but this time the reward seems to be more of a joke than a genuine gift. The latest free bundle offers what many players might consider one of the worst combinations of items in the game.

Over the years, Battlestate has consistently given away freebies to its fans. These promotional offers have often been shared by Escape from Tarkov director and Battlestate boss Nikita Buyanov. In a recent move, Buyanov took to Twitter on December 7 to share another Escape from Tarkov promo code. While he described it as a "special promo," the offer turned out to be a humorous take on the game's mechanics.

The "PAY2WIN" Promo Code

The associated code, "PAY2WIN," is clearly sarcastic, as its contents are neither paid nor do they meaningfully increase one's chances of winning in any scenario. Although some fans have previously alleged that certain aspects of Escape from Tarkov are pay-to-win, this isn't a widely agreed-upon view, and it's unclear whether Buyanov intended the code as a nod to that criticism.

The newly shared code ultimately grants a bundle comprised of several items, including:

• 12 Dual Sabot slugs
• A grenade fuze
• A single GP coin
• Croutons
• A Tac-Kek FAST MT (Replica) helmet
• A Transformer Bag
• A TOZ-106 bolt-action shotgun
• The so-called "Blicky" toy pistol

As veteran Escape from Tarkov players can attest, this is arguably one of the worst possible item combinations a free bundle could possibly offer.

What Makes This Bundle So Bad?

On the combat side, the 12/70 Dual Sabot slugs have just 17 Penetration Power, which is nowhere near enough versus Class 4+ plates that most players wear, making their 85 Damage rating largely moot. The TOZ-106 is not much more useful, being a bolt-action shotgun with a tiny 2-4-round magazine that cycles slowly and has access to a weak ammo pool, thus being a terrible pick for even the most price-conscious Escape from Tarkov PvP builds.

Rounding out the bundle's list of weapons and ammo is the 20x1mm toy gun—also known as Blicky—a meme item with downright abysmal ballistic properties.

Looking at the defensive side of things, the Tac-Kek FAST MT found in this bundle is a replica with no ballistic rating, as the Armor Class of 1 makes it as useless as helmets in Escape from Tarkov get. Meanwhile, the included T-Bag provides just nine slots, thus being one of the least efficient carry options in the hit extraction shooter.

The provisions and trinkets featured in the bundle aren't much help either: Croutons restore a minuscule 20 Energy at the cost of -10 Hydration, the UZRGM fuze is a crafting part that can't be thrown on its own, and the GP coin is mere barter fodder.

Availability of the Promo Code

Buyanov did not clarify for how long the "pay-to-win" promo code will remain available to redeem. Since it doesn't yield anything but a joke bundle, it's possible that Battlestate plans to keep it active indefinitely, or at least for much longer compared to the typical Escape from Tarkov freebie.