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Escape from Tarkovis a difficult game with many choices that can lead to dire consequences for your character. One of those choices is at the very beginning of the game, before you even get to the main menu; the decision to play Bear or USEC.
So, which one should you choose? To new players, the decision has little meaning. At first glance, it appears as if the choice is based purely on cosmetics. However, there are other aspects to consider that aren’t explained. If you want to know what the game doesn’t tell you before you make your first step on your Tarkov journey, look no further than right here.
What Are Bear And USEC?
Lore in Escape from Tarkov is hard to come by. Generally, you have to go out of your way to read it, whether that be in-game or online. This will be a short gist of a small section of in-world lore, asBear and USEC are integral to Tarkov. Knowing who they are, will make it more clear why there are differences in the experience you’ll have depending on what side you choose. So, who are they?
Bear and USEC are two private military companies, PMCs for short. If you play as a Bear, you will be Russian; if you play as a USEC, you will be American. Bear was formed by the Russian government as a response to USEC conducting business on Russian soil. The two PMCs are in constant conflict. This explains why you start with certain items, the cosmetic options available to you, and who your enemies are.
Would You Like To Wear Green Or Green?
Clothing in Tarkov is split into upper-body and lower-body. It’s important to note thatclothing provides no stat increases nor advantages, aside from camouflaging yourself and looking cool as hell. Options will vary, as some will provide camouflage in green, urban, or foggy environments, and others just look good. Most of the clothing is shades of gray, green, or tan, but predominantly green.
Starting clothing for Bear and USEC:
Bear and USEC have access to 19 upper-body options and 16 lower-body options. Not all will be available upon beginning the game. Most options require you to be acertain level and need to be paid for with in-game currency. The aesthetics of each group hint towards their origin, as Bears have Russian-styled clothing and USEC wear American-styled clothing.
What Gear Will You Start With?
Depending on who you choose to play, it willdictate what gear you start with. Everyone will start with a common set of gear, plus specific items depending on what faction you choose. Between the two, USECs start with better items. Bears will start with gear used more often by Russian forces, while USECs will start with gear more often used by American forces.
You will also start with either Russian vodka or American whiskey. So, if you have a preference between the two, you can also go in that direction. On Escape from Tarkov’s official website, you will see thatmore expensive editions of the game receive more and better items, no matter what faction you play. You can upgrade to another edition at any time, and you will receive the extra items upon purchase. So, don’t worry about missing out on gear.
Here’s a list of items you’ll receive depending on the faction you choose, in addition to the Standard Edition of the game:
Who Are Your Friends And Enemies?
Bear and USEC share a common enemy in Tarkov, scavs. Scavs are controlled by players and AI, are less of a threat, and you will encounter them most often throughout the game. The other faction is the Rogues. They are, you guessed it, a rogue group of ex-USECs, and are controlled only by AI. They arehostile towards Bearsandneutral towards USECs, assuming you don’t shoot at them or enter their territory.
Rogues areonly found at the Water Treatment Planton the map, Lighthouse. They are well-geared and dangerous. As a USEC, you can attack them, but for a time afterwards, they will be hostile towards you. Also, it’s important to mention that if you have a Bear in your party, Rogues will be hostile towards you, even if you are a USEC.
