Battlestate Games recently released a new promo code for Escape from Tarkov, but the free items included are disappointing to many players. The bundle contains a combination of items widely considered to be among the least useful in the game.
Battlestate Games has a history of giving free items to its players. Often, these promotions were announced by Nikita Buyanov, the director of Escape from Tarkov and head of Battlestate Games.
Escape from Tarkov Boss Shares Real Promo Code With a Joke Reward
Following his previous actions, Buyanov shared another promotional code for Escape from Tarkov on Twitter on December 7th. However, what seemed like a “special promo” turned out to be a playful joke. The code, PAY2WIN, was clearly meant to be sarcastic, offering no actual paid benefits or advantages in the game. While some players have suggested that Escape from Tarkov includes pay-to-win elements, this isn’t a common opinion, and it’s uncertain if Buyanov was referencing those criticisms with this code.
Escape from Tarkov ‘Pay-to-Win’ Free Bundle Contents
dReXxDYT / Twitter | Item | Why It’s Bad |
|---|---|
| 12x 12/70 Dual Sabot slug | Fails vs Class 4+ armor; niche PvE at best. |
| UZRGM Fuze | Component only; can’t be used as a grenade. |
| GP coin | Trivial cash value. |
| Rye Croutons | Minor energy gain; costs hydration. |
| Tac-Kek FAST MT helmet (Replica) | Armor class 1 (meaning no real protection) |
| Transformer Bag (T-Bag) | Among smallest bags; poor carry efficiency. |
| TOZ-106 | Slow cycling, tiny mags, weak ammo pool. |
| 20x1mm toy gun (Blicky) | Meme item; 20 m/s velocity, terrible ballistics. |
The recently released code gives players a package containing 12 Dual Sabot slugs, a grenade fuse, one GP coin, Croutons, a replica Tac-Kek FAST MT helmet, a Transformer Bag, a TOZ-106 shotgun, and a toy pistol called the “Blicky.” Experienced Escape from Tarkov players generally agree that this is a particularly unhelpful set of items to receive for free.
What Makes Escape from Tarkov’s Joke Bundle So Bad?
In combat, the 12/70 Dual Sabot slugs aren’t very effective because their low penetration power (17) can’t break through the strong armor (Class 4+) most players use, making their 85 damage mostly irrelevant. The TOZ-106 shotgun isn’t a good choice either; its slow firing rate, small magazine (2-4 rounds), and weak ammo make it unsuitable for player-versus-player combat in Escape from Tarkov, even for players on a budget. Finally, the bundle includes the 20x1mm “Blicky,” which is more of a joke item with very poor performance.
This bundle’s defensive gear, the Tac-Kek FAST MT, is a non-functional replica – it offers no protection, like many helmets in Escape from Tarkov. The included T-Bag is also disappointing, offering only nine inventory slots, making it a very limited carry option. The extra items aren’t much better: croutons give a tiny energy boost but reduce hydration, the fuze is only useful for crafting and can’t be used on its own, and the coin is just for trading.
Buyanov didn’t say how long the “pay-to-win” promo code would be available. Because it only unlocks a joke bundle, Battlestate Games might keep it active for a long time, possibly indefinitely – much longer than their usual free items in Escape from Tarkov.
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2025-12-08 06:09