Escape From Tarkov: BEAR & USEC Faction Differences

Escape From Tarkov is an unrelentingly difficult first-person shooter that has gained incredible popularity due to the highly realistic style the game chooses to use. Permadeath and the very real possibility to lose all the gear players work so hard to earn creates a feeling of tension that is hard to rival. From the real-life weaponry to the micromanagement of inventory space, Escape From Tarkov feels much less like a game and much more like a realistic military training program.

The very first choice that players have when beginning a game of Escape From Tarkov is to choose a faction to play as. Will you choose the Russian BEAR army, or the American USEC. Aside from the brief background text for each faction, very little is known about the differences between the two. Players may have a difficult time deciding which is the right play style for them. This guide will describe the current differences between the two factions and how each one stacks up.

The Differences Between BEAR and USEC in Escape From Tarkov

The most obvious difference between BEAR and USEC in Escape From Tarkov is the different nationalities. BEAR members are Russian and USEC members are American. This is reflected in their look and voice-overs. This is purely a cosmetic difference as it holds no bearing on the actual gameplay. It is important to note though that if you don’t speak Russian, you won’t understand what your character is saying.

The actual gameplay differences are within the starting weapons. BEAR operatives start with more Russian inspired weaponry, like the AKS-74U. While USEC’s weapons tend to be more geared towards the NATO standard issued gear, like an MP5. These are minor differences though as the most important aspect of a player’s loadout always seems to be the ammo.

BattleState Games have said that there will be many more faction bonuses as the game progresses in development. The USEC will focus heavily on light to medium armor and American manufactured weaponry. BEAR will rely more on heavy armor and increased stats with Kalashnikov weapons. BattleState Games have not estimated a timeline in which these changes will take place, however.

One very important thing to note before picking your faction is that it will not be your only chance to do so. Server wipes happen regularly and with each one comes a new opportunity to change factions. As of right now, the choice comes down to simple player preference.

Escape From Tarkov is currently in beta and available on PC.

About The Author

William Cennamo
(148 Articles Published)

William Cennamo has been the Game Guides Editor for Screen Rant since 2019. A creative writer all his life, it was only in 2018 that he really started to pursue his passion for the written word. Specializing in script-writing, William has written multiple short comedy sketches and taught “Intro to Comedy Writing” at the Stomping Ground Theater in Dallas, Texas.

When not writing William spends his time with his wife and two lovely daughters, usually playing a board game.

His mother thinks he’s funny but doesn’t care much for his language.

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