What Are Secret Exfils in Escape from Tarkov? – Explained

Escape from Tarkov’s 0.16 patch wipe adds a little flavor to the overall extraction mechanics by introducing “secret” exfils for players. These secret exfils have a few conditions before they can show up, and here’s everything you need to know about the secret exfil mechanics in Escape from Tarkov.

How to Find Secret Exfils in Escape from Tarkov

You can treat secret exfils as regular ex-fils, but they only become available when you find a specific item or note that enables it. When you get the item or note inside the game, you can double tap “O” to check all extraction points in the raid, and you’ll see another exfil highlighted as light green, as seen in the image above.

The extraction shows “Bring Note,” meaning you must bring the code or note you got inside the raid. If you don’t bring the item, you won’t be able to extract using the secret exfil.

As for the secret exfil location, you’ll get a clue or hint on its whereabouts because of the exfil name. These spots are fixed, so you only need to grab the item and memorize the exfil location in a raid.

These secret exfils are quite familiar to Escape from Tarkov veterans. These spots are usually the “old” extractions from the previous wipes, like the old bunker exfil in Shoreline or the Smuggler’s extraction in Customs.

It is also worth noting that you can’t bring this “note” or item outside the raid. For example, if you find a note inside a raid that allows you to use the secret exfil and you extract normally, the note will disappear from your inventory.

Related: All Cultist Circle Recipes in Escape from Tarkov

Where to Get Secret Exfil Codes in Escape from Tarkov

As for the secret exfil codes, the spawns are completely random. Numerous users have reported that there aren’t any fixed spawns for these codes. They come from any random source of loot, such as duffle bags, crates, jackets, and more.

Many have reported that these codes are more likely to spawn in dead bodies (fixed dead spawns). However, that might only be the case because dead bodies usually contain many random item spawns compared to other loot sources.

You shouldn’t play in the way you expect to get these exfil codes during a raid. It should only be considered an alternative when you get the code.

Because of these secret extractions, players will have a “safer” way of extracting since the rats won’t expect players to get the code and use this secret extraction every raid. They’ll stick to normal extraction points and camp them until someone comes.

These secret extracts might have indirectly helped prevent extract camping, along with the PMC Karma mechanic.

Make sure to capitalize on the 0.16 winter event and get to those Christmas Trees. Not only is it an early quest, but there is also some great loot under those trees!