Escape from Tarkov‘s first season, Kord Breach, launches alongside Update 1.1.0.0. It adds a parallel seasonal character track, a modifier system, a free Battle Pass, and a reworked side-task structure — plus a few quieter fixes worth knowing about before launch.
In this guide, we cover:
- Kord Breach release date and seasonal profiles
- Global and personal modifier overview
- Battle Pass documents and shared progression
- Side-task and trader Loyalty Level changes
- Kappa and Collector requirements
- Hideout, insurance, and ammunition changes
- Arena synchronization and the squad spectator camera
- Pre-season event status and the new QBZ-191
Release Date
Season 1 and Update 1.1.0.0 are currently scheduled for August 3, 2026. The update has already slipped once, so check Battlestate’s official channels right before launch in case of a last-minute change. Battlestate has described an intended two-seasons-per-year cadence going forward, though Kord Breach’s own end date hasn’t been separately announced.
What Is Kord Breach?
Kord Breach is Season 1’s seasonal mode: a fresh PvP-only character, separate from your permanent PvP and PvE profiles, with a modifier system layered on top of standard progression. It recreates fresh-start progression without touching your permanent characters’ existing development. There’s no seasonal PvE equivalent this time around.
Three profile types at launch: persistent PvP, persistent PvE, and the seasonal Kord Breach character. The seasonal profile keeps its own progression, inventory, trader development, and Hideout state — and it’s the only one tied to the seasonal reset cycle. Permanent PvP and PvE profiles keep their existing progression when Kord Breach ends.
That separation isn’t total, though. A few systems cross over between all three profiles:
- Battle Pass progress and rewards
- Permanently unlocked seasonal rewards (these stay available even after the season ends)
- Certain Arena synchronization systems
Kord Breach starts every seasonal PMC with separate progression, so early levels, Flea Market access, and trader unlocks all have to be earned again. Our Tarkov Level Boosting can take your seasonal character to a chosen level while helping unlock key progression milestones.
How Kord Breach Modifiers Work
Six global modifiers apply automatically to every seasonal character — no opting out. Players also choose optional personal modifiers at creation, balanced on a point system: positive modifiers cost points, negative modifiers refund them, and the final balance must sit at zero or above.
See our dedicated Escape from Tarkov Kord Breach Guide for the previewed perk list, point system, known incompatibilities, and post-launch build recommendations. Standout previewed picks include Kappa Protocol (immediate Kappa Container access at a substantial cost) and Non-working Flea Market (disables player trading for that character).
Battle Pass and TerraGroup Documents
The Battle Pass is free, with every reward earnable through play, and progress carries across seasonal, permanent PvP, and PvE profiles rather than resetting per character. Battlestate says it contains more than 70 rewards; previewed examples include the Radian Model 1, unique earbuds, helmets, tactical clothing, and weapon paint kits. The full tier order needs live verification.
Progress runs on TerraGroup documents, which work like task items rather than ordinary loot:
- Each player can collect the same document independently, even after a squadmate already has
- Collectible as either PMC or Scav
- Tied to specific locations — one previewed type spawns on Streets and Customs, another on Factory and The Lab (examples, not the full map list)
- Surplus documents can be exchanged for a type you still need
Classified documents are a universal substitute: they replace any required type and can be bought with TarCoins through the Expansion Hub — a shortcut for a missing document, not a way to buy the pass itself. TarCoins are earned via successful PvP extraction or purchased directly, and beyond Classified documents, they cover eligible Expansion Hub items like apparel and stash expansions. Game-edition upgrades still require real money.
Side-Task and Trader Rework
The biggest structural change in the update. Trade-volume requirements are gone entirely — character level and trader reputation still matter, but no more buying and reselling junk to hit a turnover number.
Most side tasks have broken free of rigid chains and now run through trader Loyalty Levels instead: LL1 unlocks a task pool, and advancing to LL2 needs several of those tasks completed alongside the trader’s usual level and reputation thresholds — finishing tasks alone doesn’t grant a level up. Rewards lean cash-heavy over gear. Most trader stock now unlocks automatically at the right Loyalty Level rather than behind a quest (the Tri-Zip backpack at Ragman LL3, the DevTac Ronin Helmet at Mechanic LL2). A smaller set of tasks stays in traditional chains for rare trade offers or specialized crafts, but you can see the eventual reward as soon as you accept the first task.
Update 1.1 preview material also indicates that a teammate’s kill can contribute to task progress for both players. Exact eligibility, proximity requirements, and supported tasks should be verified after launch.
Trader turnover requirements may be gone, but character level, reputation, and task completion still gate higher Loyalty Levels. With our Tarkov Traders Loyalty Boost, you can develop any chosen trader and unlock the equipment, ammunition, and barter offers tied to their progression.
Collector and Kappa Changes
Collector is being restructured, dropping many side-task prerequisites in favor of new trader and Fence requirements.
Officially confirmed: LL4 with every trader, plus a separate Fence reputation threshold. Pre-release imagery points to character level 40 and Fence 3.0, unconfirmed.
Required tasks shown in previews: Chemical – Part 4, A Shooter Born in Heaven, The Tarkov Shooter – Part 4, Sew It Good – Part 4 — also pending verification.
Earning Kappa under the new system grants a new achievement, and the old Kappa Path retires the moment Season 1 begins. Complete the current Collector path before Update 1.1.0.0 launches if that achievement matters to you.
Ammo, Trader, and Hideout Changes
- Ammo: more entry-level rounds arrive earlier — 7.62x39mm T-45M1 is purchasable from Prapor from the start.
- Trader levels: lower character-level requirements for earlier Loyalty Levels, though not a blanket reduction across every level.
- Hideout: shorter build times, fewer cross-module dependencies, and reduced (not eliminated) Found-in-Raid requirements for early modules. Later-tier modules aren’t confirmed affected.
Kord Breach removes the Found-in-Raid requirement for seasonal Hideout construction, but you still need the correct components and module prerequisites. Our Tarkov Hideout Upgrade Boost can help farm the required materials and develop the modules you need.
Insurance
Standard insurance in permanent PvP and PvE now returns items faster at a slightly higher cost; Jaeger’s pricier premium option returns gear within a few hours. Kord Breach itself has no insurance at all — one of the six global modifiers — so lost equipment won’t return automatically, and surviving squadmates will need to decide whether carrying it out is worth the risk.
With insurance disabled throughout Kord Breach, every loadout needs to be effective without becoming too expensive to replace. Use our Tarkov Gear Configurator Boost to build a custom setup with your preferred weapon, magazines, armor, and helmet.
Seasonal Rewards
Rewards unlock through level milestones or a dedicated seasonal task line, then stay permanently available across all three profile types.
Confirmed: trade offers for Black Division equipment. Earlier roadmap material also previewed Black Division-themed clothing, pending live verification. No full itemized list has been published yet.
Arena Synchronization and Squad Spectator Camera
Arena progress carries into your seasonal profile once Kord Breach begins — experience, level, skills, weapon mastery, trader reputation and offers, currency, GP Coins, Lega Medals, and supply crates (after Jack of All Trades). Only progress earned after launch transfers, seasonal limits sit lower than permanent-profile limits, and syncing runs one direction only — Arena into seasonal, not back. Tactical clothing is the exception, syncing both ways.
Arena progression can support your seasonal PMC through experience, reputation, GP Coins, Lega Medals, and other synchronized rewards. Our Tarkov Ref Quests Boost can help complete selected tasks and advance your Ref reputation and Arena-linked progression.
Separately, Update 1.1 is set to add an in-raid spectator camera for squads: after dying, a player can keep watching through a surviving teammate’s perspective instead of going straight to the post-raid screen. Official preview material describes the feature as teammate-only. Enemy spectating and any broader post-raid replay system had not been confirmed before launch.
Pre-Season Event Status
- Labs Blackout — extended past its original end date, with a revised date still to be announced. Battlestate has adjusted raid durations, PvE spawn balance, event-task progress, locked-room loot, and Labs keycard availability. See our complete Labs Blackout event guide for details.
- Scav Boss Escalation — bosses are on high alert, trophies are temporarily off the Flea Market, and traders have added temporary boss-hunting offers. Reserve and night raids are flagged as especially dangerous. Exact spawn percentages haven’t been published.
New QBZ-191
Update 1.1 will introduce the QBZ-191. Ammunition stats, trader availability, and full modification options need verification once the update goes live.
Before Kord Breach Begins
- Finish the current Collector path if the retiring Kappa Path achievement matters to you.
- Plan cheap, replaceable early loadouts — there’s no insurance in Kord Breach.
- Don’t stockpile materials on your permanent profile expecting a transfer; check live seasonal Hideout requirements once the season opens.
- If you play Arena, hold off — only progress earned after Kord Breach launches transfers to your seasonal PMC.
Check out more Escape from Tarkov guides:
- Escape from Tarkov Kord Breach Guide: All Modifiers, Costs, and Build Examples
- Escape from Tarkov: Icebreaker Unlock Guide – Boreas Questline Walkthrough
- Escape from Tarkov 1.0.4.5: Complete Guide to Every Change and What It Means for You
- Escape From Tarkov 1.0: Release Date, Wipe Details, New Map, Factions, and Full Launch Guide
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does Escape from Tarkov Season 1 Kord Breach start?
Kord Breach and Update 1.1.0.0 are scheduled to launch on August 3, 2026. The update was delayed once before, so the final release timing should be checked through Battlestate Games’ official channels.
What is Kord Breach in Escape from Tarkov?
Kord Breach is Escape from Tarkov’s first seasonal PvP mode. It gives players a fresh seasonal character with separate progression, inventory, traders, and Hideout development, while leaving permanent PvP and PvE profiles untouched.
Does Kord Breach wipe your main Tarkov character?
No. Kord Breach uses a separate seasonal profile. Your Persistent PvP and PvE characters keep their existing levels, inventories, quests, Hideout upgrades, and other progression.
What is the difference between Seasonal PvP, Persistent PvP, and PvE profiles?
Seasonal PvP uses a fresh Kord Breach character that follows the seasonal reset cycle. Persistent PvP keeps its progression permanently, while PvE provides persistent progression without hostile player-controlled PMCs. Each profile has its own inventory, trader development, quests, and Hideout state.
Is Kord Breach PvP-only, or can you play it in PvE?
Kord Breach is PvP-only. There is no separate seasonal PvE character for Season 1, although Battle Pass progress and certain permanent rewards can be shared with the PvE profile.
How long will Escape from Tarkov Season 1 last?
Battlestate Games has discussed an intended schedule of approximately two seasons per year, but Kord Breach’s exact end date has not been announced. Any specific season-length figure should be treated as provisional until an official timer or date is confirmed.
How do Kord Breach modifiers work?
Every seasonal character receives six automatic global modifiers. Players can also select optional positive and negative personal modifiers during character creation. Positive modifiers cost points, negative modifiers refund points, and the final balance must remain at zero or above.
Can you change or reset Kord Breach modifiers after creating your character?
Modifier reset rules were not confirmed before launch. Players should check the live character-creation menu before finalizing a build, especially because some negative modifiers affect the character for the entire season.
What are the six automatic global modifiers in Kord Breach?
The six global modifiers are No Insurance, Armor Shortage, Black Division, Handyman, No FiR for Hideout, and Seasoned PMCs. They apply to every seasonal character automatically and do not consume personal modifier points.
Is insurance disabled in Kord Breach?
Yes. Insurance is completely disabled for the seasonal profile. Lost equipment will not return automatically, so surviving squadmates must extract with valuable gear if they want to preserve it.
Is the Escape from Tarkov Kord Breach Battle Pass free?
Yes. The Kord Breach Battle Pass is free, with every reward earnable through gameplay. There is no separate paid reward track described in the guide.
How do you progress the Kord Breach Battle Pass?
Battle Pass progress is earned by collecting and submitting TerraGroup documents. Documents are tied to specific locations, and surplus types can be exchanged when players need a different document for a reward requirement.
Is Battle Pass progress shared between Seasonal PvP, Persistent PvP, and PvE?
Yes. Battle Pass progress and unlocked rewards are shared across Seasonal PvP, Persistent PvP, and PvE rather than requiring separate progression on each profile.
What are TerraGroup documents, and where can you find them?
TerraGroup documents are Battle Pass progression items found during raids. They work similarly to task items, allowing multiple players to collect the same document independently. They can be collected as either a PMC or Scav and appear in location-specific pools.
What are TarCoins, and can they be used to buy Battle Pass progress?
TarCoins are used in the Expansion Hub and can be earned through successful PvP extractions or purchased directly. They can buy Classified documents that substitute for missing TerraGroup document types, but they do not purchase a separate paid Battle Pass.
What are the new Collector and Kappa requirements in Update 1.1?
Collector is losing many of its previous side-task prerequisites. Confirmed requirements include Loyalty Level 4 with every trader and a separate Fence reputation threshold. Pre-release material also suggested character Level 40, Fence reputation 3.0, and several retained quests, but those details required live verification.
Do Kord Breach seasonal rewards carry over to permanent characters?
Yes. Rewards unlocked through seasonal level milestones or the seasonal task line remain permanently available across Seasonal PvP, Persistent PvP, and PvE profiles. Confirmed examples include trade offers for Black Division equipment.
How does the new trader Loyalty Level and side-task system work?
Trader turnover requirements are removed in Update 1.1. Most side tasks are organized around trader Loyalty Levels, with an initial task pool available at LL1. Reaching higher Loyalty Levels still requires the appropriate character level and reputation alongside task completion.
How does EFT: Arena progression transfer to the Kord Breach seasonal profile?
Arena can transfer experience, character levels, skills, weapon mastery, trader reputation, trade offers, currency, GP Coins, Lega Medals, and eligible supply crates into the seasonal profile. Only progress earned after Kord Breach begins counts, and most synchronization runs from Arena into the seasonal profile rather than in both directions.
How does the new squad spectator camera work in Escape from Tarkov?
After dying in a squad raid, players can continue watching through the perspective of a surviving teammate instead of immediately leaving for the post-raid screen. The preview only confirmed teammate spectating; enemy spectating and a broader replay system were not announced.
