Scav Karma Escape from Tarkov: Complete Guide 2026

Table of Contents :

the Scav Karma gauge your reputation among Fence in Escape from Tarkov. The higher it is, the better your gear is in Scav runs, and the less the boss AI will bother you.

1. Description of Scav Karma (Fence (reputation)

This system has been added mid-2021 in Escape from Tarkov to discourage Scav players from killing other Scavs who are collecting loot.

In Scav mode, you're allied with all the Scavs AI on the map. Killing a non-hostile Scav causes you to lose karma, while the PMC are still legitimate targets that you can shoot down without penalty.

Direct consequence : The Scav gameplay in this game is becoming much more focused on end-of-raid loot ...not a fight. The idea is to collect the items and equipment that the PMCs left behind, not to start a fight.

How do you check your Scav Karma?

Open the window for Fence just as you would with any other merchant. Your value of reputation is displayed directly in the interface (label 182 (as shown in the image below).

The Official Wiki Escape from Tarkov, page Fence remains the go-to source for tracking thresholds and patch changes, since the values sometimes change from one update to the next.

Fence interface displaying Scav Karma in Escape from Tarkov. ©Antonin for Alucare.fr

2. How do you lose Scav Karma?

You lose karma as soon as you act against your Scav allies during a raid. The actions subject to penalties in Escape from Tarkov are as follows:

Shooting at a Non-Hostile Scav, even without killing him: a non-hostile Scav is either an AI Scav or a player-controlled Scav who hasn't shot anyone.
Kill a non-hostile Scav : The karma penalty is even harsher.
Kill a boss guard, the NPCs that protect the boss Scavs on the map.
Kill a boss Scav : one of the most severe karma losses in the game.

The further down you go, the more the Scavs AI and the game's boss become hostile toward you during your Scav raids. For the exact values lost per action, the official Tarkov wiki keeps the list up to date as patches are released.

3. How do you earn Scav Karma?

There are many ways to boost your reputation. Most of them involve performing good deeds during your raid as a Scav in Escape from Tarkov :

Kill a hostile Scav : You regain the karma he caused you to lose by attacking allied Scavs.
Killing a PMC : The reward depends on the number of Scavs that player has already eliminated in the raid.
Dating a PMC using a combined PMC-Scav extraction method (the famous co-op extract).
Using a car to get there (V-extract) to leave the map: each exit earns you a little karma. The reward gradually decreases starting from the 2nd extraction rises quickly, then stabilizes at a low level. This counter resets after about 24 actual hours.
Survive stay on as a Scav until the end and join an extraction.
Protecting an AI Scav or a boss Scav : Specifically, eliminate nearby enemies (PMCs or hostile player Scavs). It’s not just passive presence that pays off—it’s offensive action.
Complete a Scav Task entrusted by Fence through its dedicated quests.

For detailed figures on a stock-by-stock basis, see the official wiki of’Escape from Tarkov remains your best source.

4. How does your Scav Karma affect your Scav?

The system rewards cooperative behavior and punishes bad behavior. The goal is to encourage you, as a Scav, to fight the PMCs and collect the remaining loot rather than shoot at your fellow Scavs. Depending on your karma level, your gameplay changes significantly from one raid to the next in Escape from Tarkov.

Negative karma (a bad reputation among Fence)

With a low reputation, your Scav becomes much harder to play in your raids:

You collect lower-quality equipment and weapons at the start.
the waiting time The time before you can play another Scav increases significantly.
The Scavs AI They become more aggressive and won't let you get close to them anymore.
The boss and their guards They'll attack you without hesitation as soon as your karma goes into the negative.

Positive karma (a good reputation among Fence)

The higher your karma gets, the more profitable your Scav raids become:

You're starting with best equipment on your Scav, including a backpack so you can pick up more items.
the recovery time The Scav's damage is reduced, so you farm faster.
You get best selling prices at Fence for your weapons and items.
Your car trips are less expensive.
From 6.0 reputation, the boss Scavs are much less likely to attack you. This isn't total immunity: if you get too close or point your weapon at them, they may still react.
Still at 6.0, you unlock a Additional Sales Tab at Fence with 30% Discount.

Good Scav Karma effectively turns your Scav into a machine for smooth extraction runs, with loot and more cooperative AI Scavs. For the exact values at each tier, check the official wiki at Fence remains the most up-to-date reference.

5. Tips and Info to Boost Your Scav Karma

Don't shoot if you're not sure : Killing a non-hostile Scav costs you far more karma than you earn on a single run.
You have the right to defend yourself, but if the hostile Scav didn't hit you before you fired back, you'll still lose some karma.
In PMC, you can't lose reputation Fence during the usual raids by’Escape from Tarkov.
If you're near a boss Scav, never shoot at it. Better yet: kills his enemies around him. It is this action that generates karma, not mere passive presence.
To climb quickly, do a car pickup at the start of the session, then moves on to conventional extractions and make it out alive.
A best starter kit Upgrading your Scav increases your chances of getting a backpack, which means more space for items and loot.

The best strategy is still patience: a Clean Scav raid, without taking unnecessary risks, pays off much more in the long run than an aggressive style of play in Escape from Tarkov.

Explanatory video in French by Alucare, ideal complement to the page. View video (you can use YouTube's automatic translation)