Does Offline Co-op Have AI PMCs in Escape from Tarkov?

Escape from Tarkov is one of the most intense and realistic first-person shooters on the market, offering a punishing yet deeply rewarding experience. Developed by Battlestate Games, EFT blends survival mechanics, RPG elements, and hardcore gunplay in a unique extraction based shooter. One of the major game modes Tarkov offers is “Offline Mode,” which allows players to practice without risking their hard-earned gear.

Recently, Tarkov introduced does offline coop have ai pmcs tarkov, an expansion of the offline experience that allows friends to play together in a sandbox-like environment. However, a pressing question remains among players:

Does Offline Co-op Mode in Escape from Tarkov include AI PMCs?

In this deep dive, we will explore how AI PMCs function in Tarkov, how they interact with Offline Mode, and whether they are present in the newly introduced co-op feature.

Understanding AI in Escape from Tarkov

Before answering the question, it is important to understand the role of AI controlled enemies in Tarkov. There are several AI types in the game, does offline coop have ai pmcs tarkov each with different behaviors and skill levels:

1. Scavs (Scavengers)

Scavs are the most common AI enemies. They come in various skill levels, from low-tier AI with poor aim to elite Raiders with pinpoint accuracy.

• Regular Scavs: Typically armed with mid-to-low-tier weapons, they have average reaction speeds and are relatively easy to kill.
• Bosses & Their Guards: Scav Bosses are powerful AI-controlled enemies found across maps. They often come with heavily armed guards that display tactical movements and aggression.
• Raiders: These elite AI units are similar to trained PMCs, boasting fast reaction times, precise aiming, and tactical teamwork.

2. AI PMCs (Private Military Contractors)

PMCs are the primary faction controlled by players. In regular online play, AI PMCs do not exist; every PMC you encounter is a real player. However, in Offline Mode, AI PMCs can be enabled, acting as simulated enemies. These AI-controlled PMCs are more advanced than Scavs and behave similarly to real players by using cover, flanking, and healing themselves when wounded.

Offline Mode in Tarkov

Escape from Tarkov’s Offline Mode is primarily designed as a training ground where players can enter a raid without the fear of losing their gear. Unlike normal raids, where death means losing all carried equipment unless insured, Offline Mode allows you to experiment freely.

Offline Mode Features

• No risk of losing items upon death
• Ability to enable or disable AI enemies
• Adjustable AI difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard, and Impossible)
• Customizable settings, including AI amount, boss spawn rates, and weather conditions

Does Regular Offline Mode Have AI PMCs?

Yes! When playing in single-player Offline Mode, you can enable AI PMCs through the settings menu before launching a raid. These AI PMCs will act like real players, engaging in firefights, looting bodies, and sometimes fighting each other.

Now, let’s get into how this applies to the Offline Co-op Mode introduced in Escape from Tarkov’s Edge of Darkness edition.

Offline Co-op Mode: The Big Question

Offline Co-op Mode allows groups of friends to explore Tarkov’s maps together without the risks of online raids. This mode is only available to Edge of Darkness owners, the highest-tier edition of the game. Players can invite friends into a raid, where they can practice, explore, or engage in simulated combat scenarios.

Does Offline Co-op Have AI PMCs?

No, at the moment, AI PMCs do not spawn in Offline Co-op Mode. This is a major limitation that many players have criticized.

While you can enable AI Scavs, the ability to spawn AI PMCs like in single player Offline Mode is not available in coop.

Why Doesn’t Offline Co-op Have AI PMCs?

There are a few possible reasons why Battlestate Games has not included AI PMCs in co-op:

1. Performance Issues

AI in Tarkov is highly complex. PMC bots behave more intelligently than Scavs, requiring more processing power to simulate realistic engagements. In co-op mode, where multiple players are present, running AI PMCs may create severe performance issues.

2. Potential for Exploits

If AI PMCs were included in co-op, players could exploit them for:

• Loot farming: Since players do not lose gear in Offline Mode, they could repeatedly kill AI PMCs to farm experience and items.
• PvP Training: While some argue this is beneficial, Battlestate may want players to experience real PvP engagements rather than AI simulations in a co-op setting.

3. Game Balance Considerations

Tarkov’s core experience is built around tension and risk. Battlestate Games may be concerned that allowing AI PMCs in co-op would remove an element of difficulty, giving players an artificial advantage in understanding high-level PvP tactics without consequence.

Alternatives for Players Wanting AI PMCs in Co-op

If you were hoping for AI PMCs in co-op mode, you’re not entirely out of luck. Here are some workarounds:

1. Use AI Scavs for Training

While AI PMCs are unavailable, you can still spawn AI Scavs. Increasing their difficulty to “Impossible” makes them more aggressive and tactical, providing a challenging combat scenario.

2. Play Against Each Other

One of the best ways to improve is through PvP training with friends. Setting up mock battles in Offline Co-op can be a useful way to develop combat skills.

3. Modded Solutions (Unofficial)

The Tarkov modding community has explored ways to introduce AI PMCs in offline co-op. While modding EFT is not officially supported, some players have experimented with AI behavior modifications. However, this comes with the risk of violating Tarkov’s Terms of Service.

Will Battlestate Games Add AI PMCs to Offline Co-op?

There is no official confirmation from Battlestate Games regarding AI PMC support in co-op mode. However, the developers have consistently updated and refined the game based on community feedback. The introduction of AI PMCs in co-op could be a future feature if performance issues and exploits are properly addressed.

Players have been vocal about their desire for a more robust offline experience, and with Tarkov’s history of gradual improvements, there’s a chance we could see AI PMC support added in future updates.

Final Thoughts: The State of Offline Co-op in Tarkov

To summarize:

• Offline Co-op Mode does NOT include AI PMCs.
• AI Scavs, Bosses, and Raiders are available as an alternative.
• Single-player Offline Mode does have AI PMCs, making it the best option for solo practice against PMC like enemies.
• Performance, balance, and exploit concerns likely explain why AI PMCs aren’t included in co-op.

While does offline coop have ai pmcs tarkov mode is a great addition, it still has room for improvement. Many players hope that future patches will introduce AI PMCs for a more complete training experience. Until then, players will have to rely on alternative training methods, such as PvP battles against friends or cranking up AI Scav difficulty.