Escape from Tarkov Interchange: Mall Routes and Light

A mall with three spines

Interchange is built around three anchor stores that each own a section of the building, joined by a central atrium. Almost every route through the map is a choice between moving through one of those spines or moving through the service corridors behind them. The practical consequence is that the map has a small number of well-lit main arteries and a large number of dark back corridors. Learning which is which is the whole map.

Light is the primary mechanic

Most of the interior has no working lighting. That means the fight is often decided by who is carrying a light source and who is not, and by whether the person with the light understands what it costs. A flashlight lets you see the shop you are looting. It also tells every player in that section exactly where you are. The middle ground is to move with the light off and use it in short bursts, rather than leaving it on continuously.

The anchor stores

Each anchor store is a self-contained loot zone with its own escalators, storage areas, and a distinctive silhouette. They are also where the map’s most contested fights happen, because they are the places everyone can find. The value inside is not uniform: the difference between a good run and a great one is knowing which shelves in which store actually spawn high-tier items, rather than sweeping all three evenly.

Exits and the outside ring

The exterior ring road connects the main exits, and it is exposed. Crossing it is a risk that should be taken early or not at all, because late in a raid the outside is where players who have already looted are waiting for the last few minutes. Going out the way you came in is often the correct call. It is boring and it is survivable.

The power problem

The building’s power state changes how sections of the map play, and darkness is worse than light for anyone without night vision. If you are running without a light source or night vision, the unpowered sections are not “atmospheric”, they are unplayable. Match your kit to the light level you expect, and match your route to your kit.

Who Interchange suits

It suits players who like close-range fights, who can navigate without a compass, and who are willing to move slowly in the dark. It punishes players who want long sightlines and players who loot by sweeping every shop they pass.

Related guides

• Escape from Tarkov Night Vision Guide
• Escape from Tarkov Loot Guide
• Escape from Tarkov Extracts Guide