The ULTIMATE Tarkov Armor Guide: Best Plates for Survival

Name: The ULTIMATE Tarkov Armor Guide: Best Plates for Survival
Uploaded: 2024-10-23T16:45:34.000Z
Duration: 1 h 2 min 40 s

Understanding Armor Mechanics in Tarkov

Overview of Tarkov's Armor System

The armor system in Tarkov is complex and often confusing, making it a topic worth exploring in detail.

There exists a simple ranking of plate materials from best to worst, which simplifies the decision-making process for players.

Plate Material Rankings

The six removable plate materials include:

Ceramic

Steel

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (Poly)

Aluminum

Combined Materials

Titan

Aramid and glass are also material types but will not be covered as they do not pertain to plates directly.

Key Comparisons Between Materials

The effectiveness of armor is primarily determined by how many bullets it can stop, impacting survivability.

Ranking from best to worst:

Titan and combined materials (functionally similar)

Aluminum and polyethylene (also functionally similar)

Steel and ceramic (similar protection levels despite weight differences).

Importance of Understanding Armor Choices

While repairability and weight are factors in choosing armor, they are subjective and not included in the basic ranking.

The video aims to provide straightforward information without unnecessary filler content.

Common Ammo Comparisons Against Class Plates

Focus on class four plates for comparisons against common ammunition like the 5.56 round (855).

Different classes of plates offer varying levels of protection based on the type of ammo fired at them.

Understanding Ballistic Simulation and Armor Penetration

Introduction to the Ballistic Simulator

The ballistic simulator is a tool that helps understand systems related to armor and bullets, projecting outcomes based on game mechanics.

The focus will be on analyzing a single layer of armor initially, specifically using the Titan ballistic plate.

Setting Up the Simulation

Users can select from various armor types; for this demonstration, the Titan level four plate is chosen.

The simulation assumes direct shots from a gun without altering penetration or damage variables, maintaining 100% durability.

Analyzing Multi-Shot Outcomes

A multi-shot analysis provides a chart showing cumulative chances of survival with each shot fired against the Titan plate.

For example, after three shots, there’s only a 0.5% chance of dying; by the fourth shot, this increases to 2.3%, illustrating how risk accumulates.

Key Insights on Penetration Chances

On the first shot against glass level four armor with 855 ammunition, there's a 13.3% chance of penetration; however, this likelihood increases with subsequent shots.

The material type significantly affects how quickly plates wear out and their effectiveness in stopping rounds over time.

Comparing Different Armor Materials

Cumulative chance to kill percentages simplify comparisons between different materials by aggregating various factors into one statistic.

When comparing Spartan Omega and Titan plates side-by-side at multiple shots, differences become evident but are less significant at critical thresholds (e.g., around 50% chance).

Conclusion on Armor Selection

Understanding Armor Penetration Mechanics

Overview of Penetration Chances

The chance to penetrate armor increases incrementally, starting at 33% and moving up to 35%, indicating that penetration is not guaranteed with each shot.

This analysis focuses on the probability of penetrating armor based on its durability rather than cumulative percentages; once a plate is penetrated, damage significantly increases.

The sixth shot represents a critical threshold where the chance of penetration reaches 50%, marking a pivotal moment in combat effectiveness.

Comparison of Armor Types

When comparing different armors like UDP poly plates, the fifth shot has a 34% chance to penetrate, while the sixth shot jumps to an 88% chance, highlighting significant differences in performance.

Steel plates show a lower penetration rate (54%) on the fifth round compared to poly plates but exhibit rapid failure after initial hits, emphasizing their unpredictable nature.

Impact of Early Penetration

If an early penetration occurs on steel armor due to luck, it drastically reduces its durability and shifts subsequent shots' chances for success.

A lucky roll can lead to unexpected outcomes where players may die from fewer shots than statistically expected due to sudden drops in armor effectiveness.

Real-world Implications in Combat Scenarios

The difference between one or two bullets may seem minor theoretically but can have substantial implications during actual gameplay scenarios where accuracy varies widely among players.

In high-rate fire situations (e.g., shooting at 900 rounds per minute), even slight differences in bullet count can affect survival rates significantly.

Layering Armor: Enhancing Protection

Concept of Layering Armor

Layering involves placing an armor plate within another protective layer (like aramid), effectively creating multiple levels of defense against incoming fire.

Visual Representation and Explanation

The speaker plans to illustrate layering using visual aids, demonstrating how different materials interact when struck by projectiles.

Understanding Bullet Penetration and Damage Calculations

Overview of Bullet Impact on Armor Plates

The initial impact of a bullet on an armor plate triggers calculations to determine penetration, blunt damage, or pass-through effects.

If a bullet penetrates the plate, further calculations assess how much damage is inflicted and how much is mitigated by the armor's properties.

Regardless of penetration, aramid materials are factored into the damage assessment, affecting both blunt force and penetration outcomes.

Damage Reduction Mechanics

For example, if a bullet inflicts 50 damage but allows 10% to pass through, only 5 damage reaches the aramid layer. This is then reduced further based on the aramid's effectiveness.

The final damage applied to a target (e.g., thorax or stomach) depends on multiple layers of reduction from both the plate and aramid material.

Penetration Dynamics with Aramid Backing

When a bullet penetrates an armor plate, its penetration capability decreases significantly; for instance, an original pen value may drop from 31 to as low as 15 after passing through.

The new values for penetration and damage are recalculated before being applied again against the aramid layer.

Simulation Comparisons

A complex simulation setup allows for easier understanding of these dynamics without extensive math. Multiple simulations help visualize different scenarios involving various armors.

In one simulation using an 855 round against specific plates and aramid backing (CPC), results show significant differences in survivability compared to setups without aramid.

Importance of Aramid in Armor Systems

Using level two aramid significantly increases resistance; while six shots might penetrate without it, adding aramid raises that threshold to eight or more rounds before failure occurs.

Understanding Armor Penetration and Damage Mechanics

Overview of Armor Types and Their Effectiveness

The discussion begins with the introduction of level three aramid armor, highlighting its effectiveness when paired with a CPC (Ceramic Plate Carrier), which is noted as one of the better options available.

A comparison is made between different armor types, specifically steel plates, emphasizing that while they are common, their performance can lead to rapid damage accumulation against certain ammunition types.

The speaker notes that using steel plates can result in a quick transition from taking minimal damage to potentially lethal hits after just eight shots due to their wear rate.

Impact of Ammunition Type on Armor Performance

Transitioning to 856 A1 ammunition shows a significant increase in penetration power (from 31 to 38), drastically reducing the number of shots required to incapacitate an opponent wearing class four armor.

The importance of higher penetration values is emphasized; for instance, moving from 855 (11 shots needed) to 856 A1 (5 shots needed) demonstrates how even slight increases in penetration can have substantial effects on combat outcomes.

Class Five Armor Dynamics

Discussion shifts towards class five armor, particularly the Locust ballistic plate. It highlights challenges in reaching the critical damage threshold against such high-tier protection.

The speaker explains that arm impacts slightly reduce penetration and damage effectiveness, making it crucial for players to aim accurately at unprotected areas for maximum effect.

Strategic Considerations for Combat Engagement

Analyzing differences between ammunition types reveals that even minor changes in penetration statistics can significantly alter engagement strategies; e.g., transitioning from 855 A1 requiring five shots versus eight shots with 856 A1 against class five armor.

The conversation touches upon game mechanics where BSG has limited ammo availability based on penetration levels, affecting player choices during engagements.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Players are advised to equip the highest class armor available and utilize high penetration ammunition when engaging opponents. This strategy is essential for overcoming tougher defenses effectively.

Music and Community Support

Engaging with the Audience

The speaker expresses willingness to answer questions and perform demonstrations, indicating a commitment to audience engagement.

They mention the possibility of creating additional content based on audience feedback, highlighting adaptability in their approach.

Music Collaboration

A shout-out is given to music created in partnership with L Records, emphasizing community support through creative collaboration.

The speaker notes that there are currently 184 songs and 11 albums available for free listening, reinforcing accessibility for creators.

Usage Rights for Creators

Content creators are encouraged to use the music without fear of DMCA takedowns or copyright strikes, promoting a supportive environment for streaming and content creation.