Escape From Tarkov is getting CQB weapon stances, a feature players have asked about for years. In a developer diary, Technical 3D Animator Mikhail Ivanov confirmed the team is building the ability to switch between High Ready and Low Ready, a change aimed at deepening the game’s signature realism and making bots behave more like real people.
Quick answer: Ready stances are confirmed and “planned for the future,” not yet live. High Ready keeps your weapon raised for an instant shot, while Low Ready relaxes your grip to save stamina at the cost of a slower reaction. What you use in Tarkov today functions as High Ready.
What High Ready and Low Ready stances do
The two stances describe how your character holds a weapon when not actively aiming down sights. The difference comes down to a trade between speed and stamina, which matters in a shooter built around long stretches of waiting and sudden firefights.
| Stance | How it works | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| High Ready | Weapon raised and held close, ready to fire instantly | Faster response, more arm fatigue over time |
| Low Ready | Proper grip but the gun is held lower and more relaxed | Saves stamina, slower to react when a threat appears |
Ivanov framed the addition around immersion. “Yes, we’re planning to add that in the future,” he said. “It’ll add immersion for players themselves, and make bots feel more human and believable.” The current handling in Tarkov already mirrors a High Ready posture, so the new option is really about letting you choose a stamina-saving stance during downtime.
AK animation and modding rework
Alongside stances, Battlestate is reworking weapon animations and modding for the AK platform. Ivanov said the AK animation work and modding changes are already finished, including the ability to mix handguards and gas tube covers, run the weapon without a gas tube cover, and a visual upgrade to the trigger groups.
Getting it into the live game is the harder part. The sheer number of AK presets, combined with a change to the weapon skeleton, has created implementation problems. “Implementing everything properly without negatively affecting any players is something we really need to work hard on,” Ivanov explained, adding that the team believes it can land the Kalash in one of the major upcoming patches. The Mosin rifle is next in line for a similar treatment.
Magazine loading animations in development
Mag loading animations are “heavily in development,” but the variety of magazine shapes in Tarkov makes them tricky to finish. Unusual designs such as drum magazines and the P90 magazine are the main hurdle, since each one needs its rounds to fit together correctly. Ivanov said the team expects to roll out the loading animations within the year.
He also stressed that realism stays central to Tarkov’s animation work, but the team mixes in “a bit of theatrical flair” so weapons feel satisfying to handle.
Escape From Tarkov roadmap: Season 1 and Q3 2026
Battlestate published an updated roadmap covering the coming months. July opens with a ‘Blackout’ event that leads into the launch of Tarkov Season 1. After that, attention shifts to a set of quality-of-life and balance changes heading into the third quarter of 2026.
| Window | Planned changes |
|---|---|
| July / Season 1 | ‘Blackout’ event, task rework, group-shared kill objectives, hideout progression and insurance rebalancing, improved enemy AI, new weapons and gear, PMC customization, and more beginner help |
| Q3 2026 | Ranked leagues, a Lighthouse rework, mag loading animations, a “simplified GPS system,” new invite-a-friend incentives, trader reputation changes, containers with gear presets, the option to skip Prestige requirements “for a large in-game fee,” the move to Unity 6, and FSR 4.0 |
What is confirmed versus what is still planned
It helps to separate the finished work from the features that are still in progress. Ready stances are confirmed as a planned addition without a set patch. The AK changes are complete but blocked by implementation issues, while other items have rough timing tied to Season 1 or the Q3 window.
- High Ready and Low Ready stances: confirmed as planned, no patch date given.
- AK animations and modding: finished, targeting a major upcoming patch.
- Mosin rifle animation overhaul: next in line after the AK.
- Magazine loading animations: in development, expected within the year and listed for Q3 2026.
The combination of new stances, reworked weapon handling, and a packed Season 1 list points to a noticeable shift in how Tarkov plays. For a game built on tense, realistic gunfights, the ability to drop into a Low Ready posture during quiet stretches is a small change with a real effect on stamina management and pacing.
