Tarkov Goals and Means Quest Guide (1.2.0.0): How to Unlock It, the Best 9x39 Setup & Where to Get 20 PMC Kills Past 50m (2026)

Goals and Means is one of the Mechanic quests high-level players get stuck on most. You need 20 PMC kills from over 50 meters with any 9x39 weapon, a caliber built for close, quiet fights. On top of that, the quest moved in the task shakeup, so several popular guides still tell you to finish a Gunsmith part that no longer unlocks it. This guide covers the quest as it works in patch 1.2.0.0 (Season 1 "KORD BREACH"): what actually unlocks it, which 9x39 gun to bring, where 50 m sightlines exist on each map, and how to finish it faster in PvE.

Quick Answer: What Is Goals and Means in Tarkov?

Goals and Means is a Mechanic quest that requires Mechanic Loyalty Level 4. It is not required for Kappa. (EFT Wiki – Goals and Means)

	Goals and Means
Given by	Mechanic (LL4, which needs player level 40)
Objective	Eliminate 20 PMC operatives from over 50 m with any 9x39 weapon
Unlocks after (player-reported, 1.2.0.0)	Completing Calibration (Mechanic)
Kappa required?	No
Rouble reward	400,000 ₽ (420,000 with Intelligence Center L1, 460,000 with L2)
Item reward	1× AS VAL MOD.4 + its barter unlocked at Mechanic LL4
Other rewards	+65,000 EXP, +4 Weapon Maintenance, +4 Troubleshooting, Mechanic rep +1.5

TL;DR: finish Calibration, bring a scoped AS VAL, VSS or VSK-94 loaded with BP gs, and hunt PMCs on maps with open ground: Woods, Customs, Shoreline, Lighthouse, Streets and Ground Zero. Watch for the task-progress notification. If it doesn't pop after a kill, that kill was under 50 m or not a PMC.

How Do You Unlock Goals and Means in Tarkov?

This is the question we see most on Reddit right now. The current wiki page lists no prerequisite quest, only the Mechanic LL4 gate. (EFT Wiki) In practice that has not matched what players see. In a r/EscapeFromTarkovPvE thread about exactly this, several players said it appeared right after they turned in Calibration. One level-45 player said it unlocked "immediately afterward." Another confirmed the same thing later in the thread.

That fits the history. Before the task shakeup, Goals and Means came after Getting Acquainted and a Gunsmith part. Third-party trackers still list Gunsmith Part 15 and level 33, which is why so many players are confused. If you are LL4 with Mechanic and it isn't showing, the order to check is:

• Mechanic LL4. It needs player level 40 plus the reputation requirement. Patch 1.1.0.0 removed trader spending requirements. (EFT Wiki – Mechanic)
• Calibration (Mechanic, LL4): Eliminate 20 PMC operatives from over 100 meters away, with any weapon. (EFT Wiki – Calibration)
• Turn Calibration in and check Mechanic's task list again. Goals and Means should be there.

Calibration is good practice for this quest because it is also 20 long-range PMC kills, at twice the distance and with any gun. If you are still working through the reworked Season 1 task tree, our Season 1 quest rework guide maps out what moved.

What Does Mechanic Say About This Quest?

The briefing explains the point of the quest. Mechanic keeps a stash of special weapons from the Contract Wars and only hands them over to a real expert:

"If you can prove that you can solve problems no matter what tools you're given — I'll open access to this special section of my arsenal." — Mechanic, Goals and Means briefing (in-game quest text, EFT Wiki)

That "special section" is the AS VAL MOD.4. You get one rifle as a reward and unlock its barter at Mechanic LL4, so you can keep running it afterward.

Which 9x39 Weapons Count for Goals and Means?

Any weapon chambered in 9x39 counts. Per the wiki's 9x39mm page, that is six guns. (EFT Wiki – 9x39mm)

Weapon	Class	Verdict for this quest
VSS Vintorez	DMR	✅ Best pick for most players: built for scoped, quiet mid-range
AS VAL	Assault rifle	✅ Great all-rounder; put a low-power scope on it
VSK-94	Assault carbine	✅ Cheap, takes optics well, good budget option
AS VAL MOD.4	Assault carbine	Only if you already own one (it's the reward)
SR-3M	Assault carbine	⚠️ Works, but it's a close-range gun
9A-91	Assault carbine	⚠️ Cheapest, but hardest to land 50 m+ shots with

Ammo: use 9x39mm BP gs. The wiki lists it at 58 damage and 54 penetration, enough to get through most mid-tier armor at quest range. 9x39 is a slow, subsonic round, so the bullet drops a lot past 50 m. Zero your scope to 100 m and aim slightly high on far targets instead of fighting the default zero. We'll leave ammo tier lists to the dedicated trackers; for this quest, BP is the answer.

Optic: 50 m is the minimum, not the sweet spot. Your best kills happen at 60–120 m, so bring a 1-4x or 3x-class scope instead of a red dot. With iron sights or a red dot, kills just past 50 m are much harder to land.

Where Are the Best 50m+ Sightlines for Goals and Means?

The quest has no map restriction, so play wherever you can get PMC fights in the open. Short version: avoid Factory corridors, The Lab and Labyrinth, and play the open maps.

Ground Zero: TerraGroup overwatch

Players in this week's r/EscapefromTarkov thread recommended the machine gun position overlooking the TerraGroup building. The plaza in front of TerraGroup is open ground that PMCs have to cross. From an elevated angle, most kills land in the 50–100 m range. Note that Ground Zero puts players level 21+ into a separate pool, so at level 40 you are fighting experienced PMCs in PvP. In PvE, bot PMCs there are scaled to the map and usually lighter kitted.

Woods and Customs: the classic long-range maps

Woods has the longest open lines in the game: sawmill, the lake and the open fields around the USEC camp. Customs gives you the dorms-to-gas-station and big-red-to-crossroads lines. PMCs route through both all the time. Pick a spot that covers a common path and stay patient. Your kills only count if they are past 50 m, so don't push in for a close finish.

Shoreline and Lighthouse

Shoreline's resort approach and the meadow between the pier and the resort give you clean 80–150 m shots. Lighthouse has long road and treeline lines. Stay away from the chalets, though: Rogues there are not PMCs and won't count.

Streets of Tarkov

The wide boulevards on Streets are good for 50–80 m fights. Go in expecting third parties and heavier armored PMCs.

Factory: the one cramped map with a usable line

Factory isn't a long-range map, but players suggest one angle: looking from the end of the skybridge into the office. It's a narrow window and a lot of fights there happen under 50 m. Use it as a fallback when you only have time for short raids. Don't make it your main plan.

How Do You Know If a Kill Counted for Goals and Means?

Watch for the task-progress notification in raid. A qualifying kill updates the Goals and Means counter right away, and a kill that doesn't trigger it didn't count. Use your first few raids to calibrate your sense of range. Range is easy to misjudge. A kill that feels like 60 m can be under 50 m, and those don't count.

Things that don't count:

• Scavs, Raiders, Rogues and bosses: only PMC operatives count.
• Kills with any other caliber, even if you switch to a sidearm to finish the target.
• Kills under 50 m, even by a meter.

Is Goals and Means Easier in PvE After 1.2.0.0?

Usually, yes. In the PvE Zone, AI USEC and BEAR bots count as PMC operatives. Patch 1.2.0.0 reworked PMC bots so their level, gear and difficulty match the location. Low-level bots on beginner maps carry weaker kit, and high-level bots on endgame maps are more dangerous. (EFT Changelog – 1.2.0.0) 1.2.0.0 also made PMC bots team up more often and sometimes stay neutral until you get close.

What that means for this quest in PvE: play maps where bot PMCs are lower level and cross open ground (Ground Zero, Customs, Woods), and take your shots from range before they come close. A bot that has gone neutral can let you line up a clean 60 m shot. If you plan to prestige in PvE, read our best quests after PvE prestige reset first, because how you sequence Mechanic's line affects how quickly you get back to this quest.

Is Goals and Means Worth Doing?

Yes, if you are already LL4 with Mechanic. The payout is one of the better ones in his late line:

• 400,000–460,000 ₽ in cash, depending on your Intelligence Center level. If you are saving for your hideout, our hideout upgrade order guide shows where it's best spent.
• An AS VAL MOD.4 and a permanent barter for it at Mechanic LL4.
• +4 Weapon Maintenance and +4 Troubleshooting levels, two skills that are slow to grind any other way. More on that in our skills leveling guide.
• +65,000 EXP and +1.5 Mechanic rep.

It is not needed for Kappa. If Kappa is your only goal, you can skip it. Our Kappa container guide lists the tasks that do count.

Fastest Way to Finish Goals and Means: Step by Step

• Finish Calibration first. The same long-range habits carry over, and it is the likely unlock.
• Buy a VSS or VSK-94 with a 1-4x/3x scope and BP gs. Bring two or three kits, since 9x39 setups are expensive to lose.
• Run Woods, Customs or Ground Zero and hold a known PMC route from 60 m or more.
• Never push in for a close kill. Let targets cross open ground and take the shot at range.
• Track the counter after each raid. If kills aren't registering, move your setup farther back.
• Turn in for 400k+ roubles, the AS VAL MOD.4 and its barter.

How Long Does Goals and Means Take?

It depends on your aim and your map. Players who set up on PMC routes usually finish 20 long-range kills over several sessions, not in one evening. 9x39's drop past 50 m costs most players a lot of misses at first. PvE is noticeably faster because PMC bots spawn more predictably than real players.

Stuck on 9x39 kills past 50 m? Let a pro finish Goals and Means, the rest of Mechanic's line, or your whole Kappa chain while you play the parts you enjoy.

• EFT Kappa Container & Quest Boost: any quest, including Goals and Means and Calibration
• EFT Leveling Boost: reach level 40 and Mechanic LL4 faster
• EFT Roubles: fund VSS kits and BP gs stacks without the grind

FAQ

How do you unlock Goals and Means in Tarkov? You need Mechanic Loyalty Level 4 (player level 40). In patch 1.2.0.0, players report that it appears right after completing Mechanic's Calibration quest. Older guides that list Gunsmith Part 15 are out of date since the task shakeup.

What weapons count for Goals and Means? Any 9x39 weapon: VSS Vintorez, AS VAL, AS VAL MOD.4, VSK-94, SR-3M and 9A-91. Kills with any other caliber don't count, even a sidearm finish.

Is Goals and Means required for Kappa? No. The wiki lists it as not required for the Kappa container, so you can skip it if Kappa is your only goal.

Do Scavs or Rogues count for Goals and Means? No. Only PMC operatives count. In PvE, AI USEC and BEAR bots count as PMCs, but Scavs, Raiders, Rogues and bosses don't.

What is the reward for Goals and Means? 400,000 roubles (up to 460,000 with Intelligence Center level 2), one AS VAL MOD.4, its barter at Mechanic LL4, +65,000 EXP, +4 Weapon Maintenance, +4 Troubleshooting and +1.5 Mechanic rep.

Was Goals and Means changed? Yes. Players who did it before the task shakeup remember a 30-kill, 100 m+ version. The current wiki objective is 20 PMC kills from over 50 m with any 9x39 weapon.