How to complete Operation Aquarius in Escape From Tarkov Patch 13.5

Early game tasks in Escape From Tarkov are daunting, especially when they are on Customs. The Customs map is arguably one of the best in the entire game for PvP, and Dorms, in particular, is a warzone. If you’re trying to complete Operation Aquarius, you’ve got no choice but to go there. Let me show you how to complete Operation Aquarius Part 1 and Part 2 in Escape From Tarkov Patch 13.5.

How to complete Operation Aquarius in Escape From Tarkov Patch 13.5

There are two parts to Operation Aquarius, but the one that’s likely to cause the most grief is the first.

Operation Aquarius Part 1

Before you attempt this task, you need the ‘Dorm room 206 key.’ If you’re lucky, you can find this on dead Scavs. The key can also be found in Jackets and Draws on any map. You can also barter trade for the key from Therapist for 7 ‘Piles of meds.’

Once you’ve got the key, make sure you carry it in your Secure Container, just in case anything goes wrong during your Raid. 

Image by PC Invasion

Now for the hard part, head into 2 story Dorms (the smaller building) and to the top floor. Use your key on the door pictured above (right next to the staircase) and step inside. You don’t need to interact with anything; just being in the room will complete the mission. 

Once you’ve left Dorms, you must successfully extract. If you don’t, you’ll need to revisit the room, so play carefully. It’s usually wise to avoid combat if you’re doing tasks, and that’s doubly true in tasks where extracting is required. If you’re lucky, you can take the Car Extract nearby, but you’ll need to bring 5000 Rubles to do so.

Operation Aquarius Part 2

Oddly enough, the 2nd part of Operation Aquarius is much easier. All you have to do is kill 15 Scavs on Customs. This would be a tall order if you had to do it all at once, but you can do this over as many Raids as you like. On top of that, there’s no penalty for dying. 

You can find Scavs scattered all over the map, but around the bridge over the river and in front of the large warehouse (Big Red) are good places to start. As the smaller island is to the far side of Customs, you’re less likely to run into PMCs while you’re Scav hunting. Otherwise, you can find plenty of Scavs down the main road through the center of the map. Just beware of the Sniper Scavs on the towers if you go here.

What should I do if I keep dying in Dorms?

Dorms is a notorious location for PvP, and it can be very overwhelming for a new player. Many PMCs run straight there at the start of the Raid, but the location tends to empty out after 15-20 mins. Play the long game and wait in a bush for things to quiet down. It may sound like cowardice but kills don’t matter in Escape From Tarkov. The most important thing to do in each Raid is to survive by any means necessary.

Night Raids are typically much quieter than daytime, especially early in the Wipe. You may come across kitted-out PMCs with night vision goggles, but it’s uncommon. The only downside is it’s hard to see, and Scavs usually have superb vision in the dark. Tarkov is punishing for beginners, but a strong weapon can tip the scales in your favor. Check out our guide for the best budget weapons, all available with Level 1 Traders.