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Introduction

Tarkov’s close-quarters maps, including Factory, Interchange interiors, and Labs hallways, are some of the most chaotic environments in the game. In these confined spaces, grenades aren’t just an opening tactic—they are pivotal tools that can decide the outcome of a fight. A well-placed grenade can flush enemies out of cover, break aggressive pushes, or seal an extraction point, giving you an advantage that gunplay alone often cannot. Understanding how to integrate grenades into your rotations, knowing where to throw them, and timing their detonation can turn the tightest situations into opportunities for dominance.

This guide focuses on practical strategies for maximizing grenade effectiveness in tight PvP. From positioning to timing, chain sequences, and choosing the right grenade type, you will learn methods that consistently disrupt enemy movements and create openings that you and your squad can exploit. Whether you are a solo raider or part of a coordinated team, mastering grenade usage is one of the fastest ways to gain control in confined environments.

Choosing the Right Grenade

Selecting the proper grenade is the first step toward tactical success. The classic RGD-5 and F-1 frag grenades are excellent choices due to their lethal radius and predictable throw mechanics, allowing you to target enemies in choke points or behind cover with precision. The RGO series arms faster and provides a tighter timing window, which is ideal for aggressive plays in smaller rooms or stairwells where milliseconds count. Flashbangs like the Zarya-2 are crucial for pushing through dark corridors, disrupting campers, or forcing enemies out of advantageous positions. Smoke grenades, while often overlooked, can block sniper sightlines, cover wide rotations, or mask flanking movements, turning dangerous corridors into safe passageways.

When planning grenade selection, consider your engagement style and map layout. A player who prefers aggressive close-quarters skirmishes might prioritize frags and flashes, while a tactical flanker or scout may find smoke more valuable for controlling enemy vision and dictating rotations. Each grenade type serves a specific function, and combining them effectively allows you to manipulate both space and enemy behavior.

Pre-Nading Hotspots

Pre-nading, or throwing grenades into expected enemy positions before fully committing to an engagement, can give you a significant advantage. Key locations like Factory’s forklift room, Labs’ server racks, and Interchange’s tech shop corners are predictable choke points where opponents often hide. By tossing a grenade into these zones before peeking, you force enemies into reactive movements, disrupting their aim and positioning. This gives you a psychological and tactical edge, allowing you to approach the area safely or prepare a lethal follow-up.

Understanding map patterns and enemy behavior is essential for pre-nading effectively. Pay attention to common paths, camping spots, and frequently contested areas. The more accurately you can predict enemy positioning, the more effective your grenades become, as they force enemies to reveal themselves or abandon cover. Pre-nading isn’t just about damage—it’s about creating control over the flow of the fight.

Chain Grenading

Chain grenading is the art of combining multiple grenade effects in a sequence to maximize control. A typical chain involves throwing a flashbang to disorient enemies, immediately following with a frag into their likely escape path, and then pushing with gunfire to capitalize on their confusion. This layered approach keeps opponents off-balance and prevents them from resetting or recovering between actions.

Timing is crucial for chain grenading. Flashbangs should detonate just as you enter their line of sight, while frags are cooked to reach the target at the precise moment they attempt to move. Mastering this rhythm requires practice but pays dividends in high-stakes raids. By integrating chain grenading into your playstyle, even well-armored or experienced players become vulnerable to coordinated and precise attacks, allowing you to dominate tight PvP spaces.

Using Sound and Bait

In close-quarters combat, sound is often the most reliable indicator of enemy movement. You can use grenades not only as offensive tools but also as a means to manipulate enemy expectations. Dropping a pin or feinting a throw can bait enemies into committing to a push, only for you to swing from an unexpected angle. Similarly, faking a retreat and waiting for enemies to follow into a choke point allows you to punish their overextension with a cooked frag or flashbang.

Using sound as bait adds a layer of psychological warfare to tight map engagements. It forces enemies to second-guess their decisions, disrupts their rhythm, and can make even experienced opponents hesitate. Coupled with proper grenade placement, this strategy enhances both your control and survivability in high-pressure environments.

Safety and Self-Preservation

Grenades are double-edged swords in confined maps. Poor timing, miscalculations, or bounce-backs can easily turn a powerful tool into a self-inflicted hazard. Always account for walls, floors, and obstacles that can deflect or delay grenades. Cook frags only when you are confident in your timing; otherwise, you risk providing the enemy with an easy highlight moment. Maintaining situational awareness and controlling your detonation timing are as important as aiming itself.

Safety also involves positioning. Avoid throwing grenades from exposed angles and ensure you have hard cover to retreat behind. Self-preservation isn’t just about surviving—it’s about maintaining control and ensuring your grenades are an asset rather than a liability.

Conclusion

Grenades in tight PvP aren’t merely instruments of chaos—they are precision tools for control. Mastering angles, chain effects, sound baiting, and safe detonation ensures that every throw contributes to your tactical advantage. By combining knowledge of map hotspots, grenade types, and enemy behavior, you can dictate fights and manipulate the battlefield to your favor.

In the right hands, even a single frag grenade can turn a raid in your favor, giving you the upper hand against heavily armed opponents. Focus on positioning, timing, and smart sequences, and you will find that grenades not only disrupt enemies but also empower your playstyle in Tarkov’s most challenging close-quarters environments.