The Lighthouse quests offer some of Tarkov’s most rewarding lore-driven challenges, centered around the enigmatic Lightkeeper NPC and his hidden network of clues. These quests require careful exploration of Shoreline’s abandoned areas, deciphering cryptic documents, and engaging in high-stakes combat to obtain rare keys and valuable loot.

Whether you’re seeking the coveted “Golden Echo” weapon blueprint or simply want to unravel the Lighthouse’s mysteries, this guide covers everything: how to unlock the Lightkeeper, locate key quest items, navigate hazardous zones, and complete each stage of the Lighthouse questline. Use this comprehensive roadmap to efficiently progress through these quests, avoid common pitfalls, and claim the rewards that await those brave enough to pursue the Lightkeeper’s secrets.

1. Unlocking the Lightkeeper and Initiating the Questline

Before you can start Lighthouse quests, you must first gain access to the Lightkeeper NPC. He appears only under certain conditions:

  • Requirement: Reach at least Level 30 with Therapist. This level unlocks the “Mystery at Lighthouse” quest.
  • Meeting Location: Lightkeeper spawns as a Scav boss variant near the westernmost dock of Shoreline around 20:00–23:00 in-game time. Approach cautiously—he carries a custom carbine and wears reinforced armor.
  • Initial Interaction: Upon defeating the Lightkeeper Scav, you’ll receive a quest item called “Lighthouse Folder”. Hand this folder to Therapist to正式register the “Mystery at Lighthouse” quest.
  • Recommended Gear: Use a mid-tier suppressed rifle (e.g., MP7A2 with AP SX) and high-tier armor (Class 5+) to survive the Lightkeeper’s patrol and nearby AI Scav clusters.

2. Locating the Lighthouse Folder Documents

After registering the quest, Therapist tasks you with recovering three specific documents scattered around Shoreline. These items must be found within separate raids and handed in sequentially:

  • Document A: “Map Fragment” — Found in the Red Bedroom of the Lighthouse building (room 401). The Lighthouse is located on the southwestern peninsula accessible via a narrow causeway. Key spawns: on the wooden table near the broken window.
  • Document B: “Captain’s Log” — Located inside the Power Station Office (Building 100) near the large generator engine. Check behind the desk drawer. The Power Station sits just north of the Resort complex.
  • Document C: “Lightkeeper’s Journal” — Spawns on a desk shelf in the Health Resort’s second floor (room 210). You may encounter AI Rogues in hallway 208—proceed with caution and use flashbangs to clear the corridor.

To efficiently collect these documents, plan three separate raid entries to Shoreline: one focused on extracting from the Lighthouse, another from the Power Station, and the third from the Resort. Each document spawn is tied to specific loot rotation timers—if a document doesn’t appear, exit safely and re-enter after the next server cycle to reset spawn chances.

3. Completing “Mystery at Lighthouse” and Receiving the Next Quest

Once all three documents are delivered to Therapist, you’ll receive the follow-up quest “Lighthouse Beacon” with the following objectives:

  • Retrieve the Beacon Keycard: Spawns randomly on Scav pockets in the Resort West Wing (rooms 303–305). High AI Scav density—prepare to clear or avoid Scav patrols.
  • Access the Underground Bunker: Use the Beacon Keycard to open the bunker hatch near the Lighthouse’s base—found in a rusted metal compartment halfway down the causeway steps.
  • Recover the Beacon Device: Inside the bunker’s locked safe (requires combination “8-14-6”), find the Beacon Device mounted on a stand. The safe combination is provided by Therapist only after Document C is delivered.
  • Exfil via Boat Dock: Exit through the southeastern boat docks to avoid heavily guarded northern bunker entrances. The canals between Shoreline and Woods can be used if the boat is unavailable.

Completing “Lighthouse Beacon” rewards you with a “Golden Echo” weapon blueprint and Therapist reputation +30,000. This blueprint crafts a unique carbine with integrated suppressor and high ergonomics—priceless for stealth builds. Expect multiple player encounters near the bunker—use smoke grenades to cover exfil or engage from long range where possible.

4. Advanced Lighthouse Quests: “Signal Activation” and “Storm’s Edge”

After turning in the Beacon Device, you unlock two branching quests: “Signal Activation” and “Storm’s Edge”. Both tasks run concurrently but have distinct objectives:

  • Signal Activation:
    • Objective A: Install the Beacon Device at the top of the Lighthouse (room 501). Climb the spiral staircase, avoiding tripwires—detectable by careful floor scanning.
    • Objective B: Activate the beacon by interacting with the control panel (hold for 20 seconds). During activation, AI Scavs will swarm from the nearby Resort; use a shotgun (e.g., Saiga-12) for close defense.
    • Return to Therapist: After activation, extract via the northern docks and report completion.
  • Storm’s Edge:
    • Objective A: Collect three “Emergency Flare” items from Southern Cottages—priority cot stands in rooms 101, 103, and 105. Lower spawn chance—multiple raids may be needed.
  • Objective B: Place the flares around the Lighthouse perimeter at marked locations (rusted spotlights): coordinate deployment times to avoid being detected by high-tier players using thermal optics.
  • Objective C: Survive a 10-minute siege while flares light up the storm clouds. Waves of AI Rogues and occasional PMC squads attack—use reinforced choke points at the Lighthouse base and deploy mines if available.
  • Return to Therapist: Extract through the southern boat docks after the siege ends to submit mission.

Completing both quests grants Trait +50,000 and access to the “Lighthouse Operator” hideout upgrade, which provides a passive trait: “Nautical Navigation”, reducing stamina drain by 15% in Shoreline and Woods maps. Timing is crucial—coordinate with teammates to automate flare placement while one member defends. Use high-tier armor (Class 5+) and stocked medical kits to withstand waves. Mine placements at choke points (e.g., the Lighthouse causeway entrance) greatly improve chances of surviving “Storm’s Edge.”

5. Final Challenges and Rare Rewards

After both intermediate quests are complete, you unlock the ultimate Lighthouse mission: “Tidebreaker”. Objectives include:

  • Obtain the “Lighthouse Master Key”: A rare spawn inside the Resort’s second-floor safe (room 214). Combination: “3-19-22”, visible in the Lightkeeper’s Journal pages from earlier quests.
  • Enter the Hidden Lower Chamber: At the Lighthouse base, use the Master Key to unlock a concealed hatch beneath the floor grating (look for a faint florescent symbol on the grating). This chamber is pitch-black—use IR illuminator carefully to avoid giving away position.
  • Recover the “Tidebreaker Codex”: Found inside a reinforced vault requiring 4 minutes to unlock. During unlocking, incoming AI Scavs and Rogue waves increase in intensity—position behind metal crates for cover and use suppressors to maintain stealth.
  • Exfil via Barge Dock: Located east of the Lighthouse; travel by narrow wooden walkway to avoid detection by thermal scans from Resort snipers. Exfil window: 30–35 minutes to avoid late-raid rushes.

Completion of “Tidebreaker” awards a Unique Gold-Plated AKM with integrated suppressor (market value ~35 million ₽) and Therapist Mastery Level. This weapon boasts unmatched sound suppression and ergonomics, making it ideal for endgame stealth. Additionally, players earn the “Lighthouse Keeper” developer trophy, signifying mastery of one of Tarkov’s most challenging questlines. Expect heavy opposition—coordinate with a squad to watch multiple angles, deploy barricades if possible, and allocate roles: one unlocking, one defending, one scouting for flankers. Resource pooling—morphine injectors, grenades, and repair kits—maximizes survival during this climactic raid.

6. Conclusion

The Lighthouse quests revolve around lore-rich storytelling, intense PvE combat, and strategic planning. From first locating the Lightkeeper Scav boss to the final “Tidebreaker” mission, each stage tests your map knowledge, resource management, and teamwork.

Following this guide—acquiring documents, activating the beacon, enduring the storm siege, and unlocking the lower chamber—ensures you navigate these challenges efficiently. The rewards, including the “Golden Echo” blueprint and the gold-plated Kane of the Tidebreaker, provide unparalleled value for stealth-oriented builds. Prepare thoroughly, coordinate with teammates, and approach each objective methodically to emerge victorious as a true Lighthouse Keeper of Tarkov.