You're probably staring at Skier’s smug face right now, wondering why he’s asking you to do his dirty work. Again. The quest Forge a Friendship Tarkov isn't some epic tactical operation or a high-stakes shootout in the middle of Interchange. Honestly, it’s a glorified grocery run. But in the brutal world of Escape from Tarkov, even buying a few shotguns can get you killed if you aren't paying attention.
It’s one of those early-game hurdles that feels like a chore. You need to find specific items, hand them over, and hope the RNG gods were smiling on your last raid. If you’ve played this game for more than an hour, you know that nothing is ever as simple as the quest text makes it sound. Skier wants shotguns. Not just any shotguns, but specific ones with specific mods. And if you mess up the durability or the attachments, he’ll just look at you like you’re an idiot.
Let’s break down how to actually get this done so you can move on to quests that actually involve shooting people.
What Skier Actually Wants from You
The quest requirements are straightforward on paper, but Tarkov loves to hide the catch in the fine print. You need to hand over two MP-133 12ga pump-action shotguns. Here is the part where people usually mess up: they have to be modified. Specifically, they need a tactical plastic pistol grip and a magazine capacity of at least 6 rounds.
You also need to find a few other bits and pieces. Skier wants three lower half-masks and two balaclavas. These are the basic face coverings you see on Scavs all the time. You can’t just buy these off the flea market and hand them over if the quest requires "Found in Raid" (FiR) status, though for Forge a Friendship, the gear requirements are generally more about the specific items than the FiR tag, depending on the current patch's tuning.
The shotguns are the real headache.
If you're lucky, you’ve looted an MP-133 off a dead Scav. If you’re unlucky, you’re refreshing Jaeger’s inventory every reset. Most players realize pretty quickly that the base MP-133 usually comes with a 4-round magazine. That won’t work. You have to swap it out for the 6-round or 8-round version.
The Modding Nightmare for New Players
Tarkov's modding system is deep. It’s also incredibly frustrating when you’re just starting out. To complete Forge a Friendship Tarkov, you need that plastic pistol grip. If you don't have Jaeger unlocked yet, you're going to have a hard time buying these parts directly.
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Here is a pro tip: check the trade for the MP-133 at Mechanic. Sometimes he has a trade for elite pliers or other junk items that gives you a shotgun that is already halfway modded. But usually, you’re looking for the MP-133/153 plastic pistol grip and the MP-133 12ga 6-shell capacity magazine tube.
Don’t forget the laser. Skier wants a tactical device on there too. Usually, a cheap NcSTAR Blue Laser or a Zenit Perst-4 does the trick. Just make sure the gun's durability is high enough. If you bring him a shotgun that looks like it was dragged through a swamp and has 10 durability, he won’t take it. Aim for 60 durability or higher to be safe.
Scav Hunting for Face Covers
The masks are the easy part, right? Wrong.
How many times have you gone into a raid specifically looking for a balaclava, only to find every Scav wearing a cowboy hat or a ushanka? It’s the Tarkov desire sensor at work. To get the three lower half-masks and two balaclavas, your best bet is running Factory as a Scav or a PMC.
Factory is a meat grinder. It’s fast. It’s loud. It’s perfect for farming Scav gear because the density of AI is higher than anywhere else for the square footage. Just stay in the raid long enough for the second or third wave of Scavs to spawn. They usually carry the basic gear you need.
- Check the dead bodies near the office.
- Check the crates in the tunnels.
- Kill Scavs, take their faces (literally), and get out.
Honestly, half-masks are everywhere once you stop looking for them. Just toss them in your backpack whenever you see one, even if you aren't on the quest yet. Future you will thank current you for the foresight.
Why This Quest Is a Bottleneck
You might be wondering why you’re even bothering with this. It’s because Skier is one of the primary gatekeepers for late-game gear. If you don't build rapport with him through quests like Forge a Friendship Tarkov, you won't get access to better weapon parts, armor, and eventually, the Peacekeeper questline.
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Skier is a jerk, but he’s a necessary jerk.
This quest specifically helps boost your loyalty level. Higher loyalty means cheaper prices and better stuff. It also unlocks subsequent tasks that give much better XP. If you're stuck on this, you're effectively capping your character's progression. It’s a literal barrier to entry for the "real" game.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
People fail this quest for the dumbest reasons. I’ve done it. My friends have done it. You’ll probably do it too if you don't pay attention.
First, the durability. I mentioned it before, but it bears repeating. Scav guns are often broken. If the gun is "red" in your inventory or has a very low maximum durability, Skier will reject it. You can't just repair it to 100% if the maximum possible durability is too low. You might need to buy a fresh receiver from Jaeger if you can.
Second, the magazine size. People often confuse the MP-133 with the MP-153. They look similar. They use the same shells. But the parts are not always interchangeable for quest requirements. Make sure you are modding the MP-133.
Third, the "Turn In" button. Tarkov's UI is... unique. Sometimes you'll have the item in your stash, but the quest screen won't let you hand it over. Make sure the items aren't inside a backpack or a chest rig. Put them in your main stash space. Sometimes the game gets confused if items are nested three layers deep in a Scav Junk Box.
Dealing with Jaeger and Mechanic
If you’re struggling to find the parts, you need to level up your other traders. Jaeger sells the MP-133 parts you need at Loyalty Level 1. If you haven't unlocked Jaeger yet, go do "Introduction" for Mechanic immediately. You can't efficiently finish Forge a Friendship Tarkov without Jaeger's shop.
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Once Jaeger is open, you can buy the:
- MP-133 6-shell magazine.
- Plastic Pistol Grip.
- The shotgun itself (if you haven't found one).
If you are trying to do this entirely through looting, you are making your life miserable for no reason. Use the traders. That’s what they’re there for.
Is It Worth the Rubles?
Early wipe, these parts can be expensive or constantly sold out. You might be tempted to skip it. Don't. The rewards—some Roubles, a bit of XP, and Skier rep—are okay, but the real reward is the unlock of the next quest. You’re paying for progress. Think of it as an investment in your hideout and your future loadouts.
The total cost shouldn't exceed 50k to 70k Roubles if you buy everything fresh. That’s one decent Scav run on Interchange or Woods. Just find some loose loot, sell it to Therapist, and buy your way through Skier's demands.
The Strategy for Efficiency
If you want to be smart about this, don't go into raids just for this quest.
Stack your objectives. If you have to go to Customs for "Checking" or "Debut," look for the masks and shotguns while you’re there. Customs is crawling with Scavs near the Bus Depot and the Military Checkpoint. It’s much more efficient to play the game naturally and just keep a mental checklist of what Skier needs.
Keep your stash organized. Use a specific corner for quest items. There is nothing worse than accidentally selling a balaclava to Ragman when you needed it for Skier.
Actionable Steps to Finish the Quest
Stop overthinking it and just do this:
- Unlock Jaeger first. Complete the "Introduction" quest from Mechanic by finding the note under the deer stand in Woods.
- Buy the base MP-133s. If you don't have them from Scav runs, buy two fresh ones from Jaeger.
- Get the specific mods. Purchase two plastic pistol grips and two 6-round (or larger) magazine tubes.
- Assemble the guns. Right-click the shotgun, go to "Modding" or "Edit Preset" (if you have the Workbench), and swap the parts. Make sure a laser is attached if the requirement asks for a tactical device.
- Farm the masks in one or two Factory runs. Go in as a Scav, wait for the AI to get killed by PMCs, or kill them yourself if you're feeling brave. Loot every face.
- Clear your inventory. Move the completed shotguns and the five face covers to your primary stash area.
- Hand them over. Go to the Task tab under Skier, select Forge a Friendship, and click "Turn In" for each item.
Once you hit that complete button, you’re done with one of the most annoying early-game fetch quests. You'll get a boost to your Skier reputation, which is vital for getting better suppressor and optic options later on. From here, you’ll likely move on to "Vitamins" or "The Extortionist," both of which are much more interesting than playing dress-up with shotguns. Stay focused on your extracts and don't let the "head-eyes" meta get you down while you're hunting for those balaclavas.