Look, let’s be real. Postman Pat Part 1 is one of those early-game Escape from Tarkov quests that looks incredibly simple on paper but ends up being a complete nightmare if you don't know the exact timing of the Shoreline map. You’re basically a glorified delivery boy. Prapor wants you to find a letter on a dead guy. Easy, right? Well, not when that dead guy is sitting in a literal kill-box on a pier surrounded by snipers, bushes, and players who are much better at the game than you are.
The quest is a gatekeeper. Honestly, if you can’t get this done, your progress with Prapor and Therapist just hits a brick wall. It’s one of the first times Tarkov forces you into a high-traffic "Point of Interest" where the survival rate drops significantly. You aren't just fighting Scavs here; you're fighting the geography of the map itself.
Finding the Body for Postman Pat Part 1
The letter is located on the Shoreline map. Specifically, you’re looking for the Weather Station. No, wait—scratch that. That's a different quest. You’re heading to the Administrative Pier. It’s that long stretch of concrete on the southern coast of the map, right near the Gas Station that’s always on fire.
The body you need is inside the little shack at the very end of the pier. It's a dead messenger. He’s slumped over in the corner of the room. You have to walk all the way out there, exposed from nearly 360 degrees, just to grab a single piece of paper.
The Actual Walkthrough
First, you need to get to the pier. Most players make the mistake of sprinting across the open road. Don't do that. You’ll get tapped by a sniper from the hills or someone camping the Gas Station. Instead, approach from the beach side or wait in a bush for the first ten minutes of the raid to let the "Chads" clear out.
Once you get onto the pier, move fast. There are two buildings. You want the one on the left as you face the water—the one that looks like a small office or lighthouse annex. Inside, you’ll see the messenger. Search him. The Dingy Mysterious Letter will appear in your quest inventory.
It’s important to remember that quest items in Tarkov aren't like normal loot. They go into a special "quest stash." If you die, it's gone. You have to extract safely to keep it. This is where the "Tarkov luck" usually runs out for most people.
Survival is the Hard Part
Extraction is the real boss of Postman Pat Part 1. If the "Pier Boat" extraction is open (look for the flashing green light), take it immediately. It’s right there. If it’s not open, you’ve got a long, terrifying walk ahead of you.
You’ve probably noticed that Shoreline is a "sniper’s paradise." Moving from the pier to Tunnel or Road to Customs involves crossing massive fields of nothingness. If you have the letter, stay low. Stick to the treeline. Avoid the Power Station like the plague.
Why People Fail This Task
Most deaths on this quest happen because people get greedy. They grab the letter and then think, "Hey, I'm already at the pier, I should check the two safes and the PCs."
Bad move.
The moment you step onto that pier, you are on a timer. Every second you spend looting is another second a player with an M700 is lining up a shot on the back of your head from the cliffs above the road. Grab the letter. Leave. Immediately.
- The Letter Location: Messenger body in the Pier office.
- The Extraction: Pier Boat (if active) or your designated map exit.
- The Hand-over: You give the letter to Therapist, not Prapor.
Wait, why Therapist? That’s the "lore" of the quest. Prapor sends you to find it, but the information is medical or personal in nature, so you hand it to the doctor. Finishing this quest is a prerequisite for a massive chain of tasks that eventually leads to some of the best gear unlocks in the game.
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Common Misconceptions and Technicalities
A lot of players think they can just "run through" and get the quest done. In the current 2026 Tarkov build, the Scav AI at the Gas Station has been tuned to be much more aggressive. If you don't clear the two or three Scavs near the road, they will track you all the way onto the pier.
Also, keep in mind that you need to be Level 10 to even start this. If you’re Level 9 and you find the letter, it won’t count. You’ll just be holding a useless piece of paper while someone loots your corpse.
The Therapist vs. Prapor Confusion
This is the part that trips up everyone. You accept the quest from Prapor. You find the letter. But when you go to "Turn In," Prapor’s menu shows nothing. You’ll think the game is glitched. It’s not.
Open Therapist’s task menu. You’ll see a quest called Postman Pat Part 2. This isn't really a "part 2" in the sense of a new mission; it's just the act of handing her the letter you found in Part 1. Once you give it to her, Part 1 automatically completes with Prapor. It’s a bit of a weird UI choice by Battlestate Games, but it’s been that way for years.
How to Guarantee a Win
If you are struggling, try a night raid. Shoreline at night is spooky, sure, but most players are at the Resort looking for LedX spawns. The pier is usually deserted at 2:00 AM in-game time. Bring a cheap pair of NVGs or even just a flashlight (though flashlights are basically a "shoot me" sign).
Another tip: check the "Pier Boat" extract from a distance. If you see the lights, go for it. If not, consider circling all the way around the back of the map near the swamp. It’s slower, but the survival rate is nearly 90% compared to the 40% survival rate of running down the main road.
Actionable Next Steps for Tarkov Success
- Verify your Level: Make sure you are Level 10 or higher before heading to Shoreline.
- Check the Extract: Before committing to the pier, look for the green flares or boat lights.
- Secure the Letter: Loot the body in the left-hand office building on the pier.
- Don't Loot: Once the letter is in your quest stash, prioritize extraction over Safes or PCs.
- Hand it over to Therapist: Navigate to Therapist's task menu to complete the hand-in requirement.
- Check Prapor: Go back to Prapor to collect your Roubles and reputation points.
Completing this task unlocks the "Shaking Up the Teller" quest line, which is essential for getting your hands on high-tier ammunition later in the wipe. Don't let the simplicity of a delivery quest fool you; in Tarkov, the simplest jobs are usually the deadliest.