What is The Defective Wall in Tarkov Hideout?

What is the Defective Wall in Tarkov Hideout? Find out how to break it down and what lies behind it through our guide.

One of the most memorable moments I had in Tarkov was stumbling back to my hideout after a rough but successful raid. Bleeding, limping, low on supplies, and there it was: that cracked, ugly, defective wall in the Tarkov hideout staring at me like an unfinished story. 

At first, I ignored it. But eventually, curiosity got the better of me. Little did I know it would lead to an entirely new section of the hideout and a gym that would boost my strength stat. 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything I learned firsthand about how to break the defective wall in the hideout, find the sledgehammer, build the gym, and make the most out of the upgrades.

Also Read: The Only EFT Hideout Guide You’ll Need

What is the Defective Wall in Tarkov Hideout?

The defective wall in Tarkov hideout is a damaged part of the hideout that you can interact with after you’ve progressed far enough in your hideout upgrades. It’s not just some background prop, it actually hides a new area you can unlock.

Once you spot the defective wall, you’ll notice it’s marked and slightly crumbled, hinting that it’s not structurally sound. It’s sort of a secret passage that’s begging you to bust it open. Unlocking it not only opens up new sections, but also allows you to eventually install the hideout gym, giving you a way to actively boost strength and endurance.

Unlike the usual hideout modules you just “build,” this one needs physical work, literally using a sledgehammer to knock it down over time. It’s definitely a cool touch that makes Escape From Tarkov’s hideout feel more immersive and personal.

Preparing for the Breakthrough

You can’t just punch the defective wall in Tarkov hideout and hope it collapses, you need some preparation. When I first realized that, I had to go back into raids specifically to hunt for the required tool: the sledgehammer.

Before starting anything, make sure you have the following:

• An available sledgehammer.
• Enough hideout resources like Toolsets, Metal Scissors, and Fleece Cloth.
• Patience, because knocking down the wall takes 3 real-life hours.
• Extra medical supplies. Weirdly enough, injuries like fractures can happen once you start training in the gym later.

Also Read: Best EFT Hideout Upgrade Tricks

Where to Find the Sledgehammer

Finding the sledgehammer is probably the most annoying part of this whole journey. The sledgehammer is considered a rare item, and you won’t just stumble across it casually. It’s primarily found inside Technical Supply Crates scattered across various maps.

The best maps to find Technical Supply Crates:

• Streets of Tarkov (Highly recommended)
• Customs
• Reserve

Here’s the route I followed:

1. Start at the Cinema on Streets.
2. Turn toward the yellow building near the Mud Room area.
3. Enter the building with lots of broken walls and rubble.
4. Look carefully for the Technical Supply Crates, they’re a bit darker in color.
5. Confirm it’s the right crate by checking that it says “Technical Supply Crate” on the top-right when you loot.

Tips:

• Bring a big backpack, the sledgehammer is large (5×2 slots).
• Hit multiple crates in a single raid to maximize chances.
• If you’re lucky, you might even find two in one run.

Tools Needed for Wall Dismantling

Before you can completely tear down the defective wall in Tarkov hideout, you’ll need more than just the sledgehammer.

Here’s everything required after you start breaking it:

• Toolset: Essential for the second stage of wall repair.
• Metal Scissors: Used alongside the Toolset to fix and strengthen the wall.
• Fleece Cloth: Required to clean up the rubble and remove penalties like reduced movement or strength.

You’ll use these tools over several stages:

1. Sledgehammer Dismantle: Takes 3 hours.
2. Toolset and Metal Scissors Phase: Another 3 hours.
3. Final Wall Upgrade: 12 hours for complete setup.

In total, expect around 18 hours of hideout work just for the wall before even touching the gym construction.

Step-by-Step: Breaking the Defective Wall

When you finally have everything, here’s how the process works:

1. Go to Hideout > Defective Wall.
2. Click “Dismantle.” This uses the sledgehammer and starts a 3-hour timer
3. After dismantling, upgrade the wall using a Toolset and Metal Scissors. Start the second construction phase (another 3 hours).
4. Clean up debris with Fleece Cloth to reduce penalties during the process.
5. Complete the final upgrade phase, which takes 12 hours.

Important: While the defective wall in Tarkov hideout is under construction, you can still use your hideout modules, but you might experience slight performance penalties.

Also Read: Is The Hideout Worth Upgrading in Tarkov? 

How to Build the Hideout Gym

Once the wall is fully fixed, you finally unlock the ability to build the Gym. 

Building the gym is relatively straightforward after that:

• Click to build the Gym module.
• Prepare the required materials (usually stuff you gathered while raiding for the sledgehammer).
• Construction takes another 3 hours.

The Gym works like a minigame, you’ll click when the timing is right to perform lifts or sprints. Successfully completing workouts boosts your:

• Strength
• Endurance

But watch out: you can suffer temporary debuffs like:

• Fractures (heal with splints)
• Severe Muscle Pain (cooldown before next training)

The first time I used the Gym, I messed up the clicks and ended up fracturing my character’s leg. But after a while, it became a part of my hideout routine before and after raids.

Conclusion

Unlocking the defective wall in Tarkov hideout is a long but super rewarding process. From scavenging for that rare sledgehammer to finally setting up a personal gym, it adds another layer of depth to Escape From Tarkov’s brutal survival world. 

Just make sure to bring patience, a big backpack, and a lot of determination. Sooner or later, your hideout will thank you.