Therapist

Escape From Tarkov “Side Hustle” Quest Guide

Side Hustle is Therapist’s follow-up to Information Trail. This time, you need three kills against Scourge’s group in The Lab and one Precursor container to hand over. You can get the precursor from a TerraGroup employee’s package on Streets of Tarkov or try the employee’s suitcase in The Lab, but those containers do not offer the same odds.

Requirements and Objectives

Complete Information Trail and accept Side Hustle from Therapist before starting the eliminations.

  • Eliminate three of Ref’s gladiators in The Lab.
  • Obtain one Precursor container.
  • Hand the precursor over to Therapist.

Finding an employee’s package or suitcase is an optional objective, not another item you must give Therapist. The precursor inside is what she needs.

Where to Find Ref’s Gladiators

Scourge and his guards count toward the three eliminations. You do not need to kill Scourge three times. Look around reception or near the orange dome in the O11 main working area, both on The Lab’s first level.

These are possible locations rather than fixed positions. Work through the group from cover and check your counter after each qualifying kill. Looting the first body before the other enemies are dealt with is an unnecessary risk.

Side Hustle map with Scourge search areas at reception and O11 and two suitcase alternatives in R11 recreation.
Possible Scourge areas and the two alternative suitcase locations in R11 on The Lab’s first level.

Where to Find the Package on Streets of Tarkov

The TerraGroup employee’s package has two possible spawn positions inside the post office. One package spawns per raid, so check both spots rather than expecting two boxes.

  • In the small blue-walled storage room, on the floor beside stacked cardboard boxes and a coat stand.
  • In the larger office just to its north, on the floor beside a desk and filing cabinet.
Side Hustle post office locator west of Primorsky Avenue across from Pinewood Hotel on Streets of Tarkov.
The post office is west of Primorsky Avenue, opposite Pinewood Hotel.

Take the package out of the raid, then right-click it in your stash and choose Unpack. The package contains a precursor along with provisions and is consumed when opened. For the item objective, this is the more reliable pickup because the precursor is guaranteed inside it.

Where to Find the Suitcase in The Lab

The TerraGroup employee’s suitcase can appear at either of two planted islands in the R11 recreation area on the first level. Check around the rocks and trees on both sides of the central circular landmark. These suitcase spots are separate from the orange-dome area you search for Scourge.

Only one suitcase spawns per raid. It occupies a 4-by-4 inventory space, so leave enough room before picking it up. Like the package, it can only be unpacked outside a raid and disappears when opened.

Unlike the Streets package, the suitcase only has a chance to contain a precursor. An empty result means you still need another source for the hand-in. Precursors can also appear as loose loot in The Lab’s Violet, Red and Yellow keycard rooms, but they are not guaranteed there either.

Does the Precursor Need Found-in-Raid Status?

No. The precursor you hand over does not need found-in-raid status. If one is available on the Flea Market, buying it is another option. The employee’s packages and suitcases themselves cannot be listed there, and buying the precursor does not replace the three required kills.

Completing Side Hustle

Once your elimination counter reaches three and you have a Precursor container, hand the item to Therapist and complete the task. Do not try to hand over the unopened package or suitcase instead.

Rewards

  • 65,000 EXP
  • One Health skill level
  • One Surgery skill level
  • 500,000 Roubles before Intelligence Center bonuses
  • 525,000 Roubles with Intelligence Center level 1, or 575,000 with level 2
  • One Medicine case
  • One Item case
  • The Scourging achievement

Completing Side Hustle unlocks Doxed. Side Hustle belongs to the event quest chain rather than the permanent trader progression.

Escape from Tarkov

Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore and realistic online first-person action RPG/Simulator with MMO features and story-driven walkthrough.

  • Genre Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Tactical
  • Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows)
  • Perspective First person
  • Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
  • Release November 15, 2025
  • Publisher Battlestate Games

Angel Kicevski

I've spent half of my life playing video games, ever since the competitive 1.6 era, where I played professionally. Now I am happily married to Margarita Kicevski and have two beautiful children. My goal is to deliver fresh news and updates from the gaming world, but also deliver some juicy guides. Previously, I worked on another website for 8 years and decided to continue my journey here! So basically, I am in this industry for 10+ years... which has been quite a lot, let me tell you!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button