No, killing cultists as a Scav does not lower your Scav reputation in Escape from Tarkov. Engaging and eliminating cultists as a Scav carries no penalties towards your Scav karma.
Understanding Cultists in Escape from Tarkov
Cultists are a unique hostile faction within Escape from Tarkov that behave differently from other NPCs like Scavs or PMCs in terms of their impact on Scav karma. They typically appear at night and consist of a cultist priest accompanied by 2-4 followers.
Here's why cultists are an exception to the general Scav karma rules:
- No Scav Karma Penalty: Unlike killing friendly Scavs or PMCs who haven't engaged you, dispatching cultists as a Scav will not negatively impact your Fence reputation. They are considered an aggressive, independent threat.
- Unique Health Values: The cultist priest and his followers possess different health values compared to standard PMCs and Scavs, making them distinct entities within the game's mechanics.
- Hostile AI: Cultists are inherently hostile towards both Scavs and PMCs, making them a legitimate target without repercussions for your Scav reputation.
Scav Karma Impact Table
To further clarify which actions affect your Scav reputation, consider the general impact of engaging different target types while playing as a Scav:
| Target Type | Scav Karma Impact (as Scav) |
|---|---|
| Cultists | None (considered neutral or beneficial to eliminate) |
| Friendly Scavs | Significant negative karma (killing non-hostile Scavs) |
| Player Scavs (Hostile) | Positive karma (killing a player Scav who has attacked you) |
| PMC (Unprovoked) | Significant negative karma (killing a PMC who hasn't shot you) |
| PMC (Provoked/Hostile) | Positive karma (killing a PMC who has shot at you or a friendly Scav) |
In summary, feel free to engage cultists if you encounter them during your Scav runs without concern for your Scav reputation. They pose a unique challenge and offer potential loot without the risk of negative karma.
