Everything has a use in Escape from Tarkov, from a massive backpack to basic nuts and bolts, but many players have overlooked the purpose of flares in the extraction shooter. And yes, while the standard flare does little more than light up the sky, one particular type of flare can help get you some of the rarest gear in the game.

Here’s how flares work (and why you’d use them) in Escape from Tarkov.