{"id":22868,"date":"2026-07-06T21:43:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T21:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xgamingserver.com\/blog\/fika-nat-punching-how-to-play-co-op-tarkov-without-port-forwarding\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T21:43:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T21:43:08","slug":"fika-nat-punching-how-to-play-co-op-tarkov-without-port-forwarding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xgamingserver.com\/blog\/fika-nat-punching-how-to-play-co-op-tarkov-without-port-forwarding\/","title":{"rendered":"Fika NAT Punching: How to Play Co-op Tarkov Without Port Forwarding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can’t port forward because of your ISP or router? Fika supports NAT punching<\/strong>, a NAT-traversal technique that lets two devices behind separate routers establish a direct peer-to-peer connection \u2014 “particularly useful in cases where port forwarding is not possible due to ISP or network restrictions.”<\/p>\n

How NAT punching works<\/h2>\n

A public server listens for incoming connections and records each client’s external IP address and port, then introduces the clients to each other. Each side begins sending packets (the “punching”) to the other’s external IP; those packets create matching routing entries in both routers, and from then on the two routers allow traffic along that route \u2014 which Fika uses to host the raid.<\/p>\n

When it won’t work<\/h2>\n

NAT punching “is not supported on all routers. For instance, symmetric NAT<\/strong> routers often prevent successful NAT punching.” Fika’s own config note is even more specific: NAT punching “only works with fullcone NAT<\/strong> type routers.” If you’re behind symmetric NAT, you’ll need port forwarding, a VPN, or a dedicated host instead.<\/p>\n

Two ways to use it<\/h2>\n