Introduction
Traders are people who have built their fortunes on the ashes Tarkov and whatever secrets, riches, and mysteries can be extracted from them. You, as a player, are nothing but a well-trained tool in their hands - they will use you to push their personal agendas. This doesn't sound too optimistic, but you don't really have a choice. Traders are the primary source of your gear and income, so you are forced to get on well with them. After you gain their trust and prove yourself to be a worthwhile asset or possibly even a business partner, they will give you access to the best equipment they have to offer.
There are 8 Traders in Tarkov, Prapor, Therapist, Fence, Skier, Peacekeeper, Mechanic, Ragman, and Jaeger. All of them (except Fence) have their own requirements you have to meet to unlock their higher-level offers, as at the start, you have access only to their basic stocks of goods; you can advance each trader 3 times, which gives a total of 4 tiers (Called Loyalty Levels in Tarkov). The requirements are as follows:
Note: We will post the specific requirements for each of the traders in their dedicated sections. Also, this is one of the main sections of our Tarkov's Beginners Guide which we just decided to divide into smaller parts.
Insurance
Some Traders also offer to insure your equipment in case it's lost during a Raid. If you decide to buy the insurance and you don't make it out of the Raid, your items will return to you after a pre-determined amount of time - if nobody steals them, of course. There are a few limitations and things to remember with this system:
Barter Trades
Some things are just too precious to simply give away for money. Sometimes, Traders simply need some specific items and they are willing to give you something really good in exchange for them. And sometimes, they just want to expand their collection of seemingly useless stuff.
The Barter system gives you access to high tier stuff early in the game (usually 1 Loyalty Level earlier than regular trading); Some Barter Trades even offer fully-modded weapons! Thanks to this, you can gain an advantage over the opposition or simply save a lot of money - if you are able to collect all the needed items, that is.
The system is quite straight forward - you bring specific stuff to a Trader and you get a specific thing in return. Most of the items required for bartering can be found in Raids - they can be anything, from provisions to high-tier military equipment. Many of the required items can also be crafted in your hideout - doing so can save you a lot of effort, which is one of the reasons you should invest in expanding it.
The Traders
Therapist |
Elvira Khabibullina, now known as the Therapist, was once the Head of the Trauma Care Department in Tarkov's main hospital. Thanks to her background, she was able to secure the hospital's reserves of drugs and provisions. Moreover, as a doctor, she was in the center of conflict between USECs and BEARs, which means that she now possesses a lot of valuable intelligence collected from their patients, in one way or another... She will happily sell you medication, foodstuffs, and, if you have enough money, classified information that can prove to be invaluable in the outside world. |
Currency | Rouble(₽) and Euro(€) |
Offered Goods | Provisions, Maps (we don't recommend using them as there are much better ones available online), Medkits, Painkillers, Injury Treatment Items, Stimulants (only a few types), Various types of Containers. |
Gives Best Prices for |
|
Loyalty Level Requirements |
|
Note-worthy Barter Trades Note: Most of the listed barter items can also randomly spawn inside a Raid so keep your eyes peeled. |
|
Loyalty Level 1 | |
2x ⇒ 1x With this barter, you can get a medkit that also removes bleeding very early in the game. It is probably better to save your Duck Tapes for Small SICC Case (Jaeger Ll3 Barter).
|
|
1x ⇒ 1x Another barter trade that lets you get some higher tier meds early. With this barter, you will also be able to complete the "Shortage" Task much easier as it requires you to hand over 5 Saleva First Aid Kits.
|
|
4x + 4x ⇒ 1x A Pile of Meds is needed for multiple Barter Trades (Items Case, Ibuprofen, Pack of Sugar, Pistol Case) and for crafting at the Medstation which makes it extremely handy to have. With this barter, you can get a few more Piles of Meds and craft yourself some of the best medical items in the game.
|
|
Loyalty Level 2 | |
10x + 2x + 2x ⇒ 1x This bearer lets you get the best first aid kit available in the game extremely early (if you want to buy it for money, you have to wait until you reach LL4 with the Therapist). Grizzly can restore 1800 Health in total and cures both Fractures and Bloodloss. If you get it, it is a good idea to store it in your secure container, at least until you build up a bank.
|
|
1x + 1x ⇒ 1x This lets you get the IFAK one Loyalty Level earlier and without completing the "Health Care Privacy - Part 1" Task.
|
|
1x + 1x + 5x ⇒ 1x Limited inventory space can become a problem, so this barter trade is bound to come in handy sooner or later. Documents case provides you with 4x4 inventory while taking up only 2 slots. Items that can be placed inside include Money, GP Coins, Maps, Keycards, Keys, SSD Drives, Physical Bitcoins, and Flash Drives. Documents Case can also be placed in your secure container which makes it even more desirable.
|
|
7x + 7x + 2x ⇒ 1x This Medical Items Storage Container takes up 9 of your main Inventory Slots and offers 49 slots dedicated to Medical Supplies in return. It is a great thing to have in the mid-to-late game when your inventory starts to fill up.
|
|
100x ⇒ 1x This container is a wet dream of every loot hoarder. It takes up just 16 inventory slots and offers a whopping 196 for every item that is considered "Loot", so pretty much every Barter and Miscellaneous Item - junk, basically (you can't store provisions, keys, meds, weapon parts, weapons, and other items like that in it, however).
|
|
Loyalty Level 3 | |
20x + 10x / 140x ⇒ 1x These are two separate barters; you can provide either 20x Ophthalmoscope and 10x Pile of Meds or 140x Level 15+ Dogtags. Items Case is a universal storage container that takes up 16 inventory slots and provides 64 in return. Everything except other Containers can be stored in it.
|
|
Loyalty Level 4 | |
1x + ⇒ 1x A very easy barter to complete and we would not feature it here if not for the next one on the list. Also, Ibuprofen is one of the best Painkillers in the game.
|
|
10x + 10x + 10x ⇒ 1x This is an upgraded version of the standard Items Case. It takes up 15 inventory slots and offers a whopping 196 slots in return. Pretty much every in-game item, except other containers, can be stored inside it.
|
*Buried Barrel Caches and Ground Caches are hidden loot containers scattered around open areas of Raid maps. Inside these, pretty much any item can spawn so doing a "Cache Runs" is a viable option if you know where they are hidden.
Skier |
Alexander Fyodorovich Kiselyov, also known as Skier, was once employed in Tarkov's customs terminal. When the conflict broke out, he formed a gang that specialized itself in grabbing everything of value that could be found in the terminal's vicinity. His gang has been able to secure multiple military supply shipments sent into the city, and now, Skier is willing to share the "secured" goods, for an appropriate... gift of course. If you are looking to Sell exchange Roubles for another currency, mainly €, Skier can do that as well. |
Currency | Rouble(₽), Euro(€), and Dollar($) |
Offered Goods | Weapons (at the start mainly Civilian Versions of rifles, later some sniper rifles), Ammunition, Magazines, Weapon parts and Attachments, Optics, Currency (Euro), and Containers. |
Gives Best Prices for |
|
Loyalty Level Requirements |
|
Note-worthy Barter Trades Note: Most of the listed barter items can also randomly spawn inside a Raid so keep your eyes peeled. |
|
Loyalty Level 1 | |
1x ⇒ 1x This Barter allows you to get an ADAR one Loyalty Level earlier. This weapon is a very viable early game option, despite being semi-auto only. Hint: If you want to use Optics with it, change the stock Muzzle device for MK12 Low Profile Gas Block as the original one is very high and will obscure your vision through low-mounted optical devices.
|
|
Loyalty Level 2 | |
6x ⇒ 1x Rotor Muzzle Brake also acts as a sound suppressor and can be mounted on multiple 9x19mm chambered weapons (MPX, Saiga-9, Vityaz-SN, MPX, MP5). Considering how expensive Suppressors in Tarkov are, this barter is definitely worth looking at.
|
|
Loyalty Level 3 | |
5x ⇒ 1x This is a very easy Barter trade to make and the reward is pretty nice. Eotech has a very clean reticle that is comfortable to use at both close and medium ranges. It decreases Weapons Ergonomics by 3 and can be mounted on pretty much every weapon that has rails on it (or you can change some parts and adapt your weapon for it).
|
|
Loyalty Level 4 | |
2x ⇒ 1x This is one of several Barters that give you access to the 9x19 RIP Ammunition (There is also one with Skier LL3 and Jaeger LL4). 9x19 RIP deals DEVASTATING damage to unarmored targets which makes it ideal for "leg meta" tactics where you aim exclusively at the enemy's legs (with these rounds, you will drop them in 5 shots which, with a high rate of fire SMGs, takes almost no time at all). Just remember that pretty much any armor available in the game will stop these rounds.
|
|
4x ⇒ 1x Barter similar to the one for Rotor Muzzle Brake, however, this one requires BEAR-only Dogtags of level 20 and higher. TGP-A 5.45x39mm Muzzle Device/Suppressor is compatible with pretty much all 5.45 AKs, including the RPK-16, so you will definitely find a use for it. This barter will let you save a lot of money, as Prapor LL3 sells TGP-A for around 45000 Roubles.
|
|
4x + 4x + 4x ⇒ 1x This Barter Trade is very hard to make, but the reward is one of the most powerful items in the game. Thermal Scopes make Raids on open maps, like Woods, extremely unfair, however, they are also extremely expensive. You will also need the Trijicon REAP-IR for the "Gunsmith - Part 16" and "test Drive - Part 1" Tasks.
|
|
8x + 2x ⇒ 1x Very handy storage for your arsenal, it takes 10 inventory slots and offers 50 slots for weapons, ammunition, and weapon mods storage.
|
Ragman |
Abramayan Arshavir Sarkisivich, known by his nickname "Ragman", was a director of one of the city's biggest Shopping Centers. His background has allowed him to secure many valuable goods that were stored in various military, survival, and hunter's shops situated in his Center. If you are looking for Body Armours, survival gear, and combat backpacks, visiting the Ragman is your best bet. |
Currency | Rouble(₽) |
Offered Goods | Various more and less useful clothing, Armored Vests, Helmets, Tactical Backpacks, Tactical Rigs, Tactical Gear (Headphones, Faceshields, Eye Protection). |
Gives Best Prices for |
|
Loyalty Level Requirements |
|
Note-worthy Barter Trades Note: Most of the listed barter items can also randomly spawn inside a Raid so keep your eyes peeled. |
|
Loyalty Level 1 | |
3x ⇒ 1x This barter gets outdated quite quickly but, if you are new to the game, you might not have access to anything better, and this will still save you from quite a few Scav bullets fired in your direction.
|
|
2x ⇒ 1x Ratnik Helmet may be only Armor Class 3, but it has a high ricochet chance which makes it a very solid choice actually. This is a cheaper alternative to the SSh-68 Helmet.
|
|
2x ⇒ 1x A good price to pay for a backpack, especially early on in the game. The MBSS Backpack offers a 4x4 grid and will allow you to carry at least some loot out of a Raid.
|
|
Loyalty Level 2 | |
1x + 1x + 1x ⇒ 1x The Kirasa offers Class 3 armor protection which is enough to protect you against most Scavs and quite a few low-level players and mages it a great early game armor choice.
|
|
1x ⇒ 1x Camelback Backpack offers 5x6 Grid Size so you can fit a lot of loot into it. Thanks to this barter, you can get a spacious Backpack early, which is always a good investment.
|
|
Loyalty Level 3 | |
4x + 2x ⇒ 1x This is a very good deal as TV-100 is a Tactical Rig that doubles as Class 4 Armor; it also has quite a lot of room in it, so you can even consider using it without a backpack.
|
|
Loyalty Level 4 | |
7x ⇒ 1x One of the bigger backpacks in the game (it offers a 6x7 grid size and takes up 5x7, so you can stack them infinitely and actually gain extra storage space in the process).
|
|
1x + 10x ⇒ 1x This plate carrier offers a lot of carrying space and very solid protection with its Class 5 armor. Thanks to the materials it's made of, it repairs very well so it will serve you for a long time.
|
Prapor |
Pavel Yegorovich Romanenko, more widely known as Prapor, is a warrant officer that controls supply warehouses of the Norvinsk Blockade. Despite his position, He will not hesitate to make some private income out of the national property. He specializes in selling Post-Soviet Block equipment and weapon systems, including AK series of rifles and Spetsnaz gear. If one is looking to buy specialized, Russian-made, Special Operations Forces weapons, Prapor is the one to talk to. |
Currency | Rouble(₽) |
Offered Goods | Post-Soviet Bloc Weapons (AK platform; Klin and Kedr SMGs; 9x18 and 9x19 Russian-made pistols; Historical Soviet-made weapons - Mosin, SKS, and PPSh-41; DMRs - SVDS, SV-98; Specialist Weapons - VSS and VAL; and more), Ammunition, Grenades, Weapon Attachments, Weapon Modifications, Optics. |
Gives Best Prices for |
Prapor is a bit... greedy. He does not pay particularly well for anything.
|
Loyalty Level Requirements |
|
Note-worthy Barter Trades Note: Most of the listed barter items can also randomly spawn inside a Raid so keep your eyes peeled. |
|
Loyalty Level 1 | |
5x ⇒ 1x This is a very solid 9x19 SMG that will wreck people early with Pst gzh ammunition and in the late game when loaded with high flesh damage rounds and aimed at legs (leg meta ftw). It's good to go as it is, as it's recoil is almost non-existent - all you might need is optics.
|
|
3x ⇒ 1x Fully-sized AK at LL1? Yes, please! The second-best 7.62x39mm ammo, PS, is available from Prapor LL1 by the way. If you have tushonkas, this is a no-brainer.
|
|
5x + 8x ⇒ 1x Mosin is extremely devastating at all stages of the game because of the ammunition that it fires (7.62x54R LPS gzh ammo, available from LL1 Prapor, Deals 81 Damage and has 42 Penetration). Mosin from this barter comes with the Scope pre-mounted. Considering that this is an LL1 Barter, it is definitely worth going for.
|
|
Loyalty Level 2 | |
5x ⇒ 1x This Barter Trade gives you a lightly-modded AK-74N in which most wooden parts were changed for the composite ones. Apollon Cigarettes are quite cheap, so this is a bargain.
|
|
2x ⇒ 1x This lets you save A LOT of money on 5.45x39mm 60-round magazines (even if you were to buy drives on the Flea Market) and it is very easy to complete as Damaged Hard Drives are very easy to find. If you are running a 5.45x39 AK, this barter is how you get mags for it.
|
|
1x ⇒ 1x This offers you a rather easy way of getting early grenades, and grenades are always welcome. If you are low-level, this is an extremely good barter to make.
|
|
Loyalty Level 3 | |
25x ⇒ 1x This Backpack offers a 6x8 grid and is the biggest one in the game, the downside is that it's HUGE and it will stick out from your back like a Christmas tree.
|
|
2x ⇒ 1x BS rounds are the second-best ammunition type you can use in your 5.45x39 AKs and this barter is how you get them. Without these rounds, AK-74s are not really viable in the late game. Luckily, Hot Rods are rather easy to come by after you advance your hideout (you can craft 20 of them at a time!).
|
|
Loyalty Level 4 | |
⇒ 1x Note: This becomes available after you complete the "Regulated Materials" task for Prapor. This is a laughably easy barter to make and it provides you with a very deadly (but also somewhat meme) weapon. When loaded with 12.7x55mm PS12B ammo, ASH-12 is extremely deadly at any range.
|
Peacekeeper |
Tadeusz Piułsuszki, more widely known as "Peacekeeper" is a supplies officer of the UN contingent tasked with deescalating the Tarkov conflict. He makes the most out of it and tries to make as much money as he can before the "Tarkov problem" ends. Thanks to his position, Peacekeeper has access to Western-made weapons and armor not available from other traders, so if you are looking for armaments based on the AR and other NATO platforms, look no further. Unlike other Dealers, he is not interested in Roubles and mainly trades with American Dollars. |
Currency | Dollar($) |
Offered Goods | Western-made Weapons (AR platform - M4A1s, HK 416s; 9x19 SMGs - MP5, MPX, MP9, MP7, P90; Pistols - FN 5-7, Glock, Beretta); M1A; DT MDR; and more), Ammunition, Weapon Mods, Weapon Attachments, Western-made Optics, Helmets, Helmet Attachments, Grenades, Currency (Dollars), Secure Containers. |
Gives Best Prices for |
Peacekeeper does not pay particularly well, but he has one advantage, mainly, he pays in hard, green US Dollars.
|
Loyalty Level Requirements |
|
Note-worthy Barter Trades Note: Most of the listed barter items can also randomly spawn inside a Raid so keep your eyes peeled. |
|
Loyalty Level 1 | |
1x ⇒ 1x A very solid barter early after the wipe. The MBSS Backpack offers a 4x4 grid and will allow you to carry at least some loot out of a Raid.
|
|
2x ⇒ 1x Early Grenades are extremely powerful and will give you an advantage in pretty much any combat scenario. This is one of the barters that give you access to Grenades right from the start - take advantage of it.
|
|
8x ⇒ 1x MP5 can be described as a NATO version of the Vityaz-SN; its ergonomics let you use it successfully without any modifications. This barter gives you access to this amazing SMG very early, you'll need to defeat a bunch of Scavs to get the needed knives, however.
|
|
Loyalty Level 2 | |
8x ⇒ 1x SIG MPX has one of the highest stock ergonomics values in the game which makes it great straight out of the box. It is also one of the easiest weapons to mod.
|
|
Loyalty Level 3 | |
8x ⇒ 1x Springfield Armory M1A uses 7.62x51mm ammunition which is one of (if not the) most devastating ammo types in the game (7.62x51 M80 Rounds, available from Peacekeeper LL2 have 41 Penetration!).
|
|
2x ⇒ 1x This is the only way of getting these 60-round AR magazines so there's not much to contemplate.
Note: You can also get another 60-Round M4 magazine from Peacekeeper LL3 - Magpul PMAG D-60 - if you provide 1x Air Filter for Gas Mask. |
|
Loyalty Level 4 | |
3x ⇒ 1x This is a late-game barter, but it's definitely worth a look. AK-74N Magpul comes pre-modded with pretty much everything you might want to mount on a weapon to make it handle better, and it has optics pre-mounted, and a large mag already attached. GP Coins can be found in Safes, Suitcases, Caches, Jackets, and Sports Bags. Scavs also sometimes carry them. |
Mechanic |
Sergey Arsenyevich Samoylov, more widely known as the Mechanic, has worked as a foreman in Tarkov's chemical plant. As a talented technician, after the city turned itself upside down, he specialized himself in weapon repair and modification. If you want to modify, repair, or customize your armaments, he can help you for a reasonable fee. His talent in mechanics also enabled him to repair damaged NATO weapon systems left behind by USEC operatives and UN peacekeeping forces; he will gladly pass them to you, for the right amount of money of course. |
Currency | Euro(€), Rouble(₽), Physical Bitcoin(₿) |
Offered Goods | Various modified and non-modified Western and Russian-made Weapons (mainly via barter trades), Containers, Ammunition, Weapon Parts, Weapon Attachments, Magazines. |
Gives Best Prices for |
|
Loyalty Level Requirements |
|
Note-worthy Barter Trades Note: Most of the listed barter items can also randomly spawn inside a Raid so keep your eyes peeled. |
|
Loyalty Level 1 | |
5x + 5x + 2x ⇒ 1x This barter provides you with a fully-kitted MPX so it's definitely worth a look, even if getting all needed items is quite a chore (weapon parts, especially).
|
|
1x ⇒ 1x Grenade Fuzes are rather hard to come by but if you find one, you can get a frag grenade EXTREMELY early in the wipe. VOG-17 Khattabkas are basically home-made hand grenades made out of grenade launcher ammunition. They also explode quicker than other grenades because of a short fuse.
|
|
5x + 2x ⇒ 1x Ammo Case takes up 4 Inventory Slots and gives you 49 slots for ammunition storage in return. This is a great early investment that will let you store all your ammo in one place and clean up your stash in the process.
|
|
Loyalty Level 2 | |
1x + 1x ⇒ 1x This particular SKS is ready to go out of the box (barter?) - just load it with PS ammo and you'll be fine (and if you attach a scope to it, you'll have a deadly mid-to-long range weapon). This is certainly one of the better early-game weapon barters.
|
|
4x + 1x ⇒ 1x Silencerco Hybrid 46 multi-Caliber Silencer can be mounted on 5.56x45, 7.62x51, 9x19, 5.45x39, and 7.62x39 which makes it the most universal silencer in Tarkov. Just remember that you will also need a special Direct Thread Mount Adapter for it.
|
|
Loyalty Level 3 | |
17x ⇒ 1x This version of the M1A comes pre-modded, so all you need for it is optics and a front grip.
|
|
4x ⇒ 1x M4 from this barter is not Raid-ready, but that's not a big problem. Just get some mags, optics, maybe a front grip, and you're ready to go.
|
|
Loyalty Level 4 | |
4x ⇒ 1x This DS Arms SA-58 comes with an expensive silencer pre-mounted (Hybrid 46 Multi-Caliber Silencer) which alone makes it worth your time - and you get a very deadly 7.62x51mm caliber weapon as well.
|
Jaeger |
Kharitonov Ivan Egorovich, who goes by the name of Jaeger, is a professional hunter and survivalist who still protects the Priozersky Reserve from unwanted guests. Trading with Jaeger is unlocked by a quest given to a player by the Mechanic. He sells hideout resources, Soviet-made armaments, mods, ammunition, and much-needed survival gear. |
Currency | Rouble(₽) |
Offered Goods | Hunting Rifles, Shotguns, Civilian Rifles, Post-Soviet Bloc Weapons, Magazines, Ammunition, Weapon Parts, Weapon Attachments, Optics, Hideout Resources, Containers, Backpacks, Some Tactical Gear. |
Gives Best Prices for |
|
Loyalty Level Requirements |
|
Note-worthy Barter Trades Note: Most of the listed barter items can also randomly spawn inside a Raid so keep your eyes peeled. |
|
Loyalty Level 1 | |
3x ⇒ 1x This is an extremely good deal, considering the usefulness of a CMS Kit. Don't skip on this if you find Nippers.
|
|
2x + 2x ⇒ 1x MP-153 offers extremely high firepower at short ranges and is very fun to play with on maps like the Factory. If you load it with appropriate ammo, it can be successfully used even in the late game.
|
|
Loyalty Level 2 | |
5x ⇒ 1x This is a quite easy barter to make and it offers a rather spacious Tactical Rig (14 slots).
|
|
Loyalty Level 3 | |
15x + 10x + 15x ⇒ 1x Red Rebel Ice Pick is required for Clif Descent extract on Woods and Clif Descent extract on Reserve, which makes it very handy to have on these two maps.
|
|
8x + 5x ⇒ 1x All Thermal scopes are among the most powerful devices in the game - on open maps they just unfair. With this barter, you can get one of them quite early. And... if you wanted to buy the FLIR the standard way, you'd have to prepare about half a million Roubles.
|
|
3x ⇒ 1x Mosin is a very popular early game weapon. If you like it, want to use it at higher levels, and want to upgrade it a bit - this is how you can cheaply get a dedicated silencer.
|
|
Loyalty Level 4 | |
1x ⇒ 1x 9x19 RIP deals DEVASTATING damage to unarmored targets which makes it ideal for "leg meta" tactics where you aim exclusively at the enemy's legs (with these rounds, you will drop them in 5 shots which, with a high rate of fire SMGs, takes almost no time at all). Just remember that pretty much any armor available in the game will stop these rounds.
|
Fence |
A shady dealer, known only as a Fence, who has secured outlets for selling and buying goods that make their way in and out of Tarkov. How he managed to stay anonymous, after establishing the biggest smuggling network in the region, is currently unknown. However, the fact that He can traffic anything to or out of the city is common knowledge around Tarkov's inhabitants. He is also known as a collector of rare, peculiar, and valuable things, and his main questline reflects that very well. If you have deep enough pockets, or you want to sell something exotic, Fence is your guy - he will trade anything for the right amount of Roubles. |
Currency | Rouble(₽) |
Offered Goods | Fence will resell anything you sell to him, so his inventory depends on his transactions with other Players. |
Gives Best Prices for |
|
Loyalty Level Requirements | none |
Note-worthy Barter Trades The Fence does not offer any Barter Trades |
END NOTE Knowing your Traders well will certainly help you maintain a healthy economy and allow you to progress through the game quicker. We hope that you have found this guide useful and informative. We will be happy to receive constructive criticism that will help us improve our future work so leave your suggestions in the comments section below. |
Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of the Battlestate Games.