Tarkov Traders & Economy Guide

Each trader sells different items and offers different quests. The ones you'll use most early on:

• Prapor: Weapons, ammo and explosives. Most early quests start here.
• Therapist: Meds, food and the best buyer for selling loot.
• Mechanic: Weapon parts and mods; critical for builds.
• Skier & Peacekeeper: More advanced weapons, gear and currency.

The Flea Market is the player-to-player marketplace, unlocked at PMC level 15. You can find almost any item not sold by traders, and sell your valuable loot.

Prices fluctuate with supply and demand. Check the price before buying; impulse buys drain your wallet. Until Flea unlocks, build cash by selling loot to traders.

Think twice before selling quest items (FIR — 'found in raid'); some are rare and required. Keeping barter items and Hideout materials is often worth it.

Prioritize high value-to-weight items (electronics, keys, meds). Heavy, cheap items waste backpack space; leave them.

One of your first early-game goals should be the Junk Box (Lucky Scav Junk Box): it takes only a few slots in your stash but holds dozens of items inside. You get it from Therapist (barter/reward). Note: it won't take weapon parts/mods, armor or guns — only barter and loot-type items. Stash your barter goods, Hideout materials and valuable small loot in it to save a huge amount of precious stash space.