Fast Money Making After a Wipe
A seasonal character starts with no money and the Flea Market stays closed until PMC level 15. So in the first days money comes from task rewards, selling to the right trader, Scav raids and barters. Insurance is disabled in season mode, so low-risk methods are worth more than one-off big but risky raids.
Sell loot to the right trader
Traders pay a different share of an item's base price. According to game data Therapist (51 percent) and Ragman (50 percent) pay the most, while Fence buys everything but pays only 24 percent. Therapist only buys keys, meds, food and barter items; take weapons and parts to Mechanic or Jaeger, and armor and bags to Ragman. Selling to Fence is the last resort. Details are on the traders and economy page.
Scav raids mean free loot
When you go in as a Scav you have nothing to lose; if you extract, everything on you goes to your stash. The base cooldown is 25 minutes, and Intelligence Center 1 in the hideout cuts it by 15 percent. In season mode without insurance, a Scav raid is the safest way to make money without risking your PMC gear. Run one every time the cooldown ends.
Keep track of task rewards
The first tasks give money, items and trader reputation. Some rewards are items you can sell straight to a trader. Before you sell anything that needs to be FIR, check which task asks for what in the task list; selling the wrong item means buying it back later for more.
Look at barters and crafts
Trader barter offers sometimes come out cheaper than the cash price, especially before the Flea Market opens. Hideout crafts also turn an item into something worth more. See which barters and crafts make a profit at current prices on the crafts and barters page.
When the Flea Market opens
The Flea Market opens at level 15, but you cannot sell everything right away: most keys and all backpacks need level 25, most injectors need level 30, and some valuable items can only be listed at level 40. Until then, sell those items to traders or keep them for tasks.
What is the fastest way to make money at the start of a wipe?
Run a Scav raid whenever the cooldown ends, sell loot to the right trader (keys and meds to Therapist, armor to Ragman) and collect task rewards. Fence is the last resort.
What level does the Flea Market open?
At PMC level 15. Most keys and backpacks need level 25 and most injectors need level 30.
How do I make money on a seasonal character without insurance?
Scav raids, which have no risk of loss, and task raids with cheap gear. Expensive gear you go in with is gone for good if you die.