Trading basics
Check traders throughout progression
Stationary traders remain in one place. Traveling traders move between eligible locations every few days and carry limited stock that replenishes over time. New exchanges also appear after major progression milestones.
Stationary
Warren, the Blacksmith and Big Hive Larva remain at fixed locations.
Traveling
Grayson, Marion, Carson and postgame Thule move between eligible spawn points.
Systems
Quantum Exchangers and the Wishing Shelf convert materials without ordinary dialogue.
Progression checklist
Traders to prioritize first
You do not need every exchange immediately. Unlock these merchants when their specialty becomes relevant.
| Stage | Priority trader | Why return |
|---|---|---|
| Early game | Warren | Employee Locator, peas and renewable Staplers |
| Manufacturing | Blacksmith | Synchrotron parts, Optic Lenses and Metal Scrap loop |
| After Flathill | Marion | Reinforced Hoses, Gravity Dampener and Porcelain Keys |
| Gun progression | Grayson | Ammo stock and the Construction Sign |
| Cooking progression | Dr. Carson | Carson Family Cookbook and rare seeds |
| Postgame | Dr. Ulrich Thule | Coffee exchanges for late-game materials |
Trader directory
Locations, unlocks and valuable trades
Search by trader, input item, reward, region or specialty.
Stationary · Early supplies, Staplers and security access
Warren Bunning
Location: Office Sector plaza security kiosk
Unlock: Available from the beginning; additional trades unlock with progression.
Notable exchanges
- Antefish Filet → Stapler
- Night Essence → Magnetic Alloy
- Nyxshade Seed → GATE Security Key
Special: The GATE Security Key opens GATE Security Crates. Their Night Pass trinket can make robots ignore you until attacked.
Return after Far Garden, The Night Realm and Security progression. His renewable Stapler trade remains useful all game.
Traveling · Ammunition and construction support
Grayson Isling
Location: First found injured near Manufacturing West; later appears by Repair & Salvage Stations
Unlock: Give the injured Grayson a Bandage, then wait for his traveling appearances.
Notable exchanges
- Robot Oil → 9mm Ammo
- Magnetic Alloy → 5.56 Ammo
- Reservoir Growth → .308 Ammo
- Security Bot CPU → Construction Sign
Special: The Construction Sign increases nearby Construction XP by 50%.
Rescue him early if you plan to use firearms. Traveling stock is limited and replenishes over time.
Stationary · Progression parts, industrial materials and conversion chains
The Blacksmith
Location: Manufacturing West forge
Unlock: Available after reaching Manufacturing West; some trades unlock after meeting Sarah Frake.
Notable exchanges
- Security Bot CPU → Anvil
- Reinforced Hose → Optic Lens
- Military Electronics → Steel Cable
- Anteverse Wheat → Hydrochloric Acid
- Anomaly → Rebar
Special: Salvaging the Anvil obtained for one Security Bot CPU produces a large Metal Scrap return.
The most important general trader. Use renewable inputs rather than consuming rare components without a plan.
Traveling · Flathill equipment, Reinforced Hoses and Maestro progression
Marion
Location: First found in Flathill; later visits original Cacophonous Crates
Unlock: Complete Flathill and open Manufacturing West. A powered Symphonist Scarecrow can attract him.
Notable exchanges
- Tiny Gears → Reinforced Hose
- Symphonist Head → Porcelain Key
- Sigil of the Hearth → Gravity Dampener
- Antique Shotgun and specialty supplies
Special: Porcelain Keys open Cacophonous Crates that support Maestro Armor progression.
Stock up on Reinforced Hoses whenever he appears. Player-placed Cacophonous Crates do not attract him.
Traveling · Seeds, ingredients, lattes and Cooking XP
Dr. Carson
Location: First encountered through Security progression; appears in kitchens
Unlock: Meet Carson, then use the Cheffigy Chef's Counter upgrade to attract her to your base.
Notable exchanges
- Heater → Carson Family Cookbook
- Xantium Rice Seed
- Space Lettuce and specialty seeds
- Coffee and latte ingredients
Special: The deployed Carson Family Cookbook increases nearby Cooking XP by 50%.
The cookbook is the priority trade. Her stock is limited, so buy rare seeds before repeatable food.
Stationary · Gem Crab bait and crossover collectibles
Big Hive Larva
Location: The Encroachment in the Manufacturing West mines
Unlock: Approach while wearing the Larva Suit or the trader will not interact.
Notable exchanges
- Gem Crab Bait
- Big Hive Larva figure
Special: This hidden Core Keeper crossover trader enables targeted Gem Crab fishing.
A niche stop rather than a general supplier, but necessary for collectors and specialized fishing.
Endgame · Tacos and Fast Food Worker cosmetics
Jimmy Sanders
Location: Taco Mine restaurant in the Shopping District section of Fragments
Unlock: Complete the main objective before he becomes a stationary trader.
Notable exchanges
- 10 Anomalies → Taco
- The Bad Soda → Fast Food Worker cosmetic
- Shadowberry Milkshake → Fast Food Worker cosmetic
Special: Jimmy is the only NPC trader focused on postgame food-service cosmetics.
Low progression value, but worthwhile for completionists and players who want the outfit unlocks.
Endgame · High-tier scientific materials for coffee
Dr. Ulrich Thule
Location: Traveling appearances after the main objective
Unlock: Complete the main objective.
Notable exchanges
- Coffee → Liquid Crystal
- Coffee → Carbon Plating
- Coffee → Pink Antelight Seed
Special: His inexpensive coffee-based trades convert a renewable drink into valuable late-game materials.
Excellent postgame value. Carry several mugs of coffee when checking his possible locations.
System · One-to-one material purification and conversion
Quantum Exchangers
Location: Cascade Laboratories, Flathill and the Reactor sectors
Unlock: Reach each machine through normal progression.
Notable exchanges
- Silver Scrap → Refined Carbon
- Anteverse Wheat → Anteverse Gem
- Anteverse Gem → Liquid Crystal
- Leyak Essence → Greyeb Seed
- Corrupted Corn → Purified Corn
- Plutonic Carapace → Plutonic Blood
Special: Each machine performs one fixed conversion, so the location matters as much as the input.
Place nearby travel points for conversions you repeat frequently, especially Carbon, Liquid Crystal and Plutonic Blood.
System · Passive multiplication and duplication after Portal World resets
Wishing Shelf
Location: North Pole Portal World
Unlock: Find the shelf inside the large building in North Pole.
Notable exchanges
- Staplers and common scrap multiply
- Silver Scrap, Black Gunk and Digital Ore multiply
- CPUs, Power Cells and Night Essence duplicate one-for-one
Special: It accepts three compatible resource types. Input stack size does not increase output.
Empty every stocking output slot before the next reset or the shelf will not produce another batch.
High-value exchanges
Trade loops worth building around
These exchanges turn renewable or routinely farmed inputs into resources that are otherwise slow or inconvenient to obtain.
| Loop | Input | Trader | Output | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Scrap loop | Security Bot CPU | Blacksmith | Anvil | Salvage the Anvil for a large quantity of Metal Scrap. |
| Stapler loop | Antefish Filet | Warren | Stapler | Fish renewable Antefish, process them, then exchange the Filets. |
| Optic Lens loop | Military Electronics | Blacksmith | Steel Cable | Craft a Reinforced Hose, then exchange it for an Optic Lens. |
| Liquid Crystal loop | Anteverse Wheat | Quantum Exchangers | Gem, then Liquid Crystal | Farm Wheat and complete two one-to-one exchanges. |
| Cooking XP loop | Heater | Dr. Carson | Family Cookbook | Place it by the cooking station for 50% more Cooking XP. |
| Construction XP loop | Security Bot CPU | Grayson | Construction Sign | Place it near building projects for 50% more Construction XP. |
Unique trader rewards
Do not miss these permanent unlocks
Several exchanges provide more than ordinary consumables.
GATE Security Key
Opens security crates and supports the robot-neutral Night Pass.
Carson Family Cookbook
Provides 50% more Cooking XP within its area.
Construction Sign
Provides 50% more Construction XP within its area.
Porcelain Key
Opens Cacophonous Crates tied to Maestro equipment.
Best traders overall
The Blacksmith has the broadest progression value, Warren remains useful for Staplers and security access, and Marion supplies important Reinforced Hoses. Grayson and Carson become essential when specializing in firearms, construction or cooking. After the story, Dr. Thule offers the strongest low-cost material exchanges.
Trader stock, inputs and progression requirements can change with game updates. Traveling trader stock is limited and replenishes over time.