ARC Raiders Traders: Who to Level First

Reputation is a budget

Every trader you level asks for a different kind of investment, and not all of them return it at the same rate. Spending reputation on the wrong trader is slower than spending it badly, because the resource itself is scarce and replenishes slowly. The traders guide covers what each one sells. This page is about the order, because order is what most players get wrong.

Level the ones that unlock gear you use

The first priority is the trader whose stock includes the weapon and armour you actually run. A level that puts a better version of your kit within reach changes every raid immediately. A level that unlocks something you will never carry is a level spent on someone else’s game.

Then the consumable suppliers

Traders who reliably sell ammunition and healing matter more than they look, because they turn a bench chore into a purchase. Once those are available, your stash management gets simpler and your raid prep gets faster. The crafting guide still matters for the gaps they do not cover, but a good supplier removes the most repetitive crafting.

Delay the specialists

The traders offering niche or luxury goods can wait until the core kit is settled. Their stock is useful eventually, rarely now, and the reputation is better spent on the basics first.

Watch the unlock gates

Some trader levels are gated by quests or by other progress, so the efficient path is not always the one that looks cheapest. Check the gate before committing a grind to a trader who will not open for two more steps anyway.

Need over want

Early on, buy the trader items that keep you raiding, not the ones that look impressive, so prioritize containers, meds, and a reliable weapon over luxury gear. The traders guide lists what each sells, and the stash guide shows where capacity matters. The crafting guide can fill gaps once you have blueprints.

Raise the useful trader first

Trader levels unlock the stock you actually use, so push reputation with the one you shop at most before spreading it thin. The materials guide feeds the barter economy that levels them.

Related guides

• ARC Raiders Traders Guide
• ARC Raiders Crafting Guide
• ARC Raiders Loadout Guide