Economy and trading in ARC Raiders: traders and currencies
Contents
Trading in ARC Raiders isn’t a side system — it’s a whole separate layer of progression: traders hand out quests, sell gear, and take loot off your hands in exchange for currency. Below are the officially confirmed details, sourced from Embark Studios’ blog and patch notes.
The five base traders
Embark Studios’ official blog post, “Meet the Traders!”, names five permanent traders who’ve worked in Speranza since the game’s launch:
- Lance — the medic.
- Apollo — the traveling mechanic.
- Tian Wen — the weaponsmith.
- Shani — the head of security.
- Celeste — the raider leader.
Each trader, per the official description, gives out their own quests — meaning trading in the game isn’t just about swapping resources, it’s tied to a separate questline for each character.
The sixth trader: Ermal
On May 19, 2026, Embark Studios officially added a sixth trader — Ermal, described as a Nomadic Envoy:
- Unlock condition — character level 25.
- Inventory — a new weekly rotation of crafting blueprints, cosmetics, and Raider Tokens.
- What they accept in trade — ARC machine parts and weapons.
- Extra services — selling storage expansions and Expedition Vault slots, per the update’s official announcement.
Currencies in the game
ARC Raiders officially confirms at least three distinct currencies, and they’re worth keeping straight:
- Coins — the base currency. Its name is confirmed by the 1.13.0 patch notes: the reward for fully completing the Trophy Display project in the game is listed as 300,000 Coins.
- Raider Tokens — a premium currency, primarily meant for cosmetic items. The official Xbox Store page confirms the Deluxe edition of the game includes 2,400 Raider Tokens up front.
- Merits — a separate event currency, per the official Riven Tides update announcement, tied to that update’s event content.
How Cred — yet another currency, separate from trading, tied to progression — is earned is covered in our piece on progression and the workshop.
How trading connects to gear
Traders are the main source of new gear outside of crafting. For kitbashing crafting and the Workshop, the alternative path to gear, see our piece on gear and loot.
What is officially NOT said
- Exact prices for specific items in trader shops aren’t listed on the general official pages — the inventory is described as rotating (“new every week”), with no price list.
- The exchange rate between Coins and Raider Tokens (whether one currency converts into the other) isn’t officially confirmed.
- Whether Raider Tokens can be bought separately with real money outside of game editions isn’t directly described on the official pages we checked.
- A complete list of quests for each of the five base traders hasn’t been published officially as a single document.
Summary
Six traders and three known currencies — the officially confirmed framework of ARC Raiders’ economy. Pricing details and a full quest list remain outside public sources as of this article’s publication date.
Frequently asked questions
How many traders are there in ARC Raiders?
Five permanent traders in Speranza at launch. On May 19, 2026, a sixth trader, the nomadic Ermal, was added, unlocking at level 25.
What's the main currency in the game?
Coins — the name is confirmed in the official 1.13.0 patch notes, where the reward for the Trophy Display project is listed as 300,000 Coins.
What are Raider Tokens?
A premium currency for cosmetic items. The Deluxe edition of the game on Xbox, for example, includes 2,400 Raider Tokens.
Who are the traders in Speranza?
The medic Lance, the traveling mechanic Apollo, weaponsmith Tian Wen, head of security Shani, and raider leader Celeste — each gives their own quests, per Embark Studios' official blog.