Trading Guide
Master the art of interstellar commerce
Trading Basics
Buy Low, Sell High
The fundamental principle of trading in SkyLander is simple: purchase goods where they're cheap and sell them where they're expensive. Each station has unique price multipliers based on local supply and demand.
Buy
Look for goods with low price multipliers (< 1.0). These are abundant at that station.
Transport
Travel to stations where the good is scarce, checking cargo weight and fuel costs.
Sell
Sell at stations with high multipliers (> 1.0) to maximize your profit margin.
Trading Margin
10% Trading Margin
When you sell goods, you receive 90% of the listed buy price at that station. This 10% margin represents transaction fees, station taxes, and market spreads. Factor this into your profit calculations.
Example Calculation
Base Price: 50 cr × 0.3 multiplier = 15 cr per unit
Base Price: 50 cr × 1.6 multiplier = 80 cr
Sale Price: 80 cr × 0.9 (10% margin) = 72 cr per unit
72 cr - 15 cr = 57 cr profit per unit!
(380% return on investment)
Understanding Price Multipliers
Each station applies a multiplier to the base price of every good, reflecting local supply and demand:
Low Multipliers (< 1.0)
Good places to BUY
- Local abundance (e.g., Water on ice moons)
- Local production (e.g., Iron at mining stations)
- Low demand relative to supply
High Multipliers (> 1.0)
Good places to SELL
- Local scarcity (e.g., Water at Mercury)
- High demand (e.g., Food at remote stations)
- Difficult to import
Regional Trading Patterns
Inner System
Best Buys: Food (Earth), Helium-3 (Moon)
Best Sells: Basic supplies to outer regions
Asteroid Belt
Best Buys: Iron Ore, Titanium, Rare Earths
Best Sells: Water, Food, Oxygen (miners need supplies)
Jupiter System
Best Buys: Water (Europa), exotic materials
Best Sells: Heavy metals, manufactured goods
Saturn System
Best Buys: Helium-3, advanced materials
Best Sells: Food and basic supplies
Outer System
Best Buys: Antimatter, exotic goods
Best Sells: ALL basic supplies (highest prices!)
Pro Trading Tips
Check Connected Stations
Always check prices at directly connected stations. A 1-jump route with good margins is often more profitable than a 3-jump route with amazing margins due to fuel costs.
Weight Matters
Heavier cargo requires more fuel and makes landing harder. High-value, low-weight goods like Antimatter (10kg) and Dark Matter (20kg) are excellent for long-distance trading.
Upgrade Your Cargo Hold
A Level 3 cargo hold (40 units) lets you carry 4× the cargo of Level 1 (10 units), dramatically increasing profit per trip. It also reduces cargo weight penalties.
Outer System = Premium Prices
Basic goods (Water, Oxygen, Food) sell for 2-3× their base price in the outer system. Once you unlock Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, these become incredibly profitable.
Round-Trip Trading
Plan round trips: buy cheap goods at your destination to sell back at your origin. This maximizes cargo utilization and profit per fuel spent.
Use the Mule for Trading
The Mule ship has 2× the fuel capacity and can handle heavy cargo. It's the best choice for dedicated trading runs, especially to distant stations.
Example Profitable Routes
🌙 Europa → ☀️ Mercury (Water)
Buy: 15 cr | Sell: 72 cr | Profit: 57 cr/unit | Distance: 3 jumps
🔴 Phobos → 🌍 Earth (Iron Ore)
Buy: 9 cr | Sell: 32 cr | Profit: 23 cr/unit | Distance: 1 jump
🪨 Io → 🌍 Earth (Dilithium)
Buy: 240 cr | Sell: 612 cr | Profit: 372 cr/unit | Distance: 3 jumps
🌍 Earth → ⭐ Pluto (Food)
Buy: 80 cr | Sell: 218 cr | Profit: 138 cr/unit | Distance: 6+ jumps