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.

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Buy

Look for goods with low price multipliers (< 1.0). These are abundant at that station.

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Transport

Travel to stations where the good is scarce, checking cargo weight and fuel costs.

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Sell

Sell at stations with high multipliers (> 1.0) to maximize your profit margin.

Trading Margin

15% Trading Margin

When you sell goods, you receive 85% of the listed buy price at that station. This 15% margin represents transaction fees, station taxes, and market spreads. Factor this into your profit calculations.

Example Calculation

1. Buy Water at Europa Base
Base Price: 50 cr × 0.3 multiplier = 15 cr per unit
2. Sell Water at Mercury Base
Base Price: 50 cr × 2.0 multiplier = 100 cr
Sale Price: 100 cr × 0.85 (15% margin) = 85 cr per unit
3. Profit
85 cr - 15 cr = 70 cr profit per unit!
(467% 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
Example: Water at Europa = 0.3× (70% discount!)
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
Example: Water at Pluto = 3.5× (250% markup!)

Trading Tips

  • Short routes often win: A 1-jump route with decent margins beats a 3-jump route due to fuel costs.
  • Weight matters: Heavy cargo uses more fuel and makes landing harder. High-value, low-weight goods are ideal for long distances.
  • Plan round trips: Buy cheap goods at your destination to sell back at your origin - maximize profit per fuel spent.
  • Outer system = premium prices: Basic supplies (Food, Water, Oxygen) sell for 3-4× their price at frontier stations.
  • Upgrade strategically: Cargo Hold increases profit per trip. Engine reduces fuel costs. Both improve your margins.

Example Routes

Here are some profitable route patterns to consider (prices may vary):

Long-Haul: Outer System Exotics

Transport exotic materials (Dark Matter, Antimatter, Quantum Cores) from outer stations back to inner system for huge profits. Requires max upgrades.

Mid-Range: Asteroid Belt Minerals

Buy Iron, Titanium, or Rare Earths from asteroid mining stations. Sell at Earth or inner system stations.

Short-Haul: Jupiter System Water

Water is cheap at ice moons (Europa, Enceladus) and expensive at volcanic/hot stations. Quick turnaround, good margins.

Frontier Supply Run

Basic supplies (Food, Water, Oxygen) from Earth sell at premium prices at outer system stations. Great return on the long journey.

Tip: Use the Station Map to explore station connections and find your own profitable routes!