Going Medieval Trading Strategy — Merchant & Economy Guide
Master trading in Going Medieval. Merchant types, profit optimization, best trade goods, negotiation tactics, and building a trade-based economy.
Trading Is More Than Buying and Selling
Trading in Going Medieval is a powerful strategy for acquiring rare resources, offloading excess production, and recruiting specialists. A well-managed trade economy can provide things you can't produce yourself — like steel before you've researched smelting, or rare seeds for unique crops.
Merchant Types and Their Inventory
| Merchant Type | Buys | Sells | Arrival Frequency | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk Goods Trader | Raw materials, food | Wood, stone, clay, basic seeds | Every 5-8 days | Medium |
| Weaponsmith | Metal, leather | Weapons, shields, armor | Every 10-15 days | High |
| Exotic Goods Trader | Alcohol, art, valuables | Rare seeds, books, jewelry | Every 15-20 days | Very High |
| Slave Trader | Silver, goods | New settlers with skills | Every 12-18 days | High (if recruiting) |
| Food Merchant | Food, crops | Exotic food, rare seeds | Every 8-12 days | Low |
Best Trade Goods for Profit
Alcohol (especially aged wine) is the most profitable trade good — it uses renewable resources (berries/grapes), has a long shelf life, and sells for 3-5x the value of raw ingredients. Other top earners: high-quality clothing, steel weapons, herbal medicine, and art pieces crafted by settlers with high Artistic skill.
Negotiation and Speech Skill
A settler's Speech skill directly affects trade prices. At Speech level 10, you get approximately 30% better buy prices and 30% better sell prices compared to Speech level 1. Always use your highest Speech settler to conduct trades. The Speech skill improves with each trade interaction.
Trade Hub Design
Build a dedicated trade depot near your main entrance with a trade beacon (if available), stockpiles for trade goods, and silver storage. Keep valuable trade items separate from general storage to avoid accidentally using them. Post a guard near the trade depot — raiders sometimes attack during merchant visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I get merchants to visit more often?
A: Building a Trade Beacon increases merchant visit frequency by approximately 50%. Maintaining good relations (completing trades successfully) also improves frequency. Colonies with high wealth attract more and better merchants.
Q: What's the best thing to sell early game?
A: In early game, sell excess leather and meat from hunting. You'll accumulate more than you can use. Leather especially sells well to weaponsmiths. Avoid selling building materials (wood, stone) unless you have a massive surplus.
Q: Can I rob merchants instead of trading?
A: Yes, you can attack merchants and take their inventory, but this has severe consequences: all future merchants stop visiting, other factions may declare war, and your settlers suffer a mood penalty. It's almost never worth it.
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Last updated: June 2026