Baldur’s Gate 3: Trade vs Barter, explained

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Along your travels and adventures in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll slowly be accumulating valuables and trinkets. Everything you can pick up is available to sell with Traders all across Faerun. In this Dungeons & Dragons RPG video game, you’ll need to earn gold to purchase better armor and weapons. When you talk to a Trader, you have two choices for selling your items. Let me explain the difference between Trade vs Barter in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Trade vs Barterwith Traders in Baldur’s Gate 3

As soon as you meet with a Trader and ask to see their wares, you’ll have two options available. In Baldur’s Gate 3, Trade vs Barter simply explained is you either Trade for what an item is exactly worth, or Barter for a better or worse price. On the top of your screen, you should see a switch icon. Automatically, it’ll be on Bartering mode upon speaking to any Trader.

In this Barter mode, you can drag items and gold to your side of the bargaining table. You’ll also have to drag the Trader’s items and gold to their side to make a Trade. They may accept or decline the Trade, depending on how good it is. Basically, you could use Bartering to trade items of equal value with the Trader’s items.

Honestly, I find the Trade mode a lot easier to handle. When Trading, all you have to do to sell an item is double-click it. You can do the same with the Trader’s items to purchase them. You’ll purchase the item for exactly what it’s worth, and you can only sell items for what they’re worth as well.

Bartering is good if you want to Trade different items between you and the Trader. Of course, you can also put gold on the table. Any player who wants to have the smoothest experience with selling and buying items should stick with Trade mode.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on Steam.