Under the umbrella of trading in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3), you’ll find several functionalities that augment your gameplay experience. Trading, at its core, allows you to equip Companions with consumables or gear as the need arises.
No matter where you are, whether in the thick of a fight or just casually exploring, you always have access to inventory and trade options. Even if a Companion is unfortunately incapacitated, their items aren’t lost to you; other party members can still reach into their inventories and use what they need.
In the vast world of BG3, trading begins with opening your Inventory. PC users, you can achieve this with a simple press of the “I” key, which is the default bind. From there, trading becomes a matter of a few right-clicks.
If you want to pass an item over to a specific party member, just right-click on it in your Inventory UI and pick the “Send To” option. Select your party member, and voila! Item transferred.
But what happens when the pockets of your characters start to overflow with loot? Well, BG3 has a contingency for that as well. You can send less crucial items to the camp to clear some space in your inventory.
How to trade in Baldur’s Gate 3
As we move deeper into trading, there are certain key items that you should always keep on hand. One such item is the Scroll of Revivify. It’s a lifeline when a party member is down as it can revive them instantly.
Furthermore, health potions are your best friends in BG3. They come in handy because non-Cantrip spells have limited charges, making reliable healing a bit tricky.
When you bump into a vendor who sells Potions, it’s a good idea to purchase some as a backup for emergencies. After all, you never know when the next big battle will happen.
Trade vs Barter in Baldur’s Gate 3
Now, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of dealing with Traders in BG3. When you interact with a Trader and request a look at their goods, you’ll see two options: Trade or Barter. These two are different modes of transaction, each with its own nuances.
In Trade mode, you use gold for all transactions. It’s a straight exchange of gold for goods, or vice versa. However, bear in mind that the game doesn’t always follow the item descriptions when determining value, so you might end up paying more or receiving less than you anticipated.
On the other hand, Barter mode is where you can negotiate the value of items and gold with the Trader. This mode starts by default when you speak with any Trader, but you can toggle between the two modes as you wish.
In Barter mode, you drag items and gold to your side of the table and do the same for the Trader’s items and gold. Once you’re satisfied, propose the trade. The Trader will then accept or decline based on the trade’s value.
Sometimes, you might not have enough gold to balance the trade, but don’t worry. BG3 has a solution for that as well. The game offers an Exchange option where you can swap unwanted items for desired items from the Trader.
Just remember, the trade has to be fair, so the value of the items and gold on both sides of the table should be equal. In case the trade isn’t equal, there’s an option to pay extra gold to level the playing field. In BG3, trading isn’t just a necessity; it’s also a strategic tool that can shape your journey.