How to Improve Your Attitude With Traders in BG3

Learn how to improve your attitude with Baldur's Gate 3 traders by donating gold and items. Get better prices and sell for more profit long-term.

Hey there! So, you've noticed that some merchants in Baldur's Gate 3 seem a bit frosty, right? You can actually see how they feel about you by opening up the trading or bartering screen – there's an attitude rating right there in the bottom right. It might be a bit low to start, depending on who you are and who they are, but don't sweat it! It's pretty easy to warm them up.

The main way to get on a merchant's good side is by donating stuff. You can give them gold or items through the bartering system. The more valuable the donation, the bigger the boost to their attitude. If you want to see a quick improvement, try donating items worth at least 100 gold. You'll probably find plenty of spare gear and weapons you don't need lying around.

From what we've seen, donating items totaling around 600 to 800 gold can get you to a 100 attitude rating with a merchant if you started at zero. It doesn't take too long, especially if you're finding tons of loot from exploring and fighting. Just make sure you keep at least 1000 gold handy for essential supplies like potions and tools before you start giving things away.

Heads up: When you're donating, you'll get a warning that you won't get anything back for what you give. Just keep that in mind!

Why Bother Improving Trader Attitudes?

So, why go through the trouble of donating? Simple: long-term profit! The better your attitude with a merchant, the cheaper their stuff will be for you to buy. Plus, you'll get more gold when you sell your own loot to them. Over time, you'll actually make back the gold you spent on donations and start saving money with those better prices.

How much you save really depends on how often you'll be visiting that particular merchant. You'll probably be seeing traders in big towns like the Emerald Grove a lot. As you find more settlements, it's a good idea to start donating early. You might lose a bit of gold upfront, but you'll definitely make more in the long run.

Remember, most merchants restock their gold and items after a long rest. So, it's always a good idea to check back with them regularly. This also means you can sell them more items each day, as you might sell them everything they have in one go!

Trade vs. Barter: What's the Difference?

Honestly, the difference between trading and bartering is pretty straightforward. It's mostly about what you prefer. The prices for items are the same whether you pay with gold (Trade) or offer items of equivalent value (Barter).

For instance, if a breastplate costs 260 gold, you can either pay 260 gold directly in Trade mode. Or, you can switch to Barter mode and offer items that add up to 260 gold. If your offer is less, the merchant won't accept it.

Pro Tip: If you're short on items to reach the exact value in Barter mode, you can press the scales button above the 'Barter' button. This will automatically balance the deal by taking the remaining gold needed from your inventory.

Arron, near the Emerald Grove, is likely the first merchant you'll meet in BG3.

For most players, the Trade function is usually the easiest way to deal with merchants. You just drag the item you want to buy, and the gold is taken automatically.