Economy
Economy & Trading Guide
Gold, the Grand Exchange, and the Forge Coffer.
Economy & Trading Guide
Aetheria's economy is driven by gold, items, and the Grand Exchange.
Earning Gold
- Monster kills — All monsters drop gold on death
- Quest rewards — Many quests offer gold as a reward
- Item sales — Sell loot to NPC shops or on the Grand Exchange
- Warden Tokens — Complete gathering tasks for tokens, trade for rewards
Spending Gold
- NPC shops — Buy equipment, potions, and supplies
- Quest costs — Some quests require a gold payment to start
- Grand Exchange — Buy items from other players
- House rent — Rent houses for storage and prestige
The Grand Exchange
The Grand Exchange (market) is the central trading hub:
- Create sell offers — List items for sale at your chosen price
- Create buy offers — Request items at a price you're willing to pay
- Transaction tax — 2% tax on each transaction funds the Forge Coffer
Click to reveal spoilers
The Forge Coffer
The 2% market tax doesn't just disappear — it flows into the Forge Coffer, a pool that auto-purchases high-tier items and Forge Relics from sell offers, then destroys them. This controls inflation by removing excess items from the economy.
If you list a sink-eligible item (T5+ equipment, Forge Relics, boss uniques), the Coffer may instantly buy it — you get gold immediately, and the item is removed from circulation.
Price Guide
Check the price guide at /api/market/price/:item_id to see recent trade prices before listing an item. Smart pricing leads to faster sales.
Tips
- Buy low, sell high — Watch the market for underpriced items
- Farm efficiently — Target monsters that drop items in demand
- Craft for profit — Some crafting recipes produce items worth more than their ingredients
- Save for big purchases — High-tier equipment can be expensive but is worth the investment