Merchant Quests and Affinities: Maximizing Rewards in Dark and Darker
Overview of Merchants and Their Roles
There are several merchants in Dark and Darker, each specializing in different types of equipment, services, or consumables. Some of the main merchants include:
Woodsman – Sells bows, arrows, and ranger gear.
Armourer – Deals in heavy armor, shields, and helmets.
Weaponsmith – Offers melee weapons and upgrades.
Alchemist – Provides potions, bandages, and magical enhancements.
Surgeon – Handles healing services and sells medical kits.
Collector – Buys rare artifacts and trades them for unique rewards.
Each merchant has an Affinity Meter that increases as you complete their quests, trade with them, or sell them relevant loot. Higher affinity unlocks better-quality items, rare blueprints, and sometimes even access to merchant-exclusive side dungeons or contracts.
Understanding Merchant Quests
Merchant quests are task-based missions that often require players to do one or more of the following:
Retrieve a specific item from a dungeon.
Deliver materials or equipment.
Kill certain enemy types or bosses.
Survive and extract from a specific map level.
These quests vary in difficulty and reward, with higher-tier quests granting better affinity boosts and valuable gear.
Tips for Completing Merchant Quests Efficiently
Prioritize Quests with Multiple Objectives:
Some quests overlap in their goals. For example, the Weaponsmith might want a Rusty Sword, while the Collector is asking for an Antique Weapon. Both can be found in the same dungeon run.
Plan your route and inventory accordingly.
Team Coordination:
If you’re playing with a group, share the objectives and divide tasks. Have the rogue pick locks, the ranger scout for loot, and the fighter tank mobs while you focus on the quest goals.
Avoid High-Risk Greed:
Merchant quests often require extraction. Don’t overstay your welcome in a dungeon if you have quest items—prioritize safe exits.
Use Affinity-Based Items:
Some items provide a bonus to affinity gain when delivered to a specific merchant. These are rare but should be saved for quests when available.
Quest Rotation Awareness:
Quests rotate based on in-game days or player progression. Always check for new objectives before heading out.
Maximizing Affinity: Tips & Strategies
Affinity with a merchant improves their attitude toward you, reflected in:
Discounts on purchases.
Increased sell value for your items.
Access to higher-tier or enchanted gear.
Secret quests or lore-related content.
Best Ways to Gain Affinity
Quest Completion:
This is the most reliable and cheap Dank and Darker Gold rewarding method. Always aim to complete at least one quest per merchant per dungeon session.
Selling Relevant Loot:
Merchants gain affinity faster if you sell items tied to their trade. For example:
Sell monster parts to the Alchemist.
Sell rare tomes to the Collector.
Sell armor to the Armourer.
Purchase Loyalty:
Regularly buying items, even cheap ones, gives small affinity boosts. If you’re close to a new affinity tier, buying minor consumables can push you over the threshold.
Event-Based Interactions:
During certain in-game events (e.g., Harvest Moon Festival), affinity gains are doubled or merchants offer unique items. Take advantage of these for big gains.
Affinity Contracts:
At higher levels, merchants may offer contracts that reward double affinity for completing more dangerous quests.
Best Merchant Affinity Rewards (Examples)
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect at higher affinity tiers for key merchants:
1. Weaponsmith
Tier I (Friendly): 5% off all weapons.
Tier II (Trusted): Unlocks access to Rare and Superior weapons.
Tier III (Allied): Offers enchanted blueprints for custom forging.
2. Alchemist
Tier I: Potions cost less.
Tier II: Gain access to resistance elixirs and speed boosts.
Tier III: Learn temporary buff recipes for the entire party.
3. Collector
Tier I: Higher gold per rare artifact sold.
Tier II: Access to lore tomes and secret dungeon keys.
Tier III: Rewarded with cosmetic relics and legendary trinkets.
Advanced Techniques for Min-Maxing
Affinity Stacking Across Dungeons:
Plan dungeon routes that allow you to gather quest items for multiple merchants in one run.
Example: In the Crypt level, you can farm skeletons for bones (Surgeon), retrieve ancient gear (Collector), and gather herbs (Alchemist).
Using Class-Specific Perks:
Rogues and Rangers can loot faster and more silently—great for snatching high-affinity items.
Clerics may have passive bonuses with the Surgeon or Alchemist thanks to healing alignment.
Trading Between Players:
If you find an item for another player's quest, consider trading. Pooling resources can help everyone advance their merchant tiers faster.
Prepping for Legendary Contracts:
At Tier III affinity, merchants offer contracts that require elite runs. Make sure your party is fully geared and coordinated.
These contracts yield game-changing rewards like permanent stat boosts or class-specific gear sets.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Ignoring Merchant Progression:
Players who focus only on combat and loot without building affinity lose out on high-end gear and crafting materials.
Selling Items to the Wrong Merchant:
Selling a rare blade to the Armourer instead of the Weaponsmith yields less affinity and profit. Know your merchant domains.
Inventory Mismanagement:
Merchant quest items take up valuable space. Always bring extra pouches or secure containers to safely transport objectives.
Death with Quest Items:
If you die before extracting, you lose both the quest progress and any affinity bonuses. Play safe once you’ve got the goods.
Conclusion
Merchant quests and affinities in Dark and Darker are more than side distractions—they’re core to long-term character progression and economic power. By actively managing quest objectives, selling strategically, and prioritizing the right merchants for your playstyle, you can unlock powerful rewards and deepen your role in the world. Whether you're a lone rogue or a battle-hardened knight, mastering the merchant system gives you the tools and edge to conquer even the darkest depths.
Now grab that quest scroll, gear up, and start turning favors into fortune.
———— Jun-05-2025 PST ————