Today we're going to discuss how you can make a lot of mesos by using a tried-and-true method: buying low and selling high. This concept is at the heart of merchandising, and it's how I made most of my mesos in MapleStory Artale. The in-game market can be incredibly inefficient, creating tons of opportunities for those who know when and where to buy and sell. So, let's dive in and explore the best strategies to maximize your profits in Artale!

1. Understanding the Artale Economy

Before jumping into the specifics of buying and selling items, it's essential to grasp some basic concepts of the Artale economy. The first thing you need to understand is that demand fluctuates based on time and player activity. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting, learning when prices go up and down is crucial for making mesos.

Time-Based Price Fluctuations

In Artale, prices of items are influenced by when players are most active. For example, in Pacific Standard Time (PST) (Vancouver, Canada), the price of items is generally lower in the morning (around 7:00 AM PST) and higher in the evening (around 4:00 PM PST). The reasoning behind this is simple: in the morning, fewer players are online, so there is less competition, and thus, prices for items are typically lower. By 4:00 PM PST, players from work or school start logging in, causing a surge in demand and, consequently, a price increase.

Additionally, prices may rise or fall depending on whether it's a weekday or weekend. On weekends, there tends to be more quest activity, leading to a rise in the price of quest-related items. Conversely, during weekdays, when fewer people farm, equipment items are often cheaper. Understanding these time-based fluctuations will help you plan your purchases and sales for maximum profit.

The Auction House: Your Marketplace

In Artale, the auction house is your primary tool for buying and selling items. It's important to familiarize yourself with the auction house mechanics, especially the search count and buy count features. The search count tells you how many items are listed for sale, while the buy count shows how many items can be purchased at a time.

The auction house is a key feature to watch closely. As you begin to track prices, you'll notice patterns in certain items. For example, certain quest items can be found much more easily in the mornings, while equipment items are often available for a lower price in the early hours of the day. Armed with this knowledge, you can start purchasing items when prices are low, then resell them for a higher price when demand picks up.

2. What to Buy and Sell

Now that you understand the market's time-based fluctuations, let's take a look at what to buy and when.

Equipment and Scrolls

One of the most consistent ways to make money in Artale is by buying and selling equipment and scrolls. Some of the best profit margins come from buying gear with good stats, such as Imperial Gloves, overall armor for Dex, and G G Capes. You can often purchase these items at a 20-50% discount during the morning hours, which allows you to resell them for much higher prices during peak demand hours.

Key Items to Watch:

• Seven-stat Imperial Gloves: These gloves can sell for around 1.5 million mesos in the evening, but you can often pick them up for as low as 450k mesos in the morning.

• Overall Armor for Dex: This armor typically goes for about 500k mesos each, but you can find it at 450k mesos during the morning hours.

• G G Capes: These capes are valuable in the market, and although they may not always have massive price fluctuations, they can still be profitable to resell depending on demand.

It's also wise to pay attention to scrolls that increase stats for equipment. Some scrolls, like 60% scrolls for Dex, Luck, and INT, are in high demand depending on the class. You can buy these scrolls at a lower price and sell them for a higher price once players start farming specific quests or dungeons that require them.

Example:

• 60% Scroll for Dex: Often used by multiple classes (thief, warrior, pirate, and bowman), this scroll commands a higher price due to its broad usability.

• 60% Scroll for Luck: Useful for both thieves and magicians, these scrolls also have strong demand.

Quest Event Items

Certain quest event items are highly sought after because of the unique rewards they offer. For example, items required for quests in dungeons or special events, such as Hector Tails and scor quests, are typically undervalued in the early stages of farming. These items often skyrocket in price as they become harder to obtain due to diminishing supply.

Take Hector Tails, which are required for certain quests that grant powerful rewards. Players generally farm these between levels 51 and 55, but once demand peaks due to the necessity for certain quests, prices can jump significantly. You can predict that these tails will reach around 1,000 mesos per unit. If you buy them early, you stand to make 10-fold profits.

Special Equipment: Snow Shoes

In areas like Elness, certain special equipment is in high demand. Snow Shoes, which prevent you from slipping on ice while hunting, are an example. These shoes are class-specific, and their prices can vary based on demand and supply.

For instance:

• Warrior Snow Shoes might be priced at around 30,000 mesos.

• Magician Snow Shoes are typically a bit cheaper, at about 25,000 mesos.

• Thief Snow Shoes can often be sold for around 40,000 mesos or more.

Once you've acquired snow shoes, you can scroll them for additional profit by selling them for more mesos when they become high-demand items during peak farming times.

3. The Risks and Rewards of Merchandising

While the prospect of buying low and selling high sounds like a great way to earn mesos, there are some risks involved. The key to success lies in market trends, and misreading these trends can result in significant losses.

Predicting Price Fluctuations

As mentioned earlier, prices fluctuate based on various factors like player activity, updates, and current farming trends. You must monitor item prices closely to know when to buy and when to sell. For example, Health Slayers were once highly sought after, with prices reaching up to 30 million mesos. However, as more players moved on to higher-level monsters, the demand decreased, and prices plummeted to just 1 million mesos. This type of market crash can be a major setback if you invest heavily in a particular item.

Market Saturation

One thing to keep in mind is the risk of market saturation. If too many players are listing the same items, the market may become flooded, and you might struggle to sell at your desired price. To avoid this, it's important to diversify the items you're purchasing and keep track of supply and demand trends to ensure that your items aren't getting buried in the auction house.

Fees and Expenses

When selling items, there's also a 5% fee deducted from your sales. So, if you sell an item for 50,000 mesos, you'll only receive 47,500 mesos after the fee is applied. Always factor this into your pricing calculations to ensure you're still making a profit.

4. Final Tips for Maximizing Profits

• Know the price ranges: Before making any purchase, familiarize yourself with the typical price range for the item. This will help you spot a good deal when you see it.

• Monitor the market trends: Track the trends for quest items, equipment, and scrolls. Knowing when demand for certain items is likely to spike can help you buy at the right time.

• Don't over-invest: If you're just starting with merchandising, it's important not to over-invest in a single item. Diversifying your purchases will help minimize risks.

• Sell strategically: Try to sell your items when the market is most active. This means listing them in the evening when more players are online and actively searching for items.

Conclusion

Merchandising in MapleStory Artale can be a very profitable venture if you're strategic about when and what to buy. By understanding the nuances of the auction house, paying attention to price fluctuations, and knowing which items to focus on, you can build a steady stream of income by buying low and selling high. While there are risks involved, those who are patient and observant can reap significant rewards. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll soon be raking in the MapleStory Artale mesos. Good luck and happy merchandising!

MMOexp MapleStory Artale Team