Resource management is crucial in Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era. Learning how to trade, buy, and sell resources efficiently helps you build towns faster, upgrade armies, and fund massive recruitments, especially when you lack specific materials like Gems, Crystals, or Mercury.
How to Access the Marketplace
To trade resources, you must build a Marketplace in your towns:
- Cost: 5 Wood + 500 Gold.
- Once built, open the trade interface from the town screen or your hero’s resource panel.
- You can exchange any resource for another (including Gold) or sell excess resources for Gold.
Pro Tip: Build Marketplaces in multiple towns. Each additional Marketplace improves your trading rates (reduces markup).
Trading Rates and Markup System
Trading rates improve with more Marketplaces in your kingdom:
- 0 Marketplaces — No trading possible.
- More Marketplaces → Better exchange rates (lower markup).
- At maximum (around 5+), rates approach optimal levels.
Base Sell Rates (at 0% markup):
- Wood / Ore: 1 resource = 250 Gold
- Gems / Crystal / Mercury: 1 resource = 500 Gold
Buying works in reverse — expect higher costs depending on current markup. Rates get significantly better with 3–5 Marketplaces.
Hero Perk: Merchant (Extra Marketplace)
Unlock the Merchant sub-skill under the Economy skill tree:
- Your hero counts as an additional Marketplace for trading calculations.
- This is extremely useful early-game or in scenarios/challenges where you need better rates without building multiple structures.
- Many players use this perk to solve tutorial challenges involving resource trades.
Adventure Map Trading Posts
Look for Trading Posts (or Marketplace objects) on the adventure map:
- They often provide better fixed rates (equivalent to several Marketplaces).
- Visiting heroes can trade there without owning a town Marketplace.
- Excellent for early-game resource balancing.
Best Strategies for Trading Resources
- Early Game: Trade excess Wood/Ore for rare resources (Gems, Crystals, Mercury) to rush key buildings like Mage Guilds or high-tier dwellings.
- Mid to Late Game: Sell rare resources for Gold to recruit large armies and upgrade towns.
- Prioritize selling lower-value resources first.
- Use Alchemical Labs or other map objects for conversion when trading isn’t efficient.
- Hold Left Alt to check daily resource income on the top panel.
Note: You cannot directly buy or sell Alchemical Dust in the Marketplace. It is obtained through other means (buildings, map objects, synthesis).
Common Trading Mistakes to Avoid
- Trading with only 1 Marketplace (very poor rates).
- Forgetting to build Marketplaces in newly captured towns.
- Over-selling resources you’ll need later for upgrades.
- Not using the Merchant perk in resource-tight scenarios.
Mastering how to trade, buy, and sell resources in Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era gives you a massive economic advantage. Combine smart trading with strong Economy skills, daily income buildings, and map exploration for unstoppable growth.
Check our other Olden Era guides for unit upgrades, spell unlocking, stack splitting, and faction strategies!
Happy conquering in Olden Era!
