When you roam the wasteland in your first days of 7 Days to Die, you might think: “I’m completely on my own.” Not quite. Out there are people who won’t necessarily shake your hand, but they do bring a bit of humanity and structure to the chaos: the traders.
Traders are the hubs of the world. They sell, buy, hand out quests, and give you access to rare items. In version 2.0 they matter more than ever. They’re not just fillers — they’re almost a measure of your progression.
This article covers traders, their quirks, quests, and why reputation now genuinely makes a difference. By the end, you’ll see traders not as a mere “shop”, but as a key to survival.
Traders in 7 Days to Die 2.0: The five traders and their strengths
There are five major traders, each with their own personality and a slightly different inventory.
- Trader Joel – the “friendly” everyman, religiously inclined, offers a broad selection.
- Trader Jen – specialises in medicine and healing, often the best source for bandages, painkillers and schematics.
- Trader Rekt – rude, but with very strong loot on offer.
- Trader Hugh – military type, focuses on armour, weapons and combat gear.
- Trader Bob – mechanic type, great for vehicle parts, mods and schematics.
In 2.0 their stock is more varied, and the selection rotates regularly. Each trader has a safe zone: inside the walls, zombies are barred and weapons are disabled. Perfect for a quick breather or sorting your inventory.
Quests in 7 Days to Die 2.0: Types, instances and progression
The biggest change in 2.0 is the reworked quests. They used to be a nice extra. Now they’re almost essential if you want to make real progress.
Quest types at a glance:
- Fetch – Find a parcel and bring it back. Usually quick to finish.
- Clear – Kill all zombies in a designated building. Often punchy fights.
- Fetch & Clear – A combination of both. Takes longer but pays off.
- Tier progression – The more quests you complete, the higher your tier level (1–6). Higher tiers mean tougher missions but better rewards.
- Special quests – e.g. Buried Supplies (dig up buried chests) or Special Jobs that send you to another trader.
The clever bit: in 2.0, quests have more variety. Buildings used for quests are instanced (they reset when you start), so you’ll face fresh challenges each time.
Quest rewards: Dukes, items, XP and reputation
Quests aren’t just training — they deliver tangible benefits:
- Dukes (in-game currency): Every quest pays out cash to reinvest in better gear.
- Items: Weapons, armour, mods, food, medicine — increasingly valuable with tier and trader.
- XP: Your character levels faster when you run missions regularly.
- Reputation: Put in the work for a trader and you’ll be treated better.
Higher-tier quests grant access to more dangerous (but lucrative) POIs that are often out of reach for others.
Trader reputation: prices, exclusive items and bonus quests
In version 2.0, reputation truly matters. The more you do for a trader, the more they trust you — and that trust pays dividends:
- Better prices: Higher reputation = cheaper purchases and higher sell prices.
- Exclusive items: Access to rare weapons, mods or schematics.
- Bonus quests: Special jobs others never see.
- Story snippets: Learn more about each trader’s personality and background as your standing improves.
In short: you’re not just a “customer” — you become an ally when you prove yourself.
First-week strategies: safe quests and Blood Moon planning
Especially as a beginner, play quests smart.
- Start with Fetch quests. They’re simple, pay well, and carry less risk.
- Do Clear quests in daylight. Building zombies are merciless at night.
- Loot twice. Quests reset a building when you start them — loot first, then activate the quest and loot again.
- Horde planning. Avoid long quests on day 7 — be back at your base in good time.
Trader routes and opening times: trade and sell efficiently
One trader is good — several are better. Traders have different specialisations and stock. If you’re mobile (minibike or motorbike), run trader routes:
- Traders have opening hours and will boot you out when they close.
- Plan a loop to visit 2–3 traders in a single day.
- Take the chance to sell excess loot.
- Watch for schematics — recipes for ammo or mods are essential.
Bonus: traders reset their inventory regularly (e.g. every 3 days). With a set routine, you’ll miss no deals.
Multiplayer tips: completing quests efficiently as a team
In multiplayer, quests really shine:
- Every player can accept the same quest — everyone benefits.
- Enemies scale, but the loot scales with them.
- Divide roles: one kites, one loots, one secures.
On a dedicated 7 Days to Die server this is especially handy because everyone’s progress stays in sync. No one is left behind; everyone benefits from quest progression.
Trader compounds as safe zones: shelter, selling and quest hubs
Each trader compound is essentially a small fortress: high walls, iron gates, safe zones. You can’t settle there permanently, but they make excellent waypoints:
- Shelter during loot runs: If you barely make it out, flee into the trader zone — zombies won’t follow you in.
- Selling point: Offload anything you don’t need.
- Quest hub: Particularly handy when you’re knocking out several quests in the same area.
Some players also use trader bases as temporary Blood Moon shelters. Officially that doesn’t work — the creative still find ways.
Make the most of trader specialisations: medicine, ammo, vehicles
Each trader has strengths — use them deliberately.
- Need more medicine? Visit Jen.
- Short on ammo? Rekt or Hugh deliver.
- Vehicle parts? Bob is your man.
- A bit of everything? Joel often has a mixed stash.
That way you can quickly shore up any gaps in your build or team.
Trader questline: from Tier 1 to Tier 6 with rising difficulty
Each completed quest raises your standing in the trader’s hierarchy. At a certain point your trader will send you to another trader ("Special Job"). That expands your map and opens new opportunities.
- Tier 1–2: Starter quests, simple buildings, quick rewards.
- Tier 3–4: More demanding buildings with more zombies and better loot.
- Tier 5: Large POIs (e.g. factories, hospitals). Tough nuts, but worth it.
- Tier 6: Endgame content with the hardest enemies and best rewards.
This questline is a second guiding thread alongside the Blood Moon system. It gives you clear goals and steady rewards — ideal in an open survival world.
Endgame in 7 Days to Die 2.0: why traders remain indispensable
Many games make traders irrelevant in the endgame — not so in 7 Days to Die 2.0.
- Rare schematics you’ll hardly ever find yourself.
- Ammunition and explosives you’ll desperately need late game.
- Quests still grant heaps of XP and Dukes at high levels.
Even with a perfect base, vehicles and top weapons, traders remain your constant companion.
Reputation in detail: concrete benefits and thresholds
To make it tangible:
- At low reputation you pay mark-ups (around +20%) on ammo and more.
- At medium reputation prices drop; you’ll also see small perks like a free bandage now and then.
- At high reputation the good crates open up — schematics, special mods or exclusive quests.
Building reputation takes time — but if you consistently work for a trader, it pays off massively in the long run.
Conclusion: traders, quests and reputation are your lifeline
In version 2.0, traders and quests finally have the weight they deserve. They’re not just small pit stops but a full progression track. With reputation, better quests and valuable rewards, they become a second heartbeat alongside the Blood Moon system.
Whether solo or with friends: a 7 Days to Die server gives you the freedom to make the most of traders. You’ll build faster, loot better and survive longer.
