Buy cheap, sell high
Buy from the market or mine it yourself — the ladder counts the margin either way, so sell where demand is highest rather than where it is nearest.
Guides // Ranks
Pilot Ranks
Combat, Trade, Exploration, and Exobiology — the four Pilots Federation ladders, and the Elite that opens Founders World.
What Pilot Ranks Are
OverviewThe Pilots Federation (Pilots Federation: The organization that oversees and represents the galaxy's independent pilots.) tracks four independent ladders — Combat, Trade, Exploration, and Exobiology. Each climbs nine named rungs to Elite; above Elite sit Elite I to V, pure prestige. You do not pick one — every ladder rises on its own as you do that work.
Each ladder climbs the same nine rungs to Elite, but on different work. Pick one to see its rungs, what each demands, and the ships that suit it.
Trade Ranks
Trade rank climbs on the profit you bank at the commodity market — buy low, sell high, and every credit of margin counts toward the next rung.
Each rung is a cumulative credit total, so the ladder never resets. Bulk hauling, rare goods runs, and mining sales all feed the same bar.
| Rank | Requirement | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Penniless | 0 Cr. | — |
| Mostly Penniless | 5,000 Cr. | — |
| Peddler | 100,000 Cr. | — |
| Dealer | 800,000 Cr. | Etienne Dorn |
| Merchant | 3,700,000 Cr. | Didi Vatermann |
| Broker | 30,000,000 Cr. | — |
| Entrepreneur | 140,000,000 Cr. | — |
| Tycoon | 390,000,000 Cr. | — |
| Elite | 1,000,000,000 Cr. | Shinrarta Dezhra permit |
Important Tips
Find the best routes
Run a loop between two stations with a wide buy/sell spread, and scale the cargo racks up as the hull allows. Inara Trade Routes for back-and-forth loops, or Spansh Trade Routes for long multi-hop runs.
Recommended Trading Ships
| Ship | Class | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type-8 Transporter | Medium | 34.8M CR | One of the best medium-pad trading ships. Excellent cargo capacity and jump range make it a superb balance between hauling power and accessibility. |
| Type-9 Heavy | Large | 72.1M CR | A dedicated bulk hauler with an enormous cargo hold. The classic choice when maximum cargo matters more than speed or maneuverability. |
| Panther Clipper Mk II | Large | 286.9M CR | The ultimate bulk trader. Its enormous cargo capacity makes it the choice for commanders who want to move more cargo than anything else. |