Trade Portal

A trade portal is an object where many items can be bought and sold in exchange for currency. Prices reflect demand, with higher amounts of local influence and smaller amounts of universal influence on prices. They were introduced in version 1.5.

Trade Portal
Trade Portal

Category	Crafting Surface
Use	Trading
Tool
Stackable	Yes (99)

"Trade with the universe."

At any given moment at a given trade portal, items will sell there for 25% or 1/4th of the buying price at the same portal at that moment. As prices change and vary between trade portals, there can be trade portals with vastly different prices, allowing a profit to be made. Prices also change over time, so a price may go up or down as time passes. Buying items raises prices while selling items lowers prices.

Appearance

A trade portal appears similarly to a portal, except with a golden tint. The trade portal's base block corresponds to the level of the trade portal, and is identical to the corresponding level for a portal.

Where Found

A trade portal that spawned with a cave troll

A trade portal can be crafted at a portal for one portal, one gold coin, and 50 time crystals. A trade portal may also be found when a cave troll is revealed (even in worlds started before version 1.5). Trade portals found near cave trolls will have different price offsets than a newly-crafted trade portal.

Location	Input Item 1		Input Item 2		Input Item 3		Input Item 4		Input Item 5		Crafted Output
		+		+		+		+		=
Lvl. 1 Portal	Portal		Gold Coin		Time Crystal		[[]]		[[]]		Trade Portal
Quantity	1		1		50		{{{Qty4}}}		{{{Qty5}}}		1

Rush Cost
1
Double-Time
0.5

Upgrades

To buy more advanced items, a trade portal must be upgraded. Prior to version 1.6 and the introduction of platinum coins, the level 5 and level 6 upgrades cost 100 and 200 gold coins instead of 1 and 10 platinum coins, respectively. Upgrading in expert mode uses a different chart.

Name	Slogan	Item 1	Item 2	Item 3
Level 2 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	1 x	10 x	10 x
Level 3 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	1 x	20 x	20 x
Level 4 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	1 x	50 x	50 x
Level 5 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	1 x	1 x	100 x
Level 6 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	1 x	10 x	200 x

Available Items

Most items are available through a trade portal. Other than those for electric production and conversion, crafting surfaces are not.

Beginning with version 1.7, trade portals do not show items for buying or selling that have not yet been "found" (picked up by a blockhead). For worlds created before 1.7, only those items introduced in that version will be unavailable. Unavailable items have question marks instead of icons.

Trade Portal Item Categories

Icon	Item	Level
	Dirt	Requires Level 1
	Wood	Requires Level 1
	Wood Column	Requires Level 1
	Wood Stairs	Requires Level 1
	Stone	Requires Level 1
	Stone Column	Requires Level 1
	Stone Stairs	Requires Level 1
	Sand	Requires Level 1
	Limestone	Requires Level 2
	Limestone Column	Requires Level 2
	Limestone Stairs	Requires Level 2
	Sandstone	Requires Level 2
	Sandstone Column	Requires Level 2
	Sandstone Stairs	Requires Level 2
	Marble	Requires Level 2
	Marble Column	Requires Level 2
	Marble Stairs	Requires Level 2
	Red Bricks	Requires Level 2
	Brick Column	Requires Level 2
	Brick Stairs	Requires Level 2
	Gravel	Requires Level 3
	Black Sand	Requires Level 3
	Compost	Requires Level 3
	Glass	Requires Level 3
	Glass Column	Requires Level 2
	Glass Stairs	Requires Level 2
	Black Glass	Requires Level 3
	Black Glass Column	Requires Level 2
	Black Glass Stairs	Requires Level 2
	Ice	Requires Level 3
	Ice Column	Requires Level 3
	Ice Stairs	Requires Level 3
	Reinforced Platform	Requires Level 3
	Lapis Lazuli	Requires Level 4
	Lapis Lazuli Column	Requires Level 4
	Lapis Lazuli Stairs	Requires Level 4
	Red Marble	Requires Level 4
	Red Marble Column	Requires Level 4
	Red Marble Stairs	Requires Level 4
	Basalt	Requires Level 4
	Basalt Column	Requires Level 4
	Basalt Stairs	Requires Level 4
	Copper Block	Requires Level 5
	Copper Column	Requires Level 5
	Copper Stairs	Requires Level 5
	Tin Block	Requires Level 5
	Tin Column	Requires Level 5
	Tin Stairs	Requires Level 5
	Bronze Block	Requires Level 5
	Bronze Column	Requires Level 5
	Bronze Stairs	Requires Level 5
	Iron Block	Requires Level 6
	Iron Column	Requires Level 6
	Iron Stairs	Requires Level 6
	Steel Block	Requires Level 6
	Steel Column	Requires Level 6
	Steel Stairs	Requires Level 6
	Gold Block	Requires Level 6
	Gold Column	Requires Level 6
	Gold Stairs	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fiber Block	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fiber Column	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fiber Stairs	Requires Level 6
	Titanium Block	Requires Level 6
	Titanium Column	Requires Level 6
	Titanium Stairs	Requires Level 6
	Platinum Block	Requires Level 6
	Platinum Column	Requires Level 6
	Platinum Stairs	Requires Level 6

Trade Portal Item Categories

Icon	Item	Level
	Stick	Requires Level 1
	Worm	Requires Level 1
	Pine Cone	Requires Level 1
	Apple	Requires Level 2
	Mango	Requires Level 2
	Maple Seed	Requires Level 2
	Prickly Pear	Requires Level 2
	Coconut	Requires Level 2
	Flax Seed	Requires Level 2
	Orange	Requires Level 2
	Lime	Requires Level 2
	Sunflower Seed	Requires Level 2
	Corn	Requires Level 2
	Carrot	Requires Level 2
	Cherry	Requires Level 2
	Chilli	Requires Level 2
	Kelp	Requires Level 3
	Flax	Requires Level 3
	Vine	Requires Level 3
	Dodo Egg	Requires Level 3
	Dodo Feather	Requires Level 3
	Raw Dodo Meat	Requires Level 3
	Raw Fish	Requires Level 3
	Leather	Requires Level 4
	Fur	Requires Level 4
	Coffee Cherry	Requires Level 4
	Cooked Dodo Meat	Requires Level 5
	Cooked Fish	Requires Level 5
	Green Coffee Bean	Requires Level 5
	Roasted Coffee Bean	Requires Level 6
	Coffee	Requires Level 6
	Fish Curry	Requires Level 6
	Dodo Stew	Requires Level 6
	Poison	Requires Level 6

Trade Portal Item Categories

Icon	Item	Level
	Flint Spade	Requires Level 1
	Flint Axe	Requires Level 1
	Flint Spear	Requires Level 1
	Flint Pickaxe	Requires Level 1
	Flint Machete	Requires Level 1
	Stone Spade	Requires Level 2
	Stone Axe	Requires Level 2
	Stone Pickaxe	Requires Level 2
	Copper Bow & Arrows	Requires Level 3
	Tin Spade	Requires Level 3
	Bronze Pickaxe	Requires Level 3
	Bronze Machete	Requires Level 3
	Bronze Sword	Requires Level 3
	Iron Pickaxe	Requires Level 4
	Iron Machete	Requires Level 4
	Iron Sword	Requires Level 4
	Iron Axe	Requires Level 4
	Crowbar	Requires Level 5
	Steel Pickaxe	Requires Level 5
	Gold Spade	Requires Level 6
	Gold Pickaxe	Requires Level 6
	Titanium Sword	Requires Level 4
	Titanium Pickaxe	Requires Level 6
	Gold Bow & Poison Arrows	Requires Level 6

Trade Portal Item Categories

Icon	Item	Level
	Linen Cap	Requires Level 1
	Linen Brimmed Hat	Requires Level 1
	Linen Shirt	Requires Level 1
	Linen Pants	Requires Level 1
	Leather Jacket	Requires Level 2
	Leather Pants	Requires Level 2
	Leather Boots	Requires Level 2
	Fur Coat	Requires Level 3
	Fur Boots	Requires Level 3
	Tin Foil Hat	Requires Level 3
	Tin Helmet	Requires Level 4
	Tin Chest Plate	Requires Level 4
	Tin Armor Leggings	Requires Level 4
	Tin Boots	Requires Level 4
	Iron Helmet	Requires Level 5
	Iron Chest Plate	Requires Level 5
	Iron Armor Leggings	Requires Level 5
	Iron Boots	Requires Level 5
	Ice Helmet	Requires Level 6
	Ice Chest Plate	Requires Level 6
	Ice Armor Leggings	Requires Level 6
	Ice Boots	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fiber Helmet	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fiber Chest Plate	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fiber Leggings	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fiber Boots	Requires Level 6
	Titanium Helmet	Requires Level 6
	Titanium Chest Plate	Requires Level 6
	Titanium Leggings	Requires Level 6
	Titanium Boots	Requires Level 6

Trade Portal Item Categories

Icon	Item	Level
	Flint	Requires Level 1
	Clay	Requires Level 1
	Oil	Requires Level 1
	Coal	Requires Level 2
	Copper Ore	Requires Level 2
	Tin Ore	Requires Level 2
	Iron Ore	Requires Level 2
	Amethyst	Requires Level 2
	Gold Nugget	Requires Level 3
	Copper Ingot	Requires Level 3
	Tin Ingot	Requires Level 3
	Sapphire	Requires Level 3
	Crushed Limestone	Requires Level 4
	Pig Iron	Requires Level 4
	Bronze Ingot	Requires Level 4
	Emerald	Requires Level 4
	Platinum Nugget	Requires Level 5
	Titanium Ore	Requires Level 5
	Iron Ingot	Requires Level 5
	Ruby	Requires Level 5
	Steel Ingot	Requires Level 6
	Gold Ingot	Requires Level 6
	Silicon Ingot	Requires Level 6
	Silicon Crystal	Requires Level 6
	Silicon Wafer	Requires Level 6
	Platinum Ingot	Requires Level 6
	Titanium Ingot	Requires Level 6
	Diamond	Requires Level 6

Trade Portal Item Categories

Icon	Item	Level
	Basket	Requires Level 1
	Ember	Requires Level 1
	Charcoal	Requires Level 1
	Basic Torch	Requires Level 1
	Chest	Requires Level 2
	Wooden Door	Requires Level 2
	Trapdoor	Requires Level 2
	Ladder	Requires Level 2
	Window	Requires Level 2
	Shelf	Requires Level 2
	Sign	Requires Level 2
	Wooden Bed	Requires Level 2
	Soft Bed	Requires Level 3
	String	Requires Level 3
	Oil Lantern	Requires Level 3
	Carrot On A Stick	Requires Level 3
	Cup	Requires Level 3
	Linen	Requires Level 3
	Tin Bucket	Requires Level 3
	Boat	Requires Level 3
	Camera	Requires Level 3
	Tin Foil	Requires Level 3
	Fishing Rod	Requires Level 3
	Bucket Of Water	Requires Level 4
	Steel Lantern	Requires Level 4
	Steel Downlight	Requires Level 4
	Steel Uplight	Requires Level 4
	Iron Pot	Requires Level 4
	Indian Yellow	Requires Level 4
	Red Ochre	Requires Level 4
	Ultramarine Blue	Requires Level 4
	Carbon Black	Requires Level 4
	Marble White	Requires Level 4
	Emerald Green	Requires Level 4
	Tyrian Purple	Requires Level 4
	Copper Blue	Requires Level 4
	Golden Chest	Requires Level 5
	Safe	Requires Level 5
	Iron Door	Requires Level 5
	Iron Trapdoor	Requires Level 5
	Black Window	Requires Level 5
	Display Cabinet	Requires Level 5
	Fish Bucket	Requires Level 5
	Shark Bucket	Requires Level 5
	Ice Torch	Requires Level 5
	Amethyst Chandelier	Requires Level 6
	Sapphire Chandelier	Requires Level 6
	Emerald Chandelier	Requires Level 6
	Ruby Chandelier	Requires Level 6
	Diamond Chandelier	Requires Level 6

Trade Portal Item Categories

Icon	Item	Level
	Copper Boiler	Requires Level 5
	Magnet	Requires Level 5
	Electric Motor	Requires Level 5
	Copper Wire	Requires Level 5
	Steam Engine	Requires Level 6
	Steam Generator	Requires Level 6
	Solar Panel	Requires Level 6
	Flywheel	Requires Level 6
	Elevator Shaft	Requires Level 6
	Electric Elevator Motor	Requires Level 6
	Rail	Requires Level 6
	Train Wheel	Requires Level 6
	Rail Handcar	Requires Level 6
	Steam Locomotive	Requires Level 6
	Freight Car	Requires Level 6
	Passenger Car	Requires Level 6
	Fuel	Requires Level 6
	Raw Resin	Requires Level 6
	Epoxy	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fibers	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fiber Sheet	Requires Level 6
	Carbon Fiber Wing	Requires Level 6
	Jetpack Chassis	Requires Level 6
	Jet Engine	Requires Level 6
	Jetpack	Requires Level 6

Trade Portal Item Categories

Icon	Trade
	Trade 100 Gold Coins for 1 Platinum Coin
	Trade 1 Platinum Coin for 100 Gold Coins
	Trade 100 Copper Coins for 1 Gold Coin
	Trade 1 Gold Coin for 100 Copper Coins

Unavailable Items

It may be important to recognize that not all items can be bought or sold through a trade portal. These include:

Any crafting surface usable to make items
Portals, trade portals, and portal chests
Any dyed item
Paint and paint stripper
Paintings
Train stations
Reward clothing
Shark jaws
Tulip seeds and bulbs
Time crystals
Shops

Removed Items

On 13 October, 2015, the following items were removed from the trade portal and became unable to be purchased or sold. All of the items removed cost time crystals to craft.

Icon	Item	Level
	Amethyst Pickaxe	Requires Level 2
	Sapphire Pickaxe	Requires Level 3
	Emerald Pickaxe	Requires Level 4
	Ruby Pickaxe	Requires Level 5
	Diamond Pickaxe	Requires Level 6
	Golden Bed	Requires Level 6

At the same time, a notable change in prices was observed, making it more difficult to become wealthy via manufacturing.

Blockmarket

Website (August 2014)

The Blockmarket website was opened to the public on 11 August 2014. The website, located at http://blockmarket.theblockheads.net, shows the current global prices to buy an item in gold coins at trade portals. It also shows the percent change since 24 hours ago, being red if the price has gone down and green if the price has gone up. Clicking on an item's name shows a graph of the price for the last 24 hours.

As described on their "What is this?" page:

"In The Blockheads, there are 'trade portals' which allow players to buy and sell most in-game items on a global marketplace. Every time a player buys an item, the global price rises a little, and every time they sell an item, the price falls. This website displays the current global prices for the in-game economy."

Using

Interface in HD

Interface before version 1.5.1

The trade portal has three options when tapped: Remove, Buy, and Sell. Version 1.7 introduced Job Listings.

A blockhead cannot buy, sell, or otherwise use the interface until they have reached the trade portal. At that time, the trade portal interface (shown to the right) will open.

The icon menu across the top, immediately below the window title, can be scrolled left and right. Selecting an icon will display the trade menu associated with it: blocks, food, tools, clothing, mined materials, miscellaneous, advanced items, and coins (exchange). (See above for a detailed list.) The final icon is for upgrades.

The trade menus can be scrolled up and down. Each line shows the item (and quantity), cost (in platinum, gold and copper coins), and a button to sell or buy based on what was chosen when the trade portal was tapped. The buy/sell button will be green if the using blockhead has the necessary items in its inventory. Items unavailable at the trade portal's current level show a "locked" icon and have no cost or buy/sell button.

Tapping a buy/sell button executes that exchange once but does not close the interface. To close the interface, tap outside its window. Transactions are instantaneous and cannot (or need to) be rushed by spending time crystals or aborted.

When buying items, a blockhead will automatically have coins exchanged to make the necessary purchase, with the remaining change being given back to that blockhead. When selling items, coins will not be exchanged automatically and may overflow out of a blockhead's inventory.

The acts of buying and selling affect the listed prices for that item, although the results may not be visible until multiples of the item have been traded. Buying will cause a price increase, while selling will cause a price decrease. Items going for less than one copper coin each will be listed as multiples of the item, indicated by a number superimposed over its icon. Item listings can switch between singles and multiples as appropriate. The passage of time may also cause some prices to change as other players buy and sell items.

Beginning with version 1.5.1, an icon on each item line shows single or double arrowheads up or down or a horizontal line. These associate the listed price with an unspecified standard and indicate whether it is high, low, or normal. The arrowheads are green or red (green up for sell, green down for buy, so green indicates the price favors the player/blockhead). If tapped, a graph of the item's price over the past 24 hours will appear.

Job Listings

See also: Job Listings

The Job Listings button does not pull up the item exchange menu; instead it pulls up a list of available "jobs" that a blockhead may be assigned to. Each job is available for a limited time, may require a specified tool, and has both a specified duration and reward. The more advanced the tool and longer the job takes to complete, the larger and more valuable the reward tend to be. When a job's availability clock expires, it gets replaced with another. Only jobs the operating blockhead is properly equipped for may be accepted. Once a job is accepted, the blockhead will vanish, its inventory will become unavailable, and its status will change to a count-down of time remaining to complete the job (with an optional time crystal cost to complete immediately). The selected job will also become unavailable until the entry expires. When the job is complete, the working blockhead's status changes to a single button; tapping the button will make the blockhead reappear with the reward in their inventory. If a tool was required, it will show some wear.

Expert Mode

When playing in an Expert Mode world, crafting a trade portal requires a level 6 (diamond) portal. They can still be found in cave troll lairs.

The primary difference in using a trade portal in expert mode is the cost of the upgrades, which is as follows:

Name	Slogan	Item 1	Item 2	Item 3
Level 2 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	10 x	50 x	10 x
Level 3 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	10 x	99 x	20 x
Level 4 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	10 x	5 x	50 x
Level 5 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	10 x	20 x	100 x
Level 6 Upgrade	Trade more advanced stuff.	10 x	99 x	200 x

Notes

As it's possible to acquire copper, gold or platinum coins and even gems by finding golden chests near the surface or meditation, the introduction of trade portals allow for acquiring various important materials without digging deeply. Version 1.7 changes this by requiring the item to be found by other means before it can be bought or sold.

For improved effectiveness when selling, pay attention to what can be crafted from raw materials and compare that with what the raw materials themselves will fetch. It is typically profitable to do a little crafting before trading (for example, a chest will usually sell for more than a block of wood), but some may actually be worth less than selling the components directly. Items that require components that can be crafted will have multiple equivalences. A good understanding of these values can be used to profit from crafting, even if the components need to be purchased. The changes in buy/sell valuations introduced in version 1.7 strongly affect this arrangement.

A look at the above lists reveals it's possible to buy a replacement for the gem used to upgrade a trade portal. Obtaining the gem in the first place requires the same old exploration or meditation methods, though.

In a multiplayer world, if a different player's blockhead is using a trade portal, the owner of the portal can not pick it up until the current user finishes. So if one person is on the trade portal and then exits to the main menu, the owner can't pick it up.

Meditation and the introduction of the trade portal has left the terms "renewable" and "nonrenewable" resources somewhat irrelevant in context of the game.

Trivia

Before 1.7, you could sell for 90% or 9/10th of the price of the item you bought