Stack Currency and Strip Valuable Attachments
US Dollars found in purses and wallets take up minimal inventory space, so prioritizing raw cash over bulky low-tier gear when your carry capacity is tight is a straightforward efficiency win. Similarly, suppressors, high-magnification optics, and tactical lights should be stripped from weapons and prioritized over the base weapons themselves, since these individual parts often have a better value-to-weight ratio than the full rifle.
Vulture: High-Value Loot Only, Lower Payouts
Vulture, a unique rotating "Secret Vendor" introduced in the 0.4 update, only accepts High-Value Loot like jewelry and rare electronics — not standard weapons or armor — and pays roughly 50% less than vendors like Turncoat or Lab Rat for the same items. Most veteran players recommend leveling Vulture only once you have a stable bankroll of over $1,000,000, since the convenience of his exclusive items (like the 108-slot Large Safe) comes at a real currency cost.
Command Outpost Capture as Faction-Wide Income
Capturing a Command Outpost (COP) is a large-scale task that rewards your entire faction, not just the capturing squad. A gray (neutral, AI-controlled) COP offers high resistance but massive XP and loot for those who clear it, while a blue (faction-owned) COP becomes a safe zone with personal guards and a task-turn-in point.
The Buy-Back Method for Reputation
If you have surplus currency but need vendor reputation quickly, the "Buy-Back" method — purchasing an item from a vendor and immediately selling it back — provides instant reputation gain at the cost of roughly 70% of the investment. This is a legitimate, if costly, way to bridge a reputation gap when tasks alone aren't unlocking a vendor tier fast enough.
Check Every Body for Hidden Value
Even a basic AI enemy grunt can carry a smartphone or a rare key worth checking for, and high-penetration ammo found in AI magazines is worth keeping even if you discard the magazine itself. Making a habit of thoroughly checking every downed enemy, rather than just grabbing obvious weapon and armor drops, compounds into meaningfully more currency over many raids.
Common Farming Mistakes
The most common mistake is selling high-value items like a Gold Watch to the wrong vendor (like Handshake instead of Artisan), losing several thousand dollars of potential value. The second is leveling Vulture before having a stable bankroll to absorb his lower payout rates. Third, don't skip checking bodies thoroughly — small, easily-missed items add up significantly over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I prioritize cash and attachments over full weapons when looting?
US Dollars take minimal inventory space, and stripped attachments like suppressors and optics often have a better value-to-weight ratio than the base weapon itself — both maximize value when carry capacity is limited.
Is Vulture worth using early on?
Not usually — he only accepts High-Value Loot and pays roughly 50% less than other vendors, so most veterans recommend leveling him only once you have a stable bankroll of over $1,000,000.
What is the Buy-Back method?
Purchasing an item from a vendor and immediately selling it back for instant reputation gain, at the cost of roughly 70% of the investment — useful for bridging a reputation gap quickly when you have surplus currency.