You're low on Gold. Your Paldeck is missing that one specific, high-tier Relaxaurus Lux, and you really don't feel like spending three hours grinding spheres and flying across the desert. That is exactly when you start looking for the hooded creep. Most people call him the Black Marketeer. He's creepy. He stands next to a hanging noose. But honestly, if you want the rare stuff without the RNG headache, you need him.
Finding black market locations Palworld developers hid across the map is basically like finding a shortcut for your entire mid-game progression. He isn't just a shop. He's a way to offload those "illegal" Pals you definitely didn't poach from the Sanctuary islands.
Let's be real: the map is huge. It's easy to get lost. You could spend half your session just soaring over trees and missing the cave entrance by ten feet.
The Abandoned Mineshaft: The One Everyone Knows
If you've played for more than five hours, you probably found the guy near the Desolate Church. It’s the classic spot. You warp to the Desolate Church, look over the cliff, and see that giant, gaping hole in the rock.
Inside is the Abandoned Mineshaft. It's dark. It's moody. It feels exactly like the kind of place a guy who sells living creatures for profit would hang out. This specific Black Marketeer is Level 40, so don't accidentally hit him with a stray Fire Arrow unless you're ready for a fight. He carries a heavy minigun. He will use it.
Why You Actually Want These Guys
It isn't just about buying. Selling is where the real money is.
If you've been "liberating" Pals from the PIDF or just catching humans (yes, you can do that, it's weird, we all know it), the standard merchants in the small settlements won't touch them. They have morals. The Black Marketeer? He couldn't care less. He’ll buy your captured thugs, your rare Alphas, and even that depressing Depresso you have sitting in your box.
The inventory resets too. This is the part people forget. If he doesn't have the Pal you want, you can literally just fly away, wait a bit, or even better—kill him, let him respawn, or just fast travel back and forth. His stock is RNG-based.
Deep in the Dunes: The Desert Secret
The northern desert is a nightmare. It’s hot. It’s cold. Everything wants to kill you. But if you head way up near the PIDF Tower, specifically around the Duneshelter area, there's a trader hidden just outside the main town walls.
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People miss this one because they get distracted by the legitimate merchants inside the town. Why go to a shady guy under a rock when there's a nice lady selling milk in the plaza? Because she doesn't sell Shadowbeaks.
The Mount Flambe Spot
This one is a total pain to get to if you don't have a flying mount with decent stamina. Near the foot of the volcano, there's a ledge. It's not marked. There’s no fancy sign. Just a guy and his executioner's pole.
Finding black market locations Palworld veterans swear by usually involves looking for these verticality shifts. He’s often tucked into the side of the mountain where the lava flows don't quite reach. If you're overheating, you're in the right area. Bring some heat-resistant armor or you'll die before the trade window even opens.
The Secret of the Cove
Down south, near the Sea Breeze Archipelago, there’s a spot that’s incredibly easy to fly right over. Most players are too busy looking for the Gumoss or the Daydreams in the forest. If you follow the coastline, look for a small cave entrance at sea level.
It’s called the Cove Mineshaft.
It’s cozy, in a terrifying sort of way. This guy is usually a lower level than the one in the desert, making him a prime target if you're trying the "capture the merchant" strategy. Yes, you can catch him in a Pal Sphere. It’s a low catch rate, but if you manage it, you can just summon him at your base whenever you want to shop. It’s basically Amazon Prime for illegal monsters.
Is It Even Worth the Gold?
Honestly, sometimes no.
The prices are astronomical. You're looking at 12,000 to 30,000 Gold for a single Pal. If you're early in the game, that’s your entire life savings. But by the time you're Level 30 and you have a nail-selling empire or a massive berry farm, Gold becomes meaningless.
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That’s when these locations become essential.
Common Misconceptions
- They only spawn at night: False. They are there 24/7. They don't sleep.
- They have the same stock: No, every single one has a randomized list. If the guy at the Church has garbage, the guy in the Cove might have a Relaxaurus.
- You can't get them back if they die: They respawn. Just give it a day or two in-game.
The Hidden Ruin Trader
There is a spot in the Fort Ruins area. Everyone goes there for the Chillet boss fight. It’s a rite of passage. But if you head slightly west of the ruins, toward the cliffside overlooking the water, there’s another merchant.
He's standing right in the open. No cave. No mineshaft. Just him and the breeze. It's one of the few black market locations Palworld offers that doesn't feel like a dungeon crawl.
How to Farm the Marketeers
If you’re feeling spicy, you can "farm" these guys. Set up a Hanging Trap. Place a campfire under it. Lead the Marketeer into the trap. He’ll dangle there and slowly take burn damage until he drops a massive stack of Gold and a couple of Gold Keys.
It’s brutal. It’s efficient. It’s Palworld.
Finding the Remaining Spots
There are about 12 to 15 of these guys scattered around. Some are in the icy peaks of the Astral Mountains, tucked into frozen crevasses where you’ll literally freeze to death trying to talk to them. Others are in the Bamboo Groves, hidden behind waterfalls or deep within the dense foliage.
The trick is to look for the "Mineshaft" label on your map. If you see a cave entrance icon that you haven't explored, there's a 90% chance it's either a dungeon or a Black Marketeer.
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Actionable Strategy for Your Next Session
Don't just wander aimlessly. If you want to maximize your time, follow these steps:
- Get a fast flier: A Beakon or a Ragnahawk is best. Speed is king.
- Mark your map: Every time you find one, use the "Person" icon on your map. You will forget where they are.
- Check the Cove first: It’s the easiest to access early on and has decent mid-tier Pals.
- Bring a meat cleaver: If you buy a Pal and it has a "Passive Skill" like Bottomless Stomach or Slacker, just butcher it for parts and try again.
- Watch the levels: If you’re under Level 20, don't pick a fight. The minigun will delete your health bar in two seconds.
The black market locations Palworld provides are the key to bypassing the worst parts of the grind. Use them to sell your excess "human" captures and buy the Alphas that refuse to spawn in the wild. Just don't ask where he gets his inventory. You probably don't want to know.