ARC Raiders Ermal Trader Guide: Live May 19 With Expedition Vault, Stash Expansion, And Weekly Rotating Stock

Ermal arrived in Speranza on May 19, 2026, exactly when Embark Studios said he would. He is the first content piece from the new bi-annual update cadence Embark announced last week. For the broader context on the cadence shift and what comes after this trader, see our Frozen Trail development update breakdown. This post focuses on what Ermal actually offers and how to make the most of him.

Ermal is described as a "curiously-dressed delegation" trading on behalf of his nomadic tribe of surface-dwellers. Where the existing traders (Shani, Celeste, Lance, Apollo, Tian Wen) operate from established Speranza positions, Ermal runs a fabric-walled stall set up by an envoy who ventured into the city. He welcomes only Raiders who bring valuable goods to barter, which is the lore framing for the level 25 requirement.

The character is the first piece of a broader move toward connecting the surface world to Speranza's underground economy. Embark called this trader out specifically as a fix for three known late-game problems: high-value items sitting in stash with nowhere to spend them, stash capacity not keeping up with new item drops, and the Expedition being too painful to engage with when you lose favorite items on the reset.

Two perks sit at the top of Ermal's stall as one-time purchases. Both cost 200,000 coins, and both are aimed squarely at max-level Raiders sitting on more loot than the existing systems can absorb.

The Expedition Vault is the bigger structural change. The Expedition has historically been a hard reset on your loadout, which kept a lot of players away from it because they could not stomach losing a favorite Blueprint or top-tier weapon. Five items carrying over makes Expedition a planned reset rather than a wipe, which should pull more Raiders into the system.

Ermal's inventory rotates every week, so this list is the first window only. Future rotations will surface different blueprints and cosmetics. Per the ARC Raiders Wiki, the May 19-25 stock is:

The Turbine Compressor is the most efficient pickup if you have trinkets banked. It is normally one of the rarest drops from the ARC Turbine added in the Riven Tides update, so trading 3 trinkets is a strong rate for anyone who has been farming Riven Tides.

The Tempest Blueprint at 1 million coins is the highest-cost item in the first week and the one most likely to shake up the meta. Check our weapon tier list to decide whether your stockpile is better spent here or held for a future rotation.

Ermal accepts three categories of barter input: ARC components (the high-tier crafting materials that drop from ARC machines), gear (armor and tactical equipment), and weaponry (rifles, SMGs, marksman rifles - basically the contents of your weapon stash). He prefers high-value items, which is the lore reason for the level 25 requirement.

Some rotations include specific trade requests. Ermal may ask you to bring a particular rare item from the Rust Belt in exchange for premium rewards. Watch the stall each weekly reset for these request entries - they reward you for going out and hunting specific objectives rather than dumping bulk inventory.

If you are at level 25 or above with a stash full of items, prioritize the two permanent perks. The Expedition Vault is the biggest quality-of-life change Embark has shipped in months for hardcore Raiders. The Stash Expansion is more situational but worth grabbing if you craft frequently and burn through recyclable materials.

If you are below level 25, the path to access is straightforward: run quests, hit your weekly XP cap, and you will reach 25 quickly if you have been engaging with the quest tracker. Ermal is a permanent fixture, so there is no rush to reach him for week one specifically - his stall will be there in week two, week three, and beyond, with fresh stock each rotation.

For Raiders sitting on 1,000,000 or more coins, decide before you log in: are you spending on the Tempest Blueprint, or saving for a future rotation? Embark has not previewed week two stock, so if Tempest is on your tier-list shortlist, take the buy now. If you do not need a new sniper-class weapon, hold your wallet and wait to see what next week brings.