Incarnate soloing ?

Hello, i'm back after a year break and after reading some guides and stuff i'm still confused with the incarnate stuff. My main currently has the 2nd alpha slot enhancement on her. As far as i understand:

-to get the lvl 50 (+1) i need to equip something in the third alpha slot, is that right ?
-i could in theory unlock everything solo, if i buy the exp with shards, and if i farm enough shards to convert everything as needed for the various items in the recipes ?
-how does the "exp buying" thingie work exactly ? I didn't notice it on the NPC i checked, however i probably missed it. Which one should i see, and is it realistic to do that ?

As i play at odd hours i'm not overly motivated with the incarnate raid farming so, soloing would be a good plan if i can... Thanks in advance for the answers

1. To get a level shift, you need at least Tier3 Alpha (which gives a shift that stays with you regardless.)

1a. Tier3 or 4 Lore or Destiny will also give level shifts, but only in Incarnate content. (And it's noted on those powers.) Yes, together in Incarnate content you could be a 50+3.

2. You could do it solo.... it would take prohibitively long, though. Alpha takes a while, especially with multiple characters. Fortunately shards (once you have alpha unlocked) drop from more than just level 50 mobs. Ignoring trials, you could run the WTF (weekly task force,) which would drop a notice of the well, which can convert in to threads, and drop a few shards as well. (I don't recall the entire process you'd have to go through to unlock everything.)

3. Purchasing XP - You get threads. In your Incarnate Powers menu, under Threads, you can turn them in (plus around 1 mill INF) for X amount of iXP.

3a. Is it realistic to do that? If you have the threads (or Astral/Emp merits to convert to threads) and the INF, sure. It's more realistic NOW than it was, as the INF price has gone done. I usually do it at 10% or less left.

3b. Don't do it to unlock Alpha. Run the arc. Why waste good iXP on Alpha?

See my Guides and Tutorials

Awesome, very clear answers, thanks

To expand on what Bill said about the iXP. Each thread converts to 3% of what you need for 1 slot unlock.

So it's 33 for each of the judgement and interface slots so 66 threads for those two. I've heard that the Lore and Destiny slots take more though I don't know how much the difference is personally.

The exact numbers are 50,000 iXP per thread, and you need one million iXP for Judgement and Interface, 2.25 million for Lore and Destiny. You can see exactly how much you have in the Accolades section of your Badges. Look for the ones that say something about earning Physical or Psychic XP, or something like that. They'll be near the "Alpha Unlocked" badge.

As stated, you theoretically can just eat threads to unlock slots, but doing so is prohibitively expensive.

I see this concern a lot - and I understand it based on the raiding paradigm in other games, but really, don't be afraid to run iTrials. Counting formation time, I rarely see a Lambda or BAF take more than 30 minutes or Keyes an hour, on either server I play on. They're not very difficult either, just follow your group the first couple times and you'll do fine.

I24 Proc Chance = (Enhanced Recharge + Activation Time) * (Current PPM * 1.25) / 60*(1 + .75*(.15*Radius - 0.011*Radius*(360-Arc)/30))
Single Target Radius = 0. AoE Non-Cone Arc = 360.

Like when the military brass call something the "XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System" and the troops call it "The Punisher".