Best use of EMP and Astral merits?

I already own all of the costume pieces, auras, CCE, etc. I am basically just trying to build all of the incarnate powers. Is there a most cost-effective way of utilizing the merits?

For Astral, to my knowledge they can only be broken into threads. Is there any other method I may be missing?

Empyrean Merits though can be broken into threads, 15 converted into a rare, or 30 converted into a very rare. Is there a cost effective way for this? Would it be better to get 600 threads or one very rare?

Do whatever you think is best. There is no wrong way. If you waste them doing something silly (like getting the costume pieces :P ) you can always earn more.

It all depends on what you want for a particular character or all your incarnates. Like you I have already purchased all of the emotes, costume pieces etc I desire with them.

Astrals will buy you Alpha openers (5 astrals) saving a new character from doig the Mender arc or running missions just to open that slot.

Astrals, as you alread mentioned, but threads (4 per astral which is the exact amount they convert for away from the store).

Astrals can be used to purchase rare recipes that can either be used to boost your own characters strength or be sold at the market for added Influence/Infamy.

Astrals can be used to purchase the new ATOs that are arch type specific. I have only done this once or twice but I believe it's 55 astrals per ATO. Of course these also can be used to improve you character's strengths and abilities.

Empyreans can eb coverted to threads (its been a while since I did this but I believe the rate is 18 per emp.. in game an emp converts to 20 threads).

Empyreans can be used to purchase Very rare or PvP recipes that can bolster your characters.

Now to answer your question about using them to buy rares or VRs..


If you don't have the required components and are attempting to build a rare for threads you need:

1 of each type of Uncommon components. UNC cost 60 threads each to build for 4 X 60 + 240 threads

You also need to use an addidional 100 threads to craft a rare so 240+100= 340 threads.

And lastly you need to use 25 million in INF to craft that rare

You can BUY a rare with 8 emps. 8 Empyreans = 160 threads so buying the rare with emps saved you 180 threads and 25 million in INF.

using those figures we can move on to crafting or buying a very rare

A VR requires 4 rares and we know it takes 340 thread and 25 million to craft 1 rare so 4 would cost 1340 threads and 100 m,illion in INF.

You can BUY a VR with 30 EMPS and again an emp = 20 threads so thirty of them would be like spending 600 threads.

Buying the VR with emps saved you 740 threads and 100 million in INF. Now to put that into perspective.. to slot a power to t1 requires 3 commons which require 60 threads to build. You could slot 4 powers to Tier one with a total of 240 threads. To slot a power to T2 requires 2 commons and 1 uncommon which requires 100 threads to buils. You could slot those same 4 powers to tier 2 for an addition 400 threads. So by purchasing that 1 Very Rare with Emps you saved enough to slot four powers to tieir 2 and still had 100 threads left over.

Generally, I save my Emps for VR components. Occasionally, I get lucky with drop tables and end up not needing that, in which case I can send a bunch of threads to my next character or whatever.

I've been buying recipes with astrals and empy for lower level toons. Incarnate rewards go way further than Reward Merits.

A lot depends on your server, and the number of trials you do when you play.

I know that the ugt gives a guaranteed rare/very rare -- if you complete it. For the most part, the ugt is now old hat, and it's more likely to succeed than fail. But, anything can happen if a couple of players aren't paying attention.

Because rares and very rares are ..well, rare and very rare, it stands to reason that spending one on a tier 4 alpha is...up for debate - depending on the server you're on, and how much you play that character when not in iTrials. If you do a task force or two every day, in addition to trials, I would suggest you not use a very rare to complete your alpha - use shards and a couple of notices - sadly, this means it takes you 3 weeks (15 days at least)to get the notices - but you'll need to get a bunch of shards anyway - and they drop, but not that often. Depends on how many bosses you come across.

So, it all depends.
I would agree that saving your emps for rares or very rares is a good idea - unless you are on Liberty where I run at least 2 ugts a week with a very high margin of success.

In that context, I say break the emps down, or convert them to threads to send to your alts.