Throne and Liberty: 5 Things You Should Not Buy From Merchants
Throne and Liberty, the highly anticipated MMORPG from NCSOFT, immerses players in a vast, high-fantasy world brimming with adventure, political intrigue, and a deep, dynamic economy. As you explore the land of Liber, you'll encounter a wide array of merchants selling goods ranging from weapons and armor to potions and crafting materials. While merchants are a convenient way to purchase essential items, there are certain things you should avoid buying from them, especially when considering the long-term cost-effectiveness and strategic advantage.
In Throne and Liberty, understanding when and where to spend your hard-earned currency is crucial. Some items can be found more efficiently through other means, such as crafting, gathering, or questing, while others may not provide the value you expect. In this article, we will explore five things you should not buy from merchants and offer alternatives that will save you Throne and Liberty Lucent, resources, and time in your quest for power and progression.
1. Low-Level Gear and Weapons
Why not buy it?
At the beginning of Throne and Liberty, merchants will offer a range of low-level gear and weapons to help players get started. These items may seem tempting, especially if you're eager to boost your character's stats and survivability in the early stages of the game. However, purchasing low-level gear from merchants is generally a poor investment for several reasons.
First, the gear available at merchants is typically expensive for its low-quality stats. You can quickly find better equipment by completing quests, defeating enemies, or exploring dungeons. Additionally, many low-level items can be crafted through the game's crafting system or gathered from the environment, both of which provide more cost-effective alternatives. As your character progresses, you'll find that the items you buy from merchants quickly become obsolete, leaving you with wasted resources.
Alternatives:
Crafting and Gathering: As you level up, focus on crafting gear using materials obtained through gathering and mining. Not only is this cheaper, but crafted gear often offers better customization options, allowing you to tailor the equipment to your playstyle.
Quest Rewards: Many early-game quests offer weapons and armor as rewards, often at a higher quality than what merchants sell. Be sure to complete as many quests as possible, especially those that grant significant rewards for your class and level.
Loot Drops: Many of the monsters you kill or dungeons you raid will drop gear better than what merchants sell at the early stages of the game. Be sure to explore the world and participate in activities that yield high-quality loot.
2. Low-Level Consumables (Health Potions, Buffs, etc.)
Why not buy it?
Consumables like health potions, mana potions, and buff food are staples in any MMORPG. In Throne and Liberty, these items are no different. However, while it might be tempting to stock up on potions and buffs from merchants, doing so at lower levels is generally inefficient. The merchants often sell consumables at inflated prices, and in many cases, gathering ingredients and crafting your own potions will save you a significant amount of gold in the long run.
Additionally, at early stages of the game, you're not likely to be taking as much damage or facing combat situations that require large quantities of potions. Over-spending on consumables early on will drain your resources faster than necessary, without providing a proportional benefit.
Alternatives:
Crafting Consumables: Crafting health potions, mana potions, and buffs using gathered herbs, ores, and other materials is a much cheaper and more effective way to keep your inventory stocked. You'll not only save gold but also learn important crafting skills that can be beneficial in the late game.
Loot Drops: Many creatures drop consumables upon being defeated, so don't be afraid to explore the world and engage in combat. Often, these drops will include health and mana potions, which can sustain you during fights.
Quest Rewards: Completing certain quests or challenges can reward you with consumables as well, reducing the need to purchase them from merchants.
3. Basic Crafting Materials (Wood, Ore, Leather, etc.)
Why not buy it?
Crafting is a major component of Throne and Liberty, allowing players to create everything from weapons and armor to consumables and resources. Merchants, of course, sell basic crafting materials like wood, ore, leather, and herbs. These materials are essential for crafting high-quality gear and potions, but buying them from merchants is almost always a waste of gold.
Materials like wood and ore can be easily gathered from the world around you. Mining veins of ore, cutting down trees, and skinning animals for leather can provide a steady stream of crafting materials without the need to spend any gold. While there may be times when certain rare materials are difficult to find, basic materials are plentiful and easily accessible.
Alternatives:
Gathering: Invest in your gathering skills and take advantage of the abundance of crafting materials scattered throughout the world. By gathering your own resources, you'll be able to craft high-quality items for yourself, often at a fraction of the cost.
Looting from Monsters: Many monsters, especially those you defeat while completing quests or clearing dungeons, drop crafting materials. Keep an eye out for special mobs that may drop rarer materials.
Trading with Players: As you progress, you may find that certain materials are in high demand. Instead of purchasing them from merchants, consider trading with other players who have surplus resources.
4. Reputation Items and Cosmetics
Why not buy it?
Many merchants in Throne and Liberty offer a variety of cosmetic items and reputation items, such as mounts, costumes, and decorative gear. These items often have little to no impact on gameplay or stats, making them a questionable investment if you're focused on progression and combat effectiveness. While they can add flair to your character or display your achievements, these items rarely justify their high prices in terms of value.
Especially for new players or those focusing on endgame content, buying these cosmetics early on can divert valuable resources away from stat-enhancing gear or useful consumables. These items are often better acquired through event participation, high-level rewards, or achievements that provide them as bonuses rather than through the merchant's overpriced offerings.
Alternatives:
Event Rewards: Participate in in-game events that reward you with cosmetics and reputation items. These items often carry unique designs and can showcase your achievements without the need for gold expenditure.
Achievements and Milestones: Many cosmetics and mounts are awarded through completing specific milestones or achievements within the game. These rewards feel more rewarding since they are tied to your progression and effort.
In-Game Trading: Some cosmetics and reputation items are available through player-to-player trade, which might offer a more affordable alternative than buying them from NPC merchants.
5. Overpriced Temporary Buffs (Stat Boosts, XP Buffs, etc.)
Why not buy it?
Merchants in Throne and Liberty often offer temporary stat boosts, experience point (XP) boosters, or other temporary buffs that promise to help players level up faster or gain an advantage in combat. While these buffs can provide a short-term boost, purchasing them regularly can be a waste of gold. These items tend to be overpriced for the amount of benefit they offer.
Instead of relying on XP boosters, which may not significantly reduce the time required to level up, focus on efficient questing, group activities, and world events to maximize your XP gains. For stat boosts, rather than purchasing them from merchants, consider crafting consumables that provide similar benefits without the steep cost.
Alternatives:
XP Boosters from Quests: Completing specific XP-boosting quests or challenges can reward you with permanent or longer-lasting XP bonuses that are more cost-effective than the merchant's temporary solutions.
Group Play: Participate in group activities, dungeons, and raids where you can complete objectives more efficiently and gain experience at a faster rate. The cooperative nature of group play often provides passive XP boosts.
Strategic Farming: Focus on farming high-yield areas that provide a substantial amount of XP per kill, especially in areas with high mob density or elite bosses. This can help you level up faster without relying on purchased buffs.
Conclusion
In Throne and Liberty, while merchants can be convenient, they often offer overpriced items that don't provide the best value for your cheap TL Lucent. By being strategic with your purchases and exploring alternative methods of obtaining gear, consumables, crafting materials, and buffs, you'll save a significant amount of resources that can be better spent on long-term progression and investment in your character's growth.
By focusing on crafting, gathering, and questing, as well as engaging in player-to-player trade and group activities, you can avoid spending unnecessary gold and ensure that your resources are used efficiently. While cosmetic items and temporary buffs can be fun to collect, prioritizing essential progression items and long-term investments will set you up for success in the challenging world of Throne and Liberty