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What is the best order or strategy to spend merits in Torn?

The two guides that rank merits (2020 and 2026) both put Education Length first. It costs 55 merits for all 10 levels[1][2][3]. After that the order is player opinion. The 2026 guide suggests Crime Progression or Bank Interest, then Critical Hit Rate, then Life Points, and calls the order "a long debate"[3].

How merits work

  • Awards and honors give merits, and many early ones unlock just by playing[3].
  • Every upgrade has 10 levels. The price rises by 1 merit per level, so a full 10/10 costs 55 merits[1].
  • Merits can also be bought: one for every 2 levels gained, up to 50 at level 100[4]. The sources shown do not state a points price.
  • Life Points is a percentage of max life, so buying it at level 1 gives the same result as buying it at level 50[5].

What each upgrade gives

UpgradePer levelSource
Education Length-2% course time[5][6]
Crime Progression (Crimes 2.0)+1% crime exp and skill gain[5]
Bank Interest+5%, from your next investment[5]
Critical Hit Rate+0.5% (base about 12%)[5]
Life Points+5% max life[5]
Nerve Bar+1 max nerve[5]
Awareness+20% items found, not necessarily better quality[5]
Masterful Looting+5% mug money[5]
Stealth+0.2 stealth level[5]
Hospitalizing+5% hospital time inflicted[5]
Addiction Mitigation2% less addiction effect[5]
Sharpness/Brawn/Protection/Evasion+3% to one battle stat (30% at 10/10)[7]
Weapon masteries+1% damage, +0.2 accuracy[8]

Recommended orders

A July 2026 beginners' guide gives this order for most beginners, as the author's personal recommendation[3]:

  1. Education Length[3]
  2. Crime Progression, or Bank Interest only if actively investing money[3]
  3. Critical Hit Rate[3]
  4. Life Points[3]
  5. Whatever you want[3]

A 2020 guide says to max Education first: "No question. Universally a good 55 merits spent." Bank Interest (passive income) or Life Points are the common next choices, and it advises deciding your specialisation before Education is finished[2].

How the Education merit works

The guides give no reason beyond "no question, universally good"[2]. As mechanics, the wiki says Education Length gives -2% per level, up to 20%[6]. It multiplies with the WSU stock block and Principal perk, giving 35% with all three[6]. It applies only to courses started afterwards[6].

Specialisation picks in the 2020 guide

FocusMerit namedSource
Passive incomeBank Interest[2]
Buymugging, overseas muggingStealth, Masterful Looting[2]
WarStealth[2]
Beginner picks after EducationLife Points, Bank Interest (S41); Crime Progression, Critical Hit Rate, Life Points (S23)[3][2]

The fighting stat merits and weapon masteries are on the wiki[7][8], but the guides here do not place them in an order.

Merits guides rate lower

  • Awareness: two 2017 wiki money-making guides said it may not be worth it once you are comfortable with money, and one advised against going past level 3[9][10].
  • Nerve Bar: Korin, a community official, rated it fairly low in 2019, especially in a warring faction, since it gives no direct CE benefit. This was written for Crimes 1.0 and may be out of date[11]. The 2020 guide's example of nerve totals fitting crime combinations also uses Crimes 1.0 crimes[2].
  • Crime upgrades: the 2019 guide, written for Crimes 1.0, says the crime upgrades do not increase the rate of earning CE and that each crime has a maximum success rate[11]. Crimes 2.0 has Crime Progression, which the 2026 guide lists second[5][3].
  • Hospitalizing and Addiction Mitigation: none of the guides here rate them.

Fixing mistakes

Free merit resets can be used any time, must be used before buying a reset with points, and do not raise the points price of the next reset[12]. They come from the book High School For Adults and have been given to all players every year since 2018 as a Christmas gift[12]. A paid reset costs more each time, but the sources shown do not give exact figures[12].

Changes

  • Hospitalizing changed from +10 minutes to +5% in the 2021 Medical Revamp[13].
  • Crimes 2.0 replaced the Crimes 1.0 Crime Experience merit (+3%) with Crime Progression (+1% crime experience and skill gain)[5].

The wiki's merit page was captured on 2024-11-02, so later changes are not reflected. The 2026 guide is the newest ranking available[5][3].

Where sources disagree

  • A 2019 guide, written for Crimes 1.0, rated crime upgrades as low value[11]; the 2026 guide lists Crime Progression second for beginners[3].
Current
The newest ranking is a July 2026 guide: Education Length, Crime Progression or Bank Interest, Critical Hit Rate, Life Points .
Historical
A 2019 guide, written for Crimes 1.0, put Nerve Bar first for crimes and rated crime upgrades low . A 2020 guide put Education first, then Bank Interest or Life Points .
Change
Crimes 2.0 replaced Crime Experience (+3%) with Crime Progression (+1%) ; Hospitalizing changed to +5% in the 2021 Medical Revamp .
Source
[3][11][2][5][13]
Sources 13
  1. Torn Wiki Merit › Upgrades ·
    Why TornLife says this
    price increases by 1 merit after every upgrade) and you can upgrade them up to 10 times, at a cost of 55 merits in total.
  2. Guide Black_Blade's Perfectionist Guide to Torn — Black_Blade ·
    Why TornLife says this
    Get Education maxed out. No question. Universally a good 55 merits spent.
    Stealth - Good for buymuggers / overseas mugging / war Masterful Looting - Good for buymuggers / overseas mugging Bank Interest - Passive Income
  3. Guide Torn City - A Beginners Guide 2026+ — -----PAIN----- ·
    Why TornLife says this
    Education Length - Crime Progression OR Bank Interest (only if you're actively investing money) - Critical Hit Rate - Life Points - Whatever you want!
    Awards and Honors are one of the easiest ways for new players to earn Merit Points.
  4. Torn Wiki Merit ·
    Why TornLife says this
    one merit can be bought for every 2 levels you upgrade, leading to a maximum of 50 merits that can be bought at level 100
  5. Torn Wiki Merit › Upgrades › Miscellaneous Upgrades ·
    Why TornLife says this
    Critical Hit Rate: Increases critical hit rate by 0.5% (Base critical hit rate is approximately 12%.)
    spending your merits on this at level 1 and levelling up to 50 with them is the same as spending them on this at level 50 for the first time.
  6. Torn Wiki Education › How to shorten Education time ·
    Why TornLife says this
    full education merits, WSU, and principal perk would not be a 40% reduction, but would work out to be 35%.
  7. Torn Wiki Merit › Upgrades › Fighting Stats ·
    Why TornLife says this
    passive bonus to Battle Stats (3% per upgrade)
  8. Torn Wiki Merit › Upgrades › Weapons Upgrades ·
    Why TornLife says this
    Each upgrade adds 1% damage and 0.2 accuracy.
  9. Torn Wiki Money Maker › City searching ·
    Why TornLife says this
    Eventually we all get comfortable with money, so Awareness merits may not be worth it for you although it is down to personal preference. The education is nearly free and can help out though!
  10. Torn Wiki Beersteins Guide to Making Money › City searching ·
    Why TornLife says this
    I don't recommend it, and certainly not past level 3 if you do.
  11. Guide Spending Merits — Korin ·
    Why TornLife says this
    Suggested Order: Nerve Bar -> Crime Experience -> Life Points
    these upgrades are typically not worth putting points in since it's likely that you'll want to remove them fairly quickly
  12. Torn Wiki Merit › Free Merit Reset ·
    Why TornLife says this
    Using a free merit reset will not increase the points cost as it would for purchasing one
  13. Torn Wiki Merit › Historical Notes ·
    Why TornLife says this
    Hospitalization merit changed from previous +10 minutes to +5% as part of the Medical Revamp 2021

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