Merit advice

How would you recommend a new player spends their merits?

Of course that may come with preference - are we keen on edu or certain crimes, etc.

Are any of the merit rewards more overpowered than others?

Thanks 

My opinion from most to least important, fill em out however you want as you’re doing them really. 

Education 10/10

Bank 10/10

Health 7/10-10/10 (Once you have more HP, perhaps around level 25-40).

Crit Rate 7/10-10/10 

Battle Stats 5/10-10/10 (Depending on your preferences)

Weapon Preferred 7/10-10/10
Crime Progression 5/10

Stealth, Masterful Looting, and Hospitalizations Id wait on until you get stronger, and have a preference on how to play the game.

General advice - Priority on education (a 10) because it lowers the time significantly and u get the perks faster

Then the rest is based on play styles although personally I find the following useful

• LIfe (stay longer in fights)
• Bank (to work towards that 2B)
• EE (it was useful to get into the company I'm in now even when my working stats are not exactly up there but I think this is applicable only if you aim for higher star companies)

Some of my faction mates invest in stats (to boost the numbers a bit before getting the various % from edu)

Here's a useful guide that I refer to. Hope this helps.

While bank is good to grow, I don't think it's an immediate necessity when you're new. You don't have enough cash to really utilize it and - unless you buy a ton DPs - you're going to need your money and not want it tied up in the bank.

I personally would not worry about life and crit until you have stats and gear to back it up.

Imho, Nerve and crime Progression are very useful if you wish to progress in crimes quicker.

(After education and bank of course)