Merits

So I maxed out Education.

Would it be worth it as a new player to go for nerf and crime experience next before banking interest or stats?

I would increase the need bar since a lot of future merits are unlocked by doing crimes.

Or crime experience to help level up faster.

Stats seem nice but not worth it at the start of the game with low stats?

Maybe bank interest since everything is about money?

Thanks for any advice

Keep in mind that your maximum nerve bar is not the same as your natural nerve bar (nnb). Having a 60 maximum nerve bar through perks such as faction and merit upgrades won't give you the skill that having a 60 natural nerve bar does. The only reason you should put merits into nerve bar is if you are frequently and consistently log onto Torn to a nerve bar that has been full for a long period of time, and if putting merits into nerve bar will solve that issue. Alternatively, if you use nerve bar refills every day, it may also be an alright investment. Generally though, it's not something I'd recommend.

Also, make sure you are doing safe crimes (Nash's Guide to Nerve Bar (Revived)). Regarding crime experience, it's important to note that it caps at a certain point, in which having bars of it in merit upgrades is essentially useless. There's some debate on where that point and the specifics, but a couple good posts covering it are Proxima's here and Andyman's here.

Merits in passive battle stats generally aren't worth it when you have very low stats. If you have trouble on missions due to your stats on Xanax, try asking a friend or faction mate for help. However, if you do like fighting frequently or even would like to spend merits somewhere that will help you with missions, I'd recommend putting merits into maximum life and then into critical hits. Life is considered 'the fifth battle stat'. Personally, I maxed life first after education, but if you'd rather prioritize critical hits, you can do that before life.

Banking is in my opinion most worth it once you can bank at least 1 billion at a time, and best when you can bank 2 billion or 3 billion (if in an Oil Rig). It's even better if you also either own the TCIB stock, or can borrow it at the start of an investment from a close friend or faction mate.

Since you mentioned everything being about money, I'd suggest getting LSC, TCHS, and SYM (if able). FHG when you can afford it. Here's a good guide called "Bug's Stock Market BB Guide (Passive Income)" with an auto-updating 'cheat sheet' for stocks.

This should also be posted in "Questions & Answers" rather than "Tutorials & Guides," since it's a question, not a guide.

Crime Experience has no cap (that we know of) - Crime Success Rate does...

I was referring to the merit upgrade called "crime experience," since that's what the OP was referring to. My bad for not making that more clear.

I wouldn’t worry about bank interest until you have 2b to put in there freely, but that’s my opinion. Education and crime are recommended for sure. I would also try and make those merits work for you to work at a Hair salon, FC or even a pub. It’s all dependent on your goals. The wonderful thing about Torn is you can do as you please.

I would go for Bank merits or Crime success

Bank interest is really good even if you are poor for now, you could ignore it and then later on down the line use a merit reset to up it when you have money. And also you definitely don’t need like 1b or 2b or whatever cash to invest in it.

It’s fine to put in like 300m for 1-2weeks then compound it to snowball into more money which is why banking merits are good

Unless you need liquid as a trader if you have the stock benefits that give a better Rate on investment (roi) So right now it would be SYM, LSC, TSCH, HRG is kinda meh think it’s a bit worse ROI not sure. FHG was really good not so much anymore. But if you have the first 3 Stock BBs at current prices (260-270m total?) then start investing in 1 week or 2 week increments to gradually earn more.


I personally don’t like the nerve bar increase, I prefer to succeed in more crimes total by 30% than +10 nerve maybe I’m wrong didn’t do the math.