Lock Boxes

[Hatch]

Hey there guys and gals. A couple of questions for you.

Do you unlock lock boxes or get rid of them? I generally buy keys every couple of weeks and do some unlocking.

If you do unlock lock boxes, which do you consider the best ones?

Thanks for the input!!

[Amicus]

When a box first comes out, I will occasionally open up to 50. Best drop I had was a Well Temporal Science Vessel, when it was still the best Science ship out there. Otherwise, the keys are worth more on the Exchange than the average drops from boxes, and with the EC from selling keys you can afford to buy many of the good box drops.

[Hatch]

So if bought a set of 10 keys and put them on the exchange, it would be worth more than the drops from boxes? What do keys go for these days, I looked on the exchange but there weren't any up for sale.

[Compston]

Last time i looked they ran about 5million each.
Amicus is right. All i've been able to get for a long time is boosts, and VIP dil mining. Occasionally i get the odd weapon's pack though there's hundreds on the Exchange.
I've managed to get a few ships though not for a year or more.

[Amicus]

Keys are always available on the Exchange. Search for "Master Key" using the "All" or "Lock Box Key" filter. Currently you can get 4.7 million EC for 1 key. That means 10 keys would fetch you 47 million EC. Most drops from boxes produce items that will sell for only a few million EC at best, and frequently much less, so mining box drops is not the best way to make EC.

As far as purchasing gear; the rare valuable box drop will still usually cost less than 50 million EC, and selling keys to get the EC is the surer way to acquire such drops if you really want them. Even the very rare, desirable drops, which cost upwards of 100+ million EC (e.g., ships) are usually best purchased on the exchange rather than opening 100+ boxes to try to get them in a drop.

[Compston]

Oh definitely. Or save up Lobi for the ones availlable that way. Just got the T6 Tal Shiar Battlecruiser that way.
Boxes are bad investment if you want a ship.

[Hatch]

Awesome, Thanks for the help fellas!!

[cmdraftbrn]

they're all gamble boxes. i'll buy one key with my stipend and open one new (4-6 month) box, and thats it.

as for the best box to open. the latest one packed with gamebreaking skills.

[QorDaq]

As an additional note:

My strategy for buying Lock Boxes, which I only do occasionally, is plan long term.

I buy Zen when it's on sale, then save it until there is a Lock Box key sale and buy bundles. This adds a slightly better discount to the price of the keys.

I actually do that for ships too, when I do it--I don't often buy ships any more though. But the same strategy works for anything that eventually goes on sale in the C-Store.

maj!