Level 80 gear question.

I just hit 80 and am looking at upgrading my level 60 gear to the vigil gear... Had been a considering the norn tier 3 cultural but the stats are identical to Vigil... For around 112g more...

it seems like exotics will take more time and effort and I really need a gear update. Is there anything I am missing and should consider before spending gold?

The trading post is the best way to get exotics. Unless the exotics on the karma vendors in Orr meet your requirements, but then you're still looking at about 200k+ karma to spend. If you're looking purely for aesthetics try to see if there's a skin out there that you like, even if it's lower level or such. Then buy both it and the one with the stats you like, then transmute it with a level 80 transmutation stone. For example: I wanted a good chest piece. I liked the Tier2 Human cultural armor, so I bought that from the vendor for aesthetics. I then went and got the Berserker's Medium armor off the Trading Post. I used the stone and combined the two armors together, keeping the look from one and the stats from the other. I recommend getting the stats first and then worrying about aesthetics later as the stats will help you play and you can hopefully shape as you go. Also the folks of Caora Dhubh have established a sort of baseline requirement we've been asking our people to have for WvW. Currently that stands at Rare 80 armor, Rare 80 jewelry, 80 Green Quest Backslot, Level 78 Exotic weapons. Those options give you the best bang for your buck until you can replace each slot with a level 80 exotic. You can outfit someone fully in that gear for about 7 gold pieces with full enchants usually. Also depends on # of weapons they need.

Thanks for the response, who are the folks of Caora Dhubh? Not sure I have heard of that... I will check the trading post when it is back online.

We used to be Winter is Coming in Warhammer, and a variety of pvp guilds in Daoc. We're allies with Gaiscioch, though hopefully in the future Arenanet will allow like an alliance channel or sommich.

I had the same issue when I hit 80. I was still wearing 50-70 lvl gear and was looking at a lot of effort needed to get into Exotic gear. My recommendation as a short-term solution for gear as a fresh lvl 80 is to buy lvl 80 Masterwork quality gear on the Trading Post. I managed to fill each gear slot for about 2s each. Quite a bargain after looking at Rare and Exotic gear all day. This boosts my stats and makes playing more enjoyable while I work on higher quality gear acquisition. Good luck.

I hit level 80 and my friend told me about the karma vendor's selling level 80 gear for 42,000 karma a piece. As well as legendary weapons needing loads of materials. I don't honestly think that the look of my weapon matters. I mean, The legendary weapons aren't super super great compared to level 80 exotics. It just so happens, that I am making my own exotic level 80 armor. I have all the Ancient Bones, and Gossamer Spools. Just looking for more globs and scraps. Providing you can provide the hard to get materials, like globs and bones(or whatever fine crafting stuff). I don't mind making the gear for you. IF its medium armor, I can make it. I don't have ALL the recipe's tho. Im doing Carrion equipment, because its the best for Condition Damage. I dont mind making medium armor. I am level 400 in Leatherworking :)

Yep - an alliance channel would be nice - would help in wvw coordination. Hopefully the trading post it up this evening after I get off work... would be nice to enter wvw this evening in better gear than I currently have. Thanks Pepsi but Yakama is a warrior so I would be looking for heavy gears. I noticed you can buy exotic gear in wvw as well, but I think that will take a bit to earn as well. That gear looks awesome though.

I'm a 400 armor smith, and I can make all of the exotic armor pieces. Things you will need: 5 globs of ectoplasm per item (30 total). Ectos are gotten through breaking down rare and exotic lvl 70+ items using master or black lion salvage kits. 6 bolts of gossamer (12 gossamer scraps) per item. Obtained occasionally from breaking down high level cloth items and high level sacks. 21-23 gossamer thread per item (135 total). Purchased from crafting vendors 16 orichalcum ingots (32 ore) for a complete set of armor. Numbers per piece vary. Nodes in high level areas and rarely from breaking down high level metal items. 5 400 level crafting materials per item. The type determined by the stats you want. Knights: Armored scale - Toughness, Power, Precision Valkyrie: Vicious Fang - Power, Crit damage, Vitality Clerics: Elaborate Totem - Healing Power, Power, Toughness Rampager's: Powerful Venom Sac - Precision, Condition Damage, Power Berserker's: Vial of Powerful Blood - Power, Precision, Critical Damage Explorer's: Vicious Claw - Magic Find, Power, Precision Carrion: Ancient Bone - Condition Damage, Power, Vitality

400 Tailor here, can make all the exotic light armor 5 globs of ectoplasm per item, 30 total. 5 level 400 fine crafting materials per item, 30 total. Same as above. 21-23 gossamer thread per item, 110 total. 6-10 bolts of gossamer, 39 (78 scraps) total. 1 cured hardened leather square 6 (12 sections) total.

Thanks guys, eventually I will need heavy for my warrior and light for my Mesmer, so it is good to know the mats and options.

By the bye, I don't know if this information has gotten around. Legendary Weapons have the same stats as Exotic. They just have their unique look. So if you're fretting about the stat difference then no need to worry.

Thanks Q This morning I bought level 78 exotic armor - was slightly more than level 80 yellow but had better stats. Still trying to figure out my weapons and runes.