Guild Wars 2

Hi guys, what’s the fastest way for obsidian shard farming? And if you have long time experience with it, what’s a rough time estimate on how long it would take to get let’s say… 500 obsidian shards. For example.

If you were going to the silverwastes to farm obsidian shards. How long did it take to get the X number of bandit crests to get the the keys for opening chests? How long did it take to get X number of obsidian shards? (or you can provide a rate at which you seem to get obsidian shards).

Sorry for another post about this, I just think obsidian shard farming has changed drastically over the years and I’ve seen some confusing things.

From experience SW is the best way in the form of chests farms, however, it’s all RNG, you could get 10 out of a chest and than you could get none for a while, in average i would say u can get 50-60 every hour or two, on the plus side SW constantly has events which turn into karma which in turn turn into shards.

Sorry I can’t give you exact numbers because I’ve just been stockpiling my oby shards for my 3rd or maybe 4th leg by now (yet still waiting for the pre for my 2nd).

But during the beta portal grind, maybe 4-7 hours a night doing events I’d get ~1k crests a night. For that it kinda pays to stay in the same map (if you have other people there too) so you can get the bonus 2, 3, or 15 crests from the extra bags. As for getting the oby shards themselves I can’t remember their drop rate, but from the ~1 week farm, and whatever little I did before I have like 2.5 stacks of them.

Then again if you have the ~1mil karma to spare you can still just go buy them directly for your legendary.

Just to confirm what has already been said by another poster, the best place to farm obsidian shards is opening the buried chests in the Silverwastes.

While I can’t give you exact numbers, I can assure you that it beats completing PvP reward tracks, converting karma, or using fractal relics.

It is currently the best method of getting obsidian shards.

If you are farming obsidian shard, why don’t you just convert the bandit crest to obsidian shard. Obviously you’ll miss out on champ bag.

Teq and fractal is a good source of obisidan shard too(karma). the token can be converted to obsidian shard too. If you have a karmic booster you can pop it at the last boss. Or better yet, just have a dedicated toon to do last fractal who have a karmic booster.

The big advantages of silverwastes for obsidian are:

• You do get a lot of obsidian.
• You also earn coin and a lot of T6 mats, which you usually want when you need obsidian.
• If you do events, you also earn karma, which can buy still more obsidian.

So even if it’s not absolutely the “fastest” method, it feels a lot faster because it’s a lot more interesting and more fun (for just about everyone) than any other method.

Your mileage will vary. Past performance is not a true predictor of future earnings. Void where prohibited.

I cant’ believe running around pressing f on chest is the most interesting and fun way to play the game.

I think I’m getting too old for mmorpg.

laokoko.7403:

I cant’ believe running around pressing f on chest is the most interesting and fun way to play the game.

No one I’ve ever spoken to has said they find the chest farm interesting or fun. It really isn’t. I’ve seen it mostly described as mind-numbing, even by devs. It is however the most lucrative way to earn obsidian, as per the original post.

laokoko.7403:

I cant’ believe running around pressing f on chest is the most interesting and fun way to play the game.

I think I’m getting too old for mmorpg.

Yeah, OP asked for the best and fastest way to “farm” obi shards. The SW chest farm is the best and fastest way to get them. No one said anything about it being the most interesting and fun way to play.

Waldir.2571:

From experience SW is the best way in the form of chests farms, however, it’s all RNG, you could get 10 out of a chest and than you could get none for a while, in average i would say u can get 50-60 every hour or two, on the plus side SW constantly has events which turn into karma which in turn turn into shards.

^^ This

I have over 1000 of them so far in 3 months of farming, having fun with guildy, grinding for beta access (lol) I’m sure to have loads more when I open over 750 bags from chest farming.

RoseofGilead.8907:

laokoko.7403:

I cant’ believe running around pressing f on chest is the most interesting and fun way to play the game.

I think I’m getting too old for mmorpg.

Yeah, OP asked for the best and fastest way to “farm” obi shards. The SW chest farm is the best and fastest way to get them. No one said anything about it being the most interesting and fun way to play.

I never even know SW farm is good for “karma”(obsidian shard). I always thought if you can already trade in crest for obsidian shard. Why bother to farm chest for obisidian shard.

I’ll take some time to farm chest some other time to test it.

laokoko.7403:

I never even know SW farm is good for “karma”(obsidian shard). I always thought if you can already trade in crest for obsidian shard. Why bother to farm chest for obisidian shard.

I’ll take some time to farm chest some other time to test it.

People aren’t talking about getting karma from the chests. They’re talking about getting obi shards from the chest because they’re one of the items that drops from said chests. Frequently.

RoseofGilead.8907:

laokoko.7403:

I cant’ believe running around pressing f on chest is the most interesting and fun way to play the game.

I think I’m getting too old for mmorpg.

Yeah, OP asked for the best and fastest way to “farm” obi shards. The SW chest farm is the best and fastest way to get them. No one said anything about it being the most interesting and fun way to play.

Technically the fastest way to “farm” Obi Shards is to earn Crests and buy them from the vendor, combined with doing the Chest farm…I was able to get a thousand in less than half a month via this route(and now have an additional 500 on top of that)…and I’ve spent a few besides, but really don’t have that much of a use for them so I now just destroy anything beyond the 1500 I currently have.

laokoko.7403:

I cant’ believe running around pressing f on chest is the most interesting and fun way to play the game.

I think I’m getting too old for mmorpg.

If that is all you are doing in the SW you are doing it wrong.

Run around getting involved in as many events as possible. Do the VW. If you come across a dug up chest in your travels, open it, but that is not the end all and be all of the SW.

I would say farming Silverwastes events and chests is the absolute best way to get Obsidian Shards in my experience. You get a chance for shards from the chests along with some Bandit Crests which you can trade in for shards. Not to mention you get crests, keys and shovels from the events, which directly contribute to the shard farm. The best part is the bonus of all those exotic bags you’ll open for the chance at some rare items, and the Bags of Equipment (green) that you can salvage for silks and luck.

SW does gives u shards but not at a very good rate. karma farming is still much better and fastest way to get shards. 1-3 from chest every now and then and on the rare occasion 10 from a chest. but that is completely inconsistent. Crests for vendor and chest is sooo slow. Karma is by far the fastest and easiest way. You Spend 1000 keys in SW and get maybe 100-125 shards. Or hit EotM karma train and get a stack in a couple hours. I’ve made 5 legendaries since SW released EotM is definitely the fastest. hands down.

Chuck.8196:

SW does gives u shards but not at a very good rate. karma farming is still much better and fastest way to get shards. 1-3 from chest every now and then and on the rare occasion 10 from a chest. but that is completely inconsistent. Crests for vendor and chest is sooo slow. Karma is by far the fastest and easiest way. You Spend 1000 keys in SW and get maybe 100-125 shards. Or hit EotM karma train and get a stack in a couple hours. I’ve made 5 legendaries since SW released EotM is definitely the fastest. hands down.

…except you get karma in SW also.

From SW u get shards from crests, chests, and karma.

I think it is more dependent on what you need.

For example SW chest train, it will net you a bunch of champ bag also which gives you good money and skill points. It’s probably the best way to get karma(obsidian) if you want money also.

For teq, you get really good karma for 15 minutes of events. The catch is there is usually prep time, especially at off time. And if you want teq hoard, there’s a chance at it.

Wvw, will give you badges if you need it, and also Wvw experience. You will also get some champ bag.

If you are doing fractal’s 38 with personal rewards 50. It can net you almost 40k worth of karma with booster and if you converted all the tokens. Not only that, you have a chance at fractal skins or ascended box.

So in reality it is more of what “other” things you want besides karma/obsidian shard.

TheBlackLeech.9360:

Chuck.8196:

SW does gives u shards but not at a very good rate. karma farming is still much better and fastest way to get shards. 1-3 from chest every now and then and on the rare occasion 10 from a chest. but that is completely inconsistent. Crests for vendor and chest is sooo slow. Karma is by far the fastest and easiest way. You Spend 1000 keys in SW and get maybe 100-125 shards. Or hit EotM karma train and get a stack in a couple hours. I’ve made 5 legendaries since SW released EotM is definitely the fastest. hands down.

…except you get karma in SW also.

From SW u get shards from crests, chests, and karma.

….except you get 10x as much karma from one event in EotM than you do in SW. Plus if you’re running chest, the chances of an event actually completing and NOT failing is slim to none. and 250 crests for 5 shards …ya no ty. You can run events all day and still not even come close to the amount you would get from karma in EotM.

Chuck.8196:

TheBlackLeech.9360:

Chuck.8196:

SW does gives u shards but not at a very good rate. karma farming is still much better and fastest way to get shards. 1-3 from chest every now and then and on the rare occasion 10 from a chest. but that is completely inconsistent. Crests for vendor and chest is sooo slow. Karma is by far the fastest and easiest way. You Spend 1000 keys in SW and get maybe 100-125 shards. Or hit EotM karma train and get a stack in a couple hours. I’ve made 5 legendaries since SW released EotM is definitely the fastest. hands down.

…except you get karma in SW also.

From SW u get shards from crests, chests, and karma.

….except you get 10x as much karma from one event in EotM than you do in SW. Plus if you’re running chest, the chances of an event actually completing and NOT failing is slim to none. and 250 crests for 5 shards …ya no ty. You can run events all day and still not even come close to the amount you would get from karma in EotM.

ya the thing which hit me is if you are doing events, you are actually not chest farming. And if you chest farm, you’ll need to spend the crest and not doing events.

That’s why I don’t think SW farm is “that good” for karma(obsidian shard).

But I think you might underestimates the karma/crest you can get from SW events. If you actually just run all over the map and tag every events, the karma return is actually pretty great. Though people might despise you for playing that way instead of actually contributing.

Not only that the main reason so many people farm SW is it is by far the best way to get gold and karma at the same time.

laokoko.7403:

Chuck.8196:

TheBlackLeech.9360:

Chuck.8196:

SW does gives u shards but not at a very good rate. karma farming is still much better and fastest way to get shards. 1-3 from chest every now and then and on the rare occasion 10 from a chest. but that is completely inconsistent. Crests for vendor and chest is sooo slow. Karma is by far the fastest and easiest way. You Spend 1000 keys in SW and get maybe 100-125 shards. Or hit EotM karma train and get a stack in a couple hours. I’ve made 5 legendaries since SW released EotM is definitely the fastest. hands down.

…except you get karma in SW also.

From SW u get shards from crests, chests, and karma.

….except you get 10x as much karma from one event in EotM than you do in SW. Plus if you’re running chest, the chances of an event actually completing and NOT failing is slim to none. and 250 crests for 5 shards …ya no ty. You can run events all day and still not even come close to the amount you would get from karma in EotM.

ya the thing which hit me is if you are doing events, you are actually not chest farming. And if you chest farm, you’ll need to spend the crest and not doing events.

That’s why I don’t think SW farm is “that good” for karma(obsidian shard).

But I think you might underestimates the karma/crest you can get from SW events. If you actually just run all over the map and tag every events, the karma return is actually pretty great. Though people might despise you for playing that way instead of actually contributing.

Not only that the main reason so many people farm SW is it is by far the best way to get gold and karma at the same time.

Nah.I’m well aware of what you can farm. Gold yes. that’s exactly how i play when I’m actually doing events. Except I multi-box on 3 accounts. I tag every event that spawns. Watch the chat log and run in the order they spawn. At least, from the time I’m in until VW spawns. Then do Lab for the first round then find another map. repeat. It still doesn’t even add up to the Karma from other sources. It might seem like good amount at a glance but not when you compare it elsewhere.

I personally run around in karma trains if there’s a good one happening in EOTM. I found that’s the absolute fastest way to reap in karma to buy obby shards. (I use the karma boosts too when I can).

Did my fair share of SW farming and it comes no where near close. And badge crests for obby shards.. Ehh. They have better uses.

laokoko.7403:

I cant’ believe running around pressing f on chest is the most interesting and fun way to play the game.

I think I’m getting too old for mmorpg.

Welcome to GW2 “end-game”. As sad as it is, this is what people are actually doing, because there hasn’t been any new content in 7 months, besides a couple season 2 stories after the silverwastes came out.

laokoko.7403:

I cant’ believe running around pressing f on chest is the most interesting and fun way to play the game.

I think I’m getting too old for mmorpg.

It’s not, it pretty much sux. I’ve done around 12hrs ttl, avg maybe 14 shards an hour. Likely the OP blew his wad of karma on temple armor, that everyone argues with me saying how it’s such a good idea.

Teq, world bosses, fractals etc, just gotta start from scratch hoarding karma again. If it’s not the last thing on the list, work on other stuff in the meantime, likely you still have a ways to go anyway, op.

I am just wondering what March 2015 has to do with farming for shards…

As for ways to obtain them, I’m sure the previous posters have that covered.

Chuck.8196:

TheBlackLeech.9360:

Chuck.8196:

SW does gives u shards but not at a very good rate. karma farming is still much better and fastest way to get shards. 1-3 from chest every now and then and on the rare occasion 10 from a chest. but that is completely inconsistent. Crests for vendor and chest is sooo slow. Karma is by far the fastest and easiest way. You Spend 1000 keys in SW and get maybe 100-125 shards. Or hit EotM karma train and get a stack in a couple hours. I’ve made 5 legendaries since SW released EotM is definitely the fastest. hands down.

…except you get karma in SW also.

From SW u get shards from crests, chests, and karma.

….except you get 10x as much karma from one event in EotM than you do in SW. Plus if you’re running chest, the chances of an event actually completing and NOT failing is slim to none. and 250 crests for 5 shards …ya no ty. You can run events all day and still not even come close to the amount you would get from karma in EotM.

You’re clueless or in denial…. and I can’t tell which.

Inculpatus cedo.9234:

I am just wondering what March 2015 has to do with farming for shards…

As for ways to obtain them, I’m sure the previous posters have that covered.

March? Maybe OP meant May.

laokoko.7403:

I cant’ believe running around pressing f on chest is the most interesting and fun way to play the game.

I think I’m getting too old for mmorpg.

“Fun” is in the eye of the beholder. I don’t like “farming” generally, but I do like trying to figure out how to get super efficient at it. For example, I enjoyed getting faster at keyfarming, even though I stopped doing it once I got as fast as I thought I could.

Other people love getting a lot of loot so they can deck themselves out in their favorite colors, skins, and gear, so being able to do little more than press [f] is fun for them.

Also, “fun” is relative. Farming karma can be dull, if the goal is to build up karma fast. Waiting for temple of balthazar to be cleared (or trying to herd the cats required to clear it) and then clicking repeatedly to buy obsidian is also dull for many. Thus, silverwastes, with all its myriad of sources is, yes, more fun (and feels faster) to many, especially long-time veterans of the game.

Further, RPGs have always had this aspect, where players could be torn between just playing to have fun and acquiring to be able to enjoy other aspects of the game.

In short, you aren’t “too old” for MMOs/RPGs; you just like the things you like, while others have different preferences.

laokoko.7403:

If you are farming obsidian shard, why don’t you just convert the bandit crest to obsidian shard. Obviously you’ll miss out on champ bag.

This is a bad way to go about it if you’re using crests. You’re much better off buying keys and grabbing the chests.