Guild Wars 2

I just rolled my first character tonight and every guide I read said to make sure and grab the gathering tools/salvage kits. However, the two merchants I have looked in the in the beginners zone do not have them for sale. I rolled a Norn character, and the first merchant only sells bags while the second merchant only sells jerky. What am I missing?

They removed gathering tools from merchants in low-level areas a few months ago. They also removed gathering nodes in low-level areas (maybe the first half of each starter zone?). So you could just not worry about tools too much until you start to see nodes on the minimap.

Alternatively, you can turn around, and walk through the portal behind where you first spawned into the zone. That will take you to your race’s capital city, where you will be able to find merchants with gathering tools and salvage kits.

Also when you get to level 9 it will give you information about gathering and give you a pick, an axe and a sickle for free.

If you go into the main city and go to a crafting station the vendor there will sell all your gathering tools and salvage kits.