Guild Wars 2

I’m looking for the most cost effective way to purchase and salvage around 200 items, taking into account the cost of the items, the mats returned, and the cost of the salvage kits. I’d normally just purchase the cheapest possible weapons and salvage with white kits, but I’m wondering whether there’s a better way if you take the salvage returns into account. Any tips?

That depends entirely on what you’re trying to get out of the salvage items. Specific mats, or specific tiers of rare mats? Ectos? Are you trying to craft, sell raw mats on the TP, etc?

Euryon.9248:

That depends entirely on what you’re trying to get out of the salvage items. Specific mats, or specific tiers of rare mats? Ectos? Are you trying to craft, sell raw mats on the TP, etc?

Based on the title I’d assume he doesn’t care what he gets from it, he just wants lots of things to salvage to get the monthly achievement.

For this month (and assuming you don’t have the time or inclination to farm items) I think the cheapest way to do it is probably to search the Trading Post for weapons or armor, filter by price and then buy the cheapest things.

For future months I know some people will save up all their salvage items and white drops so they can salvage them for the daily or monthly achievement.

Metal Scrap (and similar)
especially if there was a recent spike in price of what it gives you.
trouble is knowing what it gives you…
I have made a profit off this (including TP fees), but it just took too long.
If you’re doing it for achievement, then profit is just a bonus.

White metals armor/scrap metal, and use the cheap salvage kit. Basically you’re aiming to get Orichalcum and Mithril to offset the cost.

There is no static answer due to changing prices but I would suggest
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Salvage_Item
+ http://www.guildwarstrade.com/

Right now Frayed Garment/Rag looks good, you might even make a tiny profit. The items that salvage into Gold Ore/Platinum Ore might be good as well.