Deconstruct Strategy

Deconstructing unwanted gear can be more profitable than selling it. The sale price of materials from deconstruction is always higher for Common, Uncommon, and Rare weapons. The purchase price of the same amount of the same materials is always higher, for all rarities. (See Notes for exceptions.)

The sale price of materials from deconstruction is always higher for all helmets, arms, and legs, and for all armor chests except for Heleus Defender Armor (see Notes).

Strategy
Keeping a set of Tier I armor, a Tier I firearm, and a Tier I melee weapon available allows the player to unequip all higher tier gear at once, saving trips to the loadout screen.

Weapons
All weapons, except for the kett Soned assault rifle, are developed from 2 resources, 1  resource, and 1  or  resource. Even under Grey Market Connections II, any given, , or weapon is worth less than the resources recovered through deconstruction, whether considering those resources for sale or purchase. weapons sell for less than the purchase price of their recoverable components, but more than the sale price of those components. The Soned is developed from 2 and 2  resources and is worth less than its recoverable resources, except at Tiers IX and X, which can be sold for more than the sale price of the components.

Armor
All armor, except Heleus Defender Armor, is developed from 2 resources, 1  resource, and 1  or  resource. Again, even under Grey Market Connections II, any given armor piece (except for Heleus Defender) is worth less than the resources recovered through deconstruction. Heleus Armor is developed from 4 resources and 1  resource not available for purchase (Remnant Cores). Because Remnant Cores are only recovered during deconstruction from the Heleus Icon Armor X, the armor is worth more than the component materials.

Examples
The following are examples of the results of deconstructing weapons and armor.

Example 1: M-8 Avenger IX (Common assault rifle)
Deconstructing the Avenger gives:
 * Omni-Gel Canister Icon.png Omni-Gel Canister x8
 * Iron Icon.png Iron x31
 * Cadmium Icon.png Cadmium x14
 * Element Zero Icon.png Element Zero x4

The sale prices for these materials (Grey Market Connections and Grey Market Connections II in parentheses) are:
 * Omni-Gel Canister and Iron: 4 credits (6, 7)
 * Cadmium: 19 credits (24, 29)
 * Element Zero: 48 credits (60, 72)

Ryder gains 614 (810, 967) credits for selling the recovered materials:
 * Omni-Gel Canister: 32 credits (48, 56)
 * Iron: 124 credits (186, 217)
 * Cadmium: 266 credits (336, 406)
 * Element Zero: 192 credits (240, 288)

The purchase cost for those materials in those quantities:
 * Omni-Gel Canister and Iron: 24 credits (22, 21)
 * Cadmium: 97 credits (92, 87)
 * Element Zero: 244 credits (231, 219)

Ryder's cost for buying the materials would be 3270 (3070, 2913) credits:
 * Omni-Gel Canister: 192 credits (176, 168)
 * Iron: 744 credits (682, 651)
 * Cadmium: 1358 credits (1288, 1218)
 * Element Zero: 976 credits (924, 876)

The sale price of a Tier IX M-8 Avenger is 343 credits (428, 514), less than the total selling price of the recovered components and much less than the total purchasing cost of the same materials.

The best choice based on the numbers would be to deconstruct the M-8 Avenger.

Example 2: N7 Valkyrie VI (Ultra Rare assault rifle)
Deconstructing the Valkyrie gives:
 * Omni-Gel Canister Icon.png Omni-Gel Canister x10
 * Iron Icon.png Iron x40
 * Lithium Icon.png Lithium x20
 * Element Zero Icon.png Element Zero x6

The sale prices for these materials (Grey Market Connections and Grey Market Connections II in parentheses) are:
 * Omni-Gel Canister and Iron: 4 credits (6, 7)
 * Lithium: 19 credits (24, 29)
 * Element Zero: 48 credits (60, 72)

Ryder gains 868 (1140, 1362) credits for selling the recovered materials:
 * Omni-Gel Canister: 40 credits (60, 70)
 * Iron: 160 credits (240, 280)
 * Lithium: 380 credits (480, 580)
 * Element Zero: 288 credits (360, 432)

The purchase cost for those materials in those quantities:
 * Omni-Gel Canister and Iron: 24 credits (22, 21)
 * Lithium: 97 credits (92, 87)
 * Element Zero: 244 credits (231, 219)

Ryder's cost for buying the materials would be 4604 (4326, 4104) credits:
 * Omni-Gel Canister: 240 credits (220, 210)
 * Iron: 960 credits (880, 840)
 * Lithium: 1940 credits (1840, 1740)
 * Element Zero: 1464 credits (1386, 1314)

The sale price of a Tier VI N7 Valkyrie is 1159 credits (1449, 1739), greater than the total selling price of the recovered components, but still much less than the total purchasing cost of the same materials.

The best choice based on the numbers depends on the goal. If the player needs the component materials, deconstruct the weapon and keep the recovered resources. If the need is for credits or inventory space, selling the weapon is the better choice.

Example 3: Initiative Armor Helmet II
Deconstructing the helmet gives:
 * Omni-Gel Canister Icon.png Omni-Gel Canister x5
 * Beryllium Icon.png Beryllium x30
 * Fluorite Icon.png Fluorite x15
 * Titanium Icon.png Titanium x5

The sale prices for these materials (Grey Market Connections and Grey Market Connections II in parentheses) are:
 * Omni-Gel Canister and Beryllium: 4 credits (6, 7)
 * Fluorite: 19 credits (24, 29)
 * Titanium: 48 credits (60, 72)

Ryder gains 665 (870, 1040) credits for selling the recovered materials:
 * Omni-Gel Canister: 20 credits (30, 35)
 * Beryllium: 120 credits (180, 210)
 * Fluorite: 285 credits (360, 435)
 * Titanium: 240 credits (300, 360)

The purchase cost for those materials in those quantities:
 * Omni-Gel Canister and Beryllium: 24 credits (22, 21)
 * Fluorite: 97 credits (92, 87)
 * Titanium: 244 credits (231, 219)

Ryder's cost for buying the materials would be 3515 (3305, 3135) credits:
 * Omni-Gel Canister: 120 credits (110, 105)
 * Beryllium: 720 credits (660, 630)
 * Fluorite: 1455 credits (1380, 1305)
 * Titanium: 1220 credits (1155, 1095)

The sale price of a Tier II Initiative Helmet is 52 credits (66, 79), substantially less than both the total selling price of the recovered components and the total purchasing cost of the same materials.

The best choice based on the numbers would be to deconstruct the helmet.

Example 4: Angaran Guerilla Armor Chest V
Deconstructing the armor gives:
 * Angaran Meditation Crystal Icon.png Angaran Meditation Crystal x12
 * Shell Filaments Icon.png Shell Filaments x5
 * Iridium Icon.png Iridium x24
 * Titanium Icon.png Titanium x6

The sale prices for these materials (Grey Market Connections and Grey Market Connections II in parentheses) are:
 * Angaran Meditation Crystal: 4 credits (6, 7)
 * Shell Filaments and Iridium: 19 credits (24, 29)
 * Titanium: 48 credits (60, 72)

Ryder gains 883 (1123, 1351) credits for selling the recovered materials:
 * Angaran Meditation Crystal: 48 credits (72, 84)
 * Shell Filaments: 91 credits (115, 139)
 * Iridium: 456 credits (576, 696)
 * Titanium: 288 credits (360, 432)

The purchase cost for those materials in those quantities:
 * Angaran Meditation Crystal: 24 credits (22, 21)
 * Shell Filaments and Iridium: 97 credits (92, 87)
 * Titanium: 244 credits (231, 219)

Ryder's cost for buying the materials would be 4546 (4300, 4072) credits:
 * Angaran Meditation Crystal: 288 credits (264, 252)
 * Shell Filaments: 466 credits (442, 418)
 * Iridium: 2328 credits (2208, 2088)
 * Titanium: 1464 credits (1386, 1314)

The sale price of a Tier V Angaran Guerilla Armor Chest is 281 credits (351, 421), less than the total selling price of the recovered components and much less than the total purchasing cost of the same materials.

The best choice based on the numbers would be to deconstruct the armor.