Keys for chests-worth buying?

Now that im in the later parts of the PvE campaign, im running across these darn things constantly. I know you can buy keys for em, but are they worth it? Some go for over 500gp/key, and for someone still on their first character, that seems rather steep. Are they worth buying, or am i just going to bankrupt myself and be stuck with lots of crappy purples?

I personaly use the chests as I don't have enough money. But from what I've heard, you'll have to spend upwards of 10k on keys before you get something valuable. I haven't test this out so don't rely solely on me for your answer. Hopefully someone will be able to back up what I have stated or tell you their experence with keys and chests.

IMO they are not worth it. I speak from my own experience of have wasted gold on keys. At one point I think I bought 6 shiverpeak keys and all I did was merchant every item I recieved...gold down the drain. In the end really up to you since it is your first. I hope for that rare key drop to give me a decent item when I open a chest...still waiting for a good chest item. In the end I feel I've gotten better drops than anything I've ever received from a chest.

The only keys i have has success with is FoW or UW chests and i think they are the only ones worth investing in yeah they do cost 1.5k or 750g each but when you get a perfect chaos axe then you will see the benefit

The only time i open chests are with keys that dropped. And thats only with UW or FoW keys.
10 FoW keys= 15k
It is very unlikely that you will get anything worth 15k (at which point you break even) in 10 FoW chests. 3 are likely to be purple, and the remaining 7 gold drops are likely to be crap. Simple math

although u can always buy keys cheaper..the people who dont want to risk it and want a bit more then the merchant vaule of the keys e.g fow keys can be bought for 1k instead of 1.5k of the trader.

i think that keys in the UW and FOW are normally worth it i also think that its worth using the keys on harder to reach chests not just the 1st chest you see

I'm beginning to think the same thing from my chest runs. I'm starting to think they are an underhanded way of being gold sinks. FoW runs, none of the chest drops, are worth 1500g, the price of the key. Sometimes I can't even sell them for 1k, so it goes to the merchant.

I can't help trying though; since there is that off chance you might get something that is really treasured. ANET just made the game so the chances of it dropping are low. You know what they say, the house always wins, and so in the end a lot will lose money, but someone will be getting that most wanted GOLD item.

Yea I think it is worth money to most people I personally have only bought 1 key and I got a Max Dmg Ebon Peircing Axe of Tenguslaying(gold) so that means I got really lucky but im not gonna try again Unless its a FoW or UW keys I would say dont risk it at all (Unless FoW or UW key).

Yes, you should buy keys, and you should buy them from me since chest rewards are not worth as much as the key.

Anyway, in my oppinion I think buying keys is a bad idea, aswell as using them. If you do use keys, they'd better be found or player-bought.

Only keys that have potential for good drops: Shiverpeak keys, Miner Keys, Obsidian Keys and Phantom Keys. Everything else: no way.

My personal view is that I do not think chest keys are worth buying.

I highly dislike selling stuff amoug players, where I usually have to stand there, shouting what I have to sell, and answer many, many questions form the public, from wanting to see the items I have to sell, to asking me for 400 GP because he is has no money.

The same amoug of time could get me in earing more exp and gold, as well as a lot more fun.

If I really need somthing I have in mind, I would rather buy it from players. Fair enough it could be 100k, at least I know what I am getting, but from chest, with my rubbish luck, I dont think I would get anything worth that much. Even if I did, I rather not stand there shouting what I have to sell in town.

In the very long run I think chests are actualy worth it. However 90% of all golds you get from them will be essentialy worthless. The other 10% might help you to break even, or if it's somthing really special, net a profit. However, it also requires time to sell most of what comes out of them, usualy due to the fact it's junk. You'll probably have the best luck with miners keys(in SF), darkstone keys(only at hells precipice), phantom keys(uw/topk uw), and obsidian keys(FoW).

One way to eliminate you getting purples from chests, is just to let someone else use their key first. If they get a purple, don't touch the chest, if it's gold, go for it.

Basicaly, since you're just starting out, I reccomend not wasting any money whatsoever on keys. Save the ones you get as drops, and if you find a gold chest use your key.

Yeah I've spent about 50-75k on keys, but I got a Superior Absorbtion back when they were worth 100k, so I'm still up in the long run.

EDIT: its just a matter of luck really, my friend has spent about 30k on keys and has got jack in return. So it comes down to "Are you feeling lucky......are ya?"

Its best to buy a key or 2 for a UW or FoW run, then wait til someone else opens the chest, if its gold use a key if its not dont bother.
Its like a lottery, you will probably break even at best, but the fun from opening the chests is worth it.

with chest you normally break even. I have spent well over 500k on shiver, miners, darkstone, UW and FoW keys and i always break even.

I also have the absolute WORST luck ever... seriously! I have been playing this game since it came out and i have yet to get a sup vigor or absorb, i have never gotten any perfect mods except +30 HP's.. oh and those groovy +5 armor pieces of crap i get on every single weapon (btw, this is from ALL items ive gotten, not just chest drops)

SO, in short, if i can break even on chests runs EVERYONE can :P

I got a sup vig on what was probably my third key, was in mineral, so no complaints here.

Do crystalline swords drop out of FoW chests? I specialize in FoW runs, I've spend 45k on keys already that's 30 FoW keys. 1/5 chests are junk. But the 1 that is worth something breaks even for me. I haven't yet found a 15^50 weapon either from chest or from farming does anyone know the chance of a mod like that dropping? I've picked up at least 50 gold weapons and have yet to see a 15^50 increase dmg mod for an axe,sword,bow,or hammer.

I sell my Shiv keys now, almost always. I'm happier.

I spent 60k on keys for FoW chest runs and only found 1 perfect fellblade...so it was worth it and gave me something to do

Yes keys are worth it but you must be patient and stop expecting a perfect every 20 chests... more like 50+

I only really started amassing gold when I stopped buying keys for each area.

I only use keys that drop which, in the most part, confirms that buying them is not commercially viable.

I now only buy keys for UW/FOW, but as yet, have had no luck with these either.

It's a lottery. You'll blow tons of money on keys getting complete crap. Then, if you are really lucky, you'll get a godly item that sells for 100k, perhaps making a profit, perhaps just making up some of the blown money. Not worth using, unless you like to gamble. To the guy who spent 60k, you got lucky - others will spend 100k and still not get anything worthwhile.