Powerplay When is the best time to defect to another Powerplay faction?

[AdagioKonrinzai]

When is the best time to defect to another Powerplay faction if you want to carry over the most amount of merits earned? Would it be right before the cycle ends or right after the cycle ends? And what about the merit rating pay on the old and new faction when defecting? Merc for hire in powerplay[money]

 

[kurush]

Your merits get cut in half at the time you defect. So, the answer really depends on your goal. If you just want to get highest possible salary, next day after cycle end is probably the best. Collect your salary and then defect. You'll have to earn a bit more merits to maintain the same rank, otherwise the penalty is minimal.
Or, you can even defect straight into Rank 5 if you collect 20k merits before the defection somehow.

 

[GargoyleBG]

Right before your next >=24h absence from the game, to avoid being interdicted by former faction.