I've been wondering what would be the best way to profit off of the Jelly King run, so I finally decided to do the math.
My assumptions:
1. The cost of 100 crystal energy = 7,500 crowns (a bit high, but I want to give the lowest amount of profits)
2. The lowest amount of earnings from the first two levels is about 2,000 crowns
3. The amount of crowns gained from the jelly king is equal to about 250 crowns (the lowest amount)
4. The amount of Jelly tokens earned per run is 3
5. 15 Jelly tokens can buy either a brute jelly shield, helm, or armor, which all sell for 3,500 crowns
First of all, let's say you wanted to do all the levels. That costs 30 energy, and gives you earnings of 2,250 crowns or greater. Assuming you do this 5 times (in order to get the armor, shield, or helm) and sell your armor, shield, or helm that you bought with the tokens, your earnings will be 14,750 crowns or more. Since doing five runs takes 150 energy, we multiply 1.5 by the cost of 100 crystal energy (about 7500 crowns) to get the total cost. This comes out to be 11,250 crowns. Subtract the total costs from the total income, and you wind up with a profit of 3,500 crowns or more.
Now, let's say you just wanted to do the first two levels. This costs 20 energy and gives you earnings of about 2,000 crowns or greater. Assuming you do this 7.5 times (just so that the energy cost will wind up being the same), your total income will be about 15,000 crowns. Subtract the total cost (as mentioned before), and you wind up with a profit of 3,750 crowns or more.
The benefit to doing just the two levels is that you don't have to do as many runs if you don't want to (you have to get 15 tokens to make doing all three stages worthwhile). However, doing three runs yields more heat and tokens (like primal sparks), and the Jelly King level takes less time than the other two levels.
Doing the first 2 stages:
Pros-- You do not have to do at least 15 stages to get a profit (If you do only 10 stages (which would amount to 5 runs) you would get about 10,000 crowns, which amounts to a profit of 2,500 crowns or more)
Cons-- You do not receive as much heat or as many tokens. It also takes more overall time than doing all 3 stages (last stage is short)
Profit-- 3,750 crowns or more per 5 runs (750 crowns + per run)
Doing all 3 stages:
Pros-- You have the choice of keeping the item you buy with tokens (if you wanted the armor, a sealed sword, etc.). You also get more heat and tokens (primal sparks).
Cons-- You have to do at least 5 runs (with 3 stages per run)
Profit-- 3,500 crowns or more per 5 runs
My Choice: I almost always do all three stages, because it yields more profits per energy and time.
Thanks to Misten and Chieurobese for more accurate info about crowns per level.
~ Cloudfall (alt. Pine-Fresh)
Now do Roar Twin Run.