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Lethal Company Profit Quota Formula (Vanilla)

This is a practical explanation of how quota scales and how to plan your runs. It’s designed to pair with the calculator.

Open quota calculatorMoons & risk notes

What this page covers

Players usually don’t fail quota because they can’t loot — they fail because they don’t plan pace. Quota scaling punishes “we’ll figure it out later”.

This guide focuses on 3 practical questions:

  1. How quota grows (conceptually) across quotas.
  2. How buffer changes decision-making.
  3. When selling early beats waiting for the last day.

How quota scales (the useful mental model)

In vanilla, quota growth behaves like a curve: early quotas feel manageable, then the required sell value ramps faster over time.

The exact coefficients can vary across patches and references. If you need a guaranteed correct number for your run, use the calculator with your current quota target.

Sell early vs sell on the last day

Selling early is a risk management move: it reduces the chance that one bad run (wipe / weather / bad RNG) turns into a quota failure.

Selling on the last day is a volatility play: it can be fine when you’re far above target, but it makes your run sensitive to a single mistake.

FAQ

Is the quota formula the same in vanilla and mods?
Not always. Mods can change pacing, scrap value, or difficulty. This page focuses on vanilla assumptions. If you play modded, treat the calculator as a planning baseline.
Should I sell scrap early or wait until the last day?
If you’re not safely above quota, selling early reduces end-of-cycle panic. If you’re comfortably ahead, you can wait and choose a sell timing that matches your risk tolerance.
Does moon tier change the quota formula?
Moon choice doesn’t change the quota formula directly, but it changes your expected scrap value and wipe risk — which is why planning buffer matters.

Next steps

Use the calculator to set a realistic plan, then refine it by moon choice and your team’s consistency.