The most “optimal” path for an eggplant run?

[Torres, The Devourer]

Which routes should I chose to go through? How much can randomness affect me if I chose one route over another? Also should I do a quilin skip, or play it safe and do an ankh skip and get the tablet of destiny (if I go tide pool)?

[Stafford's Bees]

Tidepool gives you one guaranteed present box. Qilin skipping with an npc is possible but also one other thing that might somehow mess up.

[Trev-9000]

I'm not so sure about the first route to take but I imagine dealing with the present in the Jungle would be far easier than Volcano.

I wouldn't worry about Quilin skip as you can leave the Eggplant Child asleep at the start of the stage by picking them up and setting them back down again (just make sure everything will be clear first). As long as you don't take too long on each level they should stay asleep much longer than Hired Hands tend to.

[Torres, The Devourer]

Originally posted by Stafford's Bees:

Tidepool gives you one guaranteed present box. Qilin skipping with an npc is possible but also one other thing that might somehow mess up.

Yes that is true, but a kali altar might not spawn on the same level. If I am going to do a quilin skip I would ignore Excalibur and hold the eggplant. Although I will keep your advice in mind, thanks for the help.

[Torres, The Devourer]

Originally posted by Trev-9000:

I'm not so sure about the first route to take but I imagine dealing with the present in the Jungle would be far easier than Volcano.

I wouldn't worry about Quilin skip as you can leave the Eggplant Child asleep at the start of the stage by picking them up and setting them back down again (just make sure everything will be clear first). As long as you don't take too long on each level they should stay asleep much longer than Hired Hands tend to.

In my experience jungle with eggplant is much easier than eggplant with volcana. I might do a quilin skip if I get a jet pack and lots of ropes. Maybe some climbing gloves and spring shoes too.

[Leviathan]

Originally posted by Trev-9000:

I wouldn't worry about Quilin skip as you can leave the Eggplant Child asleep at the start of the stage by picking them up and setting them back down again (just make sure everything will be clear first). As long as you don't take too long on each level they should stay asleep much longer than Hired Hands tend to.

In fact if you can make it so a hired hand survives for three or more levels it'll start to behave exactly like the eggplant child.