The numbers you actually need
Every raid decision reduces to one question: does the sulfur required to reach the loot cost less than the loot is worth? Everything else is storytelling.
Per surface
A stone wall, a metal door and a sheet-metal floor each have a fixed explosive cost. Learn the three you meet most often and you can price a raid from the outside in under a minute.
Reading a base from outside
Count the external doors and look at the upgrade tier of the highest visible wall. A base that has spent everything on the outside usually has nothing left inside — the profitable raids are the ugly bases with one very good door.
When to walk away
If you cannot see a path to the core that costs less than eight rockets, walk away. There is always another base, and sulfur does not regenerate on a schedule.
Put it into practice
Reading is cheaper than sulfur.
Every technique in these guides was learned on the servers below. Pick a region and test it tonight.