Elden Ring: Speedrun Guide

Welcome to our ultimate Elden Ring: Speedrun Guide! Whether you're a seasoned speedrunner or new to the fast-paced world of rushing through FromSoftware's latest epic, this guide is crafted to help you achieve record-breaking times. Dive into the intricacies of Planning Your Speedrun, master advanced Speedrun Strategies, map out the most efficient Speedrun Route, and become adept at Handling Bosses in Speedrun. Plus, get insider tips to set your own Speedrun Record and elevate your game with expert Speedrun Tips. Get ready to slash through your times and rise to the top of the leaderboards with our comprehensive guide!

Planning Your Speedrun

Embarking on an Elden Ring speedrun can be a thrilling journey, whether you're aiming for a world record or just want to set a personal best. Planning your speedrun is key to cutting down your time and minimizing mistakes. Here's how to get started:

Understand the Categories

First things first, you need to decide on a speedrun category. The most popular ones are Any%, where you complete the game as fast as possible without any restrictions, and All Bosses, which requires you to defeat every boss in the game. There’s also No Glitches, which restricts you from using any in-game exploits. Choose a category that suits your play style and interests.

Study the Map

Elden Ring's map is vast and intricate. Familiarize yourself with every nook and cranny. Create a mental map of key locations, shortcuts, and boss arenas. Knowing where to go beforehand will save you tons of time in-game. Consider marking paths on a physical map or using a secondary screen to reference while you play.

Optimize Your Route

Breaking the game down into segments can help manage the complexity. Plot out the optimal path from starting point to each major objective. Prioritize routes that offer the fastest path while minimizing enemy encounters and obstacles. Remember, less combat often means more speed.

Example

• Start at Point A
• Pickup Item X
• Head directly to Boss 1
• Use Route Y to avoid high-level enemies

Learn the Skips and Glitches

If you're running in a category that allows glitches, these can be huge time-savers. Skips and glitches are often discovered by the community, so stay updated by watching other speedrunners and participating in forums. Practice these regularly as some can be quite precise and require perfect timing.

Common Skips

• Wall Clip: Use this to pass through barriers.
• Infinite Stamina: A glitch that lets you sprint endlessly.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Speedrunning is all about muscle memory and reaction time. Spend a good chunk of your preparation just practicing the game. Drill down each segment until you can do it without thinking. Also, consider doing full runs at slower paces before attempting to go full speed. This will help you get a sense of the entire run and iron out any issues.

Manage Your Inventory

Sorting your inventory can save precious seconds. Get rid of unnecessary items and keep only what you need. Hotkey your most-used items like healing potions and essential equipment. The quicker you can access your gear, the better.

Watch the Pros

There’s a lot to learn from those who have already mastered the art of speedrunning Elden Ring. Watch runs by top players to see their strategies, routes, and how they handle tricky sections. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube are goldmines for such content.

Stay Relaxed and Focused

Your mental state is important. Speedrunning can be stressful, especially when things don’t go as planned. Keep a cool head and remember that each mistake is a learning opportunity. Take breaks if needed to stay fresh and focused. Remember, a calm and collected mindset can often make the difference between a good run and a great one.

Tools and Resources

• Timer Software: Use timer software like LiveSplit to keep track of your splits and overall time.
• Community Guides: Websites like Speedrun.com often have forums and guides that are invaluable.
• Recording Equipment: Recording your runs can help in later analysis to find areas for improvement.

By setting up a strong plan and practicing diligently, you can shave off precious seconds and climb the leaderboards in Elden Ring speedrunning. Happy running!

Speedrun Strategies

Speedrunning in Elden Ring is all about finishing the game as fast as possible. If you're up for the challenge, you’ll need to master a few key strategies. Speedrunning isn't just about being fast--it's about precision, planning, and adaptability. Here’s a breakdown of essential speedrun techniques to help you get started.

1. Route Planning

Before attempting a speedrun, you need a solid route. This means having a game plan for the entire run:

• Map Knowledge: Understand the layout of each area. Know where key items, bosses, and shortcuts are located.
• Skip Unnecessary Content: Only complete the mandatory bosses and events. Avoid side quests and optional bosses unless they provide essential items or shortcuts.
• Checkpoint Management: Make strategic use of Sites of Grace (checkpoints) to set up fast travel points. This will save significant time, especially in later parts of your run.

2. Glitches and Exploits

To speedrun like the pros, you’ll need to use glitches and exploits:

• Wrong Warps: Use glitches to warp to areas you shouldn't normally be able to reach early on. This can skip entire segments of the game.
• Wall Clips: Find and exploit spots where you can clip through walls to bypass obstacles and save time.
• Animation Cancelling: Learn how to cancel animations (like healing or spell casting) to keep moving quickly.

Remember, glitches can be patched out by game updates, so keep up-to-date with the speedrunning community for the latest strategies.

3. Combat Efficiency

Fighting every enemy wastes time. Here's how to handle combat:

• Boss Priority: Focus on quickly learning and exploiting boss weaknesses. Prioritize high-damage weapons and spells.
• Crowd Control: Use area-of-effect attacks to deal with groups of enemies quickly or avoid them altogether.
• Use Buffs: Optimize your character with buffs that increase damage or defense, reducing the time spent in each encounter.

4. Stat Allocation and Gear

Your character build can make or break your speedrun:

• Glass Cannon Build: Invest heavily in offensive stats. The goal is to output as much damage as quickly as possible, even if it makes you more fragile.
• Essential Gear: Equip weapons, spells, and items that offer high damage per second (DPS). Prioritize those that scale well with your chosen stats.
• Minimal Armor: Equip light armor or no armor to keep your character agile and reduce stamina consumption when dodging.

5. Practice and Adaptation

Speedrunning requires dedication:

• Practice Runs: Do multiple practice runs to perfect your route and memorize important sections.
• Adapt on the Fly: Things won't always go as planned. Be ready to improvise if you make a mistake or encounter unexpected problems.
• Analyze and Improve: After each run, review your performance. Identify areas for improvement and tweak your strategy.

6. Community and Resources

Lastly, don't go it alone:

• Join Communities: Engage with speedrunning communities on platforms like Discord and Reddit. You can learn from veteran speedrunners and get tips on new strategies.
• Watch Runs: Watch other speedrunners on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Observing different approaches can provide new insights and improve your runs.

By mastering these strategies, you'll be on your way to becoming an Elden Ring speedrunner. Now, grab your controller, tighten your grip, and get ready to race through the Lands Between!

Elden Ring Speedrun Route: Get to the Finish Line Fast

Speedrunning Elden Ring is all about finding the quickest route and using clever tricks to beat the game as fast as possible. Here’s a detailed guide that’ll help you streamline your run and shave off those precious seconds.

Character Creation and Setup

Start off by selecting the Samurai class. It has a decent balance of speed and power. Make sure to choose the Golden Seed as your starting gift. This will give you an extra health flask right from the start, which is crucial for survival early on.

Limgrave: The Beginning

1. First Steps: Ignore the Grafted Scion boss at the beginning. It’s not worth your time. Instead, sprint past it and get to the Church of Elleh as quickly as possible.
2. Torrent, Your Trusty Steed: Make a beeline for the Gatefront Ruins to activate the checkpoint. After resting, Melina will appear to give you Torrent, your horse and key ally for fast travel.

Travel to Liurnia of the Lakes

1. Northwest Passage: Head north through the Stormhill avoiding fights. Use Torrent to speed up your travel.
2. Find the Teleporter: There’s a hidden teleporter in the ruins on the west side of Agheel Lake. This will transport you straight to Laskyar Ruins in Liurnia.

Unlocking Fast Travel

1. Raya Lucaria Grand Library: Make your way to the Raya Lucaria Academy. Run past as many enemies as possible. Your goal here is to unlock the Main Academy Gate Grace.
2. Academy Glintstone Key: You’ll need this key to get to the next major area. Instead of fighting Glintstone Dragon Smarag, sneak around it to grab the key located near his position.

The Southern Route - Altus Plateau

1. Skipping the Lift: Head to the Ravine-Veiled Village and ascend the narrow passage filled with miner enemies. This skips the need for activating the Grand Lift of Dectus.
2. Magma Wyrm Boss: Defeat Magma Wyrm Makar at the end of the passage. This fight isn't too lengthy if you stay close and attack his head.

Fast Travel to the Capital

1. From the Plateau: After arriving at Altus Plateau, head towards the Outer Wall Phantom Tree Grace. This is a crucial checkpoint.
2. Capital Entrance: Sneak past guards and take the side route leading up to the East Capital Rampart. Don’t worry about fighting everyone; speed is your ally here.

Leyndell, Royal Capital

1. Dodge and Weave: Dash through the city, avoiding unnecessary fights. Head for the major boss sites like Godfrey, First Elden Lord. This battle is quicker if you use ranged attacks.
2. Shortcut to the Earth Tree: Solve the puzzle paths quickly -- your goal is to trigger the burning of the Erdtree.

Haligtree Route and Final Push

1. Secret Medallion: To access Miquella's Haligtree, gather both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion. One half is at Castle Sol and the other at Village of the Albinaurics.
2. Maliketh's Lift: Use the lift to reach the Consecrated Snowfield, leading you to Ordina, Liturgical Town. Solve the invisible maze and light the four fires quickly.

Endgame - Ashen Capital and Beyond

1. Forge Route: Teleport to the Ashen Capital. Your goal is to reach the Forge of Giants by traveling southeast.
2. Final Battles: Prepare for the last few boss fights. Use every trick in the book to take them down quickly, whether it be exploiting weaknesses or using the strongest available weapons.

Tips and Tricks

• Memorizing Enemy Patterns: Knowing enemy moves can help you dodge and save precious health.
• Item Management: Keep your inventory light and organized. Only carry essential items.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Speedrunning is about repetition. The more you practice, the faster you'll get.

Good luck, Tarnished. Aim for that record time, and happy speedrunning!

Handling Bosses in Speedrun

Handling bosses in a speedrun is a whole different beast compared to a regular playthrough of Elden Ring. Here’s how you can blaze through these formidable foes while keeping your time low and your focus high.

Know Your Bosses Inside Out

Before you even think about starting your speedrun, you need to study the bosses. This means learning their patterns, attack timings, and vulnerabilities. Boss knowledge is the cornerstone of a successful speedrun. Watch other speedrunners, read guides, and practice, practice, practice.

Optimize Your Loadout

Picking the perfect loadout will make a big difference. Speedrunners often opt for gear that balances speed and damage. For instance, many prefer lighter, faster weapons like katanas or straight swords, as they offer a good mix of reach, damage, and attack speed. Also, look for armor that offers moderate protection without slowing you down too much.

Parrying and Dodging

In speedruns, parrying and dodging are invaluable skills:

• Parrying: This can be a great way to deal massive damage quickly. Perfecting the parry timing for each boss is key. A successful parry can lead to a critical hit, which can severely cut down the boss’s health bar.

• Dodging: Master the art of dodging, especially if parrying isn’t your thing. Knowing when to dodge and how to use invincibility frames effectively will help you avoid damage while staying aggressive.

Quick Kills and Exploits

Quick kills and exploits are another cornerstone in speedrunning:

• Cheese Tactics: These may include finding ways to stunlock the boss or making use of specific terrain or game mechanics to get easy hits.

• Weaknesses: Target specific weaknesses (fire, magic, etc.) or use status effects like poison, bleed, or frost. These can whittle down a boss quickly if applied correctly.

Use Buffs and Consumables

Don’t underestimate the power of buffs and consumables. Items like Gold Pine Resin for electrical damage or Green Blossom for stamina regeneration can give you the edge you need. Plan out your consumable usage to maximize damage output without breaking your flow.

Practice, Adapt, and Record

Finally, the key to any successful speedrun is practice. Record your runs to analyze mistakes and improve. Adapt your strategies based on what you learn. Every second counts!

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By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll not only save precious time but also improve your overall skills in Elden Ring. Good luck, and may your speedruns be swift and victorious!

Speedrun Record and Tips

Speedruns in Elden Ring are all about finishing the game as fast as possible, utilizing game mechanics, glitches, and expert-level play to shave off precious seconds. As of the last update, the current record for any% (reaching the game's end as fast as possible) is less than 30 minutes. This is a mind-blowing feat if you've spent hours just getting through a single boss! Here's a closer look at how speedrunners are setting these records and some tips if you want to give it a shot.

Current Record

The any% speedrun record is held by a player named Distortion2, who managed to complete the game in just 28 minutes and 29 seconds. Yes, you read that right. This insane time is possible thanks to a combination of in-depth knowledge of the game's shortcuts and exploits and a finely honed skill set. Watching their run can be both inspiring and a bit mind-bending as they find ways to bypass huge chunks of the game that most players would never notice.

Speedrunning Techniques

Speedrunners use several advanced techniques and tricks to cut down their playtime. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. Wrong Warp

This trick involves manipulating the game’s teleportation system to warp to unintended locations. By setting up specific conditions, speedrunners can use a warp to skip over huge sections. It's a technique that requires precise timing and isn't something you'll stumble upon by accident.

2. Jump Skips

Elden Ring’s terrain can be used in creative ways. Speedrunners often look for ledges and gaps that can be jumped over to bypass parts of the map. They combine these with rolling and sprinting to cover extraordinary distances that weren't meant to be crossed so quickly.

3. Sequence Breaking

Speedrunners will tackle the game in an order that isn’t intended. They'll rush to powerful items, weapons, or abilities early on, giving them an edge over enemies and making certain areas easier to complete quicker. For example, they might go after a high-damage weapon right from the start, rather than following the storyline to find it.

Basic Tips for Aspiring Speedrunners

If you're interested in speedrunning Elden Ring or just curious about how it's done, here are some key tips to get you started:

A. Study the Game

Understand every inch of the game. Watch speedruns by top players like Distortion2 to learn their routes and techniques. Knowing the layout of the map and where key items and shortcuts are will save you tons of time.

B. Practice Glitches

Some techniques, like the Wrong Warp, require specific setups that you need to practice. These aren’t typically how the game is meant to be played, so doing them can feel a bit weird at first. Keep practicing until you're comfortable with the glitches.

C. Optimize Your Route

Plan your run by mapping out the most efficient path through the game. This might involve skipping some areas entirely or taking detours to grab powerful items. The goal is to strike a balance between being fast and being effective in combat.

D. Learn to Manage Resources

Efficient use of stamina, health, and mana is crucial. Speedrunners know exactly when to conserve and when to push their character to the limit. You’ll need to plan your healing and use of items to keep your run smooth.

E. Stay Calm Under Pressure

Speedrunning is intense. One mistake can ruin an entire run. It’s important to keep a cool head and stay focused, especially when things go wrong. If you mess up, quickly decide whether to reset or adjust your strategy on the fly.

Closing Thoughts

Speedrunning Elden Ring is like an art form. It takes dedication, practice, and a deep understanding of the game. But with the right techniques and a lot of practice, you too could be cutting your completion times down to record-breaking speeds. Whether you’re looking to set your personal best or just appreciate the skill that goes into these runs, exploring speedrunning is a whole new way to enjoy Elden Ring.

Happy running!