Speedrunning the critically acclaimed video game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has become a passionate pursuit for gamers who love to push the boundaries of what's considered possible within the game's mechanics. Completing the entire game in just 30 minutes might sound impossible at first, but with the right strategies, knowledge of glitches, and lightning-fast reflexes, it's entirely feasible. Here are five detailed ways players can aim to conquer this challenge:
Route 1: Any% - No Amiibo
The Any% - No Amiibo route focuses on reaching the final boss of Breath of the Wild with the minimum amount of gear and without using external help from Amiibo. Here’s how you can do it:
- Starting Area: Begin by obtaining the paraglider after the Great Plateau intro. Avoid unnecessary fights to save time.
- The Goron Tunic: Head straight to Goron City. Utilize bomb arrows to speed through areas and obtain the Firebreaker armor to withstand Death Mountain's heat.
- Bokoblin Arm Grab: Engage in a glitch where you throw a Bokoblin arm into water, which teleports you to a location above the ground, allowing you to bypass vast portions of the map.
- Hyrule Castle Skip: There’s a known glitch using Revali's Gale to jump directly to Hyrule Castle from a specific location, skipping most of the journey.
- Fighting Calamity Ganon: With minimal equipment, rely on dodging and flurry rushes to deal damage efficiently.
💡 Note: This route heavily depends on glitches and timing, making it one of the riskiest in terms of game stability and runner consistency.
Route 2: The Memory Method
This strategy leverages the power of Memories in Breath of the Wild, which can be completed quickly to unlock essential fast-travel points:
- Great Plateau and Memory Collection: Begin by collecting at least three Memories before heading to Kakariko Village.
- The Memory-Linked Locations: Fast-travel to various locations where you can gather necessary resources and equipment quickly.
- Sacred Grounds: Use specific game mechanics or glitches to access sacred locations that have shrines and gear, reducing the need for extensive travel.
- Direct Confrontation: After setting up, head straight to Hyrule Castle, using tricks to minimize encounters with enemies and bosses.
Route 3: The Trial of the Sword
The Trial of the Sword DLC adds a challenging time-saving mechanic to speedruns:
- Preparation: Activate the Master Sword’s enhanced power with the Trial of the Sword, which can significantly speed up boss fights.
- Skip to Trial: Use the glitch known as the "Silent Princess" method to teleport directly to the Trials area.
- Speedrunning the Trials: Efficiently navigate through each trial, using glitches to skip difficult sections when possible.
- Ganon's Defeat: With the upgraded Master Sword, take on Calamity Ganon quickly, focusing on exploiting weak points.
Route 4: The Breakable Heart Method
This route is slightly more unconventional, but it capitalizes on game mechanics:
- Heart Manipulation: Exploit the way the game handles heart containers to break and restore hearts instantly for health boosts.
- Breakable Weapons Glitch: Use the glitch to keep breaking and restoring weapons to maximize damage output against bosses.
- Shrine Skips: Bypass most shrine trials to reach the necessary Divine Beasts and collect enough hearts to confront Ganon.
- Final Confrontation: With powerful weapons and full hearts, approach Ganon strategically for a swift victory.
Route 5: The World Record Route
The current World Record Route combines every known trick and optimization in one sophisticated run:
- All-Around Efficiency: Implement the best glitches, optimal routes, and precise timing to shave off seconds at every turn.
- Game Mechanics Exploitation: Utilize every aspect of the game’s mechanics, including shield surfing, item duping, and more.
- Cut Down Time: Minimize every possible interaction, whether with NPCs, environmental puzzles, or enemy encounters.
- Precision Over Power: Focus on exact movement and timing over raw power, utilizing glitches for fast travel and bypassing puzzles.
In wrapping up this exploration into speedrunning strategies for Breath of the Wild, it becomes clear that the game's vast world and intricate mechanics offer limitless ways to approach the challenge of completing it within the shortest time possible. Speedrunners have pushed the boundaries of what's feasible, proving that with enough knowledge, precision, and creativity, any game can be transformed into a test of skill and ingenuity. Whether through exploiting glitches, optimizing routes, or leveraging in-game mechanics, the quest for the fastest completion time is as much about mastering the game as it is about understanding the art of speedrunning itself.
What are the most common glitches used in Breath of the Wild speedruns?
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Some common glitches include the Bokoblin Arm Glitch, Revali’s Gale Jump, and the Stasis Launch. Each of these glitches enables players to skip sections of the game or traverse quickly across the map.
Is using glitches considered cheating in speedrunning?
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In the speedrunning community, using glitches is often not only accepted but also celebrated as part of the challenge to find new, faster ways to complete games. However, there are categories for runs with and without major glitches.
Can beginners attempt these speedrun routes?
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Yes, but starting with simpler routes and learning game mechanics thoroughly is recommended. Speedrunning is as much about understanding the game deeply as it is about executing precise actions.
