Dark Souls Remastered: The 20:14 Any% Speedrun - Mastering Lordran in Record Time

The iconic challenge of Dark Souls Remastered, a game renowned for its difficulty and intricate world design, transforms into a breathtaking race against time for speedrunners. The "Any%" category, aiming for the quickest completion possible regardless of game progression, is a testament to player skill, deep game knowledge, and relentless practice. The title 'Dark Souls Remastered | Any% Speedrun 20:14' signifies a specific, incredibly fast personal best (PB), a time that many players only dream of achieving. This isn't just about beating the game; it's about dissecting it, finding the most efficient path, and executing flawless strategies.

For a gamer encountering this title, the intent is clear: they want to understand how such a feat is accomplished. They're likely looking for insights into the fastest routes, the most effective glitches, the critical boss strategies, and the dedication required to shave off mere seconds that ultimately make up a world-class run. This isn't about the deep lore or the best weapon for a casual playthrough; it's about pure, unadulterated speed and mastery.

Understanding the Any% Rush in Dark Souls Remastered

In the realm of SpeedrunGaming, "Any%" means completing the game's main objective – defeating the final boss and triggering the end credits – in the shortest time possible. For Dark Souls Remastered, this often involves skipping significant portions of the game, utilizing complex glitches, and optimizing every single movement. It’s a category that prioritizes raw speed over exploring every nook and cranny or collecting every item. The goal is to reach the end credits, and every wasted frame is a failure.

The path taken in an Any% run is drastically different from a standard playthrough. Players will often go out of their way to perform specific actions that seem counter-intuitive for normal progression but are crucial for saving time. This might involve intentionally dying to save travel time, using specific enemy encounters to clip through geometry, or performing precise maneuvers that exploit game mechanics.

The 20:14 Benchmark: What It Takes

A time of 20 minutes and 14 seconds in Dark Souls Remastered Any% is exceptionally fast. This time indicates a highly optimized run, likely involving near-perfect execution of established strats and potentially pushing the boundaries of known glitches. To achieve this, a runner must:

  • Have an intimate understanding of enemy AI and patrol patterns.
  • Master complex movement techniques and frame-perfect inputs.
  • Execute precise weapon swaps and spell casts for maximum damage output.
  • Know the optimal routes to bypass entire areas and bosses.
  • Minimize downtime between actions, from menu navigation to loading screens (though the latter is less controllable).

This benchmark isn't just about skill; it's about embracing the game's systems to their absolute limit. The pursuit of such times is what drives the competitive spirit within the speedrunning community.

Route Optimization and Key Strats

The Any% route in Dark Souls Remastered is a carefully curated sequence of events designed to bypass as much of the game as possible. Key sections often involved include:

  • Undead Burg Skip: Utilizing glitches to bypass large portions of the early game.
  • Sen's Fortress Skip: Finding ways to enter areas prematurely or bypass challenges.
  • Anor Londo Shortcuts: Exploiting mechanics to reach critical points faster.
  • Lordvessel Acquisition: Speeding up the process of obtaining the Lordvessel, often by prioritizing specific boss kills.

Runners meticulously plan their routes, considering factors like enemy placement, item availability, and the most efficient sequence of boss defeats. Every second counts, and a single mistake can cost a significant amount of time.

The difference between a 21-minute run and a 20-minute run often comes down to perfecting one or two critical glitches or boss encounters.

Boss Encounters in a Flash

Boss fights are typically the longest encounters in any playthrough, but in an Any% speedrun, they are condensed into mere seconds. This is achieved through:

  • Damage Optimization: Using the highest damage per second (DPS) weapons or spells available, often with buffs.
  • Exploiting AI: Luring bosses into specific positions or triggering attack patterns that leave them vulnerable.
  • RNG Manipulation (to an extent): Understanding boss attack patterns and attempting to force favorable sequences.
  • Critical Hits and Stunlocks: Stunning bosses to deal massive damage without interruption.

Bosses like the Taurus Demon, Gaping Dragon, and Quelaag are often dealt with extremely quickly through specific setups and high-damage attacks. Even the formidable Ornstein and Smough can be overcome with precise strategies that minimize the time spent in combat.

Glitches and Exploits: The Speedrunner's Toolkit

Dark Souls Remastered, like many games, has its share of glitches and exploits that speedrunners leverage to save immense amounts of time. These are not "cheats" in the traditional sense but rather unintended behaviors of the game engine that are discovered and mastered by the community. Some of the most common include:

  • Out of Bounds (OOB): Clipping through walls or geometry to bypass entire sections of the map. This often involves precise positioning and specific actions like rolling or attacking.
  • Damage Boosting: Intentionally taking damage from enemies or environmental hazards to gain a burst of speed or knockback, allowing for faster traversal or sequence breaks.
  • Menu Glitches: Manipulating game menus in specific ways to trigger unintended effects, such as respawning at a different location or bypassing event triggers.
  • Sword Flying/Bolt Sniping: Advanced techniques that allow for rapid movement across the map by exploiting physics and weapon properties. These require extreme precision.

Mastering these glitches is crucial for any runner aiming for top times. The pursuit of new and more efficient glitches is an ongoing effort within the speedrunning community.

Managing RNG: The Unseen Opponent

While skill and strategy are paramount, Random Number Generation (RNG) plays a significant role in speedruns. This refers to the unpredictable elements within a game, such as enemy spawns, item drops, and boss attack patterns. A runner's goal isn't to eliminate RNG but to manage it effectively.

In Dark Souls Remastered, this means understanding which RNG elements have the biggest impact on a run and developing strategies to mitigate bad luck or capitalize on good luck. For instance, some boss attacks are more advantageous for speed than others. Runners will often reset their run if they encounter consistently unfavorable RNG early on, as it can significantly hinder their ability to achieve a PB.

The ability to adapt to RNG on the fly separates the good speedrunners from the great ones.

Essential Gear and Builds

For a 20:14 Any% run, the build is focused entirely on maximizing damage output and survivability for critical moments. Typically, runners will:

  • Choose a Starting Class: Warrior or Pyromancer are often favored for their starting stats and equipment.
  • Weapon Choice: A weapon with high base damage and scaling is crucial. The Black Knight Halberd is a popular choice due to its incredible damage output and accessibility early on, especially when combined with specific strats to acquire it quickly.
  • Magic/Miracles: While less common in Any%, certain buffs or offensive spells can be situationally useful if acquired efficiently.
  • Armor: Minimal armor is worn, prioritizing fast rolls and equip load over defense. Sometimes, specific pieces might be used for certain glitches.
  • Rings: The Ring of Favor and the Wolf Ring (for poise, if needed) are common.

The build is less about customization and more about efficiency, focusing on the few stats that directly contribute to killing bosses faster.

Training and Dedication: The Path to a PB

Achieving a 20:14 Any% speedrun in Dark Souls Remastered is not a casual endeavor. It requires hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of dedicated practice. Runners meticulously study existing runs, learn the intricacies of each segment, and practice individual tricks and boss fights until they are second nature. This involves:

  • Segmented Practice: Breaking the run down into smaller sections and practicing each one repeatedly.
  • Execution Drills: Focusing on specific glitches or boss kills that are prone to failure.
  • Full Run Attempts: Performing complete runs to build endurance and practice transitioning between different segments.
  • Analysis: Reviewing failed attempts to identify mistakes and areas for improvement.
  • Community Interaction: Discussing strategies, new discoveries, and seeking advice from other experienced runners.

The mental fortitude required to constantly push for faster times, endure countless failed attempts, and remain focused is immense. It's a testament to the passion and dedication of the speedrunner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Any% category in Dark Souls Remastered speedruns?

The Any% category means completing the game as quickly as possible, focusing solely on reaching the final boss and defeating it to trigger the ending, regardless of other game progression or item collection.

How difficult is it to achieve a 20:14 time in Dark Souls Remastered?

Achieving a 20:14 Any% speedrun is extremely difficult. It requires deep knowledge of the game's mechanics, mastery of advanced glitches and exploits, flawless execution, and a significant amount of practice. It represents a very high level of skill within the speedrunning community.

Are glitches and exploits considered cheating in speedrunning?

No, glitches and exploits are generally accepted within the speedrunning community, especially in categories like Any%. They are seen as a part of the game's mechanics that runners have discovered and mastered to optimize their times. Categories that disallow glitches (like Glitchless) are also popular.

What is RNG and how does it affect speedruns?

RNG stands for Random Number Generation. It refers to the unpredictable elements in a game, such as enemy behaviors, item drops, or critical hit chances. Runners try to manage RNG by understanding which elements are critical and by practicing strategies that make them less reliant on good luck or allow them to manipulate it.

Where can I watch Dark Souls Remastered speedruns?

You can find Dark Souls Remastered speedruns on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Many top speedrunners stream their attempts live on Twitch and often upload their completed runs or highlights to YouTube. Websites like speedrun.com also list world records and provide links to top runs.

The pursuit of a sub-21-minute Any% run in Dark Souls Remastered is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of the GamerCommunity. It’s a constant push to find new optimizations, refine existing strats, and execute flawlessly under pressure. Every player who picks up Dark Souls Remastered experiences its challenge, but few truly delve into the incredible depths of optimization required for world-class speedruns. This 20:14 run represents a peak of that dedication.

What are your thoughts on this incredible run? Did you know about these glitches and strategies? Share your own experiences or insights in the comments below! If you're inspired to start your own speedrunning journey, join our BlogGamingSpeedrun Discord server to connect with other passionate gamers and speedrunners.