The Lands Between have been conquered in record time! A new
world record has been set in Elden Ring's Any% category, shattering the previous benchmarks and ushering in a new era of speedrunning. The astonishing time of **37:15** is not just a personal best; it's the first-ever documented run to break the coveted 40-minute barrier. This monumental achievement demands a deep dive into the strategies, the meticulously optimized routes, and the sheer skill of the runner. For anyone who's stared down Malenia or spent hours perfecting jump timings, this is the moment we've been waiting for.
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The Breakdown: What is Any% and Why is Sub-40 a Big Deal?
In the world of speedrunning, "Any%" is king. It's the most fundamental category, meaning the objective is to finish the game as quickly as possible, using any means necessary – glitches, exploits, sequence breaks, you name it. For Elden Ring, a game notoriously vast and filled with challenges, Any% runs have been a hotbed of innovation. The sub-40 minute mark was considered by many to be a theoretical limit, a pinnacle achievable only through near-perfect execution and a deep understanding of the game's engine. Breaking it signifies a significant leap forward in speedrunning strategy. This run proves that even in a game as complex as Elden Ring, there's always room for optimization and discovery. The precision required is astounding, pushing the limits of human reaction time and game knowledge.
Route Optimization: The Path Less Traveled (and Faster)
Achieving a time like 37:15 isn't about stumbling upon shortcuts; it's about carving them out of the game's very structure. The route for this record-breaking run is a masterclass in efficiency. It involves:
- Strategic boss engagement: Identifying which mandatory bosses are absolutely necessary and finding the fastest ways to defeat them, often bypassing optional encounters entirely.
- Optimal traversal: Utilizing Torrent, the Spirit Steed, for rapid movement across the expansive map, coupled with precise jumps and pathing to minimize travel time.
- Key item acquisition: Knowing exactly which crucial items (like certain talismans or weapons) provide the biggest gameplay advantage for the shortest time investment.
- Exploiting early game power: Leveraging powerful early-game spells or weapon arts to quickly dispatch difficult early-game challenges.
The runner likely spent countless hours analyzing every segment of the game, looking for opportunities to shave off precious seconds. This often involves complex calculations of damage per second (DPS) for various builds and weapon combinations, ensuring maximum impact with minimal engagement time.
Glitches and Skips: Exploiting The Lands Between
No Any% speedrun of a modern FromSoftware title would be complete without a deep dive into its glitches and skips. Elden Ring is no exception. While this particular run might not rely on game-breaking exploits, it certainly leverages subtle engine behaviors and clever manipulations to gain an edge. For instance, techniques such as "Out of Bounds" (OOB) exploration can bypass entire sections of the map, and carefully timed inputs might allow for faster animations or movement.
The community's collective effort in discovering and refining these glitches has been instrumental. What might seem like a simple visual bug to a casual player can be a game-changing exploit for a speedrunner.
The search for new glitches is a constant pursuit. The speedrunning community thrives on uncovering these "game breakers" that allow for radical new approaches to completing the game. Every patch and update from the developers can potentially alter the viability of these techniques, leading to a dynamic and ever-evolving meta.
Essential Strats for a Sub-40 Run
To achieve a time under 40 minutes, a specific set of strategies is usually employed. These often include:
- Early Game Powerhouse: Accessing powerful weapons or spells early on is critical. This might involve specific character builds or routes to quickly obtain items like the Glintstone Pebble spell or a strong early-game weapon.
- Boss Cheese: Some bosses have specific weaknesses or exploitables that can drastically shorten the fight. For example, using certain status effects like Frostbite or Scarlet Rot can trivialize encounters.
- Sequence Breaking: Elden Ring's open-world nature allows for some degree of freedom. Speedrunners exploit this by reaching areas or triggering events out of their intended order. This often involves precise platforming or specific item usage.
- RNG Manipulation: While not always possible, sometimes speedrunners can influence or reroll certain random number generator (RNG) events, like enemy spawns or loot drops, to get favorable outcomes. This is a delicate dance with the game's mechanics.
The current meta often revolves around maximizing damage output with minimal setup. This means favoring builds that can dish out massive damage quickly, often sacrificing defensive capabilities. A typical run might involve a specific weapon, like the
Moonveil Katana or a powerful sorcery, coupled with talismans that boost attack power and reduce FP cost.
The Runner and Their Journey
The runner behind this incredible feat is a testament to dedication and mastery. While specific names will emerge from the official speedrun community, the journey to this
PB (Personal Best) and
WR (World Record) likely involved thousands of hours of practice, analysis, and countless failed attempts. They've not only mastered the game's mechanics but also its quirks and potential exploits. This isn't just about playing the game; it's about understanding it on a fundamental, almost molecular level. The psychological fortitude required to attempt these runs, especially when chasing a world record, is immense. Every decision, every button press, has to be near-perfect.
Witnessing a speedrunner achieve a new World Record is like watching a perfectly choreographed ballet of digital destruction. It's a display of skill, knowledge, and sheer willpower that few other gaming pursuits can match.
The passion for Elden Ring and the speedrunning community fuels these efforts. Players like the one who set this record often share their journey on platforms like Twitch, allowing the
community to witness their progress and learn from their strategies.
The Future of Elden Ring Speedrunning
With the sub-40 barrier broken, the question on everyone's mind is: what's next? Can this time be further improved? The answer is almost certainly yes. The speedrunning scene is constantly pushing boundaries. We can expect to see:
- Further Route Refinements: Runners will dissect the current route, looking for even more optimized paths and quicker ways to acquire necessary items.
- New Glitch Discoveries: The game is complex, and there are likely still undiscovered or under-utilized glitches that could shave off more time.
- Category Exploration: While Any% is the most popular, this achievement might inspire new strategies for other categories like Glitchless or 100%.
- Emergence of New Talent: This record will undoubtedly inspire a new wave of runners to tackle Elden Ring, bringing fresh perspectives and skills.
The pursuit of the perfect run is eternal. This 37:15 record is a landmark achievement, but it's also just another step in the ongoing evolution of
speedrunning. The ingenuity of the
gamer community knows no bounds when it comes to finding new ways to break games.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Any% speedrun category in Elden Ring?
Any% in Elden Ring means completing the game as fast as possible, regardless of how many bosses are defeated or items collected, allowing the use of glitches and exploits.
How much time was shaved off with the new record?
The new world record of 37:15 shattered the previous benchmark, which was likely hovering around the 40-minute mark. This represents a significant improvement and opens up new possibilities for optimization.
Are glitches essential for Elden Ring speedruns?
For Any% speedruns, glitches and skips are often crucial for achieving the fastest times, as they allow runners to bypass large portions of the game.
What kind of build is typically used for Elden Ring speedruns?
Speedrunners often opt for builds that maximize damage output with minimal setup, frequently focusing on powerful sorceries or weapon arts that can quickly dispatch enemies and bosses.
Where can I watch Elden Ring speedruns?
You can find many Elden Ring speedruns on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Many runners also stream their practice sessions and attempts live.
This 37:15 Elden Ring Any% speedrun is more than just a number; it's a landmark moment for the
speedrunning community. It showcases the incredible potential of human dedication and the ongoing exploration of game mechanics. The Lands Between have been mastered in ways we once only dreamed of.
What are your thoughts on this incredible achievement? Are you inspired to try your own Elden Ring speedrun? Share your personal bests or any interesting
glitches you've discovered in the comments below! For more in-depth speedrun analysis and strategies, join our Discord server and connect with fellow speedrunners and gaming enthusiasts. Let's keep pushing the boundaries together!
