Elden Ring Speedrun: How Runners Shattered the 30-Minute Barrier

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Unveiling the Elden Ring Speedrun Phenomenon

In the vast, unforgiving world of Elden Ring, players often find themselves lost, battling formidable foes and exploring intricate dungeons for hundreds of hours. But for a dedicated and highly skilled community, the goal is the opposite: to see the end as quickly as humanly possible. In just weeks after its release, speedrunners managed to shave off hours from potential completion times, culminating in runs that stunned the gaming world. How did they do it? What dark secrets and ingenious tactics did they unearth in the Lands Between? This isn't just about beating the game; it's about understanding its very fabric and exploiting it for ultimate speed. We're diving deep into the strategies, the glitches, and the sheer dedication that propelled Elden Ring speedruns from ambitious attempts to sub-30-minute masterpieces.

The Initial Grind: First Steps into the Lands Between

When Elden Ring first dropped, the speedrunning community was ablaze with excitement. The initial Any% runs were rough, exploratory missions. Runners were figuring out the most efficient paths, the quickest ways to acquire essential items, and the general flow of the game without getting stuck on optional challenges. Early routes focused on obtaining powerful weapons and spells, learning boss attack patterns, and mastering the movement mechanics. It was a race against the clock, but also a race against the unknown. Every boss fight was a potential time sink, and every discovery of a faster route or a more efficient combat sequence was a significant victory.

The early days were characterized by raw gameplay skill and a broad understanding of the game's systems. Players were experimenting with different builds and weapon choices to see what offered the best damage-per-second (DPS) against key bosses like Margit, Godrick, and Rennala. The focus was on consistency and survival, laying the groundwork for more optimized strategies to emerge later.

Cracking the Code: Unforeseen Glitches and Skips

The true revolution in Elden Ring speedrunning, however, came not just from optimized gameplay but from the discovery and exploitation of game-breaking glitches. The sheer scale and complexity of Elden Ring meant that there were bound to be unforeseen interactions and bugs. Speedrunners, with their meticulous approach and deep understanding of game engines, are masters at finding these weaknesses.

What started as minor inconveniences or unexpected behaviors quickly turned into powerful tools for skipping entire sections of the game. These weren't just simple exploits; some required precise timing, specific character setups, or complex sequences of actions. The community quickly began sharing findings on platforms like Discord and Reddit, leading to a rapid evolution of strategies. It’s a testament to the power of collaborative problem-solving within the gaming community.

Key Exploits Revolutionizing Speedruns

Several key glitches and exploits became the cornerstones of Elden Ring speedruns, dramatically altering the landscape:

  • Item Duplication Glitches: These allowed runners to acquire multiple copies of powerful items or consumables instantly, bypassing the need to farm or find them organically. This significantly sped up the process of gearing up for boss fights.
  • Boss Skips and Out-of-Bounds (OOB) Exploits: The most impactful discoveries involved ways to bypass entire boss encounters or traverse areas of the map that were not intended to be accessible. These often involved clipping through walls or using specific movement mechanics to reach intended areas much earlier than designed. For instance, techniques that allowed players to get Out of Bounds early in the game could bypass significant portions of the open world and dungeons.
  • Menu Glitches: Certain menu manipulations could trigger unexpected game states, leading to instant wins or the ability to skip crucial triggers. These often involved rapid button inputs or specific menu sequencing.
  • Animation Cancels: While not strictly glitches, advanced animation cancels for attacks, spells, or movement allowed players to perform actions much faster than intended, leading to significant DPS increases and quicker traversal.
"The discovery of the 'Sacred Relic Sword' duplication glitch early on was a game-changer for a while, allowing for insane burst damage against almost any boss. But then came the OOB routes, and that's when things truly accelerated."

From Chaos to Precision: Route Optimization

As these powerful glitches became understood and refined, the focus shifted to optimizing the entire route. Speedrunners began to map out the most efficient sequence of actions, incorporating the discovered skips and exploits. This involved meticulous planning:

  • Optimal Starting Class and Keepsakes: Choosing the right starting class (often Vagabond for its starting stats and gear) and keepsakes (like the Golden Seed for an extra flask charge) became crucial for early-game efficiency.
  • Precise Item Acquisition Order: Runners would plan the exact order to pick up essential spells, weapons, talismans, and consumables to maximize their combat effectiveness and utility for skips.
  • Boss Strategy Refinement: Even with glitches, some bosses were unavoidable. Runners developed hyper-optimized strategies for these encounters, often involving specific weapon arts, spell rotations, or even exploiting AI pathing. The goal was to defeat them in seconds, not minutes.
  • Movement Tech Mastery: Advanced movement techniques, including optimal rolling, sprinting, and utilizing terrain, became just as important as glitch execution. Mastering these allowed for seamless transitions between glitches and sections.

Shattering Expectations: The Sub-30 Minute Barrier

The culmination of these efforts was the breaking of the 30-minute barrier for Any% speedruns. This was a monumental achievement, showcasing the community's ability to not only find but perfectly execute incredibly complex and risky strategies. Runs now involve sequences of massive skips, precise jumps to clip out of bounds, and lightning-fast boss kills that would be impossible for a regular playthrough. The current top runs are a testament to countless hours of practice, trial-and-error, and a deep, almost intuitive understanding of Elden Ring's mechanics.

These runs often involve executing a series of precise glitches in rapid succession. For example, a runner might perform an out-of-bounds skip early on to bypass several legacy dungeons, then utilize a menu glitch or an item duplication exploit to gain access to endgame areas or acquire devastating weaponry prematurely. The RNG (Random Number Generator) still plays a role, particularly with certain enemy spawns or item drops, but the core strategy relies on near-perfect execution of known exploits.

"Watching a sub-30 Elden Ring run is like watching a perfectly choreographed ballet of unintended consequences. It's pure genius born from countless failed attempts."

The Future of Elden Ring Speedrunning

The speedrunning community never rests. Even with records consistently being broken, there's always the potential for new discoveries. Will a new, even more powerful glitch be found? Can existing strategies be refined further to shave off precious seconds? The ongoing discovery of new strategies and exploits ensures that Elden Ring speedruns will continue to evolve, pushing the boundaries of what’s considered possible in the game.

Furthermore, as patches and updates are released, they can sometimes fix exploits, forcing runners to adapt and find new ways to achieve their goals. This constant cat-and-mouse game between developers and speedrunners adds another layer of intrigue to the scene. The dedication to finding the absolute fastest way through the adventure is what drives this passionate community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current Any% world record for Elden Ring?

As of recent updates, the Any% world record for Elden Ring is consistently under 30 minutes, with top runners pushing the boundaries even further. These records are constantly being challenged and updated on sites like Speedrun.com.

Are the glitches used in speedruns considered cheating?

In the context of speedrunning, glitches and exploits are generally accepted as part of the challenge, especially in categories like Any% (which allows glitches). The goal is to beat the game as fast as possible using any means available within the game's mechanics, intended or not. However, categories like "Glitchless" exist for players who prefer a run without exploiting bugs.

How do speedrunners practice these difficult glitches?

Practice involves extensive use of save states, specific save files designed to put runners at certain points in the game, and dedicated practice tools. Many runners also rely on analyzing successful runs from other players and dissecting the inputs and timings frame by frame.

Can a casual player learn these speedrunning techniques?

While the top-tier speedruns require immense dedication and practice, many of the fundamental strategies and even some simpler glitches can be learned by dedicated players. There are many community resources, tutorials, and guides available for those interested in trying out speedrunning themselves.

What are some of the most iconic Elden Ring speedrun glitches?

Some of the most iconic glitches include various out-of-bounds exploits that skip large sections of the map, item duplication methods, and specific boss skips that bypass entire encounters. The "Sacred Relic Sword" duplication and certain menu-based warps have been particularly game-changing.

Join the Race!

The journey of Elden Ring speedrunning is a testament to human ingenuity and dedication. The rapid descent to sub-30-minute runs is a story of discovery, collaboration, and pushing the limits of what’s possible. Whether you’re a seasoned Tarnished or just starting your journey, understanding these strategies can offer a whole new perspective on the Lands Between.

What are your thoughts on these Elden Ring speedrun exploits? Have you tried any yourself? Share your fastest times or your favorite speedrunning discoveries in the comments below! We'd love to hear from you. For more in-depth guides and community discussions, join our Discord server!