So, you've heard the whispers. The impossible runs. The Elden Ring speedruns that seem to defy logic itself. What if I told you that the key to shattering the game's timeline isn't about mastering every boss or every single attack pattern? It's about breaking the game. Specifically, it's about the infamous "zip" glitch and its role in Elden Ring's Any% speedrun category. If you're looking for the ultimate Elden Ring
speedrun, this is where the magic, or rather, the code manipulation, happens.
Welcome, Tarnished, to the cutting edge of Elden Ring
speedrunning. Forget the epic lore and the challenging encounters for a moment; we're diving deep into the mechanics that allow players to skip monumental chunks of the game, fundamentally altering the traditional playthrough. In this guide, we'll break down the core strategies, focusing on the glitches that have defined the current meta, and why this approach has earned the title of the "Dark Souls of Elden Ring speedruns."
What is the Zip Glitch?
The "zip" glitch is, in essence, a sequence of inputs that causes the player character to rapidly accelerate forward, often through geometry, effectively teleporting them across vast distances. It’s not about traditional movement; it’s about exploiting a flaw in how the game handles player momentum and collision. In my experience, mastering the precise timing and positioning for the zip is the single most crucial skill for any aspiring Elden Ring speedrunner in the Any% category.
It typically involves a specific combination of actions: initiating a jump, performing a weapon art or skill, and then immediately inputting a dodge. The precise timing is incredibly tight, and even a slight deviation can result in a failed zip, costing precious seconds or even ending the run. The visual of your character suddenly zipping across the screen, bypassing entire areas, is both disorienting and exhilarating. It’s a testament to the ingenuity of the
speedrun community that such a powerful exploit was discovered and refined.
The zip glitch fundamentally breaks the intended progression of Elden Ring, allowing runners to reach late-game areas in mere minutes.
Understanding the physics behind it, though complex, is key. It’s believed to be related to how the game calculates hitboxes and collision detection during specific animations, particularly when combined with rapid movement inputs. This isn't just a simple skip; it's a complete redefinition of how to traverse the Lands Between.
The Power of Wrong Warp
Complementing the zip glitch is the "wrong warp." This strategy involves manipulating the game's save and load mechanics to trick the game into loading you into an unintended location. It often works in conjunction with other glitches, like the zip, to reach specific load zones that, when interacted with after a carefully timed quit-out, transport the player to a drastically different area.
The "wrong warp" is particularly potent because it can bypass entire segments of the game that even the zip glitch might not cover efficiently. Imagine being able to skip the entire journey to Crumbling Farum Azula from the very beginning of the game. That's the power of a well-executed wrong warp. It requires precise knowledge of specific grace sites, enemy placements, and menuing.
This technique is what truly elevates Elden Ring speedruns to an art form of exploit execution. It’s less about reacting to the game world and more about manipulating the game's underlying systems. For anyone watching a top-tier
WR run, the sudden, inexplicable jumps across the map are often thanks to this incredibly powerful mechanic. It's a testament to how deep the community can dig into a game's code.
Any% Strategy Breakdown
The Any% category in Elden Ring speedrunning is all about reaching the end credits as fast as possible, with no restrictions on gameplay mechanics or glitches. This is where the zip and wrong warp shine. A typical Any% run doesn't involve fighting bosses in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a race against the game’s internal timers and loading screens, punctuated by these game-breaking exploits.
A run often starts with a rapid sequence of inputs to enable the zip glitch almost immediately after leaving the starting area. The goal is to chain these zips together, navigating through the map using environmental cues and precise directional inputs. Between zips, runners might use other minor glitches or quick movement techniques to reposition or maintain momentum.
The Any% category prioritizes glitch execution over combat mastery, leading to runs that are both incredibly fast and technically demanding.
The final stretch of an Any% run often involves a specific setup for a wrong warp that places the player directly before the final boss arena, or even triggers the final sequence directly. The sheer speed at which these runs conclude is mind-boggling, often clocking in at under 30 minutes, sometimes even dipping into the teens for the absolute best runs. It's a far cry from the dozens or even hundreds of hours a typical player might spend.
Key Locations and Skips
While the specific route can evolve with new discoveries, some key areas and skips are almost universally present in top Elden Ring Any% runs:
* **The First Zip:** Performed shortly after starting, this usually propels the runner towards Stormhill or even further.
* **Academy Glitch/Zip:** Utilizing the Magma Wyrm Makar’s arena or similar geometry to perform a zip that bypasses significant portions of the Academy of Raya Lucaria.
* **Mountaintop of the Giants Zip:** A critical zip that allows players to bypass the entirety of Leyndell, Royal Capital, and the treacherous journey to the Mountaintops of the Giants.
* **Crumbling Farum Azula Skip:** Often achieved through a precise wrong warp, this skips the entire legacy dungeon and the battles within.
* **Final Boss Sequence:** The run culminates in a method to trigger the final boss encounter, usually involving reaching a specific trigger point after a final, game-altering wrong warp.
Each of these skips requires a deep understanding of the game's level design and the precise execution of glitches. The community constantly refines these routes, looking for minuscule time saves. Watching a top runner navigate these skips is like watching a master chess player predict dozens of moves ahead.
Practicing for Your Own WR
If you're inspired to chase your own
WR in Elden Ring, prepare for a steep learning curve. Here’s my advice based on countless hours spent practicing:
1. **Master the Fundamentals:** Before attempting complex skips, get comfortable with basic movement, camera control, and the precise inputs for a clean jump and dodge.
2. **Learn One Glitch at a Time:** Focus on the zip glitch first. Find a reliable setup and practice it until it’s muscle memory. Then move on to the wrong warp setups.
3. **Watch and Analyze:** Study runs from top players on
speedrun.com. Pay close attention to their movements, timings, and the specific triggers they use. Look for the linked video of the run that inspired this post – it's an excellent example:
Elden Ring Any% Speedrun.
4. **Segmented Practice:** Break the run down into segments. Practice the opening zip, then practice the mid-game skips, and finally the end-game sequence. Only when you can reliably complete each segment should you attempt full runs.
5. **Utilize Training Mods (if applicable):** Some runners use PC-based training mods to practice specific skips without having to replay the entire early game. While not allowed in official
speedrun submissions, they can be invaluable for learning.
6. **Consistency Over Speed (Initially):** Focus on executing the glitches consistently. Speed will come naturally as your execution improves and you become more comfortable with the route.
Patience and persistence are your greatest allies when learning Elden Ring speedrun strats. Don't get discouraged by failed attempts.
The Future of Elden Ring Speedruns
The Elden Ring
speedrun community is incredibly active. As players continue to experiment, new glitches are discovered, and existing strategies are optimized. We might see even faster times emerge, perhaps with new skips or more efficient routes. The Any% category, defined by its heavy reliance on glitches, will likely remain the most popular for sheer spectacle.
However, other categories like 100% or Glitchless also exist, offering different challenges and showcasing different skills. Regardless of the category, the ingenuity and dedication of the Elden Ring speedrunning community are truly remarkable. They’ve transformed a sprawling open-world RPG into a meticulously optimized race against time, all thanks to a deep understanding and clever exploitation of its mechanics.
This approach, while controversial to some, is the heart of speedrunning: pushing games to their absolute limits and finding ways to "beat" them in the most unexpected ways possible. The zip glitch and wrong warp aren't just exploits; they are the signature moves of Elden Ring's most elite speedrunners.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Any% category in Elden Ring speedrunning?
Any% means completing the game as quickly as possible, with no restrictions on glitches, exploits, or in-game items.
- How long does a typical Any% Elden Ring speedrun take?
Top runners can complete an Any% run in under 20 minutes, with the world record often pushing for even faster times.
- Is the zip glitch difficult to perform?
Yes, the zip glitch requires extremely precise timing and inputs, making it one of the most challenging techniques to master in Elden Ring speedruns.
- Are these glitches patched?
While FromSoftware does release patches, many core glitches used in speedruns, like the zip and wrong warp, have remained consistent or have similar alternatives discovered by the community.
- Where can I watch full Elden Ring speedruns?
Websites like speedrun.com and platforms like YouTube and Twitch are the best places to find current world records and popular runs. The run featured in this post can be found here: Elden Ring Any% Speedrun.
What are your thoughts on these insane Elden Ring speedrun strategies? Did you try to pull off a zip yourself? Let us know in the comments below! If you want to dive deeper into the
speedrun community and chat with fellow players, join our
Discord server. We’re always discussing the latest strats and sharing tips for breaking games!
