Hey Tarnished! Get ready to witness history being made in the Lands Between. The Elden Ring speedrunning community has been on the edge of their seats, pushing the boundaries of what's possible, and today, we're celebrating a monumental achievement: the **world's first Any% speedrun completed in under 9 minutes!** The new record stands at an astonishing **8 minutes and 56 seconds**. This isn't just a new personal best; it's a paradigm shift in how we view Elden Ring speedruns, shattering a long-sought goal.
Breaking the Sub-9 Barrier: The Anatomy of the Record
For months, runners have been grinding, optimizing every millisecond, and exploring every possible glitch to shave off precious seconds. The 9-minute mark felt like an insurmountable wall, a true testament to the game's scale and complexity. Achieving this
record, especially in the Any% category (which allows any method to finish the game), is a monumental feat that showcases incredible skill, dedication, and a deep understanding of Elden Ring's mechanics.
The runner behind this incredible
world record has been relentlessly honing their strategy. This run wasn't just about executing known skips; it was about perfect synergy between movement, combat, and exploiting the game's engine to its absolute limit. Every action, every jump, every spell cast was optimized to shave off fractions of a second.
"Zip consistency is getting insane," the runner remarked, highlighting the fine margins involved in top-tier speedruns. This statement underscores the level of precision required.
This sub-9 run represents the culmination of countless hours of practice, route planning, and discovery. It's a prime example of the
speedrunning spirit: pushing limits and achieving the seemingly impossible.
Key Strats and Techniques
While the exact details of the groundbreaking route are closely guarded by the runner, we can infer some of the critical elements that likely contributed to this
personal best. In Elden Ring Any%, players often rely on a combination of:
- Sequence Breaks: Exploiting game logic to bypass intended progression paths.
- Zip Glitches: Advanced techniques that manipulate player or enemy movement to cover vast distances rapidly or pass through walls. These are often highly execution-dependent.
- Combat Optimization: Utilizing the most efficient attacks, spells, or weapon arts to defeat bosses in the fewest possible hits. Often involves specific buffs or debuffs.
- RNG Manipulation: While not always possible or desired, understanding and sometimes influencing random number generation (RNG) for enemy movements or item drops can be crucial for record attempts.
- Menuing and Inventory Management: Extremely fast and precise navigation through menus to equip items, use consumables, or change spells without losing momentum.
The pursuit of such low times often involves discovering new glitches or refining existing ones. A tiny optimization in one boss fight or a more consistent execution of a major skip can shave off the seconds needed to break a barrier like this.
The Maliketh Zip Nemesis
One particular challenge highlighted by the runner is the "Maliketh zip." This specific segment of the run is notorious for its difficulty and inconsistency. Executing it perfectly is crucial for achieving top times.
"Maliketh zip is my nemesis though," reveals the runner, indicating that even with the new world record, there's still room for improvement. This shows the dedication involved; even after a historic run, the focus remains on refining the most difficult parts.
The Maliketh encounter is often a final gatekeeper in many Elden Ring speedrun categories. Mastering the specific setup and execution for the zip glitch here is paramount. It requires immense practice to perform under pressure, especially when every second counts towards a world-breaking
speedrun.
What's Next for Elden Ring Speedrunning?
With the sub-9 minute barrier officially broken, the Elden Ring
speedrunning community is buzzing with excitement. What was once a distant dream is now a tangible reality, setting a new benchmark for all future runners.
The immediate goal for many will be to replicate and solidify this time, aiming for even greater consistency. We can expect runners to refine the existing route, further optimize boss strats, and perhaps even discover new, game-changing glitches.
The current record holder is already hinting at further grinding, aiming for times even lower than 8:56. This relentless pursuit of speed is what defines the
gaming community. The possibility of a sub-8 minute run, while seemingly astronomical now, might just be within reach with continued innovation and dedication.
We also anticipate potential new categories or variations emerging as the meta evolves. Will we see new strategies emerge for different categories like 100% or Glitchless? The future of Elden Ring
speedrun is looking incredibly exciting!
FAQ
What is the Any% category in Elden Ring speedrunning?
The Any% category means that the runner can use any available in-game mechanics, glitches, or exploits to reach the end credits of Elden Ring as quickly as possible. It's the most common and often the fastest category.
What is the new world record time for Elden Ring Any%?
The new world record, achieved very recently, is 8 minutes and 56 seconds. This is the first time the sub-9 minute barrier has been officially broken.
What is a "zip glitch" in speedrunning?
A zip glitch is a type of exploit where players manipulate certain game mechanics (often related to player or enemy movement, or specific item uses) to rapidly move across large distances or pass through solid objects like walls. They are typically very difficult to execute consistently.
How often do Elden Ring speedrun records change?
Records can change frequently, especially when new glitches are discovered or existing strategies are heavily optimized. However, major barrier-breaking records like the sub-9 minute time are significant milestones that often stand for a considerable period until the next major breakthrough.
Where can I watch Elden Ring speedruns?
You can watch live speedruns on platforms like Twitch, often by following top runners. Additionally, completed record runs are usually uploaded to YouTube and cataloged on sites like speedrun.com.
The dedication and skill displayed in these speedruns are truly inspiring. It's amazing to see what the speedrunning community can achieve!
This new world record is more than just a number; it's a testament to human ingenuity and the unwavering passion of gamers worldwide. We’ll continue to follow the progress in the Lands Between and bring you the latest news on all things
speedrun!
Keep practicing, keep exploring, and who knows, maybe you'll be the next one to shatter a record! Share your thoughts on this incredible run in the comments below!
