How Speedrunners Dominate Subnautica: The Under-30-Minute Any% Glitched WR Explained

Intro: The Depths Await

Hello and welcome, fellow gamers and speedrunning enthusiasts, to GamingSpeedrun.com! Today, we dive deep into the alien oceans of Subnautica. Ever wondered how the absolute best manage to escape this watery survival nightmare in mere minutes? We're talking about runs that shatter expectations, pushing the limits of what's possible. Get ready, because we're breaking down a World Record (WR) that clocks in at an astonishing sub-30-minute completion time.

This isn't just about beating the game; it's about dissecting the intricate strategies, the risky glitches, and the sheer skill involved. If you've ever marveled at a lightning-fast speedrun and wanted to know the 'how,' you're in the right place. We're peeling back the layers of a phenomenal Any% Glitched run.

The Any% (Glitched) Objective

In the world of speedrunning, "Any%" means completing the game's primary objective as quickly as possible, using any means necessary. For Subnautica, this typically involves escaping the planet. The "Glitched" category signifies that exploits and unintended game behaviors are not only allowed but often essential for achieving top times.

The current WR holder has meticulously crafted a route that bypasses vast swathes of the game, relying on precise execution of several key glitches. This strategy transforms a game that can take tens of hours into a sprint against the clock, often finishing well before you’d even craft your first major upgrade in a casual playthrough.

Meet the Record Holder: Eclypsed

The incredible Any% (Survival, Glitched) World Record we're dissecting was set by the immensely talented runner, Eclypsed. Their mastery of Subnautica's mechanics and glitches is truly next-level. You can witness their record-breaking run here: @Eclypsed’s Any% (Survival, Glitched) World Record.

For those who prefer a raw gameplay perspective without commentary, a gameplay-only version is also available: Gameplay Only Version. Eclypsed’s dedication to optimizing every single second is evident in every movement.

The pursuit of a World Record is a testament to dedication, deep game knowledge, and a willingness to explore the absolute boundaries of a game's code.

Mastering the Glitches: Essential Strats

To achieve a sub-30-minute Subnautica run, speedrunners must leverage specific glitches. These aren't minor bugs; they are game-changing exploits that allow players to skip progression, move faster, and bypass obstacles that would otherwise consume valuable time.

The core of this WR run revolves around a few critical techniques: a powerful movement speed glitch, methods for duplicating items, and clever use of storage exploits. Let's break these down.

The Super Seaglide Movement Glitch

One of the most crucial elements in this speedrun is the "Super Seaglide" movement glitch. Normally, the Seaglide offers a significant speed boost over swimming. However, this glitch allows runners to achieve speeds far beyond what's intended.

The magic happens when the Seaglide's 'Super Seaglide' state is active. This state impacts how the game calculates collisions. When active, the detectCollision variable in certain environmental elements, like Drooping Stingers, is disabled. This means even if you bump into them, the game doesn't register a collision, and thus, no damage is dealt.

Furthermore, this glitch dramatically affects physics interactions. Specifically, it sets the player's rigidbody velocity to 0. This is key for avoiding threats like Crashfish. These aggressive creatures normally detonate when they detect rigidbody velocity above a certain threshold. By keeping your velocity at a constant 0, you become invisible to their threat detection, allowing you to pass by unharmed.

Understanding how these physics glitches work is paramount. It's not just about finding a bug; it's about understanding the underlying code that causes it.

Item Duplication Exploits

Resource management is critical in Subnautica, even in a speedrun. However, traditional gathering is too slow. Item duplication glitches allow runners to rapidly multiply essential resources, like titanium or power cells, without needing to scavenge.

These exploits often involve interacting with storage containers or crafting stations in specific, unintended sequences. By carefully manipulating the game's save or transfer system, runners can trick the game into creating copies of items.

For example, a common method might involve placing an item in a storage unit, initiating a transfer, and then cancelling or manipulating the UI at a precise moment. This can result in the item existing both in the inventory and the storage, effectively doubling your stock instantly.

Leveraging Storage Exploits

Beyond simple item duplication, storage exploits can be used for more complex maneuvers. Runners might use these to duplicate entire vehicles or manipulate their placement.

Imagine needing multiple batteries for your equipment or needing to quickly repair your Seamoth. Instead of crafting new components, a duplication glitch could provide spares instantly. These exploits are often complex, requiring precise timing and knowledge of the game's inventory and saving systems.

Bypassing Environmental Hazards

Subnautica is teeming with dangers: aggressive fauna, poisonous flora, and crushing depths. In a speedrun, every second spent avoiding damage or navigating hazardous areas is time lost. The glitches discussed, particularly the Seaglide velocity manipulation, are vital for this.

Drooping Stingers, with their damaging tendrils, and explosive Crashfish are common threats. The 'Super Seaglide' glitch effectively neutralizes these threats, allowing the runner to pass through dangerous biomes with relative safety and incredible speed.

Crashfish and Drooping Stingers Explained

Let's reiterate how these specific threats are bypassed. When the 'Super Seaglide' state is active:

  • Drooping Stingers: The detectCollision variable is disabled. Your Seaglide can pass right through their damaging tendrils without consequence.
  • Crashfish: Your rigidbody velocity is fixed at 0. Since Crashfish are triggered by velocity changes, they simply don't react to your presence, remaining inert in their spawn points.

This environmental invulnerability is a cornerstone of the glitched Any% strategy, enabling rapid traversal through otherwise perilous zones.

Glitched vs. Glitchless: A Speedrunner's Choice

It's important to distinguish between the Glitched and Glitchless categories. While both aim for the fastest time, the rules differ significantly.

  • Glitched: Allows any unintended behavior or exploit to be used. This category often features the fastest times due to the power of these glitches. The WR we're discussing falls here.
  • Glitchless: Prohibits the use of known glitches and exploits. Runs in this category focus purely on optimized routing, movement, and resource management within the game's intended mechanics.

You can see the Glitchless WR for Subnautica Any% here, set by @cinnamon cookies’s Any% (Survival, Glitchless) World Record. It’s fascinating to compare the different strategies employed.

Verifying World Records

The speedrunning community relies on platforms like Speedrun.com to verify and track records. Each category has specific rules, and submissions are reviewed to ensure legitimacy. Variables like platform (PC, console), version, and whether glitches are allowed are strictly defined.

Eclypsed's run adheres to the Any% Glitched ruleset for Subnautica on PC, confirming its status as the current benchmark.

Supporting the Speedrunning Community

Witnessing these incredible feats is inspiring! If you enjoy watching top-tier speedruns and want to support the athletes pushing these boundaries, consider:

  • Following your favorite runners on Twitch and YouTube. Eclypsed streams on Twitch at Eclypsed's Twitch channel and has a YouTube channel @Eclypsed.
  • Joining community Discords to connect with other fans and runners. The official Discord can be found here: Discord.
  • Supporting runners directly through Patreon or donations if they offer them.
  • Checking out official merchandise stores, like the woof merch store, which often supports runners or content creators.

True hardcore gaming fans know the dedication it takes, and your support means the world to these dedicated individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does "Any%" mean in speedrunning?

    Any% means completing the game's primary objective using any methods possible, including glitches and exploits. It's typically the fastest category for most games.

  • What is the main difference between Glitched and Glitchless speedruns?

    Glitched runs allow the use of unintended game behaviors (bugs, exploits) to achieve faster times, while Glitchless runs prohibit them, focusing solely on optimized gameplay within intended mechanics.

  • How does the Super Seaglide glitch work in Subnautica?

    It manipulates collision detection and rigidbody velocity. When active, it prevents damage from environmental hazards like Drooping Stingers and makes the player undetectable to threats like Crashfish by setting their velocity to zero.

  • Is the Subnautica speedrun world record playable on consoles?

    While console versions exist, the fastest world records, especially those involving complex glitches, are typically set on the PC version due to easier access to tools and potentially different physics behavior.

Breaking the 30-minute barrier in Subnautica is a monumental achievement, showcasing the pinnacle of speedrunning strategy and execution. By understanding and exploiting the game's mechanics, runners like Eclypsed redefine what's possible. Keep watching, keep playing, and maybe one day, you'll be the one setting the next incredible world record!

What are your favorite Subnautica speedrun strats? Did we miss any crucial details? Let us know in the comments below or join the conversation on our Discord channel!