Introduction: The Thrill of the Slash
Welcome, demon slayers and speedrun enthusiasts, to GamingSpeedrun.com! If you've ever watched Tanjiro Kamado unleash his fiery breath or Nezuko Kamado unleash her blood demon art, you know the sheer spectacle of Demon Slayer. But have you ever wondered how fast these epic battles can truly be? We're diving deep into the electrifying world of
Demon Slayer speedruns, exploring the insane strategies, mind-bending glitches, and lightning-fast reflexes that shave precious seconds off world records. Get ready to witness the ultimate test of skill and dedication as players push the boundaries of what's possible in *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles*.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles Overview
*Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles* (often referred to as *Hinokami Chronicles* or simply *Demon Slayer Game*) is a thrilling arena fighting game developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Aniplex. It faithfully adapts the beloved anime and manga series, allowing players to step into the shoes of Tanjiro, Nezuko, and a roster of other iconic characters. The game features a compelling story mode that retells the early arcs of the manga and an engaging versus mode where players can battle it out. For speedrunners, the story mode, specifically certain missions and boss encounters, presents the primary challenge.
The core gameplay revolves around fast-paced combat, with players utilizing character-specific abilities, breathing techniques, and ultimate arts. For a speedrun, every single animation, movement, and attack must be optimized to perfection. It's not just about winning; it's about winning with **unprecedented speed**.
Understanding Demon Slayer Speedrun Categories
Just like any major
speedrunning discipline, *Demon Slayer: Hinokami Chronicles* has various categories that cater to different player preferences and challenges. The most common and highly contested categories include:
* **Any%**: This is the most popular category. The goal is to complete the game's story mode as quickly as possible, regardless of how it's done. This often involves exploiting glitches and sequence breaks to skip large portions of the game.
* **100%**: In this category, players must complete all objectives, collect all items, and achieve certain in-game milestones within the story mode, all while aiming for the fastest possible time. This is significantly more challenging and requires deep knowledge of the game's intricacies.
* **Specific Mission/Boss Categories**: Dedicated runners might focus on achieving the fastest times for individual missions or boss fights, pushing the limits on very specific encounters.
The chase for the
World Record (WR) in the Any% category is particularly intense, as it represents the absolute fastest way to "beat" the game from start to finish.
Key Strats, Skips, and Glitches
The true magic of *Demon Slayer speedruns* lies in the ingenious strategies and sometimes unintended mechanics that runners exploit. Here are some of the core elements that define a top-tier run:
* **Movement Optimization**: Every dash, jump, and sprint counts. Runners meticulously plan their routes through levels, minimizing downtime and maximizing forward momentum. This often involves understanding the game's movement mechanics better than the developers intended.
* **Combat Efficiency**: Boss fights are often the longest segments. Runners perfect attack patterns, learning exactly when to strike, when to dodge, and how to chain combos for maximum damage output. Understanding character strengths and weaknesses is crucial. For instance, maximizing the use of certain powerful abilities or specific character matchups can drastically cut down fight times.
* **Sequence Breaks and Skips**: This is where the real time-saves often happen. Runners actively look for ways to bypass entire sections of the game. This might involve:
* **Out-of-Bounds (OOB) Glitches**: Finding ways to push characters through invisible walls or map boundaries to skip large areas.
* **Trigger Manipulation**: Exploiting how the game loads or triggers events to bypass necessary steps.
* **Animation Cancels**: Finding ways to interrupt attack animations early to perform the next action faster.
In my experience, mastering the dash cancels with Tanjiro's flame breathing is absolutely critical. It allows for rapid repositioning and continuous damage application that can shave minutes off boss encounters.
* **Character Choice**: Certain characters are inherently faster or have abilities that lend themselves better to speedruns. Tanjiro is a common choice due to his balanced kit, but runners might experiment with others for specific skips or advantages.
The Art of RNG Management
Random Number Generation (RNG) is the bane and blessing of many speedruns. In *Hinokami Chronicles*, RNG can affect:
* **Enemy Attack Patterns**: Some enemies have randomized attack sequences, and runners need to react quickly to the most favorable patterns.
* **Item Drops/Power-ups**: While less common in story mode speedruns, any element of randomness can throw off a meticulously planned run.
* **Environmental Triggers**: Occasionally, game events might have a random element that can slightly alter timing.
Elite runners develop strategies to mitigate bad RNG or capitalize on good RNG. This involves having contingency plans for different scenarios and understanding the probabilities involved. Sometimes, resetting the run if the initial RNG is too unfavorable is the fastest decision.
The most frustrating RNG in Demon Slayer speedruns often comes down to specific boss attack tells. If a boss defaults to a slow, predictable attack, you gain time. If it chain-casts quick, evasive moves, your run can suffer significantly.
The Community and Resources
The *Demon Slayer speedrun* community is a vibrant and dedicated group of players. Resources are readily available for anyone looking to get involved:
* **Speedrun.com**: This is the central hub for all speedrunning leaderboards. You'll find the current world records, rules for each category, and often links to guides and videos from top runners. It's the definitive place to see who holds the
Personal Best (PB) and the overall WR.
* **Twitch and YouTube**: Many top runners stream their practice sessions and official attempts live on Twitch, offering invaluable insights into their strategies. YouTube channels often host full run videos, tutorials, and glitch compilations. Searching for "
Demon Slayer speedrun tutorial" is a great starting point.
* **Discord Servers**: Dedicated Discord servers for the game and the wider speedrunning community are excellent places to ask questions, share progress, and connect with other runners.
Getting Started with Demon Slayer Speedrunning
Ready to grab your Nichirin blade and chase those time saves? Here’s how you can start:
1. **Play the Game**: First and foremost, familiarize yourself thoroughly with *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles*. Understand the controls, character movesets, and story progression.
2. **Watch Top Runs**: Head over to Speedrun.com and watch the current Any% WR run. Pay close attention to the runner's movements, combat choices, and any obvious skips or tricks.
3. **Study Guides**: Look for any available written guides or video tutorials. These often break down specific tricks and strategies segment by segment.
4. **Practice Sections**: Don't try to do a full run immediately. Pick a specific mission or boss fight and practice it repeatedly until you can execute it consistently and quickly.
5. **Learn the Tricks**: Focus on learning one or two key glitches or sequence breaks that save significant time.
6. **Record Your Attempts**: Use recording software to capture your runs. This allows you to review your mistakes and identify areas for improvement.
7. **Join the Community**: Engage with other runners on Discord or forums. They can offer advice and support.
Remember, speedrunning is a marathon, not a sprint (unless you're doing a speedrun, of course!). Be patient, persistent, and most importantly, have fun! The journey to shaving off those extra seconds is incredibly rewarding. It's a true test of skill, dedication, and a deep love for the
game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest category in Demon Slayer speedruns?
The Any% category is generally the fastest, as it allows runners to skip any content and use any glitches to reach the end credits as quickly as possible.
Do I need the latest version of the game to speedrun?
It depends on the specific rules set by the speedrunning community for *Demon Slayer: Hinokami Chronicles*. Often, older versions might be allowed if they contain significant glitches that were patched out, but the most common practice is to run on the latest available version unless otherwise specified. Always check the rules on Speedrun.com.
How much time can glitches save in a Demon Slayer speedrun?
Glitches and sequence breaks can save anywhere from several minutes to potentially the majority of the run time, depending on the category and the specific exploits available. They are crucial for achieving top-tier times.
Is Demon Slayer: Hinokami Chronicles a popular game for speedrunning?
While not as massive as some long-standing speedrunning titles, *Demon Slayer: Hinokami Chronicles* has a dedicated and active speedrunning community that consistently pushes for new world records. Its popularity stems from the massive fanbase of the anime and manga.
What is considered a "good" time for a Demon Slayer Any% speedrun?
"Good" is subjective and changes as records are broken. However, top-tier Any% runs are typically well under two hours, with the world record being significantly faster. Beginners might aim for sub-3 or sub-4 hour times initially.
