Mastering Devour: An Exhaustive Guide to Exorcising Demons at Record Speed

Devour Gameplay Screenshot

Welcome, fellow demonslayers and aspiring world-record holders, to GamingSpeedrun.com! You've stumbled upon our deep dive into the horrifyingly fun world of Devour. The title might suggest a bit of chaos, and believe me, it was. But our goal isn't just to play the game; it's to conquer it at lightning speed. Whether you're here to learn the fastest routes, discover game-breaking glitches, or simply marvel at the dedication required for a successful speedrun, you're in the right place. We're talking about shaving precious seconds off every ritual, optimizing every movement, and understanding the demon's AI better than it knows itself. Get ready to learn the strats that separate the rookies from the WR holders.

Devour: A Speedrunner's Nightmare

Devour isn't your typical horror game. It plunges players into a terrifying co-op experience where teamwork and quick thinking are paramount, especially when aiming for a world record. The core gameplay loop involves players taking on the role of cultists attempting to perform rituals to banish a powerful demon, Azazel. Unlike many horror titles, Devour thrives on intense, high-stakes scenarios that demand near-perfect execution from all team members. For speedrunners, this translates into a thrilling challenge where every second counts and a single mistake can reset the entire run. The pressure is immense, and mastering the game's mechanics is just the first step.

From my own experience grinding this game, the difference between a good run and a failed one often comes down to communication and anticipating the demon's AI. The sheer unpredictability of the RNG can be soul-crushing, but that's where the real speedrun magic happens – finding ways to mitigate that randomness.

The Core Objective: Banishing Azazel

The ultimate goal in any Devour run, especially for a speedrun, is to successfully perform the banishment ritual. This involves players collecting a specific number of ritual items (flammables like gasoline, matches, and the goat) and bringing them to the ritual site. Once all items are gathered, players must then light them in a precise sequence while fending off or avoiding Azazel. Each successful ritual item placement advances the banishment process, but also increases Azazel's aggression and frequency of attacks. The final, climactic phase requires players to light the final brazier. If this is done correctly, the demon is banished, and the timer stops. For a world record attempt, this entire sequence needs to be executed flawlessly with minimal downtime.

The rush of successfully banishing Azazel just milliseconds before he catches you is an unparalleled thrill in the speedrunning community. It's pure adrenaline.

Essential Pre-Run Prep: Loadouts and Settings

Before even starting the timer, proper preparation is key. This includes:

  • Character Selection: While not heavily impactful on pure speedrun times, some players might have preferences based on minor ability cooldowns or starting items.
  • Game Settings: Ensure your graphics settings are optimized for performance. Lowering settings can significantly improve frame rates, which is crucial for precise movements and reactions. Turning off unnecessary graphical effects can also help reduce input lag.
  • Keybinds: For PC players, customizing keybinds to suit your playstyle is essential. Having quick access to inventory, use, and sprint commands can shave off vital milliseconds.
  • Team Coordination: If playing co-op, establishing clear roles and communication protocols beforehand is vital. Who gathers which items? Who distracts the demon? Who focuses on lighting?

In my runs, I always opt for the most streamlined settings. Every frame matters when you're chasing a WR.

Tier 1 Strategies: The Optimal Run

The current meta for Devour speedruns revolves around an optimized item collection and ritual lighting strategy. This typically involves:

  1. Spawn Route Optimization: Knowing the fastest path from your spawn point to the first ritual item objective is critical. This often involves navigating the map in a specific, practiced order.
  2. Item Prioritization: Understanding which items are needed and their locations relative to each other allows for efficient gathering. Sometimes, sacrificing a slightly longer route for two items in close proximity is faster than two separate trips.
  3. Ritual Site Management: When multiple players are involved, assigning specific tasks at the ritual site minimizes confusion. For instance, one player might be responsible for placing the goat while another lights the first flammable.
  4. Demon Aggro Management: Learning how to bait the demon away from key areas or how to quickly break line of sight is crucial. This prevents costly interruptions during item collection or ritual lighting.

The fastest routes are often discovered through extensive trial and error, and sometimes through community collaboration on platforms like speedrun.com.

Advanced Techniques: Glitches and Skips

For any truly elite speedrun, exploiting the game's engine through glitches and skips is often necessary to achieve top times. In Devour, these can include:

  • AI Manipulation: Certain actions or locations can confuse the demon's AI, causing it to get stuck or ignore players temporarily. Discovering and replicating these moments consistently is a high-level skill.
  • Clipping Glitches: In some instances, players might find ways to clip through specific walls or objects, bypassing sections of the map or avoiding encounters. These are highly map-dependent and often patched.
  • Item Duplication/Loss Glitches: While risky, some older versions of the game might have had glitches allowing for item duplication or preventing item loss upon death. These are typically banned in most categories but are part of the game's speedrun history.

The discovery of a new glitch can completely revolutionize the speedrun meta for a game like Devour, often leading to new WR pace runs.

I once spent an entire weekend trying to replicate a wall clip I saw on a forum. It took hours of failing, but when I finally nailed it, shaving 30 seconds off my run, the satisfaction was immense. That's the thrill of speedrunning!

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even with the best strategies, Devour is notorious for throwing curveballs. Common mistakes that cost runs include:

  • Misplaced Ritual Items: Accidentally dropping a flammable in the wrong spot or picking up the wrong item can lead to significant delays.
  • Demon Ambushes: Being caught off guard by Azazel, especially during critical moments like lighting the final brazier, almost always results in a death and a reset.
  • Friendly Fire (Metaphorical): In co-op, players blocking each other's paths or accidentally alerting the demon to another player's position can ruin a run.
  • Inventory Management Errors: Trying to pick up an item when your inventory is full, or dropping a necessary item accidentally.

The key to overcoming these is consistent practice and developing muscle memory for the game's mechanics. For PC players, having a good pc setup helps immensely with reaction times.

Category-Specific Strats

Devour, like many games on speedrun.com, features various categories. The most common include:

  • Any%: The fastest possible completion of the game, often relying heavily on glitches and skips.
  • 100%: Completing the game after collecting all possible objectives or items, requiring a more thorough and often longer run.
  • Single Segment: Completing the entire run in one continuous session without resets.
  • Co-op Categories: Runs performed with a specific number of players, where coordination is paramount.

Each category demands different strategies and risk assessments. A strategy viable for Any% might be too risky or inefficient for a 100% run.

RNG Manipulation and Mitigation

The RNG in Devour, particularly concerning demon spawns, patrol paths, and item drops, is a significant factor. While true manipulation is difficult, mitigation strategies are key:

  • Spawn Knowledge: Knowing the most common spawn locations for the demon allows you to anticipate its movements.
  • Safe Spots: Identifying areas on the map where the demon has difficulty reaching players can provide crucial breathing room.
  • Item Pathing: Choosing collection routes that minimize exposure to common demon patrol paths can reduce the chances of an ambush.
  • Forced Respawns: In some cases, intentionally dying in a specific location might influence the demon's subsequent spawn, though this is highly situational and risky.

Mastering the RNG is less about controlling it and more about having contingency plans for every possible outcome.

There are runs where the demon feels like it's actively hunting you, and then there are runs where it feels like you're playing tag with a ghost. That's the brutal beauty of Devour speedrunning.

Practice and Community

Achieving a top-tier speedrun in Devour requires hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of practice. The speedrunning community is a vital resource for this:

  • Watching Top Runs: Studying the techniques and routes used by current record holders provides invaluable insights.
  • Joining Discords: Many games have dedicated Discord servers where runners share strategies, discuss glitches, and help each other improve. Our own Discord is a great place to start!
  • Practice Tools: Utilizing save states or practice mods (if allowed by the category) can help isolate and perfect specific sections of the run.
  • Feedback: Sharing your own attempts and asking for feedback from more experienced runners can highlight areas for improvement.

Remember, every WR holder started somewhere, and the community is often the best place to learn and grow. Don't be afraid to ask questions or share your own discoveries!

Preguntas Frecuentes

Q1: What is the current World Record (WR) time for Devour Any%?
A1: WR times are constantly changing! Always check speedrun.com/devour for the most up-to-date information. The pace is incredibly fast, often under 10 minutes.

Q2: Is Devour playable solo for speedrunning?
A2: Yes, there are established solo categories. However, co-op runs often feature different strategies and potential exploits due to increased player interaction and demon AI dynamics.

Q3: How difficult is it to learn Devour speedrunning?
A3: Devour has a steep learning curve due to its reliance on precise execution, chaotic RNG, and effective teamwork in co-op. Expect to spend significant time practicing.

Q4: Are glitches like clipping or AI manipulation allowed in all categories?
A4: No. Glitches and skips are typically only allowed in specific categories, most commonly 'Any%'. Other categories like '100%' or 'No Major Glitches' have stricter rules. Always check the specific rules for the category you intend to run.

Q5: What's the best way to practice specific parts of the run?
A5: If allowed by the category rules, using practice mods or save states is the most efficient method. Otherwise, repeatedly playing the specific section until you can execute it consistently is key.

Join the Speedrunning Revolution!

Conquering Azazel at breakneck speed in Devour is a challenge that tests skill, nerve, and the ability to adapt. Whether you're aiming for your first PB or pushing for a new WR, the journey is as rewarding as the destination. Keep practicing, keep learning from the community, and never give up on that perfect run. We hope this guide has equipped you with the knowledge to face the darkness head-on and set your own blistering pace. Share your thoughts, your own tips, and your record attempts in the comments below! Join our Discord to connect with fellow runners and share your journey.