Alright, fellow gamers and speedrunning aficionados! We're diving deep into the lightning-fast world of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. You’ve seen the title, "Sekiro Any% Speedrun in 19:50 (Former World Record)," and maybe you’re wondering: what kind of insane strategies, glitches, and pure skill went into shaving every single second off the clock? Forget lore dumps or weapon comparisons; this is about pure, unadulterated game mastery. We're here to dissect the run that held the top spot, understand the "Any%" category, and marvel at the dedication required to achieve such a feat.
Table of Contents
What is "Any%" in Speedrunning?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of Sekiro's record-breaking run, let's clarify what "Any%" means. In the speedrunning community, "Any%" is the most common and often the most prestigious category. The objective is simple: finish the game as fast as possible, regardless of how you do it. This means players will utilize any glitches, exploits, or unintended game mechanics they can find to shave off precious seconds. It's a pure race against the game's code, pushing the boundaries of what's considered "possible." For Sekiro, this means skipping entire sections, performing frame-perfect maneuvers, and optimizing every single movement.
The Sekiro Speedrun Challenge
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game renowned for its demanding combat and intricate level design. For a speedrunner, this presents a unique set of challenges. Unlike games with more open-ended exploration, Sekiro's linearity means every step is crucial. Boss fights, which are designed to be punishing in a normal playthrough, become meticulously planned encounters where minimal damage and perfect execution are key. The game demands precise timing for dodges, parries, and attacks. In a speedrun, these mechanics are amplified, requiring runners to perform them flawlessly, often hundreds of times per attempt.
The "Former World Record" title itself tells a story. The world record in speedrunning is a constantly shifting landscape. What was once the pinnacle of achievement can be surpassed with new discoveries, advancements in strategy, or simply more dedicated practice. This 19:50 run represents a significant milestone, a testament to the runner's dedication and the community's collective effort in finding the fastest path through Ashina.
Mastering Sekiro's combat is one thing, but twisting it for speed is an entirely different beast. It's about making the game's mechanics work for you, not against you.
Deconstructing the 19:50 Route
While a full, frame-by-frame analysis would take hours, we can highlight the general philosophy behind a sub-20 minute "Any%" run. The core idea is to bypass as much of the game's intended progression as possible. This often involves:
- Boss Skips: Identifying if a boss can be entirely skipped or if there's a significantly faster way to defeat them.
- Sequence Breaking: Using glitches or advanced movement techniques to access areas or acquire items out of the intended order.
- Optimized Movement: Utilizing every available movement option, from dash-cancels to specific jump patterns, to reduce travel time between objectives.
- Combat Optimization: Developing incredibly fast and consistent strategies for mandatory boss encounters.
The specific route taken for this record would have been refined over countless hours, often involving analyzing other runners' attempts and discovering new skips.
Key Strategies and Skips
Sekiro is known for its complex movement and combat. To achieve such low times, runners leverage several advanced techniques:
- "Posture" Exploitation: While normal play focuses on breaking enemy posture, speedrunners might exploit animation cancels or specific attack strings to defeat enemies and bosses even faster than the intended posture break mechanic.
- Grapple Hook Optimization: The grapple hook is a core traversal tool. In speedruns, its use is heavily optimized, chaining grapple points seamlessly to maintain momentum and cover ground rapidly.
- Damage Boosts and Frame Traps: Understanding how damage impacts enemy AI or if certain attack patterns can lock enemies into animations is crucial. These "frame traps" can allow for free damage or prevent enemies from retaliating.
- Out-of-Bounds (OoB) Techniques: While not always present in every Sekiro run, some speedruns explore OoB glitches to skip entire sections of the map. If present in this run, it would have been a major time saver.
The runner's mastery of the combat system is paramount. Every deflect, every Mikiri Counter, every prosthetic tool deployment is timed to perfection. The game's physics and enemy AI become predictable elements that can be manipulated.
The difference between a good run and a world record often comes down to a single frame-perfect trick or a near-impossible boss strat executed flawlessly.
The RNG Factor
Even with the most optimized routes and strategies, speedrunning is not entirely devoid of luck. Random Number Generation (RNG) plays a role in certain aspects of Sekiro. For instance, enemy attack patterns can have slight variations, or the drop rates for specific items could influence resource management. A top-tier speedrunner aims to minimize the impact of RNG, developing strategies that are consistent across various scenarios. However, for a run to break a world record, sometimes a little bit of luck goes a long way.
The title "Former World Record" is crucial here. It signifies that while this run was once the absolute fastest, the community has continued to innovate. New routes, more efficient glitches, or simply a higher level of player skill has led to even faster times. This is the beauty of speedrunning – it’s a continuous pursuit of perfection.
The Evolution of Sekiro Records
The journey to a sub-20 minute Sekiro "Any%" run wasn't instantaneous. It involved:
- Early Discoveries: Initial runs would have focused on the most obvious, fastest paths.
- Glitch Hunting: Players would actively look for bugs and unintended mechanics to exploit.
- Route Optimization: Refined routes would emerge, cutting out unnecessary travel and combat.
- Boss Strategies: Specialized tactics for each boss fight would be developed and perfected.
- Community Collaboration: Runners share their findings, leading to faster and faster times.
This particular run, achieving 19:50, likely represents a peak of strategies known at the time of its setting. It's a snapshot of the game's speedrunning potential captured at a specific moment.
Becoming a Sekiro Speedrunner
If watching this incredible feat has inspired you, remember that every world record started with someone learning the basics. To get into Sekiro speedrunning:
- Watch and Learn: Study runs from top players. Websites like speedrun.com are invaluable resources.
- Practice the Fundamentals: Master Sekiro's core mechanics – combat, movement, and stealth.
- Learn the Route: Start with a known "Any%" route and practice each segment.
- Use a Timer: Tools like LiveSplit are essential for tracking your progress.
- Join the Community: Engage with other speedrunners on platforms like Discord. They are a wealth of knowledge and support.
Achieving a time like 19:50 takes thousands of hours of practice, dedication, and an intimate understanding of the game. It’s a testament to human perseverance and the incredible depth that can be found within video games.
This former World Record run in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is more than just a fast time; it's a display of peak gaming performance. It highlights the intricate dance between player skill, game mechanics, and the relentless drive to push boundaries. Whether you're a seasoned speedrunner or a curious observer, the dedication and ingenuity on display here are truly remarkable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the "Any%" category in Sekiro speedruns?
In the "Any%" category, the goal is to complete the game as quickly as possible without any restrictions on how it's done. This means utilizing glitches, exploits, and any unintended mechanics to skip content and achieve the fastest possible time.
How difficult is it to perform a sub-20 minute Sekiro speedrun?
Extremely difficult. It requires thousands of hours of dedicated practice, perfect execution of complex combat and movement techniques, and a deep understanding of the game's mechanics and potential glitches. Breaking a world record is an even greater feat.
Are there any major glitches used in this 19:50 run?
Likely, yes. "Any%" runs often rely on sequence breaks and glitches to skip large portions of the game. Specific glitches would depend on the version of the game and what has been discovered and optimized by the speedrunning community over time.
How often do Sekiro speedrun records change?
Record times can change frequently, depending on new discoveries and improvements in player skill. What was a world record yesterday could be surpassed today. This run is a "former" world record, indicating that faster times have since been achieved.
Where can I watch more Sekiro speedruns?
You can find Sekiro speedruns, including current world records and attempts, on websites like speedrun.com and by following top speedrunners on streaming platforms like Twitch.
What are your thoughts on this incredible run? Did you have a favorite Sekiro speedrunning trick or strategy? Share your insights and any other speedrunning achievements you'd like us to cover in the comments below! Let's keep the conversation going and celebrate the amazing feats of the gaming community.