Are you tired of getting stomped by the Asylum Demon for the hundredth time? Do you dream of soaring through Lordran, leaving a trail of defeated bosses in your wake? If your heart beats faster at the thought of shaving seconds off your personal bests, then you've landed in the right place. This isn't just about beating Dark Souls; it's about *conquering* it. We're diving deep into the thrilling world of Any% Speedrunning, focusing on the iconic Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition. Forget leisurely exploration; we're talking about pure, unadulterated efficiency.
Table of Contents
What is Any% Speedrunning?
For the uninitiated, "Any%" is the most popular and straightforward speedrun category. The goal? To finish the game as quickly as possible, regardless of how you achieve it. This means exploiting glitches, using unintended mechanics, and skipping as much content as humanly possible. In Dark Souls, this translates to a brutally efficient run that bypasses entire areas and bosses, showcasing an intimate understanding of the game's engine and a masterful execution of complex maneuvers.
Think of it as finding the ultimate shortcut. While a regular playthrough might take dozens of hours, an Any% speedrun can be completed in under an hour, sometimes even in the 30-minute range for elite runners. It’s a testament to how much game design can be subverted when players dedicate themselves to finding the fastest path.
"The Any% category is where innovation happens. It pushes the boundaries of what players think is possible within a game's engine."
Mastering the Any% Dark Souls Speedrun: Strategies and Skips
The Any% speedrun of Dark Souls is a symphony of precision and exploitation. It's not just about button mashing; it's about frame-perfect inputs and understanding enemy AI and environmental triggers like the back of your hand. Let's break down some of the core components:
Early Game Optimization
The run begins with an intense focus on acquiring essential items and reaching critical points as fast as possible. This often involves skipping the tutorial boss, the Asylum Demon, entirely. Runners utilize a specific sequence of actions, often involving dying strategically to warp back to the Firelink Shrine much earlier than intended. From there, it's about quickly acquiring the Master Key and making a beeline for crucial early-game progression.
Key areas you'll often see skipped include:
- The entire Undead Burg and Undead Parish
- Sen's Fortress
- Anor Londo (sometimes partially, depending on the route)
Boss-Skipping Techniques
This is where the magic of Any% truly shines. Instead of engaging in traditional boss fights, speedrunners employ a variety of clever tricks:
- Quelaag Skip: A complex maneuver involving a specific fall and an item pickup that allows players to bypass the fight entirely.
- Bed of Chaos Skip: Utilizing environmental hazards and precise jumps to bypass this notoriously frustrating boss.
- Gwyn Fight Optimization: While Gwyn can't be fully skipped in most Any% categories, the fight is heavily optimized. Runners often use specific weapon setups and damage boosts to end the fight in seconds.
Movement Tech
Mastery of movement is paramount. Techniques like inventory dropping (dropping items to gain a brief speed boost) and strafing are crucial. Advanced runners might even employ clip glitches to pass through normally impassable geometry, shaving precious seconds off the clock.
Key Glitches and Tricks in Dark Souls Speedruns
The thrill of Any% comes from seeing the game broken in new and exciting ways. Here are some of the most impactful glitches and tricks:
- Fall Damage Glitch: This is a foundational trick. By timing a specific action (like opening your inventory) during a fall, you can negate fall damage, allowing access to areas via unintended routes.
- Wall Clipping: Exploiting the game's collision detection to pass through walls and geometry. This requires precise positioning and often a specific camera angle.
- Menu Storage/Inventory Manipulation: Certain actions with items in your inventory can be used to store or recall specific states, leading to powerful effects like damage boosts or the ability to carry specific flags through the game.
- Damage Boosting: Intentionally taking damage from enemies to gain a temporary boost in speed or damage output for subsequent actions.
- AoE Duplication: A notorious glitch that allows players to duplicate items, most commonly Souls, by exploiting Area of Effect (AoE) attacks. This is critical for gaining massive amounts of souls quickly.
"Understanding these glitches isn't about 'cheating' the game; it's about understanding its fundamental mechanics and limitations."
The Current Meta for Any% Dark Souls Speedruns
The speedrunning community for Dark Souls is incredibly active and constantly evolving. The meta for Any% is heavily refined, with runners striving for the absolute optimal route. While specific strats can vary slightly between patches or individual player preferences, the core of the run remains consistent.
Key aspects of the current meta include:
- The "Glitchless" vs. "Glitch" Debate: While Any% typically allows glitches, there's a dedicated Glitchless category. The Any% Glitchless category focuses on precise movement and sequence breaks without relying on major engine exploits. The video you see in this analysis is a prime example of glitch exploitation.
- Weapon Choice: The choice of weapon is critical. Early game, a weapon that can quickly dispatch weaker enemies or cheese certain bosses is favored. Later, high-damage output weapons are essential for quickly ending boss fights.
- Armor and Rings: While often skipped, specific armor pieces or rings can be crucial for certain skips or damage boosts. The Ring of Favor and Protection is a common early-game grab.
- Sorcery/Pyromancy: While physical builds are common, some routes might incorporate specific spells for utility or damage.
The current world record holder, RegoleSlayer, has refined many of these strategies. You can find his incredible runs and detailed breakdowns on his YouTube and Twitch channels, offering invaluable insight into what it takes to be at the top of the leaderboards. His personal best is a testament to years of practice and dedication.
The Dark Souls Speedrunning Community
The Dark Souls speedrunning community is a passionate and dedicated group. It's a place where players share discoveries, refine strats, and push the boundaries of what's possible. Websites like Speedrun.com are central hubs for leaderboards, guides, and discussions. Many top runners stream their attempts and practice sessions, offering a direct window into the high-pressure world of competitive speedrunning.
Engaging with this community can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you're a seasoned speedrunner looking to shave off milliseconds or a curious newcomer, there's always something to learn. The shared goal of optimizing every aspect of a playthrough fosters a unique sense of camaraderie.
"It's the shared pursuit of perfection that drives the speedrunning community. Every millisecond counts, and every discovery is celebrated."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest category for Dark Souls speedrunning?
The Any% category is generally the fastest, as it allows for the use of all glitches and exploits to finish the game as quickly as possible. However, Glitchless Any% is also very popular for players who prefer a less exploitative, but still incredibly fast, playthrough.
How long does a top-tier Dark Souls Any% speedrun take?
Elite runners can complete the Any% category in around 30-40 minutes. World record runs are often significantly faster, pushing the limits of human execution and game mechanics.
Is it difficult to learn Dark Souls speedrunning?
Dark Souls speedrunning requires a high degree of skill, practice, and dedication. The execution of glitches and sequence breaks can be very demanding, but the community offers many resources for beginners.
What are some essential tools for speedrunning Dark Souls?
A reliable timer like LiveSplit is crucial for tracking your progress and splits. Access to detailed guides and video demonstrations from top runners is also invaluable for learning the routes and tricks.
Can I use mods for speedruns?
Generally, speedrun categories do not allow mods, especially for official leaderboards. However, there are separate categories for modded runs where these are permitted.
The world of Dark Souls speedrunning is a vibrant ecosystem of skill, strategy, and sheer determination. Whether you're aiming to join the ranks of world record holders or simply want to appreciate the incredible feats of execution, understanding the Any% category offers a fascinating glimpse into the depths of player mastery. So, grab your controller, start practicing those inputs, and get ready to see Lordran like never before!