A comprehensive speedrunning guide for beginners
Welcome to the world of Ocarina of Time speedrunning! First released in 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has become one of the most popular and influential speedrunning games of all time. Its combination of glitches, sequence breaks, and precise movement techniques makes it a fascinating game to speedrun.
Ocarina of Time is beloved by speedrunners due to its deep mechanics, variety of categories, and the continuous discovery of new glitches and strategies even decades after release. The game's 3D movement system and depth of programming allows for incredible exploits that can save hours of gameplay.
Ocarina of Time has several main speedrun categories, each with its own unique challenges and strategies:
| Category | Description | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Any% | Complete the game as quickly as possible, using any glitches allowed | Medium-Hard (Very technical) |
| MST (Medallions, Stones, Trials) | Collect all medallions, spiritual stones, and complete all trials | Medium (Good starting category) |
| 100% | Collect all items, heart pieces, Gold Skulltulas, etc. | Hard (Very long run) |
| Glitchless | Complete the game without using major glitches | Easy (Good for beginners) |
We recommend starting with either Glitchless or MST categories. Glitchless requires less technical skill but more game knowledge, while MST introduces you to some basic glitches while still following much of the game's intended progression.
Ocarina of Time has multiple versions with significant differences for speedrunning:
For beginners, the original N64 1.0 version is recommended if you want to learn Any%, while any version works well for Glitchless.
Mastering Link's movement is crucial for speedrunning. Here are the fundamental techniques:
Walking backward is slightly faster than walking forward. When traveling long distances without rolls, always backwalk by holding the control stick in the opposite direction.
Press A while moving for a roll, which is faster than regular movement. Chain rolls by pressing A as soon as each roll ends.
A specific control stick position that allows Link to "neutral" in certain contexts. Used for many glitches and precise movement.
Jump with A then attack with B mid-air. This is faster for activating switches and hitting objects than regular attacks.
Many blocks can be skipped by using precise angles and jumpslashes to climb ledges without moving the block.
A technique to gain extreme speed by combining a roll with a shield. Perform by rolling, then pulling out your shield and backwalking at a specific timing.
Use bomb explosions to gain height by equipping hover boots, dropping a bomb, and entering first-person view when the bomb explodes.
A glitch that allows you to warp to unintended destinations, saving significant time. Different methods exist, with varying difficulty.
An advanced form of superslide that maintains speed for extremely long distances.
The Any% route has evolved dramatically over the years, with the current fastest strategy involving wrong warping directly to the final boss:
Skip entering the Deku Tree entirely through precise movement out of Kokiri Forest.
Acquire bombs quickly using exploits to access Kakariko Village and Bomb Shop.
Perform a specific sequence of actions in Kokiri Forest to set up the wrong warp.
Execute the wrong warp to reach the final boss sequence and defeat Ganon.
The glitchless route follows the game's intended progression but optimizes movement and item collection:
Complete the trials and defeat Ganondorf/Ganon.
Skip the first floor web by performing a precise jumpslash from the ledge above it. Faster than lighting it on fire or using the upper floor web.
Use bombchus to hit the high switch in the main room, avoiding the need to climb.
Plan your water level changes carefully. The optimal route changes water levels only twice.
You can cross the boat room by jumpslashing across the broken bridge rather than waiting for the boat.
Bombchus are faster to deploy than bombs in most situations but more limited in quantity. Save them for specific skips and puzzles where their precision is needed.
Deku Stick damage is equal to the Master Sword, making them excellent weapons as Young Link. Their jumpslash is particularly powerful.
The Hookshot can be used to activate switches and collect items from a distance, saving time on movement.
If playing on an emulator, use save states to practice specific tricks repeatedly.
Practice the run in segments before attempting a full run. Focus on one dungeon or section at a time.
Practice efficient menu usage. Plan your item placement in advance to minimize time spent in menus during the run.
Study runs by experienced speedrunners. Both world records and tutorial runs can provide valuable insights.