Legend of Zelda Challenge Run ideas. Photo taken in Skyward Sword's Lanayru Desert.

Zelda Challenge Runs to Flaunt That Biggoron Energy

Everyday gamers don’t masquerade their experiences with randomizers or flashy mods. We want an accessible list of Zelda challenge runs – where metaphorical batteries and other doodads aren’t sold separately. 

An old game copy and console can carry us through times when hot new releases feel unaffordable. A fat hit of Hylian nostalgia can bud a flower from the thorniest days.

So go sling your cherished green tunic over your shoulders. Top off your glass with a brew of Lon Lon’s finest. I’m keeping this list mod-free, my friends… 

And, praise Nayru, I’m making it comprehensive. 

Link getting burnt to a crisp in Breath of the Wild. LoZ dramatic death shot.

Regardless of your skills and preferences, we’ll unearth that perfectly absurd dopamine-inducing mega-challenge for you.

We’ll cover traditional Zelda challenge runs that lean toward low% completion. We’ll add sizzle to gameplay loops that tick completionist checkboxes. We’ll sling a few role-playing ideas that inject extra layers of immersion.

Link chilling with a Lynel like Simba and Mufasa. "I Laugh in the Face of Danger!"

Heck, you might even enjoy a splash of glitch-abusing speedrunner tech. Nothing screams involvement like scouring video tutorials or pilfering through dusty old Nintendo Power magazines. Maybe it’s the refreshing jostle you need to revisit your favorite Zelda from a lens of child-like wonder.

Anyway, I’ll cover the full range of 3D Zelda games today. Just click the drop-down menus that catch your eye. If you plan to return, you’re welcome to bookmark or drop a follow on social. Happy hunting!

Umbrella Challenge Runs Usable in ALL Zelda Games

Link opens chest for Eldin Region boss key in Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD.

First to bat are the challenge run ideas encompassing the complete Legend of Zelda library – handhelds included.

The 3-Heart Run

Ah. The holy grail of Zelda challenge runs.

Zelda games typically unfold with 3 hearts… Aside from Skyward Sword granting Link six hearts and The Adventure of Link opening with four. 

The only progression-locked heart container resides in Link’s Awakening

If you’re dusting off one of these titles, opt to await Link’s gruesome demise after your 3rd heart evaporates. 

Otherwise, this challenge is self-explanatory: Dodge heart containers (and pieces) like the plague.

Here’s a guide anyway. 

Boss Heart Challenge 

Plunging directly into a 3-heart run might sound daunting. You’re welcome to ease your way in with a boss heart run. 

It’s a simple concept: Snatch heart containers that bosses drop upon defeat, and ignore the rest.

No Death Policy (or damageless run for the daring)

Did you know Link’s Awakening boasts a secret ending for players who beat it without dying? If that inspires you to transmute your favorite Zelda game into a roguelike experience, then by all means, you know what to do from here. Reset your save file after every death, you lunatic.

Pacifist Run

We can’t reincarnate as a wholly nonviolent Link. We can, however, scrape through any Zelda game by limiting kills to bosses. 

A colossal spike in difficulty ensues. NPC quests often provide bounties for clearing enemy encampments. Your shields soak a heftier wallop. You won’t accumulate monster loot for upgrading gear or brewing elixirs, either.

Swordless Run

If you yearn to spark creative joy while thrashing enemies, you’ll thrive in a swordless run. This challenge dates back to the original Legend of Zelda on the Famicom/NES, where you could beat the game by skipping the generous old cave-dweller. 

The BotW variant ramps into a full-blown crisis – banning bows, swords, and bombs. It’s pure, unadulterated physics puzzle kills until Dark Beast Ganon. Princess Zelda wrecks our chaotic death fanfare by shoving the Bow of Light into Link’s sweaty little palms. Still, it won’t diminish the fuzzy sensation you’ll feel after overcoming adversity.

Shield Ban

Pretty self-explanatory. Don’t use your shield! 

Actually, don’t equip one. If unequipping is impossible on your Zelda game of choice, burn a wooden shield. Now you’re out of excuses, so go re-enact a few scenes from Rambo.

Right Turns Only

Three rights make a left, after all! It’s a wacky, roundabout way to add a pinch of zest to your next Zelda playthrough. 

Westward fast travel icons become your archnemesis.

I have to drop a shout to PointCrow for this idea. He’s one of the Best Zelda YouTubers thanks to his unorthodox ideas and extraordinary execution. 

Anyway, I recommend making an occasion of this challenge run. Visit your local craft store and pick up some popsicle sticks. Tape one onto the left half of your analog stick. 

Savor the little things. They ferment into fond memories.

Ladder Tolls

We can’t explicitly pay a ladder operation toll, but we can bug shopkeepers for disposable items like potions or bombs to pay our imaginary extortionist friends. 

Ladder tolls provoke more thought while transitioning between areas. They also introduce inventory management.

Upside-Down Controller Run

Because masochists exist. Somebody out there will read this thinking, “I need more! I’ll flip the controller after bulldozing each room!”

Play Blindfolded

Okay, I’m mostly trolling here. But there are crazed gamers out there clearing Zelda games blindfolded by locking the camera, limiting movement to hops, and memorizing item pickups.

Breath of The Wild Challenge Run Ideas

Breath of the Wild Challenge Runs. Link in a field with two guardians, two moblins, and a dramatic fire.

Breath of the Wild is a serene masterpiece of boundless exploration – augmented by an untethered physics engine. It’s infinitely replayable, boasting the most intuitive tutorial in gaming history. My memories of meandering the lush fields of a lonely, post-apocalyptic Hyrule will follow me to the grave.

We have the freedom to feed every animal in the game.

But BotW Master mode is infamously lazy. Enemies regenerate health while weapons snap like toothpicks under the weight of Daruk’s extended family.

Instead, let’s try creating our own rule set! Thanks to Breath of the Wild’s less linear nature, we can tower ideas straight to the summit of Satori Mountain.

Use It and Lose It

One of the most enthralling Borderlands Challenge Runs is swapping in whatever loot crosses your path. Yeah, you’ll abandon your prized Flameblade for a Korok Leaf, but the versatility forges an engaging run.

Cashless Society

Disregard shops entirely. You’re free to pillage and plunder to your heart’s content, though… As long as you aren’t selling anything. 

Good luck tiptoeing around Sidon’s ferocious pet Lynel without stealth gear.

Pillage-Free Run

On the contrary to a worthless rupee run, we can fabricate a consumerist dystopia where rupees are everything. If you can’t buy it, don’t use it. Toss that hideous barbarian armor and climbers gear back into the dumpster from whence it came. 

Just don’t inform EA about your “feelings of pride and accomplishment” in any upcoming surveys.

Species/Class Specific Gear

Pick a species (like Gerudo or Rito) or a character class (like barbarian). Limit usable items to your chosen species/class. If swords or armor don’t match, you’re going commando. 

Note: Ancient gear, fisherman’s garb, and knight’s gear are feasible choices. If you’re exceptionally cultured, Tingle gear and wands work, too.

Tower Drop-Off

Let’s give fast traveling some consequences. When reaching the precipice of a tower, you gotta yeet all your gear off the edge and glide into the sunset like a wannabe Clint Eastwood. 

If you sense yourself pining for old belongings, blast yourself with a bomb. Then, announce to the world that you made a Mipha shrine of rotten fish scales – and stashed it in your bedroom closet.

Blood Moon Equipment Reset

You can’t dodge a Blood Moon inventory wipe. Disaster is imminent. It’ll be like Termina all over again.

Kingdom of Eventide

Reset your gear and food upon entering a new region. The Faron region may be lush with durian fruit, but once you cross that border or teleport away, it’s gone. Gerudo Shields will only surf the dunes. Only then will you truly know the unforgiving nature of Tabantha, young Korok.

Underwear Run

Armor feels so restrictive. It’s hot and reeks of stale sweat. Fetch a pot lid and join us in our ‘Au Naturale’ revolution.

No Armor or Inventory Upgrades

Not as hardcore as roaming the desolate arctic tundra in your birthday suit, but still an invigorating warmup challenge. Plus, BotW’s Great Fairies give off major creeper vibes.

ZeldaLocke

SmallAnt took the principles of a Pokémon Nuzlocke and refurbished it to fit Breath of the Wild

I’ll save you a click:

    • Each weapon is only obtainable once.
    • No running from any skirmish. If an enemy spots you, it’s deathmatch time.
    • No Master Sword, Magnesis, or Bombs for combat. 
    • Permadeath. That game over screen means you’re toast. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

 

Drop Inventory on Death

Here’s a softer reset variant for those of us who aren’t psychopaths that murder save data on the fly.

Lava-Floor Eventide Island

Beat Eventide Island without activating it. You’ll need a Korok Leaf, some Octo Balloons, and a raft. Probably more, but I’m not spoiling it. You’re welcome to watch Kleric take the crown, though.

Death Mountain Hot Spring Crucible

Banish fireproof armor. You can only drink fireproof elixirs at hot spring ‘checkpoints’ or outside the region’s perimeter.

Enter Gerudo Town Without A Disguise

I won’t spoil this one either, but I’ll give you a hint: You can only achieve this if you haven’t spoken to Riju about divine beasts yet. If you ache for a solution anyway, here’s your proof.

Took an Arrow to the Knee

Are you ready for the ultimate troll? 

Any time you pick up an arrow, reload your most recent autosave. No purchasing arrows, either. You’re a cheeser just for thinking it. Quest gifts are fine. 

Feel free to stockpile decorative bows for your house, though. You can upgrade your bow storage, too… if you fancy yourself a connoisseur of Korok poop. 

*Cues maniacal laugh track*

Atheist Run

No praying at altars for hearts or stamina. Dye your armor black. To achieve that, you’ll need to extract the glorious essence of Lynel hooves.

You can even intensify immersion by slashing goddess statues with your trusty blade.

Trust Fund Baby

No stamina use permitted. Say goodbye to spin attacks, climbing, and bullet time. The final blow on Dark Beast Ganon is 100% possible, too. SmallAnt proved it.

Amish Link

Amish Link aches for a quiet life without all this confounded sci-fi nonsense. Link’s browsing history likely shamed him into a dramatic lifestyle change.

No Sheikah tech allowed. 

That means no activating shrines or towers. Flip off your HUD and adopt a blatant refusal to use the map. No saving outside of villages. Using autosave data is banned.

Note: You can skip tower activation by clipping through the shrines on the great plateau.

Phobia Run

Toss a dart to the dartboard. We’ll imagine Link with a life-altering fear. 

Here are some examples:

    • No swimming
    • No paraglider
    • No rock climbing. 
    • Avoid fires or thunderstorms.
    • Evacuate for shelter when darkness approaches.
    • Fear of the color blue.
    • Fear of dancing.

 

Overzealous

This Link incarnation blatantly denies the accomplishments of others. He’s basically Revali multiplied by 3000. 

He’s too proud to use champ abilities. He doesn’t converse with characters of royal bloodlines – aside from Zelda. He doesn’t touch royal weapons, either.

My Hair is A Bird, Your Argument is Invalid

Defeat every enemy type with a swarm of Cuckoos at least once. Lock each region’s activities until at least one enemy is slain by the mighty Cuckoo battalion.

Separation Anxiety

Carry the first metal box you spot everywhere – with the power of Magnesis!

    • Nickname it the “Companion Cube.” 
    • Gift it the coveted bud of a Silent Princess. 
    • Take your cube to the Akkala Tech Lab to perform the ceremonial ritual.
    • “By the power vested in GlaDOS, I pronounce your bond eternal.”
    • Your box must deal the final blow to each enemy you slay, lest it’s lights out for Zelda’s underpaid bodyguard.

 

You’ll need to skip the blights. Also, Dark Beast Ganon will de-spawn your noble, inanimate steed… but it’s the end of the game, so Link earns a lifetime of therapy once the deed is done, I suppose.

 

Territorial Link

Enter each combat without weapons. Whistle for attention. Ritualize staring down opponents. It’s part of an estranged alpha superiority complex. Do a few crouches to assert your dominance. 

BotW’s enemies have amusing behavior patterns, and here’s our chance to savor their depth.

Region Locked!

Pick your poison: 

    • You can only enter each region once OR
    • Finalize a certain number of tasks before bouncing elsewhere.

Honestly, challenges become more enticing when role-playing to the extreme. These jobs grant our Triforce of Courage a steady paycheck:

  • Ameteur LARPer – Wear decorative armor only. Limit swordplay to charge attacks. Stamina upgrades are forbidden.
  • Treasure Hunter – Only chests are lootable. Ignore random drops.
  • Fisherman – Bombs are for fishing or solving shrine puzzles only.
  • International Man of Mystery – Adorn Link in stealth armor throughout your playthrough. Sneak before striking your prey. Crouch before chatting up NPC’s.
  • Chef – Link can only sell cooked meals to vendors. Canonically, you share your raw meats with stable dogs.
  • Pirate – Navigate from one corner of the map to another with a raft. No touching other surfaces. Your main goal is balancing gratuitous amounts of loot on your vessel.
  • Hitman – Sell exclusively monster loot to vendors.
  • Preacher – Don’t spend Spirit Orbs on stamina. Only pious individuals may speak with Link.
  • Jockey – Link must drag his horse everywhere, including glitching through divine beast dungeons.
  • Athlete – No walking or fast traveling. Push beyond your body’s limitations with stamina potions. 
  • Rancher – Drop off a Cucco and five lumps of raw meat in every region. Use Link’s “no sword” animation to pet every dog you stumble across.
  • Farmer – Link can only sell raw produce to vendors. No plucking harvests during rain.
  • Astronaut Trainee – Here’s a challenge run that’ll encourage you to learn nutty glitches. Link can only traverse the map with flying machines, wind bombs, or bullet-time bounces.
  • Carpenter – Max out Links inventory solely with stacks of lumber. Bonus points for clearing the game with a woodcutter’s axe.
  • Demolitionist – Bombs are king. Sprinkle them on everything.
  • Poacher – Only parts from Lynels, Hinox, and Moldugas can be sold to vendors.
  • Conservationist – Link can’t chop trees or gather endangered mushrooms. He can only kill enemies who appear in groups.
  • Electrician – Link can’t carry any metal gear. No entering buildings during thunderstorms.
  • Arsonist – Link must shoot each building he passes with bomb arrows. 
  • Architect – This is basically a Tarrey Town speedrun, except you can’t use bombs or swords to harvest stacks of wood.
  • Lawyer – No rescuing weary travelers or engaging in side quests. It’s bad for business. You also need to read every book and journal entry in the game.
  • CEO – No stamina upgrades OR stamina-boosting foods. Compel monsters to brawl amongst themselves as much as humanly possible. (Heads up, the guards outside of Gerudo town can disarm enemies.)
  • Scientist – Reach 100% completion on the compendium without activating any combat.
  • Delivery Man – Ignore the plot entirely. Set a timer and deliver 100 Hydromelons to Akkala, 100 hearty bass to Gerudo Village, 100 frozen meats to Lurelin Village, and 100 mighty bananas to the Yiga-Clan Hideout. No fast traveling.
  • Weatherman – No flurry rush. Link can only sell dragon shards or star fragments to vendors, and he can only navigate thunderstorms on horseback.

 

Food secures an enormous role in Breath of the Wild. Naturally, it lays splendid brickwork for challenge run ideas.

  • Atkins Run: Red meats only. Note that most OP foods are vegetarian.
  • Vegan Run: Wave passionate farewell to meat and dairy. Scott Pilgrim says it grants you superpowers. It also means no gear that uses animal parts – sparing Rito feathers since they molt naturally.
  • Paleo/Caveman Run: No cooked foods.
  • Pescatarian Run: Nibbling Fish Sticks for days. Also, no mingling with the Zora.
  • Juice Cleanse Run: We only tolerate elixirs or milk during this playthrough. Poor Link. Please vanquish Ganon fast.
  • Germaphobe: No picking food up off the ground (or collecting Korok dung for inventory upgrades.)
  • Snackaholic Run: Set a timer. Stop for a snack every 2 minutes. If you miss a meal, delete your file and restart the run. Unacceptable.
  • Dukan Run: No healing during battle music. Also, no carbs. They’ll go straight to Link’s hips.
  • Pica Link: Rock-hard food only. Recipes must include wood or rocks.
  • Food Critic Run: Only eat cooked food fresh at stables. The birth of a blood moon spoils gathered ingredients.
  • Protégé Run: Unique recipes only.
  • Picky Toddler Diet: No food allowed. You can heal at shrines, hot springs, or inns. If you can bug the unused asset for ice cream into your save file, I’ll allow it.

Run-less Run

Pretend there’s a lifeguard on duty. No walking. No running. You can parry and flip. You can paraglide. You can shield surf like a champ. You can wind bomb. You can climb and swim. But don’t you dare walk. Yes, It’s been done before.

Top-Down Camera Condition Run

Pick an event or two that results in pointing your camera straight down until a condition is met. I’ll toss a few sample ideas:

    • Get hit -> Camera down until battle music ceases.
    • Tame a horse -> Camera down until the horse is fed.
    • Hear a shrine -> Camera down until entering a shrine. (The Dueling Peaks find this idea hilarious.)

Map-View Challenge Run

Remember the days of lounging around playing online text-based games with dozens of AOL instant messenger windows fluttering in the background? How’s your back feeling?

Anyway, here’s a potential throwback.

The inventory storage glitch allows BotW to resume through inventory menus and navigation UI. From there, you can play BotW – in its entirety – from the overhead map screen. See how far you can trek with just ambient sounds and a map overview as guidance.

I’ll link a video tutorial below, but here’s the gist…

You’ll need these to get the glitch rolling:

    • An upgraded Sheikah sensor
    • A minimum of 1 Hyrule compendium entry
    • Access to Hyrule castle
    • The camera rune
    • A save file near a goddess statue (if you want invincibility and infinite stamina. This also opens the opportunity to play on a fresh save file)

You want to waltz up to the front gate of Hyrule castle. 

Draw your weapon, whip out your shield, then pause (and parry) nimbly enough to glitch the game into bringing up a standard Hyrule map. Note that the game normally loads a 3D dungeon map of Hyrule Castle. 

If you successfully pull it off, you’ll see a random cursor appear on-screen. It’s smooth sailing from there.

If you want the aid of infinite stamina and invincibility, you’ll need to load your save file near the goddess statue and follow a few extra steps to activate the ARMS glitch.

Note: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!

Slay Every Monster in Hyrule (without respawns)

You can deactivate the day/night cycle by clipping outside the Shrine of Resurrection. It’s actually easy to do. The camera rune on your Sheikah Slate pushes Link into walls. Here’s a tutorial.

One-Hit Obliterator Run

You can sneak out of the Shrine of Resurrection with the One-Hit Obliterator thanks to a complex sequence of glitch exploitation. As expected, The Obliterator drops Link to a quarter heart of health and healing becomes futile. 

You guessed it. Beat the game with a quarter heart and a beastly weapon.

Become A Lynel

I’m 100% serious. You’ll need the DLC and the Master Cycle. Also, probably this video.

Ocarina of Time Challenge Run Ideas

Ocarina of Time Challenge Runs. Child Link holding his ocarina in front of Saria in the Lost Woods.

Time to whip out that cartridge and show Saria the Kokiri special. Time to feel Epona’s thunderous gallop and absorb the ominous, blistering winds of the Gerudo Desert. Time to dust off your ocarina, king.

As history’s first game to secure a perfect IGN review score, Ocarina of Time boasts a pedigree like no other. Let’s exploit it to the fullest, shall we?

The Uber Challenge is the most renowned challenge run in the OoT community. It requires meticulousness and refined skill. The founder, Manocheese, published a guide to assist brave champions itching to test their mettle. 

Let’s dive into the rules:

  • Stick to 3 hearts, and no Heart Piece healing.
  • Buy a Giant’s Knife and break it ASAP. Leave it equipped (unless butchering Ganon or perusing the Graveyard.)
  • Gather the 6 Medallions.
  • 1 Bottle Limit.
  • Only use your bottle to escort Ruto’s Letter to King Zora.
  • No deaths. The counter at file select must say 000.
  • No Iron Boots.
  • No upgraded capacities.
  • No Great Fairy gifts except Magic Meter and Din’s Fire.
  • No Gold Skulltula family gifts from 20 or more Gold Skulltulas.
  • No Goron Bracelet.
  • No Fire Arrows.
  • No Lens of Truth.
  • No Longshot.
  • No Silver Scale.
  • No Zora Tunic.
  • No Gerudo’s Card.
  • No Maps or Compasses.
  • No Biggoron’s Sword.
  • Cannot employ Action Replay, Gameshark, etc.
  • Cannot manipulate Crooked Cartridge bugs
  • Din’s Fire is unauthorized outside the central room of the Water Temple.
  • No using Megaton Hammer outside the Fire Temple.
  • Deku Sticks are banned.
  • Crouch-stabs are banned.
  • Link is permitted to learn three songs: The Song of Time, Zelda’s Lullaby, and Minuet of Forest.
  • No entering Forest Temple before acquiring the Shadow Medallion.
  • Dispatch Dark Link.

Lava Rupees

Collecting a rupee equals insta-death. You’ll need to draw an exception for the Kokiri Sword, Deku Shield, and one stack of Deku Nuts. Other than that, rupees are your toughest adversary.

Economic Stimulus Run

Our goal is simulating Hyrule during a harrowing recession. We want to encourage Link to shop and spend rupees, but limit their availability:

    • Achieve 100% completion. That means purchasing the full stock of magic beans, too.
    • You’re a doomsday prepper now. Only enter dungeons after maxing out every item stack. 
    • No picking up item drops from monsters, pots, or crates. It’s unlawful.
    • Loot grass patches once per run.
    • Play mini-games only for upgrades. Rupee rewards are forbidden.
    • Obtain rupees that regenerate only once.
    • Each sellable item can only be sold once. Supply and demand.
    • No milking cows. Link lacks the proper permit.
    • No looting bottled fairies from fountains. It’s inhumane.

 

Landscaper Run

Don’t mow down shrubs. Hoard your Deku Seeds at all costs.

No Zora Tunic

Link visibly illustrates that green is his color. Blue garb belongs on Sheik and Shiro.

Musically-Challenged

OoT has more skippable tracks than you may realize:

    • Skip Epona’s Song – You can clear the gorge before Gerudo Desert with a longshot.
    • Skip Saria’s Song – We’re shipping Princess Ruto today.
    • Skip Sun’s Song – What? I’m not scared of graveyards! You are!
    • Skip Song of Storms – We’re boycotting the growth of Deku Scrubs.
    • Skip Warp Songs – It’s time to quit skipping leg day.

Half Hour Timer

This challenge speaks for itself. You’ll need to familiarize yourself with glitches like the shadow temple sequence break. Skipping the Deku Tree won’t hurt, either. Players submit sub-4-minute any% runs. Average joes can attain a half-hour run. I promise.

Note: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this! 

Vampiric Life Timer

Set a timer. Link must track down and slay a monster before it expires. If you fail, reload your last save. Rinse and repeat. I recommend 3 minutes.

No-Hit Challenge

In OoT, you can take a damage-free run a step further to include:

    • No fall damage
    • No shielding
    • No invincibility frames

 

Then, we tack on the “True Completionist” challenge:

    • Collect every heart piece
    • Collect the 10 big Poe
    • Garner all 4 bottles
    • Compile all 100 golden Skulltulas
    • Obtain fire, ice, and water arrows
    • Obtain the Biggoron Sword

 

  • Archers wield slingshots in combat except in areas that forbid it.
  • Flame Knights fight exclusively with flaming Deku Sticks, bombs, Bombchus, and Din’s Fire.
  • Bards whip out the ocarina for a quick tune whenever there’s an audience. Original heartfelt melodies. Avoid playing the same song twice.
  • Pyrocasters always resort to Din’s fire after unlocking it. Once obtaining the Goron Tunic, they reject all other outfits.
  • Barbarians avoid talking to non-Goron NPC’s unless forced into it. They dislike shields and wholeheartedly embrace the Megaton Hammer – to a fault.
  • Clay Potters scan their environment to win scuffles exclusively with pots. It’s not im-pots-able.
  • Peasants wield Deku and wooden items, carry a single bottle, and can’t store healing items. They can only interact with key NPC’s.
  • Anglers spend rupees solely on the fishing hole.
  • Clerics can only bottle potions. They strictly ride Epona to vault fences and Gerudo Valley. Their pacifistic nature forces them to attempt Zelda’s Lullaby at least once on each enemy type.
  • Merchants must sell their looted Deku items and bombs until their wallet is full. They can’t scalp free cow’s milk or break pots inside buildings.

 

26 A-Press Limiter Challenge

Innovative name, yes? I asked Talon, Malon, and Ingo for advice.

If you enjoy low-percentage runs but detest the pressure of a speedrun, here’s your alternative.

No B-Button

Taking the swordless challenge to the next level! You’ll need to glitch the game upon reaching the shadow temple to beat it as Young Link.

Max 2 C-Equips

More item cycling gives neat-freaks an adrenaline rush.

No Z-Targets

Show off your 360 no-scopes, chief.

  • Access The Flying Carpet Without Hover Boots.
  • Cucco Jump Challenge – Jump over Gerudo Valley gate as Child Link with a Cucco.

Dice-Roll Killing Criteria

When encountering a new enemy type, roll a six-sided die. Your roll dictates how you’ll handle those enemies for the remainder of the run. In instances where the rolled method is deemed impossible, you can attack freely.

1 – Double backflip and roll combo slash.

2 – Long range only.

3 – Deku items only.

4 – Charged attacks and pots only.

5 – Circle taunt after hitting enemies.

6 – Fire 3 warning shots into the sky before each use of Z-targeting. If you’re out of ammo, don’t Z-target.

Iron Boot Frolic

For anyone who romanticizes the lifestyle of a sloth.

Roll-Spam Shot Glass

Take a shot of something if you notice yourself rolling three times in succession. Hot sauce, mayo, I don’t care. It’s your life.

Super Slide Reverse Moonwalk Run

You can glitch a “Super Slide” by igniting a bomb and backflipping on the third flash. Then, roll forward while holding the shield button (ZR+A+R.) You’ll initiate an infinite backward slide. You can end the slide by releasing R.

Navigate Hyrule backward as much as possible. Bonus points if you clear dungeons this way.

Note: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!

Infinite Sword Glitch Run

Basically, the Infinite Sword Glitch (ISG) converts Link into a steamroller with a hot, jabby skewer. Although, the glitch de-activates any time you receive damage, enter a loading screen, or water… and a few other things I won’t spoil. Link physically can’t drop from surfaces with ISG active, either.

Translation: You’ll constantly be fishing for new assets to re-activate ISG. Dropping from ledges also requires punctilious planning.

Another new layer of challenge is that Link cannot drop from surfaces with ISG active.

You can activate ISG from signs, NPC’s, bombs, or anything that interrupts Link’s button inputs.

    • Stand in front of a checkable asset
    • Press the R button to use your shield
    • Press B to crouch-stab
    • Click A to check the object in front of you
    • If executed correctly, your sword will glow white

 

Note: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!

 

The Dank% Speedrun

OoT’s best sweats devised a brilliant meme run. They scurry through a complex sequence of events to glitch Young Link into holding a lit Deku Stick like an Ocarina. The run ends when Mr. Twig burns to a crisp, insinuating red-eye… among other things.

It’s wild enough to mint an aspiring young speedrunner. Here’s a TAS run for guidance.

Majora's Mask Challenge Run Ideas

Majora's Mask Challenge Runs. Happy Mask Salesman with his angry, deranged smile.

Ah, Majora’s Mask. 

The endless loop of imminent despair. The macabre existential nightmare looming over an innocent child clad in green. The abhorrent yet tantalizing juxtaposition of a malicious mask puppeteer. The thinly-threaded, fleeting expressions of the Happy Mask Salesman as he devolves into a cyclonic rift of emotional instability…

And holy side-quest, Batman!

I treasure every frame. 

Nintendo copy/pasted Ocarina’s engine, so a couple challenge runs overlap. No worries. I’ve penciled in plenty to distinguish the two.

The Three Day Challenge

Beat the game in the second 3-day cycle.

Swordless Run + Tax

Want to know what’s better than shoveling out obnoxious corporate fees? Recreating them in your favorite video games! 

Upgrade your sword at the smithy, then abandon it for an extra 100 rupee charge every cycle.

Gear-Ban Checklist

  • Transformation masks only.
  • No fairies.
  • Banish milk and red potions.
  • Ban chateau Romani and green potions.
  • 1 fairy upgrade and 1 bottle limit.
  • Defeat Majora without the fierce deity mask.

 

Fall Asleep% Speedrun

Speedrunners rarely stomach nine minutes of cutscenes, but they’ll hurdle through for the sake of memes. And they spend the other minute rushing toward Nana to snooze to her lifeless stories. Mad lads. 

That’s the challenge run. Try to reach “fall asleep%” within ten minutes.

Toilet Paper% Speedrun

Good old-fashioned Halloween pranks for our Hallowed Eve of Melancholic Doomsday. It’s not like there’s anything better for Link to be doing. Aim for less than 7 minutes. Here’s your mission:

    1. Load into Termina.
    2. Slip past the mayor, and pick up Kafei’s mask. 
    3. Rendezvous with your lady-friend at midnight.
    4. Turn the corner and flush her letter down a dingy toilet. 

Half Hour Timer

This challenge speaks for itself. You’ll need to familiarize yourself with glitches like the shadow temple sequence break. Skipping the Deku Tree won’t hurt, either. Players submit sub-4-minute any% runs. Average joes can attain a half-hour run. I promise.

Note: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this! 

Vampiric Life Timer

Set a timer. Link must track down and slay a monster before it expires. If you fail, reload your last save. Rinse and repeat. I recommend 3 minutes.

No-Hit Challenge

In OoT, you can take a damage-free run a step further to include:

    • No fall damage
    • No shielding
    • No invincibility frames

 

Then, we tack on the “True Completionist” challenge:

    • Collect every heart piece
    • Collect the 10 big Poe
    • Garner all 4 bottles
    • Compile all 100 golden Skulltulas
    • Obtain fire, ice, and water arrows
    • Obtain the Biggoron Sword

 

Dice-Roll Killing Criteria

When encountering a new enemy type, roll a six-sided die. Your roll dictates how you’ll handle those enemies for the remainder of the run. In instances where the rolled method is deemed impossible, you can attack freely.

1 – Double backflip and roll combo slash.

2 – Long range only.

3 – Deku items only.

4 – Charged attacks and pots only.

5 – Circle taunt after hitting enemies.

6 – Fire 3 warning shots into the sky before each use of Z-targeting. If you’re out of ammo, don’t Z-target.

Roll-Spam Shot Glass

Take a shot of something if you notice yourself rolling three times in succession. Hot sauce, mayo, I don’t care. It’s your life.

Bottle Duplication Glitch Run

You can replace any item in your inventory with an extra empty bottle. 

To do this you’ll need to snatch an item in a bottle and sell it to the owner of the Curiosity Shop. If you hold R while selling the item, then immediately pause to swap in another item, it’ll glitch into an empty bottle.

Substitute useful items for bottles once they become obsolete. Your objective? Maximize inventory loss at each given checkpoint.

Note: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!

Super Slide Reverse Moonwalk Run

You can glitch a “Super Slide” by igniting a bomb and backflipping on the third flash. Then, roll forward while holding the shield button (ZR+A+R.) You’ll initiate an infinite backward slide. You can end the slide by releasing R.

Navigate Hyrule backward as much as possible. Bonus points if you clear dungeons this way.

Note: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!

Infinite Sword Glitch Run

Basically, the Infinite Sword Glitch (ISG) converts Link into a steamroller with a hot, jabby skewer. Although, the glitch de-activates any time you receive damage, enter a loading screen, or water… and a few other things I won’t spoil. Link physically can’t drop from surfaces with ISG active, either.

Translation: You’ll constantly be fishing for new assets to re-activate ISG. Dropping from ledges also requires punctilious planning.

Another new layer of challenge is that Link cannot drop from surfaces with ISG active.

You can activate ISG from signs, NPC’s, bombs, or anything that interrupts Link’s button inputs.

    • Stand in front of a checkable asset
    • Press the R button to use your shield
    • Press B to crouch-stab
    • Click A to check the object in front of you
    • If executed correctly, your sword will glow white

Note: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!

The Dank% Speedrun

OoT’s best sweats devised a brilliant meme run. They scurry through a complex sequence of events to glitch Young Link into holding a lit Deku Stick like an Ocarina. The run ends when Mr. Twig burns to a crisp, insinuating red-eye… among other things.

It’s wild enough to mint an aspiring young speedrunner. Here’s a TAS run for guidance.

Permadeath Completionist Run

  • Delete your save file on death.
  • Obtain all 24 masks.
  • Procure the Gilded Sword.
  • Return all stray fairies to their fountains without exploiting their besties for healing or circus stunts.
  • Obtain all OR no heart containers.
  • Note: In 0 heart container runs, you can pick up 3 heart pieces for emergency healing, but you need to skip the 4th fairy fountain since she upgrades health.
  • Complete the Bomber’s Notebook.
  • Save bomb bag, sword, or bow upgrades for when you’ll never use them again.

 

Single-Cycle Max Happiness Run

  • Defeat Majora
  • Detox the Swamp
  • Bring spring to Snowhead
  • Cleanse the Ocean
  • Break the curse residing over the Canyon
  • Reunite Anju and Kafei
  • Solve Kafei’s disappearance for Madame Aroma OR free the Postman
  • Rescue Romani Ranch from alien invasion
  • Protect Cremia’s milk delivery
  • Grow Grog’s chicks into full-fledged chickens
  • Piece together the Great Fairy of Magic
  • Survive Guru-Guru’s confession
  • Allow Kamaro’s spirit to rest
  • Teach the Rosa sisters new moves
  • Dispel the curse of the Swamp Spider House
  • Reunite the Deku Princess with the Monkey 
  • Bring peace to Captain Keeta, Sharp, and Flat
  • Reclaim Lulu’s babies
  • Give Shiro and Kotake strength
  • Reunite the seahorses
  • Allow Gorman to accept his depression
  • Heal Pamela’s father
  • Conclude the endless meeting in the Mayor’s office
  • Find a gift for the Clock Town Business Scrub’s wife

 

Considering the other tasks produce somewhat negative side-effects, we’ll skip them. This run is both a philanthropist’s dream and worst nightmare. You’ll need a guide and a well-planned approach to nail everything in 3 days.

Skyward Sword Challenge Run Ideas

Skyward Sword Challenge Runs. HD Skyloft shopkeep smiling as Link buys bomb bag.

Skyward Sword is the epitome of a cozy, warm blanket game – ripe for pairing with a cup of hot cocoa on a snowy day. Everything feels copacetic.

*Is he just gonna ignore the Silent Realms altogether?*

Let’s remedy that with a painstaking difficulty spike. Collecting crooked stares from the Kikwi in Faron sounds way more fun.

*Yup. He’s ignoring them. Must be a repressed traumatic experience or something.*

We’ll harness Skyward Sword’s innovative combat mechanics by brewing unique challenges to match.

No bells or whistles here. Just an amped up limited heart run.

  • Hero Mode
  • 6 Hearts
  • No bottles
  • No Adventure Pouch items
  • No Scrap Shop upgrading
  • Chair healing only

Slice Timer Challenge

Unequip your shield for the run. Set an hourglass for 10 seconds after every slash. Don’t attack again until flipping the hourglass.

Ghirahim’s Apprentice

This challenge requires you to predict enemy attack patterns. Signal each attack to enemies for one second before slashing in that direction.

Enemy Die Roll Challenge

Pause before each confrontation and roll a die. Your outcome determines your restriction.

1 – Only charged skyward slashes allowed

2 – Slingshot after each successful hit

3 – No picking up enemy loot

4 – Spiral attacks between slash attempts

5 – No attacking above 50% stamina

6 – Wooden shield only. No Shield parries unless you drink a potion or let enemies damage your wooden shield beforehand.

Electric Chairs

Only one healing session per chair. Subsequent sittings short your circuits and reset your save – Death Row style.

Anti-Consumerist Beetle

Your flying beetle companion won’t loot rupees or hearts. That’s right. He’s sentient now. When he’s hurt, you need to shoot three Deku Seeds at the ground to feed and revive him.

Lava Rupees

Reload your previous save file if you pick up any rupees. Saving in dungeons is forbidden. You will reset a lot.

Single Wooden Shield Run

You can repair your wooden shield infinitely, but do not buy another if it breaks. No shield upgrades.

Silent Realm Lock

Run a flawless circle around each tear before collecting it.

Boss Rush Ballerina

Begin each battle with a single heart and unequip your shield. If any boss takes more than 2 minutes to liquidate, restart your progress on boss rush mode.

Region Locked!

Clear a certain percentage of an area before exiting. This includes trips to Skyloft. You’ll need to save tasks for later as backtrack preparation.

Example: collect one heart piece before transitioning between zones.

Beedle, Airbourne Tyrant

If you fail to catch a bug, reload your previous save. Beedle shouts “OHHH!” and “AYYYE!” as he furiously pedals a Bomb Flower barrage from his elaborate chute device.

Deviant/Bad Hair Day Run

Spend at least 100,000 rupees smashing pots in Rupin and Goselle’s house. Don’t buy any new equipment until you can match the item’s cost in fractured antique fines. Trips to Skyloft also cost 20+ rupees in pottery extortion. 

You must also: 

    • Reject quests at least once before accepting. 
    • Swing your sword at outdoor NPC’s.
    • Faceplant every landing when leaping from your Loftwing.
    • Blast yourself with the first Bomb Flower you pick up during each instance of refilling your bag.
    • Miss each bug at least 3 times before collecting it.
    • Blow off enemies small bipedal enemies with the Gust Bellows.
    • Land 10 headshots by throwing pots at NPC’s before entering the Temple of Time.

 

Fi Monologue Shot Glass

If Fi drones more than 10 words, take a shot of milk. If she blathers 5 words with three syllables or more, drink two. Your bones will thank you tomorrow.

Tilted Lens

If you’re playing Skyward Sword HD on Switch, grab a twirly office chair. Maneuver your camera exclusively with tilt controls. Bonus points: Slap on an old pair of 3D glasses.

Aspiring Apothecary

Look, this needs to be an obsession. You can only store bottles in your Adventure Pouch. Don’t use those bottles for anything other than potions. Shop only for potions.

Phobia Runs

  • Vertigo – Point your camera down any time you’re on an elevated surface with a visible ledge.
  • Hydrophobe – Deplete your stamina meter after exiting bodies of water.
  • Pisanthrophobe – Empty your ammo reserves whenever you pick up a heart.
  • Technophobe – No using maps or markers. No entering Beedle’s shop. Blast all guardians with bombs before sparking conversation.
  • Nyctophobe – Dash through the silent realms with the camera facing backward.
  • Sonophobic – If you trigger an explosion, close your eyes for three seconds and sprint in random directions.
  • Germaphobe – Deplete your stamina meter after exiting quicksand.
  • Photophobic – No close-range combat if enemies harness electrical attacks. After charging a Skyward Slash, you must wave your sword in two complete circles. After unleashing a Skyward Slash, spin Link in two circles.

Relic Hoard-A-Thon

Ban clearing an area without obtaining any relics. Duplicates are fair. If you don’t find any relics, however, exit and re-enter the room to respawn enemies.

No Tagbacks!

It’s like playing tag, but with gusto! Any time you absorb damage, backtrack to the previous room, respawn the Bokoblins, and try again.

No Pushing, Blasting, or Carving Backtrack Landmarks

Ignore shortcuts (like logs and boulder piles.) If you accidentally cleave through a dungeon shortcut, ignore it.

Twilight Princess Challenge Run Ideas

Twilight Princess Challenge Runs. Midna Riding Link in TPHD.

Twilight Princess struts deviant undertones unparalleled by other Legend of Zelda titles. The atmosphere is downright chilling. The muted color palette and jagged edges ooze with unrivaled charm. 

Twilight Princess captured ‘06 culture like an ethereal Big Poe aimlessly wandering the Arbiter’s Grounds.

Heck, Midna alone cranks replay value to the furthest reaches of the Eldin Province. She’s one of the best-written female characters in gaming history.

And who doesn’t love parading around as a dark-maned lone wolf protag? 

The Twilight Challenge is likely the most well-established TP tribulation you’ll discover. It’s grueling and unforgiving – but attainable. It doesn’t prattle a mile-long list of forgettable rules. Credible. Concrete. Concise.

Give it a try:

  • 3 Hearts Max
  • Complete the game without dying 
  • No warping unless teleporting to the bridge or Sky Cannon
  • Complete the Cave of Ordeals
  • Do not buy the Hylian Shield
  • Finish the game without burning the Ordon Shield

The Gauntlet

Start a new save file and play up to the City in the Sky without retrieving any heart pieces or containers. Ignore bottles, aside from Sera’s gift. Reject quiver extensions and bomb bag upgrades.

Enter the cave of ordeals with the following gear:

    • The Ordon Sword
    • The Wooden or Ordon Shield
    • Zora Armor
    • No Healing Items

 

You get the picture. The Zora Armor is weak to fire and ice, and the Wooden Shield gets burned.

The Ordeals Hitless Challenge

In this challenge, Link can’t lose a heart. Magic Armor upgrades are banned. Clear at least 30 floors. Any equipment is permissible.

Look, I’m compressing low-percentage runs. The ultra-hardcore stuff literally involves staring at rupees for days.

I won’t kink shame if that’s your thing… But the rest of us crave something more along the lines of this:

  • Zantastic – Defeat Zant with the spinner.
  • Watch Your Step – No walking during combat. Instead, jump and roll.
  • Slow Your Roll – No rolling during combat.
  • Boss Prompt Saves Only – Reject the retry prompt, too.
  • No Breaking Breakables – Take only photos. Leave only footprints.
  • No Upgrades – Stock wallet and ammo bring out the survivalist in us all.
  • Woodless Run – Burn your Wooden Shield with a fiery vengeance. 
  • No Hidden Skills – Ending blow is permissible.
  • Lost And Alone – Turn off your mini-map. Speak with NPC’s once a pop, unless the story prompts otherwise.
  • One bottle limit.
  • No magic armor.

 

The Ironman Challenge (GCN/Wii)

Sometimes, Link trains with weighted boots. Maybe he’s a Taekwondo enthusiast. 

Alright, so you’re probably wondering why I lumped Ironman into ‘glitch’ runs. The short answer is: Twilight Princess does it right. This isn’t some half-hearted challenge we tack on during the fourth act of a run. Iron Boots will be your first item. No questions asked.

The Back in Time glitch produces a side-effect of early Iron Boot access. You can visit Bo’s house on days 2 and 3, and I’ve seen players consistently reach that point within 8 minutes of gameplay.

Plus, we can spice up the challenge run with some extra flaming hoops to jump through:

      • Use the Back in Time glitch to create a new save file. It’s easiest if you hop in some lava or quicksand. Press reset the moment Link has sunk halfway between his wrists and knuckles.
      • Procure Iron Boots before progressing through the game.
      • Battle all bosses and mini-bosses while wearing Iron Boots. 
      • Use the roll damage on Iron Boots to deal finishing blows to at least 30 enemies.
      • To prevent locking your progress, complete the sword and shield skip.

 

Swashbuckler Run (AKA Pirate ArrrTA)

Here’s an obscure speedrun priding itself in scurvy and rum. Let’s push Link into a band of swashbuckling pirates.

But, alas, we must honor the pirate’s code:

    • Obtain the Iron Peg Legs (Iron Boots)
    • Retrieve a Cutlass (Master Sword)
    • Acquire a parrot (Ooccoo)
    • Plunder some booty (Chest with 100+ rupees)
    • Procuring a spyglass (Hawkeye)
    • Blast a cannon (Snowpeak Ruins)
    • Sail a worthy ship (Hena’s Fishing Boat)

 

It’s a fun sequence – and perfectly bite-sized. Also, Kudos to the TP community. I adore the cheesy wordplay on RTA (It stands for Real-Time Attack.) 

Here’s your treasure map.

True Lycanthrope Run (GCN Only)

Are you ready to awaken your inner speedrunner?

Midna’s charge attack is exploitable. A target that rests above Wolf Link’s height amplifies his jump arc.

It’s called the Super Jump. It’s possible on any version of Twilight Princess.

However, on GameCube, speedrunners can use the maneuver to shatter collision boundaries outside Faron woods, bestowing Link his beloved Master Sword within 20 minutes of playtime.

But we’re challenge runners. We don’t want the Master Sword. We want that juicy ability to transform from wolf to human at the drop of a dime. And we want to use that ability to hinder ourselves to the brink of insanity.

So, let’s hop to the rules, shall we?

    • Any time you take damage, you must transform.
    • Rolling triggers transformation. If you transform with this method three times in the same loading area, reset to your previous save.
    • As Wolf Link, charged attacks force a transformation. You cannot transform again until taking damage or rolling.
    • As a human, Z-targeting triggers a transformation. You cannot transform again until taking damage.
    • If you have 6 hearts or more, it’s time to sever your dependency to bottled healing items.

 

Note: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!

 

Long Jump Tally-Ho

While we’re practicing our boundary breaks, we’ll invent a game. We’ll tally up the number of voids we can cross with the Long Jump Attack glitch. It’s only possible on GCN and WiiU. The sloppy addition of motion controls on Wii inadvertently broke the glitch.

The challenge run is simple: each time you clear a new platform with LJA, give yourself a point.

So let’s dive straight into execution.

LJA eases combat by thrusting Link into anything he Z-targets, provided the target is higher or across a void.

But you can Z-target more than standard enemies. More importantly, you can Z-target your Gale Boomerang. Actually, it’s automatic. Unless interrupted by movement, Link tracks the Gale Boomerang until it returns.

And as long as you aren’t playing Twilight Princess on Wii, you can unsheathe your sword to leap countless voids across the overworld.

Longer distances between you and the target generate larger jumps. Here’s a full guide.

The Big Kahuna

With the power of glitches, you can surf on land!

This challenge run is relatively straightforward: 

Swim through any level with a shoreline. It’ll turn TP levels into a tight steering monstrosity… probably the closest thing you’ll ever see to Zelda Kart.

Start by swimming along the coast. If you pause at the right moment while turning toward land, you’ll swim across land at blistering speeds.

But if you clip through a wall or a tree, you’ll have to start over.

Bae RTA

Initiate a conversation with all of TP’s underrated beauties. Specifically, the human girls. We aren’t re-enacting any funky scenes from Clerks.

Cutscene conversations don’t count toward Waifu cataloging.

Sweet speedrun, right? If your cranky roommate interrupts your bragging to chirp about touching grass, here’s a video rebuttal. (Spoiler: It’s TouchGrass% in every Zelda game.)

Your time limit is two hours, amigo. If you score faster, consider uploading to the online leaderboards.

Target Bae List:

  • Agitha
  • Ashei
  • Beth
  • Fanadi
  • Hannah
  • Hena
  • Ilia
  • Iza
  • Kili
  • Luda
  • Misha 
  • Pergie
  • Sera
  • Telma
  • Uli

Here’s your official guide.

 

Doggy Daycare

Fire up a new save file and grasp a dog in under three minutes. It’s ironic. In theory, this sounds elementary, but only a handful of people have successfully recorded the achievement.

Wind Waker Challenge Run Ideas

Wind Waker Challenge Runs. Link looks distressed as he sets sail with Tetra.

Deep down, everyone has the spirit of a seafarer. At the edge of a shoreline, we see reflections of hope and opportunity. Waves strewn from romantic fantasies swirl in an elegant display of seafoam.

When Wind Waker first released, the graphic style withstood a typhoon of controversy. It was cartoony and strange. It landed shipwrecked, far adrift from the award-winning formula of past Zelda titles. Yet, as time passed, it aged better than a wheel of artisan Ordon Goat Cheese. It doesn’t stink, for starters.

The howling of the wind awaits, fearless destitute.

Since demand for a currently-nonexistent Wind Waker Uber Challenge exists, I decided to crack one. 

I reviewed footage from MrAlberto’s insanely inspiring World Record Any% speedrun. I noted his gear cuts. 

Then, I reached out to him over Discord. He and I theorized how adding extra collectibles would impact runs.

Ideally, we want to juggle low gear acquisition with a gameplay loop that rewards resourcefulness. Assembling charts without a sword or shield. Breaking boundaries, but soaking up the nostalgic scenery. That’s how we’ll capture the essence of the infamous OoT Uber.

Note that “Barrier Skip” and “Manual Super Swimming” are present in the original run. Moreover, the notoriously annoying “Puppet Ganon Skip” crops up, too. 

In other words… 

In terms of difficulty, this blows the OoT Uber Challenge out of the water. I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the specialized glitch runs below before tackling this monstrosity.

  • Max 3 Hearts
  • One bottle limit. You can only use it five times throughout your run.
  • Compile at Least 30 Treasure Maps (but no looting more than 3 Heart Pieces from chests.)
  • No Sail or delivery bag until at least 10 treasure maps are obtained.
  • Obtain the Shop Guru Statue.
  • Complete the Sea Chart.
  • No Heroes Sword or Master Sword.
  • No Mirror Shield.
  • No Telescope
  • Bombs – Bag Upgrade Permitted.
  • Heroes Bow – Quiver Upgrade Permitted.
  • No Skull Hammer
  • No Boomerang
  • No Hyoi Pear
  • No Bait Bag
  • No Spoils Bag
  • No Hookshot
  • No Fire or Ice Arrows
  • No Power Bracelets
  • No Iron Boots
  • No Heroes Charm
  • No Pirates Charm
  • No Magic Armor
  • No Pictobox or Deluxe Pictobox
  • No All-Purpose Bait
  • No Fill-Up Coupon
  • No Cabana Deed

Gear Chopping Block –

  • No magic armor or magic meter upgrades
  • No wallet upgrades
  • No incredible chart
  • Tingle Tuner ban (GCN)
  • One bottle limit
  • No compasses or maps in dungeons
  • No item drops or soups

 

Fire and Ice Arrow Counter

Track the number of elemental arrows you use. Try using fewer each subsequent run.

Limited Save Run

Start with 10 save “tokens” and manage them wisely, grasshopper. That means no save warping unless you’re ready to dwindle your number a tick.

No Swift Sail or Ballad of Gales

Some people hate fun. If you’re one of those people, take it slow. I won’t judge.

No Detours

Follow that main quest line like it’s your childhood crush. Don’t let the temptation of a beautiful siren’s song deter your path.

Region Locked!

Clear a % of an area before leaving an area OR only travel to each area once.

  • Reach 20 hearts.
  • Upgrade Arrow capacity to 99.
  • Upgrade Bomb capacity to 99.
  • Upgrade Wallet capacity to 5,000.
  • Retrieve the Hero’s Charm.
  • Obtain the Magic Armor.
  • Obtain both Member’s Cards.
  • Ink all 49 quadrants of the Sea Chart.
  • Double the Magic Meter capacity.
  • Collect all 4 Bottles.
  • Collect the 23 Blue Chu Jellies and unlock the Green and Blue Potions at the Chu Jelly Juice Shop.
  • Gather all 61 Treasure/Triforce Charts and salvage their treasures.
  • Bring Zunari all 12 Shop decorations.
  • Get all 134 Figurines for the Nintendo Gallery.
  • Obtain 5 Tingle Statues.
  • Seize the entire Windfall Auction.
  • Complete the Windfall Island discount event.
  • Complete the Forsaken Fortress discount event.
  • Salvage the 148 Ring of Light treasures, excluding any that respawn on full moons.
  • Master the Song of Passing.
  • Master the Spin Attack.
  • Obtain Master rank from Orca by hitting him 1,000 times.
  • Activate every Warp Pot, excluding Diamond Steppe Island.
  • Surrender 99 Joy Pendants to Mrs. Marie.
  • Pour Water onto the five withered Bomb Flowers near Dragon Roost Cavern.
  • Place a Shop Guru Statue in all 37 Decoration pedestals.
  • Complete each level of the Sliding Picture Puzzle.
  • Complete 51 floors of the savage labyrinth.
  • Defeat the 6 Big Octos.
  • Complete the Dragon Roost Cavern treasure hunt and uncover the hidden chest.
  • Complete the Forbidden Woods treasure hunt.
  • Assemble all five pages of The Legend of the Fairy in the Tower of the Gods.

Boatless Super Swim Run

Link gains swim speed in increments of 3 units/frame. Normally, that value caps out at 18.

When turning around, he loses 3 units of speed instead. 

If you perpetually change Link’s direction, his speed values decrease into negative integers. Those don’t cap out. Eventually, he bugs through the water, reaching astronomical distances in short periods of time. 

There are two methods for Super Swimming. 

We call the first a “Manual Super Swim” or MSS. It’s a handy early-game tool when items are scarce. Speedrunners skip to Dragon Roost with MSS before the smoke wafts from the starting gun. 

Pause buffering keeps inputs brisk. It’s helpful for climbing through negative integers. Still, proper timing demands practice. Here’s a guide.

Camera Lock Super Swim” is easier to maintain. You can whip out your trusty Wind Waker on any ledge with an obstacle. It’ll force Link to face the camera. You can nudge him off the ridge and enter what’s referred to as a “storage state.” This state helps automate direction flips while swimming. 

That’s a brief explanation, at least. You’ll want a full guide if you’re serious about trying this.

Note: You’ll crash the game if you outpace buffering speeds. Practice methods for slowing down before abandoning a save point.

You know what to do from here. Enjoy.

Item Sliding

A land-based super swim equivalent exists. It’s called the Item Slide. Setup requires one pinpoint analog stick input. With experience, you’ll clear entire rooms in a single frame.

    • Equip a first-person item like a slingshot and walk forward.
    • Pause the game.
    • In the pause menu, gently press down on the control stick. You’re aiming for the precise location where the game first registers a non-neutral input. We refer to that position as ESS.
    • Unpause while maintaining the ESS input. If Link remains stationary, you aren’t pressing the stick hard enough. If Link is creeping backward, you’re tilting too much. Otherwise, you’re golden.
    • Longer inputs escalate speed. When you’re ready to ease momentum, slash your sword, whip out a bomb, or target with ZL. All three are efficient.

 

That barely scratches the surface of Item Slides. You can unveil more methods, applications, and calibration techniques in this video.