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.
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.
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!
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.
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 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:
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:
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!
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:
Honestly, challenges become more enticing when role-playing to the extreme. These jobs grant our Triforce of Courage a steady paycheck:
Food secures an enormous role in Breath of the Wild. Naturally, it lays splendid brickwork for challenge run ideas.
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:
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:
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
Then, we tack on the “True Completionist” challenge:
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.
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.
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.
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
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:
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:
Then, we tack on the “True Completionist” challenge:
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.
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
Single-Cycle Max Happiness Run
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 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.
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:
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
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 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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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?
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:
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.
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.
Gear Chopping Block –
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.
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.
That barely scratches the surface of Item Slides. You can unveil more methods, applications, and calibration techniques in this video.