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Skyloft
Early Goddess Sword
Method 1 - BiTSave
After speaking with Instructor Horwell, save at the Upper Academy statue. Activate BiT via the killing post (the top right post on the bridge leading to the goddess statue). Perform a BiTSave using the Upper Academy statue to reach BiT Skyloft, then run to the goddess statue to obtain the Goddess Sword.
Note that, due to text differences, this trick is actually slower in the Japanese version by about 3 seconds. Thus, this trick would only be used for PAL or NTSC version speedruns.
This method is generally prefered over the following one in routes that has to perform many Early Light Pillars. This is because after obtaining the Goddess Sword you can strike the Goddess Crest then leave (without placing the Tablet) to rescue your loftwing. This will allow you to have the tablet pedestal immediately raised during Back in Time if you keep a file saved on Skyloft.
If the timesave from raising the pedestal isn't significant, then the following method is usually faster.
Method 2 - Goddess Sword RBM
This method is usually performed after meeting Zelda. Save at the Lower Academy Statue, then activate BiT via the west cliff. In BiT, sidehop off the bridge to your right as you get control over Link and bonk the tree behind you after having opened the splash screen to load the scene flags from your skyloft file. This opens the Lower Academy Gates via BiTMagic. Go through the lower gates and enter the Goddess Statue. Pick up the Goddess Sword and start your file right as you finish charging the skyward strike. This will set the inventory flag for having the goddess sword on your file.
Video forthcoming
You will not know at first if you succeded at the back in time, as you will need to reload the area before the sword appears on Link's back. Simply run into the Groose cutscene and you will know if it worked after you skip it.
Skip the Wing Ceremony Cutscene
Discovered by Aruki
After the flight tutorial, it's possible to skip the cutscene leading into the Wing Ceremony by sidehopping out of the trigger before it starts. Hold Z while you select cancel at the save prompt, and then mash or time the sidehop. The window for this is only 2 frames, so it can be difficult to get. Once you're outside the cutscene trigger, you can dive off Skyloft to start the Wing Ceremony.
As a backup strat, you can save at the prompt before attempting this trick; then if you miss it, activate BiT via a Corrupt File and BiTWarp to the Bazaar statue. You can then dive off the platform to start the Wing Ceremony. This loses a minute to the sidehop method, but saves time over watching the cutscene.
The prompt only gives you the 2-frame window to sidehop if you continue playing from the prompt. You will be unable to get it if you attempt to reload your file at this prompt to continue attempting the sidehop, as it does not allow for any inputs.
Skip the Fi Chase
After obtaining the Sailcloth, save and quit at the Upper Academy statue. Activate BiT using a Corrupt File. If you have a Skyloft file saved after meeting Zelda or Groose but before the start of the Fi Chase you should use BiTMagic to open the Academy Gates. Perform a BiTSave using the Upper Academy statue to reach BiT Skyloft, then run to the Goddess Statue to place the Emerald Tablet.
This is only a couple seconds faster than chasing Fi optimally; also note that if you do not do Early Goddess Sword, you will not have a Corrupt File, and thus you should chase Fi normally.
Skip the Sailcloth
With Back in Time it is possible to skip the Sailcloth and the Wing Ceremony. The idea is to activate BiT after rescuing the Loftwing, and use that to get to the Goddess Statue early. Then it is possible to place the Emerald Tablet, get the Hero's Tunic and fly to Faron. This skip was once only useful in Harp speedruns, because skipping the Sailcloth also means not unlocking the doors inside the Academy. This prevented being able to enter Owlan's room to learn the Spiral Charge. However, with Song of the Hero skip, both Any% and All Dungeons speedruns can skip the Spiral Charge, and thus do not need to unlock the doors on the upper floor of the academy. This allows Sailcloth Skip to be used in these runs.
After the flight tutorial, save and quit at the prompt. Activate BiT using a Corrupt File. Once in BiT, perform BiTMagic by bonking the tree right below where you spawn to open the academy gates, skipping having to jump off Skyloft and respawn and saving a few seconds.
From there you have two options.
Method 1 - Reverse BiTWarp
Go towards the goddess statue, start your file first then enter the loading zone to end Back in Time and load your file inside the Goddess Statue. From there, place the Emerald Tablet.
This ONLY works if you are saved at the Wing Ceremony Save Prompt: a Reverse BiTWarp will simply load the area you try to enter normally while ending BiT in that case. If you attempt this Reverse BiTWarp while saved at a statue instead you will end up OoB in the Goddess Statue, causing a softlock.
Method 2 - BiTSave
Perform a BiTSave at the Upper Academy statue to reach BiT Skyloft, then run to the goddess statue and place the Emerald Tablet. Continue normally from there.
Method 3 - BiTSave combined with Practice Sword Story Flag RBM
Discovered by sva
Obtaining the Practice Sword sets a story flag that allows the Sheikah Stone cutscene to play outside the Sparring Hall. That Sheikah Stone cutscene is useful because when activated during Back in Time, it sets a scene flag that allows Dousing the Second Flame Wall outside of the Fire Sanctuary using the Reverse BiTMagic technique, skipping the use for the clawshots. If you skip the Practice Sword (using the Early Goddess Sword technique), then you will not be able to trigger that cutscene and you won't be able to enter the Fire Sanctuary without the Clawshots in a fast maneur.
This trick sets the story flag for having obtained the Practice Sword without collecting the Practice Sword legitimately on your file. BiTSave your file at the UA statue, then enter the Sparring Hall. Select a Corrupt File then open the Practice Sword chest. Wait for the Practice Sword text to appear on screen then select your run file, and start your run file on the 2nd textbox. This RBMs the story flag for having obtained the Practice Sword. Now you will be able to trigger the sheikah stone cutscene later during Back in Time using that file.
Notes:
- Do not collect a rupee/stamina fruit/heart with any file other than the Corrupt File, and do not open the Practice Sword chest with any other file either, otherwise the game will crash.
- This RBM does not grant you the Practice Sword even if done before obtaining any sword. To obtain the Practice Sword via Back in Time the timing is different (you need to start your file a lot earlier).
Skip the Adventure Pouch
After placing the Emerald Tablet, save and quit at the prompt. Activate BiT using a Corrupt File. Perform a BiTSave using the Bazaar statue, then dive off Skyloft to fly to the surface.
This trick can be used in Harp speedruns, but is only slightly faster for non-Japanese speedruns. If you need a bottle to access the Fire Sanctuary it is much slower to perform.
Spawn Closer to Faron
When you first fly to the surface, jump off the platform at the bottom of the lower academy stairs. Curve your skydive so that Link is aiming to the left and then call your loftwing. You will hit a spawn point closer to Faron than if you had just jumped off normally.
Spawn Closer to Lanayru
When you exit out of the goddess statue, the fastest way to fly to Lanayru is to jump off the platform facing Eldin, and then turn your dive and move towards the western side of Skyloft before calling your bird. This will activate the laoding zone towards the western side of the sky instead of the northeastern side facing Eldin.
Early Goddess's Silent Realm
Using Reverse BiTMagic and Faron Back in Time, it is possible to load the Trial Gate for the final Silent Realm onto Skyloft. This skips the entire Song of the Hero, but allows the Stone of Trials to be obtained for accessing Sky Keep. This makes it ideal for All Dungeons speedruns. The corresponding flag is 9x20 and there are 2 methods for performing it:
Method 1 - Faron Woods BiT
Video Forthcoming
This trick requires a file saved right before bonking the mushrooms that Machi the Kikwi hides behind at the start of Faron Woods. The corresponding flag is set after bonking the second mushroom, or after calling Fi near the mushrooms. The file setup for this trick is specific (the slots can be switched around):
- File 1: Run File, saved in Skyloft
- File 2: File saved before beating Skyview Temple. You also must not have bonked the mushrooms yet (this could also be your Faron BiT enabled file)
- File 3: Faron BiT enabled file
Then follow the next steps:
- Activate BiT
- Enter Faron in Back in Time with File 2 selected
- If you haven't watched the Sealed Grounds introductory cutscene yet: Select File 1 to get the log to Behind the Temple down, then select File 3 and skip the Sealed Grounds intro cutscene. Then enter Behind the Temple and Faron Woods WITHOUT RESELECTING ANY FILE (This is to enter Faron Woods in layer 1, see Stealing Flags)
- If you've already watched the Sealed Grounds introductory cutscene: Select File 1 to get the log to Behind the Temple down. Enter both Behind the Temple and Faron Woods with File 2.
- In Faron, go near the Machi mushrooms. If you've already bonked into the first mushroom you should Start File 1 then bonk into the 2nd mushroom. If you haven't you should call Fi near the mushrooms, then Start File 1 and close the 2nd Fi textbox at the same time.
This will RBM the flag onto Skyloft. You do also need to commit the flag before exiting Skyloft; a common method is to shoot a lamp outside the bazaar to spawn a hidden rupee, but it can be any scene flag change.
Method 2 - Lumpy Pumpkin BiT
Video forthcoming
This variatio gives more freedom to the file management. The corresponding flag is talking to Keet (the youngest customer) in the Lumpy Pumpkin after having met Batreaux. This does mean that your run file needs to have met Batreaux in gameplay however. It is good to know that meeting Batreaux in Back in Time (for exemple for Early Temple of Time statue) does work for this. The following file setup will work:
- File 1: Run File, saved in Skyloft, has met Batreaux
- File 2: Faron BiT enabled file
Go to the Lumpy Pumpkin in Back in Time. Make sure the story flag from meeting Batreaux is committed, usually by entering the lumpy pumpkin intro camera pan cutscene with File 1.Select and start File 1 then start talking to Keet during the loading transition. The timing for the flag is when you press A to start talking to Keet (contrarely to most other text RBMs)
You do need to commit the flag before exiting Skyloft; a common method is to shoot a lamp outside the bazaar to spawn a hidden rupee, but it can be any scene flag change.
Skip the Spiral Charge Tutorial
Discovered by sva
Link is actually granted the Spiral Charge as he finishes talking to Professor Owlan on Skyloft, right before jumping into the tutorial. You are not supposed to be able to get away from Owlan with the Spiral Charge however, as there is a ground trigger preventing you from escaping going into the tutorial. If you could jump over that trigger, you could clawshot up to the highest island on Skyloft and go to the Sky from there. This avoids the loading zone to the Spiral Charge Tutorial and leads you to the real Sky with the Spiral Charge. From there you can get the Pumpkin Soup and fight Bilocyte. This skips the tutorial completely.
There are 2 known methods to skip it.
Method 1 - Deathwarp
Talk to Owlan and tell him you give up on learning the Spiral Charge. This removes the Spiral Charge ability. Enter a loading zone then go back to Skyloft and ask Owlan to start the tutorial. Instead of entering the Sky, die off the edge of Skyloft to respawn away from Owlan. From there clawshot up to the highest island and enter the Sky to skip the tutorial.
Method 2 - Combined with Early Life Tree Seedling
This method is best combined with Early Life Tree Seedling, but this means you have to go to the past a second time during the Faron SotH quest. Have your run file saved on Skyloft, and perform Early Life Tree Seedling, except you will want to start your file right before planting the seedling into the ground (instead of closing the textbox). This RBMs the Life Tree Seedling to be planted on Skyloft (temporary flag 0x02 or 0x04). After this, enter the Academy, talk to the Headmaster and Owlan. After talking to Owlan on Skyloft, turn around to look at the Pumpkin patch and you will be teleported to it. Get the Life Tree Seedling then clawshot up to the highest island and fly into the Sky to skip the Spiral Charge Tutorial.
Early Sky Keep
Early Sky Keep is a glitch using BiT that allows you to open Sky Keep on any file. This requires the use of a premade file (that already has the stone of trials).
The glitch requires two things to be setup ahead of time:
- First, you must have a file that has already obtained the Stone of Trials. It does not matter which slot it is in.
- The file you want to open Sky Keep on must be saved at a save prompt, or be a New Adventure or Hero Mode file.
With this setup, activate BiT. You must now load the Stone of Trials into BiT. Obtain a Heart, Stamina Fruit, or Rupee while the file with the Stone of Trials is selected (or if that file is in slot 3, you should not select a file). Now go to the statue where you place the Stone of Trials and stand just out of its range. Select the file you wish to open Sky Keep on, press start, and after about 1 second place the Stone of Trials in the statue. This will cause you to Reverse BiTWarp into the Sky Keep opening cutscene.
If done correctly, the Sky Keep opening cutscene will play on the file you just loaded, and you will spawn next to the statue in Skyloft with all the other information from your file intact. If the game crashes after this, then you placed the Stone of Trials too early after starting your file. Try to delay it a little more.
With this glitch, you can skip everything from opening the Gate of Time to entering Sky Keep, thereby bypassing all of the Song of the Hero quest and the Goddess's Silent Realm.
One caveat: while this glitch can be performed to open Sky Keep on a New Adventure or Hero Mode file, you will quickly dead end as Skyloft is set to a state where your loftwing cannot be rescued. Thus you will be stuck on Skyloft. If you wish to use this glitch, you should activate it from a save prompt after rescuing your loftwing.
Progress the Peatrice Sidequest without Sleeping
Discovered by peppernicus
To obtain the Peatrice crystal, one must talk to Peatrice in the Bazaar 6 times and Peater twice. However, each Peatrice convo must be separated by sleeping to morning, and the same goes for Peater.
However, there are only 3 story flags for talking to Peatrice: Talking to Peatrice a 2nd time, a 4th time and a 6th time. The way the quest is made longer is by having a story flag set and unset depending if there have been an even or an odd number of convo. We will call this story flag the "Peatrice Switch". When you talk to Peatrice, the game checks the Peatrice Switch and unsets it if it was set, and sets it if it was unset. There is also a story flag that prevents more convos, which has to be unset by sleeping. We will call this the sleeping flag. Thus here is how Peatrice works:
- 0 convo: by default nothing is set
- 1st convo: the Peatrice Switch is set
- 2nd convo: the Peatrice Switch is unset, the story flag for the 2nd convo is set
- 3rd convo: the Peatrice Switch is set
- 4th convo: the Peatrice Switch is unset, the story flag for the 4th convo is set
- 5th convo: the Peatrice Switch is set
- 6th convo: the Peatrice Switch is unset, the story flag for the 6th convo is set
Everything gets set upon pressing A to start talking to Peatrice. The sleeping flag is set on each convo as well.
Thus, here is a trick to skip sleeping after an even number of convo:
- File 1: Run File. The number of convo must be even (Peatrice Switch unset). It doesn't matter if you've slept or not
- File 2: File that has an even number of convo and has slept to get rid of the sleeping flag (note: a file that has never talked to Peatrice works as well)
Follow the next steps:
- Activate BiT
- Enter the Bazaar with File 2. That file doesn't have the sleeping flag, thus Peatrice can be talked to to progress the sidequest
- Start File 1 and talk to Peatrice. This will set the Peatrice Switch, despite File 1 not having slept
This does not work with odd number of convos because it unsets the Peatrice Switch without setting the next story flag. Thus it would actually make you go back one convo.
TAS Strategies - Unused Strategies
Barrel Death in the Knight Academy
Small Cutscene Skip before Loftwing rescue
Discovered by sva
After Zelda joins you in your quest to rescue your loftwing (after going through the waterfall cave), there is a small cutscene where Zelda sees and points at your Loftwing. That cutscene can be skipped with an incredibly precise jump-jumpslash. This is considered only worth it in a TAS.
Repeat the Wing Ceremony Indefinitely
Discovered by tlozsr
It is possible to do the Wing Ceremony more than one time. After obtaining the Sailcloth, save at the Upper Academy statue. Activate BiT (a Corrupt File is probably fastest). Perform a BiTSave using the Upper Academy statue to reach BiT Skyloft. Enter the goddess statue and immediately leave. When you dive off Skyloft, the Wing Ceremony will start again.
After you win, you'll do the Sailcloth skydive again, but nothing will happen when you land. You can then dive off Skyloft to do the Wing Ceremony again, and repeat this as many times as you want.
To escape from this, perform another BiTSave to reach BiT Skyloft and place the Emerald Tablet.
Sparring Hall Clip
Discovered by weegeechan
It is possible to clip through the floor in the Practice Sword room of the Sparring Hall. Use a bomb to Highflip onto the bins of swords, then jump towards the crate. You should slowly land, and by moving around and using first person view, you can fall through the floor.
There is no known use for this trick, but it could lead to other clip ideas.
Early Zelda's Room
Discovered by Eero_454
Enter Karane's room in the Knight Academy. Roll so that you clip partly into her desk chair, release the control stick, and mash A, and you should sit in the chair. When you stand up you'll end up on top of her desk. From there you can jump along her furniture to reach the wall next to Zelda's bed, where you can sleep. When you wake up, you can run into Zelda's room.
This trick is not useful for full game runs, because Zelda's door is locked and it's impossible to escape her room.
Enter Sky Keep Without Clawshots
Method 1: Dive to Entrance
It is possible to skydive to the entrance from the platform near the statue of the goddess.
Method 2: Reverse BiTWarp
It is possible to enter Sky Keep without the use of the Clawshots using the Reverse BiTWarp technique. To do so, save your file either at the Skyview Boss Door Statue or at the Fire Sanctuary Overwolrd Bird Statue. Perform BiT and enter Orielle's house. Once inside the house, start your file and open the door leading to Skyloft outside. This will Reverse BiTWarp you to Skyloft and make you fall off the map. A Knight will save you and put you at the Sky Keep Entrance, allowing you to enter without Clawshots.
Method 3: Delete Sky Loading Zone with Spiral Charge Tutorial Skip
Perform the Spiral Charge Tutorial Skip, then place the Stone of Trials to make Sky Keep appear. This removes one of the sky loading zones, which allows you to fly your way to the Sky Keep entrance and dive to it, skipping the clawshots.
Respawn Point Manip for Batreaux
By jumping on top of the graves and into the void in a specific way, it is possible to be rescued by a knight past the shed door to Batreaux's house even if it's closed. This is useful to access Batreaux's house in Back in Time during the day if you don't have scene flag 5x02 on a file, which opens the shed, or a file that can fly around on Skyloft and jump off without triggering a loading zone into the Sky (see Faron BiT with Faron Pillar).
