Seriously? You don't know what speedrunning is?
Speedrunning is the art of doing something as fast as possible, usually a game or a individual level.
It's fun.

Most speedruns are sumbitted and saved on a website called speedrun.com.

Here[www.speedrun.com] is a link to PTTR's section on speedrun.com :)

Yes, yes, you'll need software for this, obviously.

First up, you need any kind of recording software.
I myself use shadowplay (built into geforce experience), but many others prefer OBS[obsproject.com].
Just pick something you like, it doesn't really matter. (Just please, don't choose one that has a watermark on it...)

You'll also need LiveSplit[livesplit.org], since PTTR's default timer starts when the big fight starts, and not when you load into the level.

Aand, that's it for software, speedrunning this game is really easy to get into after all...

Now, you may see that there's a bunch of diffirent categories, and also diffirent "Individual Level" and "Full-Game" runs. So, what's the diffirence between them all, and how to pick one for you?

All Bosses

Basically, you go through the full game alone and try to kill all the bosses. You just go in, kill the bosses, and leave the level.

Here's what bosses you kill in this category (important!):

• Biker Bar
  Biker Boss (Machete Boss)
  Boxer
  
• Disco
  Disco Boss (Katana Boss)
  
• Prison
  The big guy in Solitary
  
• Pirate Cove
  Blackbeard

Saloon is not included in this category, however...

All Bosses + Saloon

It IS included in this one.
Here's what bosses you kill in this category (also important!):

• Biker Bar
  Biker Boss (Machete Boss)
  Boxer
  
• Disco
  Pimp
  Disco Boss (Katana Boss)
  
• Prison
  The big guy in Solitary
  
• Pirate Cove
  Blackbeard
  
• Saloon
  Outlaw (the guy not sawing the hole to the bank in the room with the hole)
  Big Cowboy

100%

This is a bit simpler, just go through the full game killing all the enemies. The only exception in this category is the beneath acolyte[pttr.fandom.com]
In this category, you do not do saloon.

100% + Saloon

Do I really have to explain this category? Just like 100%, but you also do saloon.

Arena

Just do the arena challenges quickly, fun stuff! One important part about this category, is you do NOT need livesplit (you can have it, it's just not required), you can instead use the timer that shows up when you beat the challenges.

Arena CO-OP

Basically the same as the previous category, but this time, you can do it with a friend (or stranger) using PTTR's terrible multiplayer!

Beneath - Elder Gods NG+

Kill beneath bosses. New Game+ is obviously allowed.

IL (Individual Level) basically means you only do 1 level at a time, so it's easier than full-game runs.

Bosses

Just like the full-game one, you just kill the bosses in the level.

There is one exception though,
Disco has 2 "sub-categories", -pimp and +pimp. In -pimp, you simply kill the katana boss, and in +pimp you also kill the pimp.

Bosses - CO-OP

Same as the not CO-OP version, but you do it with a friend, again!

100%

Yeah, this is getting repetitive... Kill all the enemies, except Pirate Cove acolyte blah blah blah...

100% - CO-OP

100%, but with a friend (or four, in my case)!

Strategies are SUPER important for runs, if you don't do the run properly, you most likely won't get a good time. Here are the strategies for all the IL bosses runs in solo, and they're all the same in full-game.
(The 100% runs don't have as much of a teachable and repeatable pattern as the boss runs, since they depend on NPC AI a lot more, but I will gloss over the general path you should take.)

Biker Bar

For bosses:

• After starting the level, run forward towards the boss's office
  
• While running, take any item and throw it at the door to open it prematurely
  
• Run in the office, take the machete
  
• Stab the boss.
  
• Run out, turn right and throw your machete at the basement door
  
• While running into the basement, pick your machete back up
  
• Throw the machete at the boxer
  Done!

For 100%:

• After starting, quickly run to the right and grab the machete located on the moose's head.
• Start stabbing the people in that part of the bar (this section relies heavily on RNG as the current WR includes 12 people killed by this machete and you most likely won't beat the WR with anything less)
  
• When the machete breaks, jump on top of the bar stand and take the knife there
  
• Jump on to the top floor and start stabbing the people there
  
• If the NPC's grouping allows for it, consider using a Berserk. Don't berserk with less than 10-15 people or so, however.
  
• Once done upstairs, get the machete hidden in the rafters. You need to do a precise jump and grab it at just the right time. (Never leave any NPCs alive upstairs as you won't be able to kill them quickly later in the run)
  
• With this machete, kill the Boxer and his posse
  
• Head back upstairs and throw a pool cue at the door of the Biker Boss room. With an accurate throw, you can hit the legs of the NPCs on the couch and anger them with one cue. If you miss, simply throw another pool que at them.
  
• At this point, the cooks may be out and attacking you. If not, anger them by throwing something at one of them or using a shockwave near the kitchen. Kill the cook holding the long knife, and use it to stab the Biker boss. You need to either cut off his leg or hit his brain, either of which will kill him instantly.
  
• At this point, just kill the remaining NPCs as fast as you can. Memorize the the weapon locations on the level so you know where decent weapons are as you don't have the time to run around at this point.

Disco

For bosses:

-Pimp strat 1:

• After loading in, take a left turn and get into the bathroom
  
• In the far right stall, take the machete behind the toilet
  
• Turn around and run into the boss's office up the stairs
  
• Start hitting him with the machete
  
• Once it breaks, run across the room to get the nunchucks and hit him with them until he dies.

-Pimp strat 2:

• After loading in, take a right turn and run to the pimp
  
• KO Kick the pimp and quickly take his cane
  
• Run with the cane to the boss's office and hit him with the cane until he dies
  
• If the cane breaks, just attempt the level again.

+Pimp strat:

• After loading in, take a right turn and run to the pimp
  
• KO Kick the pimp and quickly take his cane
  
• Hit the pimp's foot with the cane so it comes off
  
• Run with the cane to the boss's office and hit him with the cane until he dies
  
• If the cane breaks, just attempt the level again.

For 100%:

• Run to and jump over the counter. Try to grab the long knife behind the counter when jumping over it to save a few split seconds.
• Head to the Katana boss's office and stab his bodyguards in the face. If you didn't get the counter knife, just use the one in the office instead.
  
• Once all his bodyguards are dead, grab the nunchucks and head down. Kill the NPCs fighting near the couches at the stairs with the nunchucks, then proceed to the toilet.
  
• Grab the machete in the far right stall and slaughter as many NPCs as you can with it.
• Once the machete breaks, kick the pimp and take his cane. Slaughter as many NPCs as you can once again.
  
• Find the katana boss. Ideally, he will be near as many NPCs as possible. Activate berserk, kill him with it (it takes about 4 punches) and as many other NPCs as you can.
  
• Once out of berserk juice, grab the katana and finish the level.

Prison

Strat 1:

• When the level loads in, run to the guard watch tower thingy, and steal the shotgun
  
• Press the solitary open button (optional step)
  
• Run to solitary, and shoot the big guy through the shotgun
  If you opened the door, shooting him is straightforward, but if you didn't,
  you'll have to get really close to the door and shoot through the door! to kill him.

Strat 2:

• When the level loads in, run into the cell right after the policeman beating the prisoner, and take the shiv in the sink
  
• Run to the solitary room, and hit the open doors button in there
  
• Stab the big guy in the head

For 100%:

• Run to the rightmost cell, grab the toothbrush shiv
• Jump-throw the shiv at the guy upstairs who is threatening and choking the basketball gang member. The jump-throw should kill him, and the basketball gang should become your friends. If you miss, reset. (demonstration of the jump-throw: https://gph.is/g/ZxWJGKO )
  
• Kick down the other guy and grab his shiv. Shank as many people as you can with it.
  
• If you see any tasers or shivs, feel free to use them. Once you're done, grab an orange or an apple (you can find both on the table left of the exit from the cell block) and run to the solitary cell block.
  
• On your way to the big prisoner's cell, kick down the riot guard and take his shield so no other NPC can find it. NPCs with shields move very slow and can slow the end of the run considerably.
  
• Throw the orange/apple at the big prisoner. Make sure to hit him with the throw as then he breaks out of the cell on his own, otherwise you have to release him.
• (Optional) Go to the right side back room in the solitary block and grab the taser.
  
• Run to the watchtower thingy (Tasing people on the way, if you took the taser earlier)
  
• Kick down the riot guard thru the wall and take his shield. If you already have one, throw it away. Grab the shotgun on the top shelf.
• Kill as many people as possible with the shotgun. Shoot at the biggest crowds you can.
  
• Once you run out of shotgun ammo, start slaughtering NPCs. Most weapons around are decent, including batons, tasers, weights, barbells, shivs etc.
  
• Eventually, the biker boss will come for you. Stab him in the face or cut his leg off, then use up his machete.
  
• Slaughter the remaining NPCs and exit.

Pirate Cove

For bosses:

• When the level loads in, go up the stairs to blackbeard and take the ham he's eating
  
• Beat 'em with it..
  
• If it doesn't break after 5 hits, throw the ham right at bbeard's face, finishing him off.

For 100%

• Enter the yarr bar area and grab the knife on the table to your left.
  
• What follows is simple: Stab everyone. There are multiple knives, some held by enemies. Kick them for their knives.
  
• Once you have a shockwave, use it and hit as many yarr boys (and girls) as you can. Any shockwave will also hit an angry bearded man upstairs.
  
• Head to the far back pier corner, the part with the roof. Send the 2-3 guys there to a watery grave (if they haven't run away). Grab a boat oar and wait for the angry bearded man.
  
• Once he turns up, break the boat oar on him, then kill him with the 2nd one right nearby. Grab his sword and kill as many people as you have to, then send the rest of the (hopefully) massive blob of pirates to Davy Jones' locker with a shockwave.
  
• Proceed to the duel platform, over the ladder. Shockwave the occupants and grab one of the swords they are sure to leave behind.
  
• Take a nice run on the beach over to the people fighting near the campfire. If you're lucky, they're in 1 group of about 6. If so, shockwave (if you still have one) them all, if not, just stab them.
  
• Finish off the few stragglers. Most of the time, there's a fair few upstairs.
  
• RARE BUG: sometimes, some random brawler grabs blackbeard's sword and attacks you with it. This is useful, as the sword can be as useful as 2 knives, saving you valuable time. This also means angrybeard attacks you with (usually) a chair instead, considerably dropping his damage and, more importantly, slowing down his attacks.

Saloon

For bosses:

• When the level loads in, go into the room with the hole into the bank, and kick the guy making the hole
  
• Steal his saw, and stab the other guy in the room
  
• Run to the big guy and throw the saw at him

For 100%:
no currently established strat...
just... kinda... stab people? i dunno i think theres a revolver

Speedrunning Beneath is a whole different beast to anything else in the game. Get ready for even more RNG, powers, magic, tentacles and more!

YOU WILL NEED A GOOD SAVE BEFORE RUNNING BENEATH. Come to the speedrun discord, linked somewhere here, and check pins in #general for a maxed out (speedrun-wise) save if you don't want to grind yourself

Abbe-howeverthe♥♥♥♥youspellit-ation

• Exit the elevator and check the following:
  
• What perks spawned? If you see something useful, grab it. Best perk here is Carefree, giving you 150% movement speed out-of-combat. It's symbol is a peace sign with wings, if that's there, grab it.
  
• Weapon? If it's a katana of any type or a shotgun, it's worth going for.
  
• Either way, grab the map piece on the altar and enter the Crystal Caverns portal (blue one on the left).
  
• Dash to the other side, grabbing the power on the way.
  
• Find the other altar. If you're lucky, it's at the entrance. If not, congrats, RNG ♥♥♥♥♥♥ you. You'll need to look around. It can spawn in any non-shop room, even challenge rooms.
  
• Hop on the altar and wait for the map sequence to play out.
  
• Dash across and grab the power again, same deal.
  
• Engage Speed+: it's time to speedrun! You need to kill the marked enemies to move on. They're marked with lasers above their heads, similar to ruins. Those enemies are observers and shard lords 99% of the time, with the occasional charger. Speed+ over to them, cut them up with your amazing hit speed and dash to the exit.
  
• Welcome to tentacle land. Ignore all normie enemies, they don't matter, and head to the blue arrow on the compass. To skip the tentacle star intro scene, jump past the gate, and when you hit the invisible wall, press Q to dash forward and land on the island.
  
• Touch the inside of the gate to start the fight properly and make his healthbar show up.
  
• Cut up all the tentacles. Katanas tend to 1 hit them if you hit the upper part, shotguns can kill them in 1 hit but they aren't consistent.

Okay, you've made a run, nice!
But what now? How do you post it, submit it, time it??

Timing
Now, if you ran Arena, it's just a matter of checking the end screen time, but if you did another run, it's complicated.

First, upload your run onto youtube (not required to post it) then, go to this frame timer[mattbraddock.com] and follow the instructions there to time your run. The starting frame should be the frame the PTTR logo (or the square loading indicator in beneath) dissapears, and the ending frame should be when you kill the boss, or reach the level exit.
Posting

Just post your run onto youtube, nothing complicated.

Submitting your run

Okay, find your run's category on speedrun.com, and click "submit run"
You're going to see this screen:

Okay, so, let me explain what most of the sections there mean:

• Category - I already told you what categories are what, just say the category of your run.
  
• Player 1 - 4 - Player names, your name should automatically be there if you have a speedrun.com account, the others are reserved for CO-OP members.
  
• Time without loads - This is where you put the time we got in the Timing part of this section.
  
• Time with loads - just ignore this.
  
• Arena CO-OP (or pimp kill) - just put the arena challenge you did, or whether you killed the pimp or not.
  
• Game State - once again, ignore this. Just put it into Post-Beneath and call it a day.

the rest should be pretty obvious

Here's some extra tips and tricks if you're interested in running this game!

The PTTR speedrun community has a Discord server[discord.gg]!
Feel free to join it and find people for CO-OP runs, learn new strats and glitches, ask more questions or whatever else.

If you don't quite understand my explanations of the strats, I recommend checking out the current WR of whatever category you're interested in, it really helps!

Timing your run may be tough, but don't worry, if you make an error the moderators will always retime it to the proper time, so if you're struggling, just try to get close.

Don't be afraid to submit 2nd places! I made this mistake, and now I pass up opportunities to post good times just because it's not first place. Don't be like me, post 2nd places.

These are categories that not many people run, and ones that don't have a real leaderboard, you just do them for fun!
These are based on what categories I personally have done, there may be others.

Gunshow%

A 100% run, but you use the "Gun Show" mutator.

Fists%

A 100% run, but you use the "No Weapons" mutator.

Death%

Try to die as fast as possible!


Oh, and I guess I'll put other extra non-meme categories here.

PTTR Demo run

Speedrun the PTTR demo, downloadable here![mattcarr.itch.io]

TAS runs

TAS (tool-assisted speedrunning) is basically cheating, but everyone knows it and it's allowed.
Use Cheat Engine[www.cheatengine.org] to slow down the game, record your run and then speed it back up in a video editing program.
Oh, and don't try to cheat, the audio gets pitched up when using cheat engine.

Well, you've reached the end of my guide, congrats!
If you can, give me some feedback on this, I seriously need it.
And if you're truly interested in running this game, then, just do it. It's easy, fun and nothing bad can really happen. I really need some competition in boss%.