Twilight Princess

Any% (Beginner)

Runs should start with a blank file in slots 1, 2, and 3, as all files are used during the run.

This is an Any% route that avoids some of the tougher tricks, including:

  • Sword and Shield Skip
  • Gorge Skip
  • Epona Slide over the gorge
  • Pillar Clip without Zora Armor
  • Morpheel without Zora Armor
  • Death Sword Skip
  • Stallord Skip

See the route document here

See a video tutorial for the route here

See an example run of the route here

This route can be upgraded into more difficult routes by the inclusion of tricks if you would like to gradually transition to the most optimal route.

Playing on German (PAL) is optimal for this route; see language rankings.


Ordon

  • Start on File 1
🠋 Go to Ordon Spring
  • After the cutscene, you can turn around and roll forwards towards Epona to miss the Ilia textbox.
- Ride to ranch (3-13R) - Ride through grass to try to get a blue rupee (RNG) - Goats 1 (10 goats) - Exit house - If at 6R+, head straight to village - If under 6R, sidehop right and pick up rock in grass behind Epona for blue rupee first - Climb vines to eagle guy
🠋 Get and deliver crib
  • The angle you are facing when you pull the grass for the bird will determine your angle, so being straight on is most optimal.
- Fishing Rod - [Fishing Rod] - Mailbox jump onto roof - Two yellow rupees (~28R) - Head to dock, collecting freestanding green rupees to reach 30R - Catch two fish, cat cutscene - Enter shop - Speak for Bottle (Milk) - Buy Slingshot (0R) - **Save over File 1 in shop**
- Return to Ordon Spring area - [Ordon Gate Clip](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/msb/ordon-gate-clip), enter Faron - Roll to horse grass and call Epona.
🠋 Talk to Coro for lantern
  • When on Epona, use one spur prior to jumping the fence, with the remaining 5 expiring just before turning the corner into Coro's area.
  • If you target Coro and press A while moving towards him, you do not need to park Epona to begin the text.
  • If you carry too much speed into Coro's area, you may jump over his campsite if you fail to talk to him.
- [Lantern / Slingshot] - Go through tunnel (put away lantern after 2nd web) - Enter cave, get Small Key - Exit cave, use Small Key on gate - Save Talo - Bokoblins break cage - Kill Bokoblins with slingshot - [Goats 2 (20 goats)](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/world/ordon-province-#goat-herding-20) - Leave Ordon Village, enter crawlspace to Ordon Spring (1R) - [Castle Sewers](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/castle-sewers)
🠋 Castle Rooftops
  • If you dash near a ledge and jump within 10 frames of dashing, your dash will not expire, allowing you to dash again upon landing.
- Zelda cutscene
  • Return to Ordon Village
  • Listen to people by dock
  • Scare eagle guy
  • Ordon Shield in Pergie's house
  • Ordon Sword in Rusl's house
  • Return to Ordon Spring
  • Ordon Spring warp portal
  • Enter Faron Twilight

Faron Province

Collect as many miscellaneous rupees as possible from now on. Rupee count in route will reflect minimum guaranteed.

  • South Faron warp portal
  • Faron Vessel
Kill first two bugs (leave tears)
  • You can kill the two bugs with one B attack while holding forward.
- Bug on Coro's house (leave tear)
Bugs inside Coro's house
  • If you turn off senses as you release the charge attack to kill the bugs, you can skip Coro's text.
- Dig under gate, kill bugs, enter loading zone after sound effect (leave tears) - Dig through tunnel
Bugs on right wall (leave tears)
  • You can jump attack the right bug from a side-on angle to not bonk into the wall scaring the left bug.
  • You can then charge attack the second bug and leave via Midna jumps.
- Bugs in tree trunk - Ignore bugs that dig - [EMS](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/msb/early-master-sword) - Sacred Grove howling stone ––¯\_\_\_––¯\_\_\_ - Skull Kid chase 1
Skull Kid fight 1
  • You only need to kill one of the puppets for the Skull Kid timer to begin. You can then hit him with a jump attack.
🠋 Master Sword puzzle (LD UUU RR DDD LU)
- Collect Master Sword
- Warp South Faron - Collect missed tears - Enter the purple mist area and grab two tears - Transform and [cross purple mist with lantern](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/world/faron-province#purple-mist)
Transform and kill bugs before they dig
  • You can kill both bugs with a single upwards right B attack.
- While waiting for tears, dig behind sign and jump attack to collect a yellow rupee (11R+) - North Faron warp portal - Kill last two bugs - Turn senses off, transform, burn web, and collect tears - Vessel complete
- 1-frame backflip out of Midna text - **Save on File 2 and reset** - Load File 2 and roll south to Ordon Bridge - [Back in Time](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/bit/back-in-time-glitch#consistent-bit-at-ordon-bridge-gcn) on Ordon Bridge - Load File 1 (Ordon) - Soft reset as soon as the cutscene starts playing (Start+X+B), then mash start as soon as the screen starts to fade out to skip the cutscene (timing isn't precise) - Load File 2 (South Faron) - Warp North Faron - Ending Blow from golden wolf - Enter Forest Temple

Forest Temple

  • Spin attack cage + bokoblin
  • Kill walltulas with slingshot
  • Light torches in main room
Cross over monkey chain to Ook
  • In the fight, after knocking Ook down, perform an insta-spin and then 1 slash
- [Ook](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/boss/ook) - Boomerang - [Lantern / Boomerang] - **Savewarp over File 3**
- Load File 3 and kill walltulas with boomerang - Enter main room and take east door - Use lantern to clear cobweb - Access boss key by targeting 4 posts with boomerang - Boss Key - Exit through north door - Cross bridge and enter room - Use boomerang to turn the bridge and exit through north door - [LJA to the boss door](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/forest-temple#skip-half-of-the-forest-temple-gcn-only) - [Diababa](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/boss/diababa) - Heart Container #1

Eldin Twilight

  • Transform to wolf and dash to Eldin Twilight
  • Enter Eldin Province
  • Kakariko Gorge warp portal
  • Forced warp to North Faron
  • Warp bridge to Kakariko Gorge
  • Dig under gate and enter Kakariko
  • Get Kakariko warp portal
  • Eldin Vessel
  • Enter graveyard
  • Kill graveyard bug (leave tear)
  • Well Clip once bug explodes
  • 3 basement bugs
  • Graveyard bug tear
  • Malo Mart bug
  • 2 hotel bugs
    • Knock down cabinet for 10R (21R+)
  • Abandoned house bug
  • Barnes' Shop bug
  • Human Bomb House Skip, collect 3 tears
  • Watchtower bug
    • Green and blue rupee(s) from pots while waiting for tear (26R+)
  • Death Mountain bug
  • Death Mountain warp portal
  • 2 Death Mountain bugs
  • Vessel complete

Getting Iron Boots

  • Dash to Death Mountain
  • Midna jump up to goron, trigger cutscene
  • Warp back to Kakariko after cutscene
Dash north and [tame Epona as wolf](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/world/eldin-province#taming-epona-as-wolf)
  • Due to entering this cutscene as wolf, there will be lots of flashing lights throughout the cutscene.
  • You can hold left during the cutscene as this is the first input afterwards.

- Warp Ordon Spring - Dash to Ordon Village - Transform to human after entering - Enter Bo cutscene - [Wrestle Bo](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/world/ordon-province-#bo-rng-statistics) for Iron Boots - Iron Boots

Lanayru Twilight

  • Warp South Faron
  • Call Epona with nearby grass
  • Ride Epona to Lanayru Gate
  • Lanayru Gate Clip
  • Run to the load zone
  • Do not clear the text in this cutscene, mash with Start through it
  • Drop into Lake Hylia as wolf
  • Listen to Fyer
  • Fight the Kargarok
  • Fly the Kargarok to Zora's Domain
Climb up to Zora's Domain as wolf
  • On the 2nd Midna jump avoiding the falling icicle, hold L and back after the jump to stay on the platform and not ledge grab.
- Zora's Domain warp portal - Warp Death Mountain - Transform behind chained rock - [Boots / Boomerang] - Warp meteor to Zora's Domain as human - 1-frame sidehop right out of Midna trigger - [Rutela Skip](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/twilight/lanayru-twilight#rutela-cutscene-skip)
Swim down the river to Lake Hylia
  • You can equip Iron Boots during the fall from Zora's Domain to fall faster, making sure to unequip before hitting the water
- Transform back to wolf after Midna text outside Lanayru Shrine - Enter shrine for Lanayru Vessel
- Bug outside Lanayru spring - Lake Hylia warp portal - Stepping stones for bug - Warp Zora's Domain - [Wall bug and Rutela Skip](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/twilight/lanayru-twilight#rutela-cutscene-skip) - Equip iron boots in the water and climb out the right hand side - Transform and drop down to the bug - [2 lilypad bugs](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/twilight/lanayru-twilight#lilypad-bug-movement) - Bug on cliff (RNG rupees in grass) - Enter UZR in water - Listen to Iza for bug - Swim down the river - Castle Town warp portal - Dash cancel through Castle Town - [Castle Town bug](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/twilight/lanayru-twilight#castle-town-bug) - Warp Lake Hylia - Bug behind Fyer's building - Howl at grass - [4 kargarok bugs](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/twilight/lanayru-twilight#faster-kargarok-bugs), bonk, and press B to say 'No' to Midna - Last small bug - [Boss Bug](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/twilight/lanayru-twilight#boss-bug-fast-fight) - Vessel complete

Zora Armor

Complete the remainder of the escort segment
  • After killing the kargarok, you are able to leave Telma behind and progress to the end of the segment to perform the King Bulblin 1 trigger skip.
- [Avoid the King Bulblin 1 trigger at the entrance to Kakariko](https://youtu.be/wu_eHEHGTxM?si=zAD4NsZSIA5ry4Cb&t=5424) - Transform and dash to Kakariko Graveyard. - Follow Rutela through the graveyard and collect the Zora Armor

Clawshot


Morpheel

  • Clawshot to the switch on the roof and leave the room.
  • Exit out to the next room.
  • Clawshot across and track back to the main room.
  • Pull the lever in front of you to rotate the stairs.
  • Boss Key Skip (South)
    • [Iron Boots / Clawshot]
  • Morpheel
    • [Lantern / Clawshot]
  • Heart Container #2

Midna's Desperate Hour

  • Transform wolf
  • Dash to Castle Town field
Dash to Castle Town and enter as wolf
  • The fastest method of movement through Castle Town is with [dash cancels](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/tech/dash-cancel).
- Enter Telma's Bar - Push box once and dash jump to window - Kill the poe in Jovani's house - Enter sewers - Burn first web as wolf with stick - Transform at 2nd web and use lantern - Dig into hole - [Bulblin archer](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/world/lanayru-province#bottom-of-the-tower) - Climb tower and exit - [Early Wind Cycle](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/world/lanayru-province#early-wind-cycle) - Zelda cutscene

Getting to Snowpeak Ruins

Talk to Yeto
  • Press B at Yeto's first text prompt to decline to go on a spiritual journey, as it adds more text
- Snowboard down to Snowpeak Ruins - Can collect any extra rupees on the way down if needed. - Enter Snowpeak Ruins

Snowpeak Ruins

  • Enter door on the left
  • Early Heart Piece 2 (don't need the heart piece)
  • Clawshot through the ceiling
  • Floor Clip
  • Open door and push block
  • Clip under door
  • Freezard Skip
  • Darkhammer 1-Cycle without bomb (towards cheese room unless playing on French)
  • Ball & Chain
    • [Boomerang / Ball & Chain]
  • Enter back room
  • Sidehop twice to the right
  • Swing Ball & Chain around and look down
  • 100R from bubble (126R+)
  • Savewarp
  • Load in Snowpeak first room
  • 100R from armor in the lobby (226R+)
  • Exit SPR through the door

Desert Province

  • Warp Lake Hylia
Get Auru's Memo
  • Climb the ladder, transform and then run to the tower as wolf.
Dash down to Fyer
  • Jump off the tower and perform a roll to not take damage. Transform and dash to the end of the first bridge before transforming back to human.
- [Auru's Memo / Ball & Chain] - Show Memo to Fyer and go to Desert Province - Transform after cutscene and dash to Bulblin Camp entrance. - [Enter Bulblin Camp without a boar](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/world/desert-province#enter-the-bulblin-camp-without-a-boar) - [Clawshot / Boomerang] - [Map Glitch to King Bulblin](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/world/desert-province#map-glitch-to-early-king-bulblin-battle) - **Dying with map glitch active is a softlock**, so save in Bulblin Camp if worried about dying to fire arrows or King Bulblin - Enter Arbiter's Grounds as wolf

Arbiter's Grounds

  • B-attack across sand, transform human, clawshot and pull chain
  • Small Key, enter door
    • [Clawshot / Lantern]
  • Enter next room, light lanterns, transform wolf, enter main room
    • [Clawshot / Ball & Chain]
  • Poe gate cutscene
  • Poe gate clip
  • Boss key early (autoroll method)
  • Transform to wolf and dash/B attack through the two rooms
  • Stalfos with B&C
    • [Clawshot / Ball & Chain]
  • Clawshot to the grate and jump across to the door.
  • Death Sword
  • Spinner
    • [Clawshot / Spinner]
  • Ride the spinner rail until the small valley is crossed, then roll to the entrance door
  • Spinner to epic spinner room door
  • Epic spinner room
  • Open boss key chest if you didn't already
  • Spinner to socket
  • Enter boss room
  • Fight Stallord
  • Heart Container #3
  • Exit Arbiter's Grounds

Getting to City in the Sky

  • Mirror Chamber warp portal
    • You have to zoom in all the way on the map and press Z to enable portals from now on
  • Warp Kakariko Village
  • Enter the sanctuary and drop down to the basement
  • Early City in the Sky
  • Press Z to talk to Midna about cannon
    • Press B to say 'No' to Midna
    • Map warp to Lake Hylia
    • If you are short on rupees, Fyer has 60
    • [Clawshot / Boomerang]
  • Pay Fyer 300R to fix cannon, enter cannon
Pay Fyer 300R to fix cannon, enter cannon
  • Worth noting at this point that if you run on the PAL version of the game, you can change your game language into French, allowing you to [skip the Fyer payment](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/world/lanayru-province#french-fyer-discount).

City in the Sky

Cross the bridge and return to main room via window
  • The Argorok cutscene trigger is not there this time around so you can walk around normally.
- Clawshot up the 2 sets of vines and exit to outside. - [Clawshot above you and enter Boss Key room](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/city-in-the-sky#get-to-the-boss-key-room-quicker) - Boss Key - Drop down and exit through north door. - [Skip turning on fans](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/city-in-the-sky#skip-turning-fans-on) - Fan tower - [Double Clawshots / Iron Boots] - Enter boss door - Clawshot vines - [Argorok](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/boss/argorok) - Heart Container #4 - After Midna warp, put on Iron Boots and enter cannon to exit City in the Sky

Palace of Twilight

  • Mash B to jump attack and land on the bridge
  • Warp Mirror Chamber (Remember to zoom in and press Z before warping)
  • Transform wolf
  • Enter Palace of Twilight
West Wing
  • Kill both Zant heads with a dashed B attack followed by a Midna charge attack.
- [Phantom Zant 1](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/boss/phantom-zant) - [Skip Midna sol text](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/palace-of-twilight#skip-midna-sol-text) - [Staircase Timesaver 1](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/palace-of-twilight#staircase-timesaver-1) - Exit West Wing - [Double Clawshots / Boomerang] - Place sol 1 - [LJA to East Wing](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/palace-of-twilight#long-jump-to-right-wing-gcn-only) - [LJA after Small Key](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/palace-of-twilight#lja-after-small-key) - [Phantom Zant 2](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/boss/phantom-zant) - [Staircase Timesaver 2](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/palace-of-twilight#staircase-timesaver-2) - Place sol 2 - Light Sword - Enter North Wing - Place sols - Climb staircase and ride platform over to Zant heads - Kill the 4 Zant heads, and the 2 that spawn afterwards. - Small Key - Ride platform to door
[Boss Key Shortcut](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/palace-of-twilight#boss-key-shortcut)
  • A charged B attack will keep the twilight curtain away for longer than a regular spin attack.
- Jump down and platform to Zant Head - [Void out](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/palace-of-twilight#death-warp-timesaver) - Zant Heads - Small Key - Enter platform room - Kill the shadow beasts - Ride platforms up the room to each Zant head. - Get the Small Key - Ride platform over to last room - Kill each messenger group with a spin attack - Enter Zant - [Zant with Zora Armor](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/boss/zant) - [Ball & Chain / Boomerang] - Take Midna portal - Transform wolf and exit Palace of Twilight

Hyrule Castle

[Midna text skip](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/hyrule-castle#king-bulblin-4-midna-text-skip)
  • If text skip is missed, savewarp or avoid walking into Barrier 2 on way back.
- Enter Castle - [Barrier 3 Skip](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/hyrule-castle#skip-barrier-3)
Clawshot to second floor
  • Clawshot up to the first chandelier and press A to release.
  • For the 2nd chandelier, hold down to descend a bit before clawshotting to the final chandelier.
- [Ball & Chain / Boomerang] - [Darknut room](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/hyrule-castle#first-darknut-room) - [Double Clawshots / Lantern] - Enter puzzle room (right door)
🠋 Torch puzzle (NE, NW, SW, SE)
🠋 South West, North East, North West, South East (1s slower but safer)
- [Double Clawshots / Boomerang] - [Aeralfos](https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/hyrule-castle#aeralfos-fight-with-ball-chain) - [Double Clawshots / Ball & Chain] - Small Key - Boss Key - Enter tower - [Block room shortcut](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/hyrule-castle#block-room-shortcut) - Second lizalfos fight - [Double Clawshots / Spinner] - Spinner up - [Skip final darknut](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/dungeon/hyrule-castle#skip-final-darknut-fight) - [Double Clawshots / Ball & Chain] - Enter final battle - [Ganondorf](https://zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/boss/ganondorf)

Last updated May 17, 2026