Hey guys! Ready to dive into the Soulstone Survivors world and become a speedrunning legend? This guide is your ultimate ticket to achieving a sub-8-minute run, breaking those records, and showing off your skills. We'll break down everything you need, from the best character and builds to the essential strategies and tips to shave off those precious seconds. So, buckle up; it's time to get fast!

Choosing Your Champion: The Fastest Characters for Speedrunning

Alright, first things first: let's talk heroes. Picking the right character is crucial for a blazing-fast Soulstone Survivors run. Some characters are naturally gifted for speed, while others need a bit more setup. Here's a rundown of some top contenders:

• The Swift Sorceress: This is a great choice. Her starting abilities are designed for quick clears. Her skills often have high damage output and area-of-effect capabilities, allowing you to obliterate waves of enemies in mere seconds. Focus on building her around movement speed and damage buffs, and you'll be zipping through levels like a caffeinated cheetah.
• The Agile Archer: The Archer is another excellent pick for speedrunning. Her precision and ranged attacks make her a force to be reckoned with. With the right build, she can maintain a high damage output while keeping a safe distance, which translates to fewer deaths and faster clears. Prioritize attack speed, critical hit chance, and movement speed to maximize her potential.
• The Mighty Marauder: If you like a more aggressive playstyle, the Marauder could be your guy. He is a powerhouse when built right. He can quickly clear zones. However, you'll need to master dodging and positioning to stay alive. The Marauder's kit benefits from damage over time (DoT) effects and crowd control, which help to take down enemies.

Character Selection Tips for Speedrunning

When selecting a character, consider these key factors:

• Starting Abilities: Look for characters with abilities that offer high burst damage, wide area coverage, and good mobility. These are all crucial for quick clears.
• Scaling: The character must be able to scale efficiently in terms of damage and survivability throughout the run. This guarantees that you can sustain damage and maintain speed.
• Synergy: Some characters benefit from specific items and build combinations. Researching what works best can significantly boost your clear times.

Build to Win: Essential Builds and Item Choices

Now that you've got your champion, let's talk builds. Building your character correctly is half the battle in a sub-8-minute run. You want to prioritize speed and damage. Here's a breakdown of the key elements:

Core Items for Speedrunning

• Movement Speed Boosters: These are non-negotiable. They are essential to getting from one area to another. Items that enhance movement speed are your best friends. Keep an eye out for boots, amulets, and any gear that boosts this stat.
• Damage Amplifiers: This is critical. You want to kill enemies as quickly as possible. Look for items that increase your damage output, like attack power, critical hit chance, critical hit damage, and elemental damage bonuses.
• Area of Effect (AoE) Items: AoE attacks are the way to go for clearing hordes of enemies. Items that provide AoE, like explosion, or chain-lightning effects, are incredibly valuable.
• Cooldown Reduction: The ability to use your skills more often means more damage output and better control. Items that reduce skill cooldowns are highly effective.

Build Strategies for Speedrunning

• Glass Cannon Build: This is where you focus on maximum damage output while sacrificing survivability. You'll be able to kill enemies fast. You'll need to master dodging and positioning to avoid taking damage.
• Hybrid Build: A blend of damage and survivability is suitable for those who want a bit of a safety net. This build offers some damage while enhancing health and defense.
• Elemental Damage Build: Focus on items and skills that deal elemental damage. This build is good because of its ability to clear waves of enemies with elemental-based skills.

Item Acquisition and Optimization

• Prioritize: Early in the run, prioritize items that boost movement speed and damage. This will enable you to clear zones more quickly.
• Reroll: Don't hesitate to reroll items at the shop if you're not getting what you need. A small gold investment can lead to a big payoff in speed.
• Experiment: Don't be afraid to experiment with different builds and item combinations. The best builds are usually those that take advantage of synergies.

Master the Map: Level Design and Navigation Tips

Knowing the map inside and out is crucial to shaving off seconds. You want to navigate efficiently. Here's how to do it:

Route Optimization

• Memorize the Map: Learn the layout of the map and anticipate enemy spawns and objective locations. Knowing the map allows you to predict enemy spawns and objectives.
• Pathing: Choose the most direct routes between objectives, avoiding unnecessary detours. Try to stick to the main paths and avoid exploration, especially when you are trying to break a record.
• Mob Density: Identify areas with high mob density. Focus on clearing these areas quickly to maximize your time efficiency.

Combat Efficiency

• Prioritize Targets: Focus on high-value targets first, such as elites and bosses. Taking these enemies out quickly is often more important than clearing the regular mobs.
• Area Control: Use your AoE skills to control the battlefield. This helps you to clear waves faster and minimize the risk of getting overwhelmed.
• Movement During Combat: Use movement to reposition and avoid damage. This also gives you the chance to align yourself for optimal skill usage.

Resource Management

• Potions: Use potions wisely. Don't waste them on trivial damage. Use them to survive longer during boss battles or tough engagements.
• Currency: Spend your currency wisely at the shop. Buying movement speed items or damage amplifiers can make a big difference.
• Skills: Learn to use your skills and abilities in the most efficient ways to maximize your damage output. Timing is important.

Speedrunning Strategies: Tips and Tricks for Success

Okay, guys, let's get into the nitty-gritty of speedrunning Soulstone Survivors. Here are some advanced strategies to help you break that sub-8-minute barrier:

Early Game Efficiency

• Fast Leveling: Prioritize experience gain early on. Kill enemies quickly and focus on completing objectives to level up fast.
• Itemization: Focus on movement speed and damage items. A good start can set the tone for the rest of your run.
• Skill Selection: Choose skills with high damage output and AoE capabilities. These skills will help you to clear waves and take down bosses. Focus on those skills that give you the edge in the early game.

Mid-Game Optimization

• Build Refinement: Fine-tune your build based on the items you've acquired. Adjust your skills and gear to maximize their synergies.
• Boss Strategies: Learn boss attack patterns and optimize your strategies for each encounter. Knowing when to dodge and when to attack can save you valuable time.
• Resource Management: Carefully manage your resources, such as health potions and mana. Don't waste potions unnecessarily.

Late-Game Excellence

• Positioning: Correct positioning in combat is key. Use the environment to your advantage, and don't get caught in unfavorable spots.
• Final Push: Push through the final stages with an aggressive mindset. You have to ensure that you are quick and precise to finish your run.
• Practice: The most critical advice is to practice. Run the game over and over. This will give you experience in the levels, map, and bosses, and you will learn how to make adjustments to increase your speed.

Advanced Tactics

• Wave Management: Learn to kite and control enemy waves to maximize your damage output and minimize incoming damage.
• Risk vs. Reward: Always be aware of the risk and reward. Assess whether taking a risk will speed up your run.
• Exploiting Mechanics: Take advantage of any game mechanics or glitches that may give you an edge. Keep an eye on the community for any discovered strategies.

Practice Makes Perfect: Refining Your Speedrun Technique

Alright, you've got the knowledge, now it's time to put it into action. Here's how to hone your speedrunning skills:

Regular Practice

• Consistency: Run the game repeatedly. The more you play, the more comfortable you'll become with the game's mechanics and the faster you'll get.
• Experimentation: Experiment with different characters, builds, and strategies. You might find a hidden gem that works better than expected.
• Patience: Don't get discouraged if you don't achieve your goal right away. Speedrunning takes time and effort. Just keep going!

Analyze and Improve

• Record Your Runs: Record your runs and watch them. This will allow you to identify areas for improvement. You can then learn from your mistakes and find new opportunities.
• Community Engagement: Join the Soulstone Survivors community. Share your runs, ask for advice, and learn from other players. Don't be afraid to share your runs and ask for advice.
• Adaptation: Adapt your strategies based on what you learn. The meta is always evolving, so be ready to make adjustments.

Conclusion: Your Path to Speedrunning Glory

And there you have it, folks! With the right character, a solid build, smart navigation, and dedication, you're well on your way to a sub-8-minute run in Soulstone Survivors. Remember to keep practicing, refining your strategies, and most importantly, have fun! Now go out there, break those records, and show everyone what you've got. Good luck, and happy speedrunning!