Glitches and Tricks

Twilight Princess has many glitches & tricks you can use to get items early, access areas early (sequence breaks), or just speed things up. This page will outline only the tricks that are applicable to randomizer. ZeldaSpeedRuns (ZSR) is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn about the glitches used in speedrunning or speedruns in general beyond what this page covers.

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General

Tricks listed here may be used in many situations. This list excludes glitches that have potential of breaking the randomizer like Back in Time, stealing one or multiple Bomb Bags from Iza that cannot be randomized, or glitches that take a very long time to setup/perform like a Pickup Slide or specific Actor Duping of small objects.

No Logic Exclusive

The logic in this game assumes the worst possible outcome to ensure you can't softlock and need to start over the entire randomizer. However in a no logic playthrough it is good to know some basic cases to obtain checks that could be softlocked. The following list will include all the worst possible cases logic looks for to keep in mind for a no logic playthrough. All the specific cases of No Logic Exclusive are mentioned in the section of the specific check itself.

General Logic Decisions Explained:

• Keys logic assumes the worst possible use. Tip: By saving the game before using a key you can check rooms behind different locks to perhaps find important items
• Bottles always require the Lantern to use because you can't get rid of Lantern oil once it is in the Bottle without the Lantern
• Lantern always requires a source of oil.
• Bow always requires a source of arrows
• Slingshot always requires a source of Slingshot seeds
• Bombs/Water Bombs always require a source of Bombs/Water Bombs
• Checks that require rupees always require a source of rupees even when starting with full wallet
• Getting to different rooms that require a certain daytime always require you to be able to change time even if it is day/night from the start of the playthrough
• Tricks that require a specific enemy are only in logic if that enemy can respawn

Avoid One Hit KO

Some specific scenarios require the player to take damage. If One Hit KO and Bonks do Damage settings are enabled you will even take damage and die when bonking

How to: With a Bottle you can collect a fairy or even multiple if you have more than one Bottle. Alternatively if you have money you can use the Magic Armor

Result: You avoid taking damage.

Notes:

• Even though this is in the trick section, some checks absolutely require to bonk so it is even accounted for in glitchless logic
• Taking damage with Magic Armor will drain all your rupees instantly and result in Drained Magic Armor, even 1 rupee is enough to avoid damage
• You can Damage Boost and land on a freestanding heart to avoid dying even if you don't have one of the basic ways

Drained Magic Armor

How to: Wear Magic Armor after draining all of your rupees.

Result: The Magic Armor is now drained, meaning it doesn't provide invincibility anymore, instead it gives you the same heavy properties of the Iron Boots which makes it possible to sink underwater and open underwater chests.

Notes:

• Unlike Iron Boots you don't have the magnetic properties which means you can't attach to magnetic walls/ceilings
• Unlike Iron Boots you can't deal damage when rolling

Backslice as Sword

How to: If you do not have a Sword, you can still do the same Backslice inputs.

Result: You will perform a Backslice and can still deal damage even though you do not have a Sword which is useful if you do not have any other damaging source.

Notes:

• Backslice will deal default damage as if you had the Ordon Sword
• Backslice Moon Boots can be performed even without Sword

Ball and Chain Pickup

How to: Throw the Ball and Chain towards a freestanding item check

Result: The Ball and Chain picks it up the moment it hits the item

Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNnX__ItjNY

Notes:

• This does only work with freestanding checks from heart pieces/containers, bugs and hidden skills. The checks for freestanding rupees have different properties and can only be moved by the Ball and Chain but not collected

Map Glitch

How to: Open the map with dpad left/right at the same time you press Z to talk to Midna. With map open (for a consistent method, unplug controller, hold map button and Z, then plug controller in), warp somewhere. Midna should talk to you after the map closes, interrupting the warp.

Result: When a warp starts, loading zones are disabled. Having an action happen that interrupts the warp (talking to Midna, Midna jump, reading a sign, etc.) allows you to play in this "mid-warp" state.

Demonstration: https://youtu.be/4BAygtsEu0U

Notes:

• Loading zones will remain inactive until a load is completed
• Game overing or voiding out will softlock you. Savewarping gets you out of a void softlock. If you game over, you have to reset
• Void planes like Faron mist or Snowpeak blizzard also get disabled during this state
• Crush voiding becomes impossible
• Certain cutscenes that do not trigger loads immediately and instead trigger them after a certain time are still possible including warping and Howling Stones

More info: ZSR

• If Map Warping is not unlocked when Eldin Twilight is enabled you can use a different technique called Universal Map Delay

More info: ZSR

Epona Out of Bounds

Map Glitch Method

How to: With Map Glitch active, riding Epona past an inactive loading zone will let you go out of bounds beyond the loading zone.

Result: Epona is essentially "walking" over the Void as long as there is no floor collision under her.

Demonstration (Map Glitch Method): <missing video>

Notes:

• Epona will keep the height you currently have before being above no ground so scaling invisible collision can often be helpful to get necessary height
• When Epona is over any floor collision, gravity applies and Epona starts to fall including for certain void planes of Kakariko Gorge, Eldin Field and Lake Hylia Bridge Maps
• When performing Epona Slide gravity won't apply
• Loading other rooms and keeping Epona out of Bounds can only be done by touching collision of adjacent rooms. Touching floor from above Epona will load the next room without falling in bounds
• With Map Glitch Method loading zones are still disabled so to get to loading zones you can park Epona inside ground and then warp or save warp so you loading zones are back again when riding Epona out of Bounds. Parking Epona near Enemies can often result in her escaping because of rearing
• Riding Epona into a loading zone from out of bounds can often crash the game
• Riding Epona into a loading zone to a map she isn't part of the actor list will result in a crash (infinite blackscreen)

Epona Seam Clip Method

How to: By riding Epona into a Seam with specific speed, angle and Epona animation frame you can clip through. Tip: While this method doesn't require the Shadow Crystal it is very hard to perform since no 100% consistent setups exist so if you can it is advised to use the Map Glitch Method instead.

Demonstration (Seam Clip Method Lanayru): <missing video> Demonstration (Seam Clip Method Faron): <missing video>

Notes:

• Notes above apply
• For Epona Seam Clip Method there are currently only 2 known spots to use it currently which are in Lanayru Field/Hyrule Field North and Faron Field/Hyrule Field South
• Loading zones for this method stay enabled so parking is not necessary

More info (Seam Clip Faron): ZSR More info (Seam Clip Lanayru): ZSR

Reverse Door Adventure (RDA / Storage)

How to: With Map Glitch active, pull out a one-handed item and then go through door with that item in hand.

Result: Your hitbox will be reduced until your next item/load, allowing you to clip through certain walls and walk up steep slopes.

Demonstration: https://youtu.be/8YQNRAXiROk

Notes:

• One handed items that can be used to perform this are Sword, Bottle, Boomerang, Clawshot, Lantern, Bow, Slingshot and Dominion Rod
• Grabbing an item resets your hitbox
• Backslice can slightly go up the walls and then can be combined with Backslice Moon Boots for even more height
• This can be combined with Epona Slide to go up walls even further than may normally possible with rolling
• This can be combined with Damage Boost from a bulblin archer to scale up wall pretty much as high as they can shoot

More info: ZSR

Long Jump Attack (LJA)

How to: Throw the Boomerang over a void or high ground. Press B to pull out Sword. Press A to jump attack when the Boomerang is over the void/high ground.

Result: You get extended distance to your jump attack.

Demonstration: https://youtu.be/c48_ZTD2JM0

Notes:

• The speed you get from LJAs is greater the higher the platform compared to Link's position is and grants max speed if the Boomerang is above a void
• Some LJAs work by having the Boomerang over certain objects (eg. chest)
• Enemy LJAs are also a thing; see https://youtu.be/gIsV7Hg_E2k
• Moon Boots does increase the height you get from LJAs but as a result you loose a lot of horizontal distance

More info: ZSR

Jump Strike Long Jump Attack (JSLJA)

How to: Similar to Long Jump Attack target many far apart places with the Boomerang and throw it. Press B to pull out Sword. Press and Hold A to charge the Jump Strike. Release A the moment the Boomerang is over a void or high ground.

Result: You get extended distance to your Jump Strike.

Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmVNntofUEU

Notes:

• Unlike LJAs the direction you are going to is depending on Link's facing direction before throwing the Boomerang and not the Boomerang itself
• JSLJAs do not have sword recoil
• Moon Boots does increase the height you get from JSLJAs but as a result you loose a lot of horizontal distance

More info: ZSR

Moon Boots (MB / EBMB / BSMB / JSMB)

How to: When performing a jump attack or Jump Strike with Iron Boots or Drained Magic Armor on, unequip Iron Boots in item wheel or Magic Armor within the first 2 frames after Link's feet have left the ground. Can be done with jump attack, Ending Blow, and Jump Strike. Can also be done with Backslice but only with the Drained Magic Armor.

Result: You gain more height than usual.

Notes:

• Logically you need 3 items in your item wheel to perform Moon Boots that use the Iron Boots since you need to unequip them. In a no logic you could do it with 2 items in your item wheel
• Different types of jumps give different height. Ending Blow gives the most height by far, with Backslice (with Magic Armor) in second, followed by Jump Strike and then jump attack
• Can get additional height by getting hit by a bomb blast at the peak of your jump
• Useful data with graphs for visualization of moon boots height can be found here (thanks to: Simikins for plotting it, JW for all frame data)

More info: ZSR

Epona Slide

How to: Hold R while riding Epona to make Link crouch. Let go of R and press A on the next frame to dismount Epona.

Result: Epona should keep moving forward while Link dismounts her you'll get a super slide starting at the speed Epona was at when you dismounted her.

Demonstration: https://youtu.be/6Ggr7WtV1YM

More info: ZSR

Swim with Water Bombs & Air Refill

How to: While at the bottom of a body of water with Iron Boots/Magic Armor on, pull out a Water Bomb and quickly open the item wheel/pause before Link holds the bomb above his head. Unequip Iron Boots/Magic Armor. Continue moving with the bomb in Link's hands or he'll drop it. When you're ready to get an air refill, simply press A to drop the bomb.

Result: You will be able to swim with water bombs, which allows you to get unlimited air refills; essentially infinite air as long as you have a Water Bomb supply.

Demonstration: https://youtu.be/Fterq72hP9Y

Notes:

• Pressing A immediately upon pulling it out results in Rocket Link, where you will shoot up to the surface of the water in one frame. Tip: Don't do this when fighting Morpheel without Zora Armor

More info: ZSR

Normal Bombs Underwater

How to: Pull out a normal bomb frame perfectly when entering water

Result: The bomb goes through the water, making it possible to blow up boulders underwater

Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H2vj6JHTY4

Notes:

• Useful especially if you do not have access to Water Bombs
• Trying to pick up a normal bomb that is already underwater makes it disappear immediately

More info: https://www.zeldaspeedruns.com/tp/tech/normal-bombs-underwater

Faron Province

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Eldin Province

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Lanayru Province

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Desert Province

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Snowpeak Province

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Forest Temple

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Goron Mines

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Lakebed Temple

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Arbiter's Grounds

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Snowpeak Ruins

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Temple of Time

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City in the Sky

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Palace of Twilight

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Hyrule Castle

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