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.
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
More info: ZSR
Epona Out of Bounds
How to: With Map Glitch active, riding Epona past an inactive loading zone will let you go out of bounds beyond the loading zone, walking over the void.
Notes:
- Some areas will force Epona to fall to the bottom of the void plane automatically, such as Kakariko Gorge
Reverse Door Adventure (RDA / Storage)
How to: With Map Glitch active, go through a door and pull out a one-handed item, then go through door again 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:
- Grabbing an item resets your hitbox
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:
- Some LJAs work by having the boomerang over certain objects (eg. chest)
- Enemy LJAs are also a thing; see https://youtu.be/gIsV7Hg_E2k
More info: ZSR
Moon Boots (MB / EBMB / BSMB / JSMB)
How to: When performing a jump attack or Jump Strike with Iron Boots on, unequip boots in item wheel within the first 2 frames after Link's feet have left the ground. Can be done with Backslice using drained Magic Armor. Can be done with jump attack, Ending Blow, Backslice, and Jump Strike.
Result: You gain more height than usual.
Notes:
- 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 boots/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
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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