Newcomer's Guide to SpeedRunners

People who jump into the game can sometimes get matched with high ranking players if no other matches are available. This can be quite frustrating since many opponents like to win even against Entry league newbies and won't give a chance. Some people claim there to be hackers in this game, but I've only met one hacker the entire time I've played this game, and they have long been gone since the game was updated over a year ago. If you find yourself in a match where you can't keep up, try to watch what the opponent is doing. This is by far the fastest way to learn how to play this game.

The decision of using a keyboard or a controller is completely up to you, which is more comfortable or easy to learn. Most new players use the controller, and I use it when I'm playing more relaxed games, because it is just more comfortable to sit back and play than with a keyboard. Once you've learned to play, it is recommended to switch over to keyboard, since the turning and jumps can be more accurate. Pivoting the joystick back and forth takes a delay, or using the D-pad is more or less inconvenient (in my opinion). I don't know of any high ranked players who use a controller when playing competitively.

The game now locks ranked matches until you have leveled up yourself a bit. This restricts you to only quick/custom matches and therefore it may be hard to find matches sometimes. You can edit the search range in the settings menu. Options > Game Options > Search Distance
The settings can be either [distance]MAX or [distance]ALWAYS. The difference being that MAX means it will start at the lowest range possible, then increase up to the distance you set. ALWAYS will make the search distance always what you set it to, no matter if there are closer matches available.

These are the DEFAULT controls.
This game is heavily based on physics. It's a platformer parkour game, so that should make sense. The key aspects to this game are momentum, gravity, and angles.

Momentum
This plays the biggest factor to your speed. If you gain a lot of speed, it will say "Superspeed!" and you will have a trail behind you. If you hit a box, run into a wall, get hit by an item, or any other form of obstruction, you will lose momentum and your speed resets. Try to make fluid movements to build your momentum up and keep you in the lead. If you have high momentum, try to touch the ground the least bit possible. Small bunny hops will suffice, instead of large leaps that can run you into objects. Running is considered friction and will slow down your momentum if you are at high speed, but hopping will reduce your speed if you are going normal speed.

Gravity
An easy way to gain momentum or keep it is by using gravity. When you are falling fast, your swinging speed will increase dramatically, as well as if you hit a slope while facing the direction of it's decline. If you are facing up a slope and fall into it, you will either slow down or even go back up the slope.

Angles
Like I just mentioned, using slopes can be a great advantage. If you're moving through the air and hit a ceiling that's angled down, you will be launched downward. Remember - if you swing or hit a slope while falling fast, you will gain huge speed boosts.

Swinging is faster than running. If you have a chance to use your grapple, it can help in almost any situation. There's many tricks to using your grapple in crazy ways such as double-swinging or triple-grapples, short swings and even backflip jumps. (The backflip jumps were unintended and have been nerfed) A simple game mechanic that causes much grief. Sliding while passing an opponent will cause them to trip, slowing them down drastically. Doing this in the air will also cause them to fall. It also cancels hooks and grapples. Keep in mind that when you try to trip, there is a delay (called lag compensation) between your opponent and yourself, so you actually have to slide in front of them so that on their screen they get tripped. More lag = farther distance. This is required knowledge, since most maps include wall climbs at some point. Jump against the wall, then move in the direction toward the other wall and jump again. Just repeat that, it's something you will quickly learn to do faster. This is when you only use one wall to climb up instead of jumping back and forth. It is much slower, but can be very useful in some cases, such as if you're just short of the ledge and it would take longer to jump across the gap and back. Hold the direction moving toward the wall, then grapple and jump right after. When you grapple, it makes you fall off the wall, and jumping will make you cling back onto the wall and slide up slightly. Some people call this the caterpillar. Sliding in the air will make you fall faster, but also slightly makes you move forward slower. This can be used to keep your aerial paths straighter, or to create quicker fall speed. It also helps to avoid being tripped or hooked.

Your boost is your most vital tool, so using it properly will make the difference of it seeming like nothing or giving you the win. Your boost does not deplete over time unless you use it, and there is a maximum amount you can hold. So be sure to use it before you reach the next boost box. But ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS save at least a little for emergencies! Many people will just hold down their boost as soon as they get it. If you run into a shockwave, you can use a tiny bit of boost before it hits you and you will recieve NO knockback at all. If you want to make a jump but it's just too far, that little bit of boost you saved will make it. Remember how I said if you hit an angled ceiling, it will make you fall faster? If you use a bit of boost when you run into it, it will make you fall much much faster. If you boost when you jump onto a grab-wall, you'll slide up it and gain a bit more height, putting you ahead. If you slide mid-air and boost, your forward speed will decrease and you will fall faster. Seems counterproductive, but there are many situations that will make use of the silliest things. Keep an eye out for how other players use their boost in useful spots and try them out for yourself.

Most people, even in higher ranks don't know how to properly use each item, and instead use them as soon as they get them. This has it's advantages, since the enemy won't have time to know what you're using against them, and you can pick up another item right away sometimes. However each item has a great potential for being overpowered and useful in many creative situations. I'll outline a few for each. Be warned, though - using these items in ways that are unavoidable or unreasonable are very very cheap and you will be disliked for it. Nobody likes a cheesy player who only cares about winning.

The most basic item in the game and the most annoying. You get three to drop at any time. These will slide down slopes and fall through the air. If you are hit by one it will decrease your momentum and cancel any swinging or grapple item you are using, they also block missiles and grapples and can be placed inside walls. Try to put them in places people often pass through or if someone is right behind you. Don't drop all three at the same time, since you'll be able to decrease their speed three times if you separate the boxes. Good uses include;

• Slopes - you can't jump over them and they slide to the bottom, meaning they will always hit an opponent behind them.
  
• Sliding spots - Places where you need to slide can be filled by a single box, making it a complete wall and impossible to get through.
  
• Boost boxes/item boxes - putting them inside a boost or item box will make it hard for the opponent to get the boost or item without hitting your box

The missile will launch upward and track down a single opponent. Getting hit by one will stun you and knock you back away from the rocket. It often has trouble running into walls, so try using them in open areas. Sometimes sliding will glitch the rocket and it will hover above you, there have been times when someone will do this and the rocket actually changed targets. The rocket will destroy boxes, activate switches, and blow up through walls (to an extent). The explosion affects you as well, so be careful and don't launch it in cramped areas. Good uses include;

• Over holes/spikes - you can use the rocket to knock someone straight down a hole or right into a pit of spikes
  
• During long swings - they'll have no time to avoid it, or they'll be knocked out of their swing
  
• At the bottom of a fall/slope - they'll fall straight into the rocket. No chance to avoid it

Newer players mistake this for the grapple a lot. The hook launches toward an enemy you're facing and pulls them toward you. Sliding will dodge the hook, but keep in mind that there is an amount of lag between you and the other player, so sometimes even if on your screen it shows you dodged it or wasn't going toward you, you haven't dodged it until the text "Dodged!" comes up. Hooks can be blocked by boxes, fireballs, explosions, walls, and such. While you're using your hook, you can't jump or it will cancel, and if you run into a box or are tripped, it will cancel as well. While hooked, you will have no control over your character, but the person who used the hook can jump to exit the hook. Try to use it at closer distances, since longer reaches are easier to dodge. Good uses include;

• During swings - They'll have to stop swinging and fall down to avoid the hook
  
• Before a jump/over spikes - If they have to slide, they can't jump or will fall into the spikes
  
• In a combo - While they're hit by another item is an easy opportunity to land your hook

You can place a bomb down and leave it as long as you like since there is no timer, but you can't pick up another item until you detonate it. After you place it, use it again and the bomb will explode, pushing back players and activating switches. It can destroy rockets and boxes, or block hooks even if it doesn't blow up (if it falls in the way). They can be placed in walls like boxes, but don't slide down slopes. If the bomb is hit by a shockwave, explosion, or fireball, it will detonate. The bomb's explosion will affect you as well, so be careful with it. Good uses include;

• Altering paths - You can plan ahead to activate a switch to open a shortcut or close off a path, throwing off your opponent, or even blow up boxes in the path that tend to get in your way
  
• During swings/over holes/spikes - If you blow up someone mid-swing, they'll continue swinging but be turned around and swing the wrong way. You can also knock someone back and cause them to fall into a hole or spikes
  
• Boosting yourself - the most common use is to quickly place and detonate it to launch yourself forward or up from the explosion

The fireball will launch in the direction you're facing and roll across the ground until it hits a wall. It will destroy any obstacles it hits, such as rockets, boxes, or bombs - and can be reflected by a shockwave. If two fireballs collide, they will destroy each other. If you jump against a roof and use it, the fireball will appear on top of the roof, it also sometimes goes through walls. Good uses include;

• In small tunnels/up slopes - The opponents can't jump high enough to avoid the fireball
  
• Slide spots - If they have to slide, they can't jump to avoid it
  
• Enemies behind you - Quickly turn around and toss it behind you to catch your opponent by surprise

The shockwave emits a large blast that pushes back enemies - the closer they are, the harder it pushes them. It also blows up any explosives, destroy boxes, cancel grapples, reflects fireballs, and block hooks. When used, it follows your momentum and launches in that direction. They can be countered by boost, even just a little will cancel the effect and you can pass through it without any effects. Good uses include;

• During large swings/over gaps - This will knock them back or completely cancel their momentum and cause them to fall down
  
• In boost tunnels - Throw one out at the end of a tunnel to cancel someone's boosted speed
  
• Slopes after falls - Stop someone from sliding down a slope after a fall to cut off their speed boost

The invincidrill is a powerful item that turns you invulnerable and goes through anything in it's path, destroying missiles, hooks, boxes, and bombs, tripping players and ignoring shockwaves, fireballs, or even spikes. You move much faster, but boosts and swing boosts aren't as effective. If you slide while someone runs past you with the drill, you won't be tripped. Good uses include;list]

• During long flat areas - The boosted speed and invincibility will quickly put you in the lead
  
• Dangerous areas - If you think you might be hit by something, it can be a lifesaver
  
• At the start - Starting a round with one will give you a great head start

Fire a laser in the direction you're facing that freezes anyone it touches. The reach on this is extremely long, and can be easily used as a barrier from jumping or falling. While people are frozen they will still slide down slopes and gain speed. You can slide under a ray on flat ground. Good uses include;

• Swings - easy to land a hit
  
• Before large falls - they'll have to jump over it and kill their momentum
  
• During other items - double team!

This is an item you randomly get when using a handicapped character. They are intended to waste your time and have no purpose, but can actually be used by a smart player quite well. They cancel all speed and stun you, knocking you backwards up into the air and make a confetti effect. Good uses include;

• In boost tunnels - You won't be knocked back
  
• Extra jump height - You can use this as a small third jump
  
• Stopping - You can avoid hitting spikes or missiles in your path

You're fresh off the boat at this point, you can only play customs or quick matches. Practice your wall-jumping and remember, swinging is faster than running. Always make use of grapple ceilings, because they're always put there for a reason. Learn what each item does and get used to the way the game works. You won't be in this league too long, so don't worry about trying to level up as fast as possible.

By now you should be able to wall-jump, though you may still need some practicing. At this point you should start trying to learn the maps, and you can practice against bots for this if you don't want to get frustrated against players who know the maps already.

At this point most players have a basic knowledge of the main maps, and know what items generally do. You'll start getting matched against Expert league players, and this is the first big gap in difficulty. While you're in this rank, focus on learning the custom maps as well as the officials. Watch where faster players go, and try to copy the ones you like in your routes. Start learning to conserve and use your boost efficiently, it makes a huge difference!

Players this rank have quite a good understanding of the maps and how to use your boost. You'll start seeing Bronze or even Silver level players at this point, which can be a challenge to put up with. You'll see crazy new ways of using items or grapples and players will use strats you don't even understand. It's hard to see what they're doing in full speed, so what I did is actually recorded gameplay, and when something happened I didn't understand, I'd watch the replay in slower speed to see what they did. By now you should start learning to double-swing, which is a way of creating speed boosts from nothing but grapples.

As the name suggests, it is two swings in quick succession. The first swing must be very quick and short, so you'll want to be as close to the ceiling as possible. This short swing will make you fall quickly, then follow up with a second, longer swing. Since you made yourself gain a lot of gravity, your second swing will be much quicker and give you a speed boost.

This is where you start to be considered a more-or-less good player. You'll occasionally see Silver players, and rarely a few Golds. They'll most likely frustrate you since the gaps between ranks start getting very large now, but don't be discouraged. Watch what they do and try to mimic things you've never tried. You should have a strong understanding of how to double-swing by now, so make good use of it in any way you can. Start using slopes and angled ceilings more often, you'll need to almost constantly be at superspeed to keep up in this league. When you hit a slope or ceiling, try to hit the very bottom corner of the slope or the very top edge of the ceiling. The bottom of the slope will give you the least friction and biggest speed gain - and the top edge of the ceiling will give you a longer fall time (which will create more gravity). You'll really need to know both official and main custom maps very well by now, if not - get to practicing them in quick matches. The Unfair level bots are really the only ones that can even struggle to keep up anymore, so try using the solo run practice mode instead. A common technique to learn in Bronze rank is the triple-grapple, used for making sharp turns.

This is basically a double-swing with a turn added in. It's hard to see at full speed, so learning it can be a challenge. Basically, your first swing is the short one that will create the downward momentum. Your second swing will be the one to change your direction, keep it short just like the first swing. Your third swing is the one that will clear the gap. Make a tiny jump right after the last swing if you're having trouble not hitting the ground. Rinse lather repeat

Fresh into Silver league, you'll be paired up against players who have already been in Silver for quite some time, and so you may get knocked back down into Bronze very often. Switch over to quick matches so that you can practice and learn from other Silvers/Golds. You'll need to already have a strong understanding of using your grapple and a thorough knowledge of all the main maps. This league is all about perfecting your paths and finding ways of using the maps to your advantage. Try to start making your route as straight as possible, which will mean using bunny hops and air-slides almost constantly to create quick gravity without needing arching movements. Using bunny hops when you have superspeed will help keep up your momentum, but at regular speed will only slow you down. Practice new paths and watch gameplay of higher ranks, all I can tell you now is good luck.

God speed, my friends - you are legends of spood... There's no need for a guide when you're faster than Sooper Sanic himself.