Elden Ring speedrunner N1ghtglow shattered the world record for the glitchless any% category on April 21, clocking in at 52:12 and edging out previous record-holder Okkotsu_Yuta by a mere four seconds.
The Art of the 52-Minute Run
The intensity of competitive Elden Ring speedrunning is clearly reflected in these razor-thin margins. While the official run time is 52:12, the full YouTube masterclass spans about an hour due to loading screen pauses. The strategy centers on an aggressive early-game rush to acquire Death’s Poker, a powerhouse weapon capable of stacking frostbite and deleting major bosses in mere seconds. A recurring, almost comedic theme in these runs is the use of gravity, with the Death Rite Bird often clumsily plummeting off a ledge to hand over the weapon.
Mastering the Draconic Sentinel
The most viral moment of this record-breaking run occurs around the 23-minute mark, where N1ghtglow dismantles the Draconic Sentinel outside Leyndell city. Defeating this boss—a significant difficulty wall for casual players—in a single hit is a display of pure technical precision.
The strategy exploits the Sentinel’s unique stagger animation. By parrying the enemy near a ledge and striking the horse’s rear, N1ghtglow forces the boss to limp off the cliff edge. The execution is reminiscent of classic samurai cinema, where the protagonist delivers a finishing blow with such speed that the environment itself seems to collapse in response.
Dominating Maliketh
The brilliance of the run continues into the late game. At the 59-minute mark, N1ghtglow confronts Maliketh. By utilizing the frostfire setup provided by Death’s Poker, the runner effectively neutralizes the first phase of the encounter instantly. A stylish, upward-angled mid-air stagger then allows for a swift conclusion to the fight.
This record serves as a testament to the enduring popularity of Elden Ring. As players continue to push the boundaries of FromSoftware’s open-world masterpiece, the game maintains a long-lasting impact, proving that even years after release, there are still new limits to be tested.
Leave a Reply