Speedrunning Boss Fights: Strategies for Beating Big Bads Fast

24 July 2025

So, you’re tired of watching those long, dramatic boss fights that feel more like Shakespearean tragedies than actual gameplay, huh? You just want to slice, dice, blast, or bash your way through the biggest baddies in your favorite games—then move on as if nothing happened. Well, welcome to the fast-paced, no-nonsense world of boss fight speedrunning.

Whether you’re here to shave milliseconds off your timer or you just want bragging rights for beating a 10-minute boss in under 30 seconds (because why not?), this guide’s got you covered. Grab your coffee, stretch those fingers, and let’s dive into shaving precious time off glory with precision, style, and maybe a little bit of button-mashing panic.

Why Speedrun Boss Fights Anyway?

First off—because it’s awesome. Nothing screams "I’m the main character now" like stomping that evil overlord in record time.

But let’s be honest, boss fights are usually designed to test everything you’ve learned in a game. So what better way to prove your utter dominance than by skipping all that nonsense and going straight for the jugular?

Speedrunning boss fights tests your reflexes, your knowledge of the game’s mechanics, and sometimes, your ability to break the game in the most hilarious ways. It's gaming, but faster... and way more chaotic.

Preparation: The Calm Before the Button-Smashing Storm

So, you think you’re ready to go all Doom Slayer on your bosses? Not so fast, champ. Speedrunning boss fights isn’t just about bloodlust and pretty explosions. You’ve got to prep like you're cooking a Michelin-starred meal.

Master the Mechanics

First rule of fight club—you've got to actually understand how your weapon works. That 42-hit combo might look cool, but if it takes five years to finish, it’s not going to help you beat a boss in 12 seconds.

Learn the fastest cancels, recovery moves, dodge timings, and how to chain attacks fluidly. It’s all about that muscle memory, baby.

Get Your Loadout Right

You wouldn’t bring a spoon to a sword fight (unless you’re a meme lord). Every second counts, so ditch the pretty armor and go for function over fashion. Look for skills, weapons, or items that cut down animations, boost damage, or—in some games—completely break the balance of power.

Pro tip? Some items seem totally useless... until you glitch the game to make them super OP. Just saying.

Boss Patterns: Dance Like Nobody’s Watching (Even Though Everyone Is)

Alright, let’s be real: boss fights are just choreographed dances with extra explosions. The trick? Memorize the steps before they start throwing hands.

Phase Reading Like a Psychic

Most bosses have multiple phases. First, they flex their power, then they throw a tantrum, and finally they transform into something with at least 12 glowing eyes. You need to know each phase intimately—like, “we-finish-each-other’s-sandwiches” intimately.

Watch when the boss gets aggressive, when they stall, and when they’re open to a critical hit. Timing your nukes for these openings is how you turn a 10-minute slog into a sweet 45-second memory.

Attack Patterns = Your Cheat Code to Victory

Bosses rarely deviate from their attack cycles. Once you know the rhythm, you can practically dodge with your eyes closed. Imagine their moves as a poorly written romantic comedy—you know exactly what's going to happen next.

Exploit delays, use iframe dodges like a maniac, and never stop moving. You're not tanking damage; you're dancing your way to glory.

Glitches? Cheese? Let's Not Pretend We’re Above It

Honor is for NPCs. If there's a wall you can phase through, a one-hit glitch, or a way to make the boss forget how to use arms—use it.

Popular Glitch Tactics (Totally Legal in Speedrunning Court)

- Animation Cancelling: Interrupting long animations to keep attacking without waiting for your slow-mo spin move to end.
- Hitbox Abuse: Stay in that weird zone right by the boss’s toe where they just can’t seem to reach you. It’s like their Achilles heel... but dumber.
- AI Manipulation: Sometimes you can trick a boss into repeating a weak move over and over. If the game insists on being stupid, who are you to argue?
- Terrain Exploits: Lure the boss to a cliff, glitch them through a wall, or knock them into an endless void. It’s not "cheating"; it’s "creative pathfinding."

Game-Specific Boss-Wrecking Tips: Because Context Matters

Enough with the general advice. Let’s get spicy with some game-specific nonsense that speedrunners swear by. (Note: your results may vary, especially if the devs already patched your favorite cheese.)

Dark Souls – Roll for Your Life

- Parry windows are your best friend. Git gud and land a parry for massive damage.
- Go naked (yes, literally unequipped armor) to move faster and spam rolls like a gymnastic madman.
- Use Red Tearstone Ring: Less health, more damage. Risk it for the biscuit.

Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Physics Are Optional

- Stasis + Bomb Arrows = launching yourself into the stratosphere and behind enemy lines.
- Whistle Sprinting to dodge attacks like you’re rushing to catch the bus.
- Use Bow Slow Motion during flurry rush for pinpoint sniper shots while surfing your shield like a rebel.

Elden Ring – Roll Over Beethoven

- Bleed builds are king. Stack that status effect and watch bosses pop like piñatas.
- Mimic Tear or summons to distract the boss while you do the damage. Pure chaos, pure fun.
- Jump attacks deal more poise damage. Leap like you're coming off the top rope in WWE.

Resident Evil Series – Less Human, More Terminator

- Aim for weak points and stun lock with upgraded weapons. That rocket launcher? Don’t save it—use it.
- Abuse quick turn mechanics to shave frames off movement.
- If you can skip cutscenes mid-boss, do it. That’s free seconds back.

Mental Game: Speedrunning Isn’t Just Fast Fingers

Let’s not ignore the shakes, sweaty palms, and the fact that your pulse jumps to 250 BPM when you’re two frames away from a personal best. Yeah, this is a mental sport too.

Calm Is Key

Speedrunning bosses will test your patience. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll forget to heal. You’ll smash your controller (hopefully not). The key? Breathe. Laugh. Try again.

You're not saving the world—you’re just trying to beat a virtual lizard in 13.2 seconds instead of 13.4.

Record Yourself

Recording your runs lets you analyze every little mistake like a coach reviewing game tape. Also, when you finally get that perfect run? You’ve got the footage to flex on everyone.

The Community: Where Legends (and Memes) Are Born

Speedrunning is a solo mission, sure—but the community? Oh, it’s thriving. Full of legends, tech wizards, and absolute gremlins who spend 900 hours figuring out how to skip a boss by blinking in Morse code.

Check out:
- Speedrun.com: for official leaderboards.
- Twitch and YouTube: for live runs, memes, and record attempts.
- Discords and Subreddits: where people argue about frame data like it’s a religion.

These communities are goldmines for new strats, glitch discoveries, and collective rage when a game gets patched and your favorite cheese strat gets nuked.

Let’s Wrap It Up, Speed Freaks

Speedrunning boss fights is part art, part science, and part "what if I broke the game just a little bit?" It's a beautiful chaos cocktail of learning patterns, pushing mechanics to their limits, and laughing maniacally as you defeat Lord WhateverHisNameIs in seconds flat.

Whether you're aiming for leaderboard glory or just want the personal satisfaction of turning a mountain into a speed bump, there’s no denying the thrill of the kill—especially when it happens faster than the boss can even do their dramatic monologue.

Now go practice. Go glitch. Go optimize. And when you finally crush that boss faster than the game devs ever intended? Just remember to teabag with honor.