Expeditioners, you are invited to explore Sami with certain goals in mind and to share your discoveries. In collaboration with the Lungmen Dragons and our team, we invite you to record your exploration for us to archive in exchange for rewards.

Note: This event is ran separately from Lungmen Dragon's IS4 bingo lockout event. If you wish to enter the qualifier for the bingo lockout refer to the twitter post made by the Lungmen Dragon or join their discord server for more details.

Objective

Clear a successful IS4 run while fulfilling the requirements in the Bingo Line as well as the additional rules shown here.

Rules and Entry Period:

• Entry Period: 17 March 2024, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 1 April 2024, 03:59 (UTC-7)
• Review Period: 17 March 2023, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 3 April 2024, 03:59 (UTC-7)
• Start your recording from the starting menu before pressing the “Explore” button.
• The end of your recording should contain both the final time given, collectibles obtained, the scoreboard, and scrolling results screen.
• 

Prize Pool:

• Player who gets the fastest run in their line receives a monthly card
• Player who gets the fastest overall run receives a monthly headhunting pack
• Second player will get the reward if the first one in that line already got 2 prizes

Tiny Text Stuff:

• Please ensure your run is submitted to the Speedrun Event category.

• Runs from this event will be archived, not removed from the leaderboard.

• In case of regional restrictions, contact a moderator to find a possible solution.

• Please contact a moderator if you need assistance or further details. You can also join the Discord (https://discord.com/invite/gMKprFepFe) for community assistance.

Hello everyone! I am here to inform you about some PRTS news. First a little story time but TLDR at the end.

LE-6

During the Lingering Echoes rerun, we stumbled onto a problem of the game. Dylan, who was trying to get the PRTS record on LE-6, wasn't able to achieve this goal by a very large margin despite near perfect execution. We looked into it and Dragichav’s run was perfectly legit: no sound glitch, no editing on the recording. Everything was in order. After some time, I decided to look at the problem again and found out the first enemies would be on the map sooner which was concluded as a “hardware difference” as that was the only run where it was problematic.

SL-8 Contest

Now we come to the Arknights Speedrun Anniversary on So Long, Adele's SL-8 stage. I tried to run a PRTS for the first time and ended up having to run it on my phone due to stability issues. I ended up with a variable FPS recording which I converted into a stable framerate video for YouTube. I ended up having the same advantageous lag, but I also had the raw recording which ends up giving me a fairer time.

The Problem

Due to that issue for a competition with prizes, we started to look for a solution to ensure that everyone has a fair chance without some hardware or software RNG. We first find that things aren’t just spawning earlier, the DP count also goes up faster as well. We start to look into counting pixels on the DP bar, but we end up with another issue which is actually the problem: the lag makes the game display the starting frame we use to time runs randomly between what we use when it’s not lagging and when the game starts to run normally. You can end up having between 1ms to 500ms of advantage compared to a smooth run.

The Solution

The best solution we found to make this contest and the whole ladder more fair, competitive, consistent, and easy to participate in is pretty simple: 2 DP are generated every second, so instead of starting to count on the frame we used before, we will start after 2 DP have been generated and then go back exactly 1 second for our new timer starting frame. In the event that 2 DP cannot be used, then we will go to the point where 4 DP is generated and then go back 2 seconds; and so on. This is likely to be used on rare, abnormal recordings.

When your run lags, it can end up doing weird things like having a starting point where the stage name is still on the screen but it’s just a visual glitch as the DP will always follow the exact number as otherwise the game would break apart at every loss of FPS.

We won’t recount everything as most maps and recordings don’t have this issue, but we will recount some records where the game is known to lag. Don’t hesitate to ask for any run to be retimed using this method if you think this happened. Some non-laggy runs might lose a frame but as it’s easier to time compared to trying to identify a glow on the DP bar, this method is much better for a fairer leaderboard.

TLDR

The lag at the beginning of some stages makes the starting frame random. We will review all new PRTS runs and some old ones using this new method to find the beginning of the stage. From now on, we use the first moment the first 2 DP have been generated and add 1 sec.

Changes in the rules

Old

• Timer Start: First frame when DP bar BEGINS to fill.

New

• Timer Start: First frame exactly 1 second before 2 DP has been generated.
  • After 2 DP generated:
  • Go back 1 second for starting frame:  

Happy 4th Arknights Anniversary everyone!

It's amazing that 4 years has already passed and how much has happened in the community. It also happens to be a very special occasion for Arknights Speedrunning as 3 years ago on 16 January 2021, @Cesith would create and submit the first ever Arknights speedrun!

So with a new event in Arknights celebrating its 4th Anniversary, we will be having a speedrun competition celebrating our 3rd year on Arknights Speedruns!

Objectives

• Clear SL-8 using only PRTS as fast as possible.
• Clear SL-8 using only PRTS as fast as possible using only 8 operators and the contest restrictions.
• Clear SL-8 manually as fast as possible.
• Clear SL-8 manually as fast as possible using only 8 operators and the contest restrictions.

Optional Contest Restrictions

• Each list will have a number of operators you can use and a certain ticket cost to utilize the list of operators.
• Picking a list does not restrict how many operators you can take from one list.
• You will be provided 6 tickets and your goal is to clear the stage as fast possible using the restrictions provided.

• Operators in the Coral Coast list do not need to be wearing their Coral Coast outfits to be used.
• Not all operators with a Coral Coast skin are in the Coral Coast list in order to occupy other lists.

Rules and Entry Period

• Entry Period: 16 January 2024, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 6 February 2024, 03:59 (UTC-7)
• Review Period: 16 January 2024, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 8 February 2024, 03:59 (UTC-7) or earlier
• Timer Start: First frame when DP bar BEGINS to fill.
• Timer End: First frame when the DP bar STOPS filling.
• In the event that DP is capped, then time ends on the first frame when the opaque Mission Success screen appears.
• Note: A full squad is not necessary for a valid entry.

Prize Pool

• The top 3 participants in each leaderboard: $5 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• The top 5 unique participants in all leaderboards will be automatically entered into a separate raffle for a chance to win the Event Pack.
• If you qualify for more than one prize, only the highest prize will be applicable.

Winners will be messaged via the Arknights Speedrun Discord. Please ensure your Discord handle is listed in your speedrun.com profile (Profile > Settings > Social networks).

Important Notice for Framecounting Adjustments

We will be utilizing new framecounting adjustments for all runs selected for framecounting. It should be noted that this adjustment will add additional time. This is to ensure that all runs are fair.

Please contact @zopney if you have questions or concerns.

Small Text Stuff

1. The list of operators is not intended to be changed. We understand that the list may be either missing operators or might seem stretched.
2. You must claim your prize before reset on February 11th or your prize will be nullified.
3. Due to regional issues, prizes can only be claimed in the EN region.
4. The Event Pack raffle drawing will be held on February 9th and subsequently announced in Discord.
5. Please ensure your run is submitted to the Speedrun Event category (coming soon).
6. Runs from this event will be archived, not removed from the leaderboard.
7. Runs that are well-optimized may be subject to manual review. Please have the raw, unedited recording used in your video(s) uploaded to Google Drive or OneDrive to be reviewed when requested.
8. Please contact a moderator if you need assistance or further details.

Hey runners,

The PvP community were interested in continuing their competitive spirit during PvP off-seasons but were not fully committed to the categories offered here on Arknights Speedruns. I had a discussion with them and we came to an interesting way to utilize the speedrun leaderboards that aligned with their format.

Starting today, the level leaderboard will permanently include the Manual Runs category.

To help bring onboard these new contenders, the level leaderboard will temporarily be the default leaderboard when visiting Arknight Speedruns. Any former, current, or future runners are all welcome to participate in this new format.

As always, feel free to get in touch with a moderator if you need assistance!

Objective

Objective: Clear Nameless Shelter (CC12) at Risk 0 using a new account as fast as possible.

Rules and Entry Period

Entry Period: 1 October 2023, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 15 October 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7)

Review Period: 1 October 2023, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 16 October 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7) or earlier

• All attempts must be played with a new account.
• The final Nameless Shelter clear must be completed at Risk 0.
• Support operators and enemy leaks are allowed.
• More info can be found here.

Allowed:

• The free 5✰ selector is allowed to be utilized.

Forbidden:

• Skipping the second tutorial stage is forbidden.
• Any form of monetary spending is forbidden. This includes use of redeemable codes.
• Claiming resources from in-game mail that is part of a limited release or event, ie. limited events, special updates, or compensations, is forbidden.

Additional Info:

• TR-1 text glitch on some devices was analyzed to not be a significant factor in the final time.

Timing

• Timer Start: When the screen begins to fade to black after pressing Confirm on the account name screen.
• Timer End: First frame when the DP bar STOPS filling on the objective stage.
  • Reference:
• In the event that DP is capped, then time ends on the first frame when the opaque Mission Success screen appears.

Prize Pool

• 1st place: Monthly Headhunting Pack
• 2nd place: 2x Monthly Cards
• 3rd place: 1x Monthly Card

Winners will be messaged via the Arknights Speedrun Discord. Please ensure your Discord handle is listed in your speedrun.com profile (Profile > Settings > Social networks).

Small Text Stuff

1. Due to regional issues, prizes can only be claimed in the EN region.
2. Please ensure your run is submitted to the Speedrun Event category.

Please contact a moderator if you need assistance or further details. You can also join the Discord for community assistance.

• Sept 8 edit: Changed the objective to CF-6 to CF-8 due to CF-9 being unable to be autoed.
• Sept 6 edit: Added Saileach's Appreciate Fragrance skin to Greatsword. She was in the draft roster and was intended to make the final cut.
• Sept 5 edit: Changed multiple qualifying runs for a prize to be only applicable for the highest leaderboard.

The second limited speedrun contest is coming with A Flurry to the Flame! This contest will be taking advantage of the collaboration event with our own collaboration. We are happy to announce that Arknights Speedruns will be working with @goody5 who will be running a Nicheknights Contest in tandem with this contest. Be sure to check him out on Twitch!

For the speedrun contest, the twist this time is that we will be running trio leaderboards for the event stage: Low Rank, High Rank, and Master Rank. Along with the trio leaderboards, we will also be limiting the operators that are available based on how they correlate with the Monster Hunter weapons.

Objectives

• Low Rank Objective: Fully clear CF-6, CF-7, and CF-8 using only PRTS as fast as possible.
• High Rank Objective: Fully clear CF-6, CF-7, and CF-8 using the operator contest restrictions and using only PRTS as fast as possible.
• Master Rank Objective: Fully clear CF-6, CF-7, and CF-8 without the event equipment, using the operator contest restrictions, and using only PRTS as fast as possible.

Operator Contest Restrictions

This restriction is only applicable for the High Rank and Master Rank leaderboards.

• Each squad slot can only be occupied by one "weapon type" such as Longsword or Dual Blades.
• Each weapon type is further restricted to specific characters.
• There are a total of 12 weapon types.
• Basically, 1 operator from each category, which Palicoes and Kirara being able to swap with any category.

Example: You can choose Blemishine for Sword and Shield and Gravel for Dual Blades, but you would be unable to choose Flametail (another Sword and Shield user) and Texas (another Dual Blades user) respectively. If you wanted to use Flametail and Texas, then you would have to swap away from Blemishine and Gravel.

This will then continue down the tiers.

Weapon Types

All information below can be viewable in this spreadsheet.

1. Sword and shield
2. Dual blades
3. Greatsword
4. Longsword
5. Hammer
6. Hunting horn
7. Lance
8. Gunlance
9. Switchaxe
10. Chargeblade
11. Insect Glaive
12. Light bowguns, heavy bowguns, and bows are combined into a single weapon type
13. Palicoes, which replace 1 of any weapon type
14. The operator Kirara, with the skin, Trendsetting Player, can be used freely and does not replace a weapon type

• Mizuki must use his base or promotion skin.
• Saileach must use her Appreciate Fragrance skin.
• Scene must use her Betsushi skin.
• Ceobe must use her 'Really Heavy Spear' skill (S3 skill).
• Folinic must use her Lasting Arrowroot skin.
• Kirara must use her Trendsetting Player skin.

Rules and Entry Period

• Entry Period: 7 September 2023, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 21 September 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7)

• Review Period: 7 September 2023, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 28 September 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7) or earlier

• Timer Start: First frame when DP bar BEGINS to fill.

• Timer End: First frame when the DP bar STOPS filling.

• In the event that DP is capped, then time ends on the first frame when the opaque Mission Success screen appears.

• Entries can be submitted in single or multiple videos. For multiple videos, please ensure the other videos are listed in the entry description.

• Note: A full squad is not necessary for a valid entry.

Prize Pool

• 1st place in any leaderboard: $5 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• 2nd place in any leaderboard: $5 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• 3rd place in any leaderboard: $5 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• The top 5 participants in any leaderboard will be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a Hunters' Expedition Pack.

Winners will be messaged via the Arknights Speedrun Discord. Please ensure your Discord handle is listed in your speedrun.com profile (Profile > Settings > Social networks).

If you qualify for more than one prize, only the highest prize will be applicable.

Small Text Stuff

1. The list of operators is not intended to be changed. We understand that the list may be either missing operators or might seem stretched.
2. You must claim your prize before reset on September 28th or your prize will be nullified.
3. Due to regional issues, prizes can only be claimed in the EN region.
4. Please ensure your run is submitted to the A Flurry to the Flame category.
5. Runs from this event will be archived, not removed from the leaderboard.
6. Runs that are well-optimized may be subject to manual review. Please have the raw, unedited recording used in your video(s) uploaded to Google Drive or OneDrive to be reviewed when requested.
7. Please contact a moderator if you need assistance or further details.

Hey all, I wanted to bring some background on some changes coming to how framecounting works based on our current standards. I'll keep this brief because it's alot to sort through and the mod team is still working on it in the background.

In a nutshell, recordings are at a variable frame rate, so any start point frame that has some of the DP bar filled will have milliseconds added to the final time based on the distance from the correct starting point to compensate for the dropped frames. Keep reading for the more detailed explanation.

The Standard

As a reminder, for PRTS Runs and similar, we use the following standard for determining the start and end points for runs that use auto deploy.

• Start point reference
• End point reference, unless DP is capped, then the first frame when the opaque Mission Success screen appears becomes the end point.

So one of the major issues we have been having involves the start point.

The Problem

Modern video recordings are being recorded at a variable frame rate even if it says its at a static frame rate. Top that off with how the hardware, whether phone, emulator, or type of computer rig, will further add to that variability. There have been times when framecounted runs were showing signs of the recording skipping over the standard start point. This is causing issues where the start point is later resulting in a shorter final time compared to a better hardware recording that was able to accurately capture the correct frame.

As a result, systems that performed poorer than others or were running their game/auto deploys at 30 FPS are at an advantage.

Invalid Standard Example

This is frame #1507 for a WB-7 run from the WB speedrun contest. This is the reference frame before the start point for the run, so we start the timer on the next frame.

The next frame, which is frame #1508, should show the small amount of the white DP bar appear. However, in this frame, the bar is already ~7% filled, which should not be considered valid.

Valid Standard Example

This is frame #593 in a different recording for WB-7. This is also the reference frame before the standard start point.

Unlike the previous example, in frame #594, the DP bar is not already partially filled.

It's difficult to see, but it's a very subtle white line at the beginning of the DP bar. It's easier to see when moving through the video frame by frame. This example does follow the standard correctly.

If you haven't noticed, the two recordings are from the same individual, but the recordings were made at different times.

The Solution

Our goal is simple: make speedrunning Arknights as easy and sensible as we feasible can. The mod team works hard to ensure that any runner of any skill level using any hardware can, at the very least, participate in the leaderboards. This also boils down to keeping the settings as varied as possible, such as being allowed to play the game at your choice of 30 FPS or 60 FPS. You can read more about our Accessibility clause in the New Category Guidelines forum post.

To achieve keeping the game as accessible as possible, we will be adjusting runs that do not follow the standard start point for framecounting by adding milliseconds to the final time based on distance from the beginning of the DP bar in the reference frame. This will be done using a formula that is still in the works (I'll edit this news post and announce it in Discord once it's complete). All this work will be done in the background by the mods.

Where does this apply? Only top ranked runs for high profile contests or speedrunner request are subjected to framecounting. Otherwise, the mod team will use the YouTube Frame Counter. Because of the daunting task of it, the mod team will not retroactively recount any run before September 7th, 2023, unless explicitly requested by the runner.

Can you hear it? Can you feel the breeze? It is time for Where Vernal Winds Will Never Blow. In this speedrun contest, we will be combining a trio of PRTS stages together.

Objective

Objective: Fully clear WB-7, WB-8, and WB-9 using only PRTS as fast as possible.

Rules and Entry Period

Entry Period: 28 July 2023, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 11 August 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7)
Review Period: 28 July 2023, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 18 August 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7) or earlier

Time is calculated without loads. Each stage is separately timed and then added together at the end. The AK TWOL Calculator can be used to help add together your times.

• Timer Start: First frame when DP bar BEGINS to fill. [Reference]
• Timer End: First frame when the DP bar STOPS filling. [Reference]
• In the event that DP is capped, then time ends on the first frame when the opaque Mission Success screen appears.
• Entries can be submitted in single or multiple videos. For multiple videos, please ensure the other videos are listed in the entry description.

Note: A full squad is not necessary for a valid entry.

Prize Pool

• 1st place: $80 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• 2nd place: $30 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• 3rd place: $10 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• 4th to 10th place: $7 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• All participants will be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a Rhodes Island Resource Pack (valued at $50).

Winners will be messaged via speedrun.com messaging system.

Small Text Stuff

1. As this is a pilot category, future iterations of this type are currently pending. Please provide feedback in Discord.
2. You must claim your prize before reset on August 25th or your prize will be nullified.
3. The Rhodes Island Resource Pack raffle drawing will be held on August 11th and subsequently announced in Discord.
4. Due to regional issues, prizes can only be claimed in the EN region.
5. Please ensure your run is submitted to the Speedrun Event category.
6. Runs from this event will be archived, not removed from the leaderboard.
7. Runs that are well-optimized may be subject to manual review. Please have the raw, unedited recording used in your video(s) uploaded to Google Drive or OneDrive to be reviewed when requested.

Please contact a moderator if you need assistance or further details. You can also join the Discord for community assistance.

Hey runners, @LeSot and I have been working to make New Account speedruns more sensible for new runners. Feel free to check out the new changes for yourself, but here's the quick summary:

• The use of supports have been split between two subcategories. Using a friend support for any stage will make your run eligible only for the Supports subcategory. However, if you feel up to the challenge, you can try a run with No Supports to truly showcase how self-sufficient you are.

• Stages outside of the main pathway to the objective stage are now optional and do not need to be completed or fully completed (mostly for 100%). This includes stages like CA-5 or S3-7. For example, to clear Episode 1, only the stages that progress the pathway to 1-12 in Episodes 0 and 1 are mandatory.

• Most subcategories now should be easier to understand without reviewing the rules, but please make an effort to still review the new rules. These rules were also redone to strip out any excessive formatting or redundant information.

• As a reminder, the objective stage must still be fully completed regardless of the subcategory.

As always, feel free to let us know your thoughts on Discord.

Hey runners, Stationary Security Service is currently a few balance patches behind on Global that will be landing shortly. These patches are gamemode rebalancing that will speed up the category (which is good). Instead of waiting for all the patches to be applied, we soft released the leaderboard for runners to take a crack at it.

However, we wanted to reward the early supporters for participating in the, objectively, more difficult version. If your submission is approved during a certain time period, then you will be eligible to request for a limited role in Discord. See below for the roadmap towards the balance patches.

Roadmap

• α Security role: Release until 13 March 2023
• β Security role: Balance Patch 1 until Balance Patch 2 (15 Dec 2022 patch on CN); this is the role we are currently offering

Any further roles, if needed, will continue to follow the Greek alphabet. For example:

• γ Security role: Balance Patch 2 until Balance Patch 3
• δ Security role: Balance Patch 3 until Balance Patch 4 These roles will only be created if the patches make the category faster. If the patches make the category slower, the category will be archived and rereleased. No further roles will be offered after a category rerelease.

How do I redeem a role?

1. Submit a SSS run that is 50 minutes or less during a certain patch period and have it verified before the category is adjusted.
2. Ensure your Discord handle is listed in your speedrun.com profile (Profile > Edit profile > Social Media).
3. Join the Discord and DM a Staff member with a speedrun.com link to your run.

What if I submit after the category has been adjusted?

We will not be able to retroactively grant roles even though the run would qualify during the correct submission period. You may still be able to receive a currently offered role (if applicable).

How will I know what submission period we are in?

The current category name will reflect the role currently being offered.

For example, the first set of runs from Release to Balance Patch 1 will be submitted to a category called: α Stationary Security Service to match with the α Security role being offered. Then the next period will be called β Stationary Security Service to match with the β Security role being offered. And then so on until no identifying letter precedes the title.

What if I leave the server? Can I get my role back?

No. We currently do not offer role restoration on the Discord server for any non-staff related roles.

Feb 17 edit: Added Prelude to Dawn Pack to prizes. Feb 21 edit: Changed entry end period to Feb 24 from Feb 23.

To Be Continued has been announced for Global and this is an exciting time to try something new for the leaderboards. This will be the first limited speedrun category!

Please note this is pilot category and similar categories may or may not appear in the future. Feedback will be greatly appreciated for this category in Discord.

Objective

Objective: Fully clear each stage in the To Be Continued event as fast as possible with no leaks.

• Support units are allowed.
• Practice plans are allowed.
• Each stage must be manually completed.

Rules and Entry Period

Entry Period: 17 February 2023, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 24 February 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7)
Review Period: 17 February 2023, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 3 March 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7) or earlier

Time is calculated without loads. Each stage is separately timed and then added together at the end. The AK Speedrun TWOL Calculator is recommended.

• Timer Start: First frame when DP bar BEGINS to fill. [Reference]

• Timer End: First frame when the DP bar STOPS filling. [Reference]

• In the event that DP is capped, then time ends on the first frame when the opaque Mission Success screen appears.

• Note: A full squad is not necessary for a valid entry.

Prize Pool

• 1st place: $5 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• 2nd place: $5 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• 3rd place: $5 of spending credit in Closure's Store
• All participants will be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a Prelude to Dawn Pack.

Winners will be messaged via speedrun.com messaging system or Discord DMs.

If using Discord:

1. Please join the Discord server.
2. Please ensure your Discord handle is listed in your speedrun.com profile (Profile > Edit profile > Social Media).

Small Text Stuff

1. As this is a pilot category, future iterations of this type are currently pending. Please provide feedback in Discord.
2. You must claim your prize before reset on March 10th or your prize will be nullified.
3. The Prelude to Dawn Pack raffle drawing will be held on February 26th and subsequently announced in Discord.
4. Global, KR, and JP regions only.
5. Please ensure your run is submitted to the To Be Continued category.
6. Runs from this event will be archived, not removed from the leaderboard.
7. Runs that are well-optimized may be subject to manual review. Please have the raw, unedited recording used in your video uploaded to Google Drive or OneDrive to be reviewed when requested.

Please contact a moderator if you need assistance or further details.

Happy New Year's Doctors! We have an exciting 2023 to look forward to: both in terms of content and speedruns!

We have a couple new things to discuss, so let's get into it.

New Discord Server

To start off the new year, @Cesith and I discussed and agreed for the creation of a Discord server solely for the Arknights speedrunning community. Prior to this, the Discord community was hosted on Cesith's personal server. However, we had agreed that the community needed its own place to call home.

Everyone is welcome to join the Arknights Speedrunning Discord, whether you are a speedrunner or a fan. The Discord will slowly grow and develop over time, so what better way than to check it out in its infancy!

Come join us today: https://discord.gg/gMKprFepFe

New Updates for Categories

Recently, we saw a massive update on Global servers including the release of Stationary Security Service, Integrated Strategies updates, and the Lingering Echoes event. The moderator team continues to look for new opportunities for new categories that the community is interested in. As always, feel free to suggest new categories in the Discord, but let's cover some stages that are definitely coming up.

• Integrated Strategies has a major upcoming update and we are excited to continue curating the leaderboards for this popular category.
• LE-6 was the latest PRTS Runs that was added along with a community contest. We continue to actively look for new PRTS Runs to add to our individual level leaderboard.
• Stationary Security Service currently has a soft launch right now under Miscellaneous. We are currently awaiting an upcoming balance patch that will nerf the Danger Levels that will make enemies avoid scaling too high, too quickly. Feel free to submit your runs now and come back later to improve your time! Stay tuned for the official release!

New Contests

Like the recent LE-6 contest to start off the new year, we are planning to continue with new contests with prizes later this year. Contests will range from the small LE-6 contest to larger milestones like the 100 Unique Runner Contest. Look forward to it!

Closing Thoughts

We are very excited for 2023 and look forward to how the community can continue to grow! We got loads of new in-game content, community contests, and new categories to try out. Older categories are also getting new tech, like New Account runs may be able to utilize the IS2 battle pass with OP (keep your eyes on these categories).

I want to give a big shoutout and thanks to Cesith for curating the community for over 1 year and is still actively assisting the community to this day! Cesith has been very understanding and open-minded about these leaderboard changes. Without him, Arknights speedrunning may not be in its current state. Make sure you follow him on his Twitch or subscribe to him on his YouTube!

I also want to give a shoutout to our current moderators: @Hinabu and @LeSot. Thank y'all very much for continuing to curate the leaderboards! Y'all are doing some massively important work.

And finally, thanks to you, the player! Whether you speedrun or not, thank you very much for supporting this community along!

A new event is coming in Arknights and a new stage will be added to PRTS Runs. However, let's add a twist! Only operators that are either musicians or performing artists are available to be utilized. It's time to set the stage for a Lingering Echoes speedrun orchestra!

Event: Lingering Echoes Stage: LE-6

Objective

Objective: Fully clear LE-6 using only PRTS as fast as possible using only the available operators.

• Amiya
• Archetto
• Asbestos
• Astesia
• Blaze
• Courier
• Czerny
• Earthspirit
• Ebenholz
• Erato
• Eyjafjalla
• Fartooth
• Firewatch
• Gladiia
• Hibiscus the Purifier
• Meteor
• Midnight
• Myrtle
• Phantom
• Pinecone
• Skadi the Corrupting Heart
• Sora
• Specter the Unchained
• Tsukinogi
• Vigna

Rules and Entry Period

Entry Period: 27 December 2022, 10:00 (UTC-7) to 10 January 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7)
Review Period: 10 January 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7) to 17 January 2023, 03:59 (UTC-7) or earlier

Submit your run on the LE-6 IL leaderboards.

• Timer Start: First frame when DP bar BEGINS to fill. [Reference]

• Timer End: First frame when the DP bar STOPS filling. [Reference]

• In the event that DP is capped, then time ends on the first frame when the opaque Mission Success screen appears.

• Note: A full squad is not necessary for a valid entry.

Prize Pool

1st place: $30 of spending credit in Closure's Store 2nd place: $15 of spending credit in Closure's Store 3rd place: $5 of spending credit in Closure's Store

Winners will be messaged via speedrun.com messaging system or Discord DMs.

If using Discord:

1. Please join the Discord server.
2. Please ensure your Discord handle is listed in your speedrun.com profile (Profile > Edit profile > Social Media).

Small Text Stuff

1. The list of operators is not intended to be changed. We understand that the list may be either missing operators or might seem stretched.
2. You must claim your prize before reset on January 20th or your prize will be nullified.
3. Global, KR, and JP regions only.
4. Runs do not need to be faster than your personal best, but please differentiate the special restriction in some form (ex. title, description, etc.).
5. All runs must also follow the same rules to qualify for a normal leaderboard submission (Global and Category rules).
6. Runs that are well-optimized may be subject to manual review. Please have the raw, unedited recording used in your video uploaded and ready to be reviewed when requested.

Please contact a moderator if you need assistance or further details.

Added clarification that the stage must end normally to be considered a valid run.

• Why? Nearly all posted annihilation runs end under normal circumstances and retreating early when the last enemy dies does not add any significant or notable changes to the strategy.

Removed from the rules that no leaks were required for a valid run.

• Why? With the new Night Champion Show annihilation featuring the Blood Knight, the majority of players will leak the enemy's Bloodblades as they do not count against the player, but these "leaks" reflect on the end screen. Previously, other annihilation stages had similar types of "neutral mobs" like the drones from The Grand Knight Territory Outskirts but may not necessarily be visible on the end screen.

To clarify, these neutral mobs are ok to leak going forward, but any future changes to restrict this rule will be made on a stage-by-stage basis. To emphasize, please ensure you are reviewing the rules for the category before attempting the run.

• ✓ Sponsor Drones from The Grand Knight Territory Outskirts
• ❌ Ursus Civilian death from Frozen Abandoned City
• ❌ Command Terminal death from Flooded Seashore
• ✓ Automatic Maintenance Drone from Watery Tidehollow
• ❌ Originiutant Excrescence/Tumor from Long Spring Wastes
• ❌ Dismounted units from Dossoles Water Gate
• ✓ Imprisonment Device death from South Prison
• ✓ Bloodblades from Night Champion Show

Go check it out under Side Story!

Now with a new link: https://www.speedrun.com/arknights?h=Side_Story-Code_of_Brawl&x=9kvryp82-68k5qoq8.0q50v371

The calculator was also updated. Check it out under Resources.

Integrated Strategies is here! And the new category is now open too!

This is new territory for Arknights Speedrunning, so we are excited to see how this new category will evolve over the coming months. As always, feel free to make a forum post or ping us in Discord for feedback or suggestions.

Happy exploring Doctors!

Hey all,

The Arknights speedrun mod team is very excited to announce that both the Ch 1 Summoners and Side Story categories will be transitioning to "time without loads" starting on June 6. Time without loads is the time taken while playing and not calculating time loading. This is an effort to curb against hardware differences. Please note that time without loads is not in-game time, like in Annihilation.

Be aware that this transition may move your position in the leaderboards. However, we feel that this is more representative of the skill of the runner that does not rely on hardware supremacy. Therefore, we believe that this is fairer.

To celebrate the release of time without loads, we are also happy to announce that Heart of Surging Flame will also be released on June 6. We look forward to see some exciting runs and strategies in Siesta!

How do I calculate time without loads?

Similar to PRTS Runs and the current method for Side Story timekeeping, you will take the first frame of the DP meter filling and the last frame when the DP meter stops filling, then calculate the difference. The change will be that you are now only calculating individual stages instead of calculating the entire run.

Check the Rules of the category for reference images.

New Resources

To help with calculating this change, a new spreadsheet will be added to Resources that will be publicly accessible. This will help calculate your final time by pasting in the time from the YouTube Frame Timer.

Please note that this is designed specifically for the YouTube Frame Timer. This will NOT work for framecounting. Please contact a moderator for assistance with framecounting.

Summary

We hope that this helps level the playing field for all players with many different hardware. As always, if you need assistance or have feedback, hit us up on the forums or Discord.

Sidenote: New Account will not be receiving time without loads as time spent in the menu (ie. leveling operators, choosing stages, etc.) is a crucial part of the run. This category will continue to be time with loads.

Quick announcement that the new Side Story category is open. Currently we only have Grani and the Knights' Treasure subcategory open but will be looking to implement more Side Stories in the future.

This category is very accessible for novice speedrunners since the stages are very easy and don't require massive investment into meta operators. Feel free to try it out for yourself!

GMT: Monday, May 23, 2022 1:15:00 PM
PST: Monday, May 23, 2022 6:15:00 AM GMT-07:00
AK Time: 2 hour and 15 minutes after daily reset

Where: https://www.twitch.tv/cesith

To celebrate 100 unique player submissions on Arknights Speedruns, the Arknights speedrunning moderators and verifiers are hosting a contest and a raffle for some awesome prizes. To participate, read the entry rules below.

Rules and Entry Requirements

Entry period: May 1 04:00 UTC-7 to May 21 03:59 UTC-7 Drawing date: May 21 (stay tuned for more info)

Submit a new or improved run for any category during the entry period to receive 1 entry. Runs in different categories will also receive 1 entry each, up to a maximum of 20 entries.

Extra entries can be earned for individual runs by achieving a top 3 position for the category by the time the entry period ends.

• +1 entry for 3rd place
• +2 entries for 2nd place
• +3 entries for 1st place

For current world record holders before the entry period, submit 1 new or improved run in any category during the entry period to receive 4 tickets for all of your current world records.

• This auto-ticket will be invalidated if your world record is beaten during the entry period.
• 2nd and 3rd place runs are not eligible for the auto-ticket.

Entries will then be submitted into a raffle pot that will be drawn on May 21. Stay tuned for more details about the drawing!

Bounties

There is a separate guaranteed prize of $50 (any individual or combination of Arknights bundles or packs that is equal to or less than $50) for being the first to achieve one of these bounties:

• Chernobog (Annihilation 1) 21:06

These bounties will expire when the entry period is over.

Prize Pool

• 1x Kazimierz Major Pack
• 1x Rhodes Island Headhunting Pack
• 1x Senior Operator Training Pack
• 5x Duck Lord's Change Purse
• 3x Monthly Card

Winners will be messaged via speedrun.com messaging system or Discord DMs.

If using Discord:

1. Please join the Discord server.
2. Please ensure your Discord handle is listed in your speedrun.com profile (Profile > Edit profile > Social Media).

Small Text Stuff

1. Individual prizes are based on dollar amount and are interchangeable with other packs or bundles of equal or lesser value.
2. Prizes cannot be combined to create a higher dollar threshold.

• For example, if you win the Kazimierz Major Pack (worth $49.99), then you may substitute this prize for a 40 OP bundle (worth $29.99) and a Senior Operator Training Pack (worth $19.99).
• In contrast, if you win two (2) Duck Lord's Change Purse (worth $6.99 for a total of $13.98), then you will NOT be able to substitute it for the Starter Upgrade Pack (worth $9.99) even though the combined value of the Change Purses are above the Upgrade Pack's dollar amount.

3. You must claim your prize before reset on June 1 or your prize will be nullified.
4. Global, KR, and JP regions only.
5. Runs that qualify must be either a new or an improved run for the runner. Runs that are slower than a runner's personal best are ineligible. Individuals that attempt to circumvent this rule will be disqualified from the contest.
6. Categories under a Misc tab are not applicable for entry.

Please contact a moderator if you need assistance or further details.

I spent some time updating the leaderboard structure for the full-game and individual level leaderboards and would like to hear your feedback. Feel free to leave a comment, a forum post, or ping me in Discord.

Short announcement that PRTS or Auto Runs are open under the Level Leaderboard. You can access these leaderboards by clicking on the Leaderboards button in the menu under the Amiya picture and choosing the stage you want.

The level leaderboards are in the preliminary stages of implementation, so feel free to make a forum post if you have further suggestions. For now, only the last stage from events are being added, but stay tuned for more updates in the future!

If you need help timing your run, there is a new tool under Resources called YouTube Frame Timer. Simply follow the instructions on the website and you should get a near accurate time without using editing software. In the event of a dispute or other concerns, verifiers may ask you to provide the raw footage for verification.

Hey Hey guys,

LeSot has just made new medals for us! They look absolutely amazing^^

Thank you very much for the effort!

From now on I will use this page to share news with you guys if we update any category or new stuff. For example I recently added a Cn category for the summoner run Chapter 1 It was requested and I thought we could give it a try. This is mainly for people that want to try speedrunning with ling.

Anyway that's it... Once again LeSot, You are amazing