Thanks to Despair for inspiring me with this 8:20 run: • Half Sword Gauntlet Speedrun - World Recor...

Very clean beggar fights and pitchfork play. I could have continued using it on veteran but decided not to risk it and switch to the plançon/spiky stick.

Against the knight boss I was very cautious because it's very easy to lose a limb and have to surrender and lose time or just die and end the run. When you get good head hits and stun him it's safer to keep hitting him and he falls soon. Same applies against other armored opponents.

At that point my hands were shaky, I'd never reached that part so quickly despite how slow that boss fight was.

In the end fighting the baron with the spiky stick is quite fast, just avoid the axe or spike of his polearm and get just inside its range, you can keep hitting his head until he gets dizzy. If he starts taking out the greatsword better make those hits count and take him down, else the fight gets much harder.