This route is several minutes slower than the optimal Any% route, but it's considerably safer so I think it's a great place for new runners to start. As you improve, you can start replacing the slower hearts (the collect-a-thon minigames, 100 Shards in Timberdale) with more difficult ones (Above the Sand Temple in Neverglades, Sumo 2 in The Below, and Above the Arena in Daggercrag, Jars in Summit of the Sages).

The general principle is to order the hearts such that you can obtain a full rage bar when it's needed without going out of the way to find enemies.

Hearts that require a full rage bar for the optimal strategy are flagged with ¤¤ for a double jump, and ¤¤¤ for a triple jump. Most of these hearts can also be done without rage; where this is the case, I have estimated how much time the rage jump saves. If a time saving is not listed, then that heart should not be done without a full rage bar.

--Intro Collect Rock Suit Power-up

--Timberdale Three Rings Soccer Jars (build rage by juggling the three grimkins on the platform above the final jar) Top of the Tree Rock Suit Floating Platforms 100 Shards Sumo ¤¤Sundial Portal (rage saves ~10s)

--Dragonreach Jars Dragon’s Finger ¤¤¤100 Shards + Collect Air Suit Power-up Hop 'n' Drop ¤¤¤Skip the Block Puzzle (rage saves ~15s) Fly to the Island Rock Suit

--The Neverglades Inside the Sand Temple (NOT the one high above the structure) Shoot Statue's Eyes (and remember to refill your rage bar before collecting the heart) ¤¤¤Waterfall (if you miss on your first try, go to Electric Fish and then collect this one with the Air Suit) Electric Fish Rings Minigame Jars

--Tempest Peak Manor ¤¤¤Inside the Piano ¤¤¤Lunchbox (set sundial) Sundial Portal ¤¤Top of the Clock Breakout Jars

--The Below Upside Down Jars (set sundial) ¤¤Sundial Portal (can be done without rage, but you're relying on the camera to be nice) ¤¤Top of the Volcano (rage saves ~5s) Pirate Ship Checkerboard Game ¤¤¤Stop the Beam Pirate Chest (A-X-B for GameCube version)

--Daggercrag Collect glass smashing heart from inside the monastery Kill enemies for one-eyed dude (set sundial) ¤¤Sundial Portal (rage saves ~10s) Mummy Boss ¤¤¤Block Puzzle (can be done without rage, but you should plan ahead and figure out your favorite way to solve the puzzle) ¤¤¤Jars (alternate route with rage double jump instead of triple is ~5s slower) ¤¤Smash the Glass (yes, it will count twice, as long as you collect it from inside the monastery first and you're not using a memory card!)

--Summit of the Sages ¤¤Kitchen Drain (a heart from Tempest Peak Manor, but we collect it from here) ¤¤Machine Head (it's possible to make the jump without rage, but it's tight) Hop 'n' Drop Tilted Maze in the Vexx Head ¤¤¤Water Head (rage saves ~15s) Six Rings

--Frostblight Mill The Princess’ Secret Slide Top of the Windmill Underground Lava Area Skydiving (good to have a full rage bar here for insurance) ¤¤¤Flipping Platforms (rage saves ~20s) Rock Suit Snowballs

--Citadel of Shadows ¤¤Cube Puzzle (do Right Track first if you're more than ~10 rage points short of a full bar when entering the level) ¤¤Right Track ¤¤Middle Track ¤¤¤Left Track (rage saves ~20s) Under the Entrance

--The Shadow Realm Yabu (use rage to kill one wave of the little bad guys that he sends out while lobbing fireballs at you)