So, I have watched speedrunners take a route to Sanctum and noticed that it's basically the same route. I want to speedrun this game and I beat it once and can't remember the route everyone takes. The first time I just swam up waterfalls all the way to Sanctum, but that required Ruta Main Quest which takes an hour or two. So, got any tips to help me? Or, better yet, do you guys have a better/easier way? It can be long, as long as I get to the Sanctum with a Mighty Elixir. ;)

P.S. Is it a good idea to get the Hylian Shield? I might be a little slow and need it for second phase?!

There's a number of ways. It depends on the category you're going for.

Any% either uses the Guardian Amiibo to spawn metal crates to stasis launch to the Sanctum or, without Amiibo's, climbs Zelda's Tower (the room with Zelda's journal and the Silent Princess) and once high enough on the roof paraglides to Sanctum.

All Dungeons climbs the Waterfall because it's required to get the Zora Armor. I haven't watched All Main Quests, but it wouldn't surprise me if they do that as well.

All Kilton Medals Stasis launches off a tree near the treasure chest with Naydra's Scale.

All Shrines and 100% warp to the Major Test of Strength in the Hyrule Castle Docks, goes up the hole in the Library's roof, and use Revali's Gale to make it to the Sanctum.

The Hylian Shield is only useful if you're certain you're going to Parry Calamity Ganon's Laser too slow at some point (too fast and Link dies). Most speedrunners don't take advantage of the Hylian Shield though because it's out of the way. The only categories I can think of off the top of my head is 100% and All Kilton Medals and only because they need to kill the Stalnox guarding it, so it's right there.

I recommend going to the full leaderboard tab and checking out the videos there as well for the category you are running.

Alright thanks for the help! Also, you had to go through the trouble of tying all of that. Sorry for making you type. I just meant any%. TMI.