Okay, I'm back again after a very long break with something that I think is actually pretty big--two new (I believe) skips in both Memphis and Chang'An.

Both skips seemingly require Colossus Form to pull off, but going Rune/Defense does not effect the any% Rune strat very much, as most of the movement speed and boss shredding is pretty much all in Rune, Defense still offers a second charge, and neither skip seems to break any necessary quests.

First, the Memphis skip:

This one I can perform consistently. The only annoyance here is that you have to wait for Colossus Form to run out in order to continue. Just wedge yourself in that corner, get big, clip through. This does not break Thebes and should save ~2 minutes in any%.

Next, the Chang'An skip:

It's pretty obvious by the video that I'm not sure how to perform this consistently. I've done it around a dozen times at about a 50% success rate, but I've tried zooming, print screen, running starts, even Menhir Wall and it doesn't seem to help the last clip. The first two clips are 100% consistent, but other than knowing that you have to wait for Colossus Form to run out again and you have to kind of wedge yourself in the low bricks close to the railing, then clip through the railing, I can't seem to figure out a consistent strategy for this. Again, this doesn't seem to break anything later on and should save ~2 minutes.

Just wanted to see if anyone else has any luck performing these skips w/ any consistency and maybe if Colossus Form could be used to skip anywhere else (maybe Thebes or Labyrinth?).

EDIT: I also wanted to put it out there that I did also notice that I was able to store the speed boost from Thunder Strike after cancelling for as long as I kept moving. Has anyone else noticed this happening? I thought my speed was a bit inconsistent a few times, but noticed it for sure on a long Strike in Egypt that I cancelled at the last minute--the speed boost lasted from right after the scarab boss to Memphis. Any consistent set up for this also seems potentially huge, especially if you could store a Take Down or Shield Charge boost.

John_Stanford, about speed boost - actually yes.
I can share with you exactly what you need for constantly reproducing it.
First requirment - character must be a male. No other options here. Girls have no specific animation of running that we needed.
Second - you need to have ability to dual wield throwing weapons (from Runes or Warfare).
So that we actually need for speed boost: male dual throwing weapons animation of running.

Sequence is simple:
a) equip two throwing weapons;
😎 start running;
c) swap to another weapon;
d) do thunder strike (war wind, take down, shield charge) cancel and keep running or use something that update your baff status without stop (i.e. running through party member's aura or battle standart's aura etc.).

So, let's see how it looks in action))

EDIT: There is a way to do boost speed trick w/o using dual throwing weapons.
Don't know exactly how to replicate it though. Currently it seems too random or difficult to set up.

Wow! Thank you! I thought I was going crazy that I couldn't replicate this and the only times I managed to notice it, I couldn't see it reflected in my speed stat (but that seems to be normal).

Also, no wonder I had so much trouble replicating it, as I have a stupid tradition of making my test & speedrun characters female to differentiate them and I was only seeing it on my one male test char without realizing. Haha.

I've just got a chance to test it for a couple of minutes before I get back to work--so it seems the speed boost itself is irrelevant and there's no added benefit to performing this with a shield charge vs. a thunder strike. I don't quite understand what's causing the behavior and the speed is definitely not reflected in the stats, so I'm not sure if that's correct? It's actually much easier to set up than I imagined, though, and the speed boost is notable even at 166%.

I'm already running through Hades at ~1:04 with the skips, so I think with this we'll see Hades any% at under one hour for sure. This is great--thank you!

---so it seems the speed boost itself is irrelevant and there's no added benefit to performing this with a shield charge vs. a thunder strike---
True. Same for not being reflected in the stats.

Also it seems if you already have some +speed items on you (maybe boots/other things) or +speed from skills then running from speed boost will be even faster but i'm not quite sure about that.
So +speed items still matters a lot.

Another interesting trick with swap weapons that I discovered and it might be useful for u aswell is this.

If you have same type weapons (it's not nessesary, just easy to perform) with same +- attacking speed and you swap between them in fight, what happens that swap instantly returns character to normal passive state and allows you do next attack right after bed.
It all depends on atack animation tho so, with different weapons it might be much easy, w/ others - not. Rhythm is a key. Swap needs to be done right in the end of attack animation for best result.
More difficalt w/ melee (especially with dual weapon), simple w/ throwing. w/ staffs nearly impossible i guess.

This trick might be helpful when you need speed-up fights with some bosses or thick enemies. Adding you +attack speed from literally nothing.

Sorry for that offtop)) Have nothing to say about colossus form skips yet. I need test it all by myself.

Gl with you run, tho))

Hey , artist, can you explain me some thing in this speedrun?

Alex, not sure I can help u with any% related speedrun because I intend to beat another any% glitchless category. I think ~3h20m. I'm all there.
Anyway here u may find more knowledgeable ppl then me.
Feel free to ask me though but not in this topic.
Send PM on twitch or discord.

I guess i do, but do you know if this skip work with a collosus scroll?