I am going to try to start speedrun this game I was wondering what's the most optimal way to play to get fast times?

Curious as to the nature of the question. 

If we're talking what's the fastest version or method of playing, it'd be on SNES console. There's only one version of EarthBound (that we are aware of) so it doesn't matter what cart it is. Consoles run at something around 60.1 FPS versus emulator and WiiUVC running at 59.97 FPS (which ends up losing 30+ seconds throughout the course of a run).

Other than that, we have guides in the Guides section and also our discord is located here: https://discord.gg/Xst7DJV

Feel free to ask any questions regarding the route/run. Excited to see a new runner!

Going to start looking into this

ChildSafetyStrap

EarthBound

Super Nintendo

jawsomesauce

iblink22

baassd

NineteenNinetyX

All Sanctuaries

Partial Sanctuaries

RNG Manipulation

No RNG Manipulation

Mother 2

Route

Manipulation

Game

Turbo

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console

Wii U Virtual Console

SNES Classic Mini

Switch Virtual Console

Mother

Can we make a 1/128 Run a thing?

[Hack] Mother 2 Deluxe Speedrun

Is there a noted route for Any% No OoB?

why does Jeff suck

Super interested

All items

AndyPerfect

lltemple

Aurilliux

0xwas

skateman222

Kodama_RBM

ClassicJames

Eriphram

HunterRNG

SmilesEdgeworth

MissDesGames

breaktube

Firstleveldruid

TheBruteDream

Brood

ThatRedHusky

awesome514

LordHydra

Wolfram14