Build points are numerous, but only a select few are actually along the most direct route to completing levels. Any build point that is not along the direct path to the end of the level is not worth getting for the Any% category. This guide will outline how many build points you should grab per level to reach an exact version number of v3.0.0 by Power Oculus. Having a version number above this number means wasted time and a number below this means a dead run.

I keep a note card next to me when I run that has the total number of build points available in each level, and then how many of those are "potentially convenient." Build points DO NOT always spawn at the same spots. It is entirely random what spots they are in, but there are a few ways of narrowing down where they might be. (An example is Prisoner Bin. There are four total build points in that level, but only 2 will spawn in the first half of the level, and 2 will spawn in the second half of the level.) You won't have to concern yourself too much with their locations, because if it isn't on your way to the next objective, then it isn't worth getting. After Power Oculus, you shouldn't get build points anymore unless it is on your way to the next objective. Your version number no longer matters and you will gain enough points through the main story to max out health and energy.

I recommend you do something similar to the note card, and have a list of the levels leading up to Power Oculus along with how many build points are available in the level, and how many are convenient. I separated them into two rows to show this. The top row being available build points which are: 3, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 3, 5, 4, 3. Below those numbers I wrote the convenient build points to tell me to stop getting build points once I reach that number: 1, 1, 5, 2, 1, 2, 3, 0-1, 0-1, 2 (if needed).

The thing you should keep in mind is that the 2 at the end is for Power Oculus. So if you reach that level and have v2.9.6, you are fine because you can get the 2 build points in the first area while you fight the ICPs. Keep in mind that the required version number of v3.0.0 is calculated after talking to Ma3a right before the skip (so you should have v2.9.5 when you talk to her and she will give you the last 5 build points). So don't panic if you are 5 build points short, Ma3a has got you covered.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the convenient build points are not guaranteed. So there is potential to not have any build points be on your direct route. You can make up for this in Power Oculus, but if it becomes more than 2, you will need to grab build points in the 2 levels before Power Oculus. The last two levels before Power Oculus are not necessary to get any build points if you met the quota for the other levels, so those levels are fall-backs if you need it. Keeping track of your version number is important and getting too many build points means a non-optimal run. So double check the note card, or whatever thing you will use for reference, each time you complete a level to make sure you are on track.

That is really all there is to it. Keeping track of the version number is important for optimization in Any%. Check out my other guides for more information about optimizing your Tron 2.0 speed runs!