Since this is so active currently, let's put this discussion up.

At this point, a 1-cycle demon is a given requirement for WR pace. The next step should be: Can we reduce the amount of hits that the demon takes?

The demon has 9 HP, when you stand normally and hit him, it loses 1 HP. However, it usually takes 5 hits to kill him, why?

It seems that when you collide with the demon and hit him at the same time, it acts as a crit similar to Castlevania 1, just the time window for this seems much larger. So he takes 2 damage per hit. Therefore, my current strat is hitting it once when it's high up in the air and 4 hits jumping right into it.

Of course, the big question is if it can be done in 4 hits total instead of 5, and it may be possible. I remember that I did it once but failed to record it, but I can't replicate it.

In the code for the game, for the whip it creates several instances to make it look like it flails around. My guess is that each of that instantiation could potentially hit if a certain cooldown is passed. Maybe this is the reason the boss takes 2 damage when you are touching it, and not a crit mechanic.

The code is not too easy to understand and I don't know yet how far I'm willing to investigate, but I think the discussion should be held.

I'm looking at some of the runs on the leaderboard. Right now, my any% pb has a 5 hit demon kill. Same with koma's and yours. I don't know how much time a 4 hit kill would save though. It only saves 1 whip attack, so maybe like .3? I think it would be pretty interesting to look into, but right now there are other larger timesaves in the any% route that could be incorporated. As for what you said about how the "crit" might work, I think it is more likely that there is some property the demon has that allows this. Other bosses, like the slime, can't be quick killed if you are inside their hitbox I'm pretty sure. The game was modeled after Castlevania, so it could be an intentional reference? I don't even want to try to understand the pico-8 code, so if it becomes important, I could maybe see if I could get in contact with the game dev and ask them about it.

Wait how is 4 hits possible? Two damage per hit a nd 4 hits means only 8 damage can be dealt? Is there a way to do 3 damage?

This is my main idea. If you can deal 3 damage, that would mean a 3 hits boss is possible.

As for any% timesaves. I just had a run that I feel like had it all except the fastbridge, and it was still a 29...

edit: and I don't mean the run that I submitted. That one had slight errors edit 2: i just realized that the demon was a 6 hit...

I don't know what you guys are doing differently but the "fastbridge" thing saves at least a second im pretty sure anyways, how can a 3 damage hit happen? is it random

I don't know if it's really possible. I cannot get it. I thought I did it in the past, maybe my memory failed me. Are you sure fastbridge saves that much?