Video
Route
Outside Citadel (Bellhart to Grand Gate)
Notable routes:
- Took the first “column” in Shellwood since (1) it’s easier to platform upward with fewer enemies, and (2) you’re avoiding the dreaded long water hall.
- The Faydown Cloak helps trivialize the main column in Blasted Steps, but I figured it’s hard/impossible to do in the first half of the column. Note that I’m not wall climbing the left chamber there (you’d have to stand on a platform first then head right).
Citadel (Grand Gate to Dining Hall)
Notable routes:
- Grand Gate’s puzzle section is also trivialized by the Faydown Cloak.
- Going through the Citadel Spa helps you avoid a number of enemies compared to alternate routes above and below. Particularly below where you need to go through a corridor, and up two columns.
Loadout
Traversal skills
- I recommend getting the Faydown Cloak upgrade first. This allows you to double jump and skip most sections of the “regular” route. I did not even try to attempt doing the Rasher quest without it.
- With the above, you surely have Clawline, but frankly I found usage of it to only marginally improve your runs. While you can definitely complete Courier’s Rasher without the above, I figured you may spend more time failing at (1) easily dodging enemies and (2) platforming more optimally.
Crest and tools
All tools above are nice to have, but I believe non-essential. As long as you have the traversal skills, I think you should be good to go. However, if you’d like to emulate what I did:
- Wanderer’s Crest. Figured the name meant it’s good for platforming, so might as well run that. I won’t go into the details why I chose this crest over Reaper’s re: speed and hitbox of the downwards (pogo) attack.
- Magnetite Dice. A stochastic lifesaver. While my run above didn’t trigger it, it triggers often enough that you can salvage a run if you managed to get damaged by an enemy. Probably the most important tool to have in your attempts.
- Compass. Helps you navigate if you get lost, non-essential.
- Ascendant’s Grip. Helps make your Cling Grip (wall slides) more consistent. I don’t run this regularly, but figured I had an extra yellow slot.
- Flea Brew. Can marginally improve your run.
Tips
- Enter and exit an area to reset aggro. I did this at the 1:43 mark in case I get followed by flies.
- Don’t bring anything you’re not willing to lose (e.g. 1K rosaries).
- When attempting the run, rest at Bellhart and rest nowhere else. This helps you reset easily.